Competitions
Lessons in competitive ballroom dance are a lot of fun, as well as mentally and physically challenging. Competitions are being held year-round, nationally and internationally, and some are even televised.
Competitions all have a different price and fee structure, so contact Azita with pricing questions for our upcoming competitions. For all competitions, a Professional Fee for your instructor will apply, and students are expected to pay their instructors entry into the competition.
We require all students who are planning to compete to register with either USA Dance www.usabda.org or The National Dance Council of America www.ndca.org For more information on these organizations, please visit their websites.
Competition News
Nathan and Lecie are Champions again!
April was a busy month for Nathan and Lecie, travelling to New Orleans, LA for the Southern States Dance Championships & Milwaukee Wisconsin for the Wisconsin State Dancesport Championships, all within the first two weeks! Their busy schedule was worth it, as they won the Professional Rising Star Smooth Titles at both competitions (In Wisconsin, this was out of a Semi-Final). They also took 2nd place in Pro RS Rhythm at Southern States, and 2nd Place in the Open Pro Smooth. They took 4th place out of a Semi-final in Milwaukee, where they only competed for one night, then flew home. Congratulations to our own Dance Champions, and keep up the good work!
Nathan and Lecie are Eastern United States Rising Star Champions!
The weekend of January 23rd-24th was an auspicious weekend for Nathan—not only was it his birthday, he and Lecie also won the Eastern United States Dancesport Championship for Professional Rising Star Smooth!
Nathan and Lecie faced a full final and danced beautifully, with both athleticism and grace. According to one judge, they made it easy to place them first. Nathan and Lecie had a busy weekend and also competed in the Professional Rising Star Rhythm where they placed 3rd; Professional Nine Dance where they placed 3rd; Professional Open Rhythm where they placed 4th; Professional Open Smooth, which was out of a semi-final, where they placed 6th.
We’re so proud of our resident dance stars and feel lucky to have them as teachers here in Bellingham!
Nathan and Lecie are the Main Attraction for USA Dance Tidewater
As readers of “Dance America” magazine saw earlier last month, New Year’s Eve and a few days before, Nathan and Lecie will be in Norfolk, Virginia teaching Private Lessons and Workshops, and dancing their Professional Show as the Main Attraction. If any of you will be in Virginia during December 30th through Saturday, January 2nd, you should definitely check it out. Nathan and Lecie are thrilled to be working with USA Dance Tidewater at such a wonderful event. Click here for flyer.
Congratulations to Susan and Steven!
Susan and Steven placed very well at the Northwest Regional Championships sponsored by USA Dance. Held at the Seatac Hilton, this competition boasted competitors from across the US, include Minnesota, Colorado, California to name a few. Their results were as follows: Cha Cha/Rumba/Swing 1st place; Rhythm (CRSB) Championship 1st place; Standard Waltz and Quickstep 3rd place.
U and Me Dancers Shine at Seattle Star Ball
Susan Haynes, Sue Hamann, Carol Ann Gleaves-Eriksen, Tempeste Langille, Steven Herrerra, Heath Langille, and Sherrie Payne all danced beautifully at Seattle Star Ball this weekend. This was the first competition for most of these students (excepting Susan and Steven), and they shone on the floor in American Style Rhythm and Smooth, International Style Standard and Latin. The ladies danced with their instructor Nathan Simler, and the gentlemen with their instructor, Lecie McNees. Sherrie Payne and Heath Langille also competed Amateur/Amateur in American Rhythm.
Highlights of this weekend were:
- Susan Haynes being recognized as a Top Student
- Nathan Simler being recognized as a Top Teacher
- Sherrie Payne placing 2nd in the Bronze Rhythm Scholarship
- Instructors Nathan and Lecie winning the Open Professional Smooth title in a close competition with many worthy competitors. This is their 2nd year winning this title. They were also runners up for the Open Professional Rhythm.
In attendance to show their support were U and Me dancers Sheila McCorry, Judith Lockwood, Gayle Staker, Joy McGrath, Dan Bostrom, and U and Me Owners Toni and Wendell Simler, Azita Simler, and Mary Simler Evans.
The organizers, Robert and Monique Hrouda did a fantastic job, and organized an amazing show featuring Rhythm greats Felipe and Carolina Telona, and a Standard Show by Urs Geiseheimer and Agnes Kaczmarciek. What a weekend.
We're so proud of our students and teachers!
Upcoming Competitions We Attend
CITY LIGHTS BALL
January 31 - February 1, 2009
Doubletree Hotel, San Jose CA
Organizer(s): Glenn Weiss & Barbara Gore More information on their website: http://www.citylightsball.com/
CALIFORNIA OPEN DANCESPORT
February 19-22, 2009
Park Plaza Hotel - Boston, MA
http://www.easterndancesport.com
HERITAGE CLASSIC DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 3-7, 2009
Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa - Asheville, NC
http://www.theheritageclassic.com
SAN FRANCISCO OPEN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS - 27th Annual
March 26-29, 2009
Marriott Hotel, San Francisco Airport, CA
SOUTHERN STATES DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS - 37th Annual
April 8-12, 2009
J.W. Marriott Hotel - New Orleans, LA
WISCONSIN STATE DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS - 20th Annual
April 23-26, 2009
Pfister Hotel - Milwaukee, WI
http://www.wiscstatedancechamp.com
2009 EMERALD BALL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
April 29 - May 3
Los Angeles Airport Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
PEOPLE'S CHOICE DANCESPORT COMPETITION
May 21-24, 2009
Westin Resort & Spa - Phoenix, AZ
COLORADO STAR BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
June 18-21, 2009
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Denver Tech Center
More information on their website: http://www.coloradostarball.com
MILLENNIUM 2000 DANCESPORT
June 24-28, 2009
Renaissance Vlnoy Resort - St Petersburg, FL
More information on their website: http://www.m2dance.com
MANHATTAN DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 1-5, 2009
New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
Organizer(s): Gary & Diana McDonald and Avi Kafri
http://www.manhattandancesport.com
TWIN CITIES OPEN BALLROOM CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 9-12, 2009
Minneapolis South Sheraton - Bloomington, MN
Organizer(s): Megamarc, Inc. (Scott & Amy Anderson)
INTERNATIONAL GRAND BALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 31 - August 2, 2009
San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel - San Francisco, CA
Organizer(s): Stephan & Denise Krauel
http://www.internationalgrandball.com
SEATTLE STAR BALL
August 7-9, 2009
Sea-Tac Hilton & Conference Center - Seattle, WA
http://www.seattlestarball.com
CAPITAL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 26-29, 2009
Alexandria Hilton Hotel - Metro. Washington, DC
http://www.capitaldancesport.net
EMBASSY BALL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS, INC.
September 3-6, 2009
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Jamboree Road - Irvine, CA
Organizer(s): John Kimmins, Sam Sodano, and Brian & Kristi McDonald
UNITED STATES DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS®
September 8-13, 2009
Lowe's Royal Pacific Resort at Universal - Orlando, FL
http://www.unitedstatesdancechampionships.com
GOLDEN STATE CHALLENGE
October 9-10, 2009
Orange County, CA
Organizer(s): Richard and Jennifer Booth & Tom and Lori Hicks
Autumn Classic – San Francisco
- 2009 dates coming soon...Autumn Dance Classic will be moving back down the street to the larger ballroom at the Cathedral Hill Hotel. Stay tuned for details.
- Laura is working on getting the marks up, and apologizes for the delay.
Pacific Dancesport Championships – Los Angeles, CA
OHIO STAR BALL BALLROOM CHAMPIONSHIPS
November 17-22, 2009
Hyatt Regency Convention Center - Columbus, OH
Organizer(s): Sam Sodano
HOLIDAY DANCE CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
December 9-13, 2009
Las Vegas, NV
Organizer(s): Wendy Johnson, Sam Sodano & Mary Murphy
http://www.holidaydanceclassic.com
