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In this space last week, we announced that our chapter’s Second Annual National Ballroom Dance Week Gala will be taking place on Sunday, September 12, at SPQR. We ran a contest with a photo of the couple we’re honoring from way back when they were junior competitors. The first correct answer we got was from Eva Wu. Yes, the couple we are honoring this year is John and Cathi Nyemchek. Congratulations to Eva!

John and Cathi have a long history in the ballroom dance world. They began dancing at the age of 4 and became Junior American Style Champions, United States Amateur Champions in Latin and Standard and the undefeated United States Professional 10-dance champions. They traveled the world, representing the United States at numerous international events. They performed as one of the original members of the American Ballroom Theater.

John and Cathi are world-class adjudicators and have judged at some of the country’s and the world’s leading dance competitions. John and Cathi have judged at and chaired the Manhattan Amateur Classic for many years running. They have organized their own major dance competitions, including the Yankee Classic which takes place every June in Boston.

Closer to home, John and Cathi own and operate Nyemchek’s Dance Center in Pearl River, New York, where they hold classes not just in ballroom dancing but in performing arts and fitness.

We are pleased to be honoring John and Cathi Nyemchek at this year’s NBDW Gala, and we hope you will join us for this special occasion. There will be a reception and luncheon beginning at 11:30 am, followed by general dancing with a show by USA Dance National 10-dance champions Pasha Pashkov and Daniella Karagach. The proceeds will go to helping our chapter run its events, including the Manhattan Amateur Classic. For more details, click here.

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A couple of Saturdays ago, I attended the Dance Chelsea Fundraising Social and provided the tunes as DJ. Many people were in attendance, and everybody seemed to be having a terrific time. In particular, a number of our top youth dancers were among those enjoying the social, including Tal Livshitz, Austin Joson and Alexander Chernositov. And they were actually social dancing, not doing their competition routines on the floor. But even when they social dance, it’s something to see, and the other attendees at times could not help but step aside to watch rather than dance themselves. For some of my photos from the party, click here.

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Good-bye, Studio 101. I heard from a couple of reliable sources the sad news that this popular studio located at 101 Lafayette Street in Chinatown will be closing its doors this month. I understand that it’s due to rising rents. Studio 101 was the site for many NY USA Dance parties in the past, and we’re sorry to hear that it will be ceasing its operations. We wish George and everyone else at Studio 101 the best of luck in their future endeavors.

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Those who have been active in the ballroom and partner dancing world have known for years that New York City has numerous places to go and enjoy latin dancing but the New York Times seems to have finally caught on. Last Thursday, the Times ran a story entitled “A Latin Dance Scene Spreads Across New York.” Here’s a short excerpt:

[T]hese days the Latin dance scene is truly a moveable feast that offers dedicated fans — and curious beginners — the possibility of stepping out seven nights a week. If anything, the number of places featuring Latin dance seems to be growing . . . .

To read the rest of the article, click here.

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Reminder:

USA Dance is hosting its first cruise taking place aboard the luxurious Italian Cruise Line Costa's "Atlantica" from November 28 through December 5, departing from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and hitting the following ports-of-call: Key West, Florida; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Cozumel, Mexico. For more details, click here: www.dancecruiseusadance.org. The instructors will be Dan and Silke Calloway and Wayne and Marie Crowder. Sounds like a great cruise, tailored for ballroom dancers of all levels, so sign up TODAY!

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Looking to improve your dancing? Here are some ideas for classes and practice spaces:

• Become the best ballroom dancer you can be for your partner by working on yourself first. ISTD Fellow Michael Choi shows you how with his Ballroom Barre, at Chelsea Studios, every Wednesday, starting at 8:30 pm. Just $25 per person for USA Dance members. For the latin dancers, Michael offers the Latin Barre, at Basic Ballroom, every Thursday, starting at 9:30 pm. Also just $25 per person for USA Dance members. The classes are non-sequential so drop in any time; no partner required, all levels welcome. For more information, contact Michael at michael@dancemchoi.com.
• Manhattan Ballroom Dance studio has Standard rounds on Thursdays, from 9:30 to 10:30 pm. The floor is huge, with plenty of space to swing out, so if you're looking for a good place to run your standard routines, visit Manhattan Ballroom Dance studio on Thursday nights.
• Basic Ballroom holds a Competition Run-through Class supervised by former World Professional Latin finalists Paul Richardson and Olga Rodianova on Friday nights from 8 pm to 9:30 pm. Just $20 for USA Dance members.
• Dance Chelsea is offering a special promotion of an $85 unlimited practice card. For more details about this great deal, contact the studio or log on to their Facebook page.
• Check out the special rates for USA Dance members at Basic Ballroom: just $79 for a 10 session card and $90 for their unlimited monthly card.
• At DanceSport, present your USA Dance card at the door and get free admission to their supervised ballroom practice on Thursdays from 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm. This session is supervised by either Snejana Petrova, Luana Conte, or Tobi Kretschmer. Plus, practice at the studio on Sundays for just $10 per hour per couple.
• Dance with Me Soho will be hosting Practice Sessions, and they are offering both an unlimited option and a 10 practice session card. For the unlimited option, the cost is $100 per person, with a 15% discount to USA Dance members, so our members can get unlimited practice time at Dance with Me Soho for just $85 per person per month. If you would prefer to go for the 10 practice session card, the cost for that will be $100 per couple, with a 25% discount for USA Dance members, or $75 per couple. Questions? Please call the studio at (212) 840-Dance (3262).
• USA Dance National Latin Champion Val Chmerkovskiy teaches a Latin technique class on Thursdays at 7:10 pm at Dance with Me Soho. If you'd like to learn how to make your own Latin dancing sharper, better and hotter, you may want to check out these Thursday evening classes. No partner is necessary, and the price is just $35 per class (or $250 if you take ten classes). For more information, click here.

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Looking to social dance? Here are some suggestions:

• Tonight, July 25, MoonDance at Pier 54, at West 14th Street, salsa with Nu D’lux. Lesson at 6:30 pm, band starts at 7:00 pm. FREE (weather permitting).
• Monday, July 26, Salsa at Taj, with live band and special performances. Arrive before 7 pm and get in for $6 (admission price doubles after 7 pm).
• Tuesday, July 27, Hot Salsa, West Coast Swing and Hustle Tuesdays is back! It all takes place at Club 56 in Farmingdale, with a cha cha lesson, buffet dinner, cash bar, door prizes, friendly people and a showcase performance. Doors open at 7 pm.
• Wednesday, July 28, free admission to the swing/lindy party at DanceSport on Wednesday night from 9:30-10:30 pm.

• Thursday, July 29, Sunset Salsa, FREE beginner salsa lesson from 6:30 to 7:30 pm followed by Dance Party from 7:30 to 9:00 pm. Join Talia Castro-Pozo and a guest instructor every Thursday for a great evening outdoors at the Triangle at 14th St. and 9th Ave. It’s all FREE! Co-sponsored by Stepping Out Studios. Featured in the New York Times article on the Latin dance scene in New York (see above).
• Thursday, July 29, free admission to the weekly mixed ballroom social at DanceSport on Thursday nights from 9:30-10:30pm.
• Thursday, July 30 Thursday Night Dance Club at Mirelle's, in Westbury, featuring Latin, Hustle and West Coast Swing. Lesson at 7:30 pm, dancing starts at 8:15 pm. Admission just $10 per person for USA Dance members (present your card at the entrance to get the discount).

For more ideas, check Wayne's Dance Commentary or bailamosdance.com.

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Partner seekers: Check out the Partner Search page to see listings for dancers at various levels looking for partners, or post your own ad to find a partner. It's free, easy and quick. Did your previous post expire? You may want to re-post if you’re still looking. Do it today!

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That does it for this week. Stay cool, stay dry!

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Yang Chen
President
Greater NY
USA Dance
(NY USA Dance)

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General disclaimer: Please note that, other than events organized by NY USA Dance, the listing of events in this newsletter is purely for informational purposes and does not carry with it any endorsement, sanction or seal of approval, express or implied. If you have any questions about an event other than one organized by NY USA Dance, you should direct them to the organizer of that event. NY USA Dance has no control over any of the events listed herein, other than those events which NY USA Dance itself organizes. NY USA Dance bears no responsibility for the content, conduct, quality, management or operation of any of the events listed in this newsletter, other than those events organized directly by NY USA Dance.