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Dancers looking to improve their dancing are in luck this weekend with three workshops around town that will help you develop a better understanding and expand your knowledge of fundamental principles and techniques in latin and in standard.

• May 1, Master Class in Samba, with Kristina Staykova, at Stepping Out, starting at 11:30 am.
• May 1, Latin Workshop with Colin James, at Basic Ballroom, starting at 6:30 pm, followed by a run-through supervised by Colin James.
• May 2, Standard Workshops with Arunas Bizoukas and Katusha Demidova at Manhattan Ballroom Dance studio, starting with Arunas at 3 pm and Katusha at 4:30 pm.

For the Colin James and Katusha/Arunas workshops, special rates are available to USA Dance members who register on-line. In the case of the Katusha/Arunas workshop, you save $10 off the price at the door. For the Colin James workshop, pre-payment is available only on-line. We encourage you to register and pre-pay on-line as part of the proceeds go to NY USA Dance, to help us to continue providing programs and benefits for our members.

On-line payment and registration for the Katusha/Arunas workshops and the Colin James workshop will close at 9 a.m. on May 1 so please sign up TODAY if you plan on attending those workshops.

Are there workshops from instructors that you'd like to see happen in the near future? Let us know at info@nyusadance.org and we will see if we can make it happen.

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As long as we're asking for your feedback, please take a moment now to fill out our website survey. If you're not able to see the link in the previous sentence, click on this link: http://bit.ly/websitesurvey or cut and paste it into your browser. We are in the process of revamping our website to make it more user-friendly and useful to you, and your input would contribute greatly to that effort. If you've already answered the survey, thank you! If you haven't yet, we're going to be shutting it off on May 15. Please respond to the survey today! Thank you!

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From the Lincoln Center website we have news that Midsummer Night Swing returns for its 2010 season from June 29 to July 17:

The world’s finest dance bands turn Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park into New York’s favorite open-air dance party—for pros and newcomers alike. Join the electrifying sounds of swing, salsa, disco, Afrobeat, and much, much more.

Click here for the full calendar. June 29 may seem like it's far off, but this event ranks among the most popular ones in New York City and if you plan to dance on the floor that they set up in front of the bandshell at Damrosch Park, you may want to order your tickets now because they go quickly. And, yes, as in years past, you can dance outside of the enclosed dance space for free but since they moved the event from the fountain to Damrosch Park a couple of years ago, the "free" space has gotten very, very crowded so you may want to consider taking to the dance floor instead of the concrete for a more pleasant experience.

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This week on DWTS: The dances were samba and Argentine tango, capped off by a swing "marathon" dance-off. Gold medal figure skater Evan Lysacek turned in a samba that underwhelmed the judges. Len Goodman described the movements as "balletic" and un-samba-like. The other judges agreed that samba was not Evan's best dance, and all judges gave 7s to Evan, causing him to tumble from the top of the leaderboard to the middle of the pack, the first time that Evan has found himself in that unfamiliar position this season. Despite Evan's low score, he managed to survive elimination this week.

For me, the best performance was Niecy Nash's Argentine tango with Louis van Amstel. They took a normally dour, angry and melodramatic dance into a comical piece that kept our DWTS@ACME gang in stitches for the entire performance. The judges, while enjoying the performance, thought that it lacked intensity. Carrie Ann Inaba suggested that Niecy didn't need the comedy to make it work. I suppose that's right but the comedy made it work for me, especially at the end, when Louis pulled out a cookie, took a big bite and then taunted Niecy with it by holding it over his head, far away from Niecy, as she reached out in hungry desperation for a bite. Great ending to a fun routine!

On Tuesday night's results show, Bachelor Jake Pavelka bit the dust. The judges praised Jake for his enthusiasm for all the weeks that he has been on the show, and in looking back, yes, Jake did indeed give his all and then some week after week. Like Kate G., Jake was not an experienced dancer or performer, but he pushed on each week trying to do his best with what he had . . . without grumbling week after week about how much of a non-dancer he was or how much anxiety he was experiencing as a result. Hats off to you, Jake!

I was surprised at the high scores Erin Andrews got this week for a very mediocre samba danced in a dreadful outfit that was not at all flattering on her. Maybe Maks Chmerkovskiy's strip-tease during their samba got the votes out in droves. The judges must be seeing something in the studio that we're not or maybe the camera just isn't capturing whatever magic she is putting forth that's garnering all their raves. Whatever it is, Erin has found herself up at the top of the leaderboard, behind Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. It's looking like the top three finalists are likely to be Nicole, Erin and Evan (if he recovers from his dip this week -- which I think he will). For the next three weeks, Niecy, Pamela Anderson and Chad Ochocinco will be fighting to stave off elimination. At least, that's how things look right now.

To watch week 7 with the DWTS@ACME gang, join us at ACME, at the bar in the back, on Monday night, May 3, starting at 8 pm. Hope to see you there!

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For those who have not yet visited the Brooklyn Museum for their First Saturday event, this may be the weekend to do it. On May 1, Grupo Latin Vibe, a salsa/latin band, will be playing live during the Dance Party at the beautiful Beaux Arts Court, from 9 pm to 11 pm. Salsa lessons will be provided by Stepping Out at 8 pm, so if you need a refresher course or want to bring along friends who don't know how to salsa, that's the time to arrive. The best part: It's all FREE, and you also get to enjoy the fine exhibits on display at the museum. For more information, visit the Target First Saturdays website, which includes a video clip of Grupo Latin Vibe in performance and a full list of all the free programs on tap for May 1.

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Word comes from the American Ballroom Theater Studio (formerly Pierre Dulaine Dance Studio) that they will be hosting a monthly dance on Friday nights, starting Friday, May 14. It's called Friday Fiesta, and here's more about the event:

Our Instructors teach 3 to 4 dances from 7pm-8:00! Then from 8:00-10pm we will dance to ballroom and Latin music for you to practice your new moves or show off some moves you are familiar with. We will have snacks and wine for everyone! $15 admission for the night. This is a great way to learn some basic steps in a relaxed, fun atmosphere, come join us! (must be 21 or older)

For more information, click here. If you present your USA Dance card at the door, you get in for just $12. Check it out on May 14.

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Reminders:

• Sign up to dance with NY USA Dance at Dance Parade, an annual celebration of all forms of dance. Come out and represent ballroom dance with our chapter. The parade takes place on Saturday, May 22, and it's the fourth annual. For more information about the parade, click here. To sign up with our chapter, send your contact information to info@nyusadance.org.
• Louis del Prete is presenting a Special Event on Saturday, May 29, at the Suburban Temple in Wantagh, out on Long Island. There will be a dance with a special performance by Karina Smirnoff and Dmitry Chaplin from Dancing with the Stars. The cost is just $40 per person and reservations will be taken until May 15. In addition to the show, you get a dance lesson at 8:30 pm and open dancing from 9 pm to 12:30 am. For more details, click here. This event is popular and has sold out in the past so if you are interested in seeing Karina and Dmitry performing live, make your reservations today.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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).

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Looking to social dance? Here are some suggestions:

• Tonight, Hot Salsa Friday at the VIP Lounge at the Iguana. Doors open at 6 pm.
• Tonight, Guest Night at Sandra Cameron Dance Center, free to students of the studio, their guests and those who are new to the studio, starting at 9:30 pm.
• Tonight, Friday night social at Dance with Me Soho, with a Roaring '20s theme. The studio says, "That means short hair, zoot suits, cigarette sticks, swing dancing, and more! Wine and snacks will be served. The price for Dance With Me students and friends is $15 and includes refreshments and an All Style Dance Class." For more details, contact Dance with Me Soho at (212) 840-Dance (3262).
• Tomorrow, May 1: mixed ballroom dancing at Manhattan Ballroom Dance studio, starting at 7:30 pm with a free lesson. NOTE: The $10 discount for USA Dance members is no longer in effect; admission for all is now $15 per person.
• Monday, May 3, 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, May 4, Hot Salsa and Latin at Club 56 in Farmingdale, LI. 14th Annual Cinco de Mayo Dance Party with live music by Mambo Loco and lesson in bolero. Doors open at 7 pm.
• Thursday, May 6 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, NJoyDancing News & Notes or bailamosdance.com.

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Partner seekers: We now have a baker's dozen of 13 dancers (4 leaders, 9 followers), of various abilities, age categories and requirements, looking for partners. Check out the Partner Search page to see their postings or post your own ad if the fancy strikes you. It's free, easy and quick. Do it today!

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That does it for this week. Hope you can take advantage of this weekend of workshops! Remember to sign up before 9 am tomorrow, May 1.

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