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FT. WAYNE SHOWDOWN
3 Day Danc-A-ThoN
2004
Directors Jamie & Barney Marshall, Barry &
Dari Anne Amato
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| Yea - I know it's last year's pic... if its not broke dun fix it ;) |
Actually, between the camera/operator & pitiful connection speed shortcomings. Pics just aint happening...
If you've got some to share, pass it on - please n thanks.
Ft Wayne Showdown 2004
So much great word of mouth has been posted already - I'll just ramble on n try n find a
different approach to make it worth yer read...lemme know woncha?
The long running event, taken over this year by Directors Jamie &
Barney Marshall, and Barry and Darri Anne Amato fully lived up to the tradition set by Tanya & Dale Curry, and the Hardwood
Shiners, who had built and maintained this tremendous event.
The new team of event directors wisely continued the very best aspects that have kept folks comin'
back year after year. The Scottish Rite remained as the same venue, they still had
top notch instructors n plenty of em, still had an OVERWHELMING amount of workshop choices, still had lots of great vendors,
still held on the 1st weekend in March AND still had the annual storms that make the weekend memorable n stick
in yer mind ;) Wunner how they managed that! Mutha Natcha glitched the system just a bit and for some folks -
both comin' in and gettin' out had a few surprises... Keeps life interesting eh?
Tho, wasn't Friday just plain GORGEOUS?! They also managed to keep one day of beautiful
weather just to give us a tease of Spring! (To think we only knew about their accomplishments in the Dance
World - we'll add this to their considerable lists of talents ;)
You heard all along how the planning was coming - they did a great job of gettin' us hyped and
keepin on top of things all the way thru the process. Specifically, to name a few, they credited the the specialized
help of Debi Bodven, Gale Erskin and Tracy & Larry Harmon for their assistance...all the details got tended to in a most
efficient way.
Before we touch on the already published particulars... (See Vivienne Scott's
review, or tkandre's newletter for lots of constructive and positive feedback) lemme focus on the one major hi-lite of
this event.
Ft Wayne, due to it's large draw and sheer size capacity is one of the BEST people watching,
meet n greet, mix n mangle events you can possibly attend.
You start off on Friday afternoon with yer rounds of "Hello, & it's great to see
ya!" to all the folks you've not seen in a while, or had just seen the week before on yer hometown floors, or ya just met
5 minutes ago comin thru the door. EVERYONE seems to be there! As
ya make yer way thru this huge facility you come across folks constantly to stop n gab with! ALL day long Friday, then
continue it ALL day Saturday as they keep arriving, and if ya hadn't got thru em all by Sunday...why yer still meetin'
n greetin'! Just adding your farewells at the same time! Oh - double time hugs n kisses bonus! ;)
That's not to say you can't jam pack your day with lessons and open dancing and buying all yer
dance supplies - there is TONS of that available! But if your a lil' more laid back n tend to take it easy over
the weekends n go for the sheer FUN of it, like some of us occasionally prefer to do ;) FT Wayne is
still the place to be!
Me thinks its time to give ourselves a catchy title - perhaps it may sound a lil' familiar to
ya?
SIL ~~~ Slackers In Line ;)
So whether you've come to just chill out n play the weekend away, OR you've come to learn
the latest n greatest dances from the best instructors n Go! Go! Go! from mornin' til night - Ft Wayne has both - with abundance!
Let's yak about the Rite. This is one BIGA$$ building! Ya got rooms goin evy which-a-way!
7 of them were formally dedicated for our dancing use. All are good in size and were equipped with good sound systems/music
and nice floors too!!!! Dancin paradise :)
On top of that, there's a cafeteria, restaurant, bar, lounges, hallways, nooks, crannies, n crevices
that are all prime spots for passin' folks and enjoying yourselves! This was my 4th year - and whilst I'm neither
Lewis nor Clark, every year I find new territory to explore ;)
Actually, Its really not that hard to navigate once ya get the lay o' the land, but I heard some
folks got mixed up a time or two. BUT odds are - even if you didn't end up where ya started off to -
it was still a great place to be! Half the fun is gettin' there eh?
The list of line dance instructors along w/ some of their
dance teaches include:
~MAX PERRY
Possibility Foxtrot, Cobra
~JOHN ROBINSON
Beautiful People, Cheek to Cheek, Again (taught Sunday - no sheet yet?)
~PEDRO
Country 2 Step, Time To ride
~JOANNE BRADY
Wave On Wave, Cottonfields, Dit Dot Ditty
~JUDY McDONALD
Sweet Memories, Hey Ya
~BRYAN MCWHERTER
IMAGINE (one of my current personal faves!), Ya Know
~GUYTON MUNDY
Clean up to the Elbows, Spread The Word, What Dat Bout
~KATHY HUNYADI
8,9,10 Let's Do It Again, Can't Stand Still
~DOUG & JACKIE MIRANDA
One Dream, Swoop
~EVE YEATON
Cha Cha Tonight, Fork In The Road
~DANCIN' DEAN
Serenity, Gotta Have Faith
~DONNA CAUDILL
Sweat
~KAREN HEDGES
I Hear You Knockin', Cho-Co-Latte
~VIVIENNE SCOTT
Wishes, Still Waters
~DEBI BODVEN
West Coast Walk, Love Ain't Here
~LARRY & TRACY HARMON
Listen to the Rhythm, Computer Music tips
~Barry Durrand
I heard It Thru the Grapevine
Also teaching couples or both were: Dean Gambino.
Bev Carpenter, Ronnie DeBenedetta, Laureen Baldovi, Kristen Geil, John Lindo, Annamarie McCabe, Katy Fineman, Rodney
& Jane Schomas, Jennifer & Randy Jeffries, Tim Hand & Alice Daugherty, Mark & Mary Harris, Keith & Shelby
Hyatt, Richard & Sherry Helton, Eagle & Pam Lindsey, Dick & Sandra Sharp and Dorsey Napier.
All of the instructors did a great job!, No wonder we have so many faves! New
to the weekenders, Jackie & Doug Miranda and Guyton Mundy gained lots of favor from folks around these parts that haven't
had the chance to meet em yet, as did many of the new to the line up folks.
The buzz was ALL of the instructors did a fab job and everyone enjoyed all the classes they
took. Each has their own unique styles and charming personalities.
They're all great at what they do - make dancing fun!
There was definately something for everyone over this weekend! Tons of choices in music
n style n level! Can't wait til we can start dancing the new stuffs out n about! (Side ramble - member back
in the day when it took close to a year for the Ft Wayne "Premier" dances to trickle down n be taught locally? Those
days are long gone eh? Heck we're doin lots of em afore the ink is dry on the sheets now days....)
What's left?!?!?
New this year handling the Main Ballroom &
Open dance Wild Man Louie St. George! He's earned a place as my all time event fave DJ so at this point - I can
be a lil biased :) I'm thinkin' he's the hardest workin' DJ on the planet...and I'd hate to stand a moment in his shoes/slippers/dreadlocks/whateva
;)
For as long as I've been going to Ft Wayne, there
seem to be more obscure requests as far as workshop weekends go...but overall, repeats were limited, music was current, with enough golden
oldies done to keep most evy one happy. Ft Wayne is the ONLY event I know of where ya hear Copperhead
Road played by request - it has evy single year since I've been goin - I imagine it will continue to do so
;)
The floors weren't crowded during evening
dance time so there was plenty of room to get out n practice what ya learnt. For the most part we were able
to carry on well enough without the instructors to lead us - who were busy gettin ready for the Sunday's Big Shew.
Those of us that stayed n played, kept dancing
until "Pumpkin Time" at Midnight Sharp. AND For those
that were wanting to keep going even later, there were other options to take advantage of. The Living
Room studio again had after hours dances as well as local establishments. Our "gang" choose to
hang out this year at the Holiday Inn's lounge...no dancing but plenty of good cheap enthusiastic fun - Pucker anyone?
Oh another hi-lite the Holiday Inn offered besides Happy Hour snacks ;) was a shuttle to the Rite - now that was
nice!
Saturday night's Just For Fun dance contests were emceed by the lovely Jennifer Jeffries.
Congrats to the all the winners! Sunday morning's open dance time was done by Tim Hand & Alice Daugherty - who played requests
asd they were able n kept us In Line ;) until the Rilly Big Shew started.
Speaking of - the rilly Big Shew was just that. We were treated to a period piece
called Danny Dean's Danc-A-Thon. It was funny n cute n wunnerful! Just as promised by the directors! Check
out Viv's site for complete details and pics as she's already done a mighty fine write up with lots of focus on that.
http://www.stayinline.ca/
DANCERS WISH LIST/SUGGESTIONS
That samo samo at EVERY event wish ya hear from dancers...
- Keep open dance for open dance time. (I've yet
to hear of a single event that has completely done away with shows, awards, contests, demos, etc. IF it ever happens,
please let me know what dancers think of it. I'd be curious to hear if it turns out to be a "careful what ya wish for"
situation.)
- Maps of the room layout at the Rite.(While
the Theme rooms were cute, some folks got temporarily muddled. Perhaps a different mnemonic approach ;)
SO That's not too bad at all for just taking over an event eh? As a matter of fact - it's
rather splendid eh?!
Congrats and Rilly Big Thanks to them all for having us! I for one am mighty thankful
that the event will continue - hopefully for many years to come! So that's a wrap...can't
wait til next year's Showdown Danc-A-Thon!
On a sentimental note...The major changes from previous
years was no competitions... if you're into that sorta thang, let the directors know for future years. Oh
n one more change that marked a difference that I never thought I'd even miss. The traditional closing Flag Waving
Ceremony... As corny as it seemed each year while you watched them take the stage and knew it was coming - it always would
bring a tear to yer eye anyway and became an event Trademark....
"God Bless The USA!"
Perhaps the Amato's and Marshalls will make it their tradition to continue sportin'
the retro hair-do's - Uhhh prolly not ;)
Ft Wayne Showdown TOP TEN
10. It's cheap!!!! A dancer's bargain blue light special!
9. After hours sillyness - always a hi-lite for the SIL club :) Other
clubs pending ;)
8. It's Rilly BIG, in a good way!
7. It's close by - how could we not go!
6. Vendors galore! Shop til ya drop :)
5. Biggun Instructors & mountains of Workshops !
4. It's still one of the remaining few events that actually blends LINE &
COUPLES equitably!
3. Great open dance fun!
2. A fantastic event for the "watch" factor alone. You can fill the weekend watchin'
great dancing of about any style. 3 days of total eye candy! Max Perry in a Beehive, Doug Miranda in
Good Humor White's, John Lindo on a bike ;) Pedro - just bein Pedro ;)
1. EVERYONE IS THERE! Come to just say hello to evy one you know!
Keep the 1st weekend in March open. See ya next year! Same Time Same Channel :)
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