FAIRBANKS DANCING

IN A

“WEEK” OF

July 8 thru July 15, 2010

Here's the dance info from Kurt Byers in Fairbanks for this 
weekend and the immediate future.

UAF Good Time Swing Dance Club News

1. Dancers Descend Again on Howling Dog on Thursdays!
2. Silver Spur Swings Saturday
3. Theresa Bauer at Chatanika Lodge Every Sunday All Summer
4. Argentine Tango Practice Saturdays at Mary Siah Recreation Center
5. Judy Kreith to Teach West Coast Swing, Cross-Step Waltz, Cha Cha
6. Seniors Ballroom Dance Contest in August at Civic Center
7. West Coast Swing Stylin’ & Dancin’ at The Artisan's Courtyard, July 9

1. BLUES NIGHT IN FULL SWING AT HOWLING DOG
A lively bunch of swing and ballroom dancers showed up again last Thursday night for Blues Night at the Howling Dog Saloon, and I expect the same tonight. As I've done in past summers, at the band's request I provide recorded swinging blues tunes for the band's breaks. The band is The Mighty Untouchables, featuring superb guitarists Larry and (sometimes) Lindy Raines. They kick out lots of great music for swinging, and even a cha cha and rumba or three. Blues night is every Thursday night all summer, with the band starting around 9:30 p.m. Adults only, no cover charge.

2. SWING, BALLROOM DANCING AT SILVER SPUR THIS SATURDAY
We had another great group show up last Saturday evening at our weekly swing/ballroom dance at the Silver Spur. This Saturday, we'll be back again, dancing to a variety of music, contemporary and otherwise, for swing and ballroom dancing--waltz, tango, foxtrot, etc. Best nightclub dance floor in Alaska! Recorded music starts at 6 p.m. and goes to 8:30 p.m. About half the tunes are selected for various kinds of swing dancing, the other half for ballroom dancing with a little Latin spice, including two or three tangos. No cover charge prior to 8:30 p.m., adults only. And please spend money and tip well, even if you just order water, so that the Spur can pay their bills and we dancers can maintain our early evening welcome--a weekly welcome that has held up since we started this gig in the fall of 1999, through three ownerships! Thanks.

3. THERESA AT KLONDIKE LOUNGE FRIDAY, CHATANIKA LODGE SUNDAY
Theresa Bauer will be on stage at the Klondike Lounge every Friday this month, 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm (adults only), and every Sunday evening all summer at the Chatanika Lodge from 5-9 p.m. (all ages welcome), playing a mix of tunes for dancing, listening, and generally just having a good time! Beautiful drive up the Steese Highway to Chatanika. No cover charge at Chatanika, wood dance floor. Full bar, food. Info on Chatanika: 389-2164

4. ARGENTINE TANGO PRACTICE EVERY SATURDAY
Nam Jeon hosts an Argentine tango practice every Saturday afternoon, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Mary Siah Recreation Center, 1024 14th Avenue. Might want to check with Nam to make sure the practice is happening any particular Saturday. Contact Nam at namjeon@sprynet.com.

5. WEST COAST SWING, WALTZ, CHA CHA LESSONS AT PIONEER PARK
Judy Kreitch will teach West Coast Swing the Skippy Blair Way on Monday and Wednesday, July 5 and 7, and Cha Cha Cha on Monday and Wednesday, July 12 and 14 at Pioneer Park Dance Hall. Check the Ballroom Club's website for times and prices. www.ballroomfairbanks.org.

6. BALLROOM DANCE CONTEST IN SENIORS GAMES
I've been recruited (thanks, Terry Norman) to be the "Commissioner" of the Ballroom Dance Contest in the upcoming Alaska International Senior Games http://www.fairnet.org/Agencies/aisg/ happening in Fairbanks in August, sponsored primarily by Banner Health/Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, and GCI. People will come to Fairbanks from all over the state (and nation) to compete in these games, which cover a plethora of sporting activities, from ping pong to running to archery. The ballroom dance competition is a demonstration sport and will NOT be a qualifying event for the National Senior Games.

Advance registration discount, $30 per person, is available to you before August 1 for the dance contest. After August 1, it will cost you $45 per person to be in the dance competition. Online registration/payment will be available starting next week.

The dance contest will cover three dances: American Foxtrot, East Coast Swing, and American Slow Waltz (all of these are what Wade and Tanya teach for the Ballroom Dance Club of Fairbanks). If you are 50 years old or older, you qualify. Age groups will be 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, etc. No upper age limit. You compete in the age group of whoever is the younger person in your partnership. You and your partner may compete in any or all of the three dances, but if you don't compete in all three, your total score will not likely qualify you for a medal because final scores will be the total score of whatever number of dances you dance. You must dance with the same partner if you dance in more than one dance. I will organize and MC the contest, and local dance instructors will be the judges--Stefani Brown is one of them. Competitors will be judged on both style and technique.

The contest will be held in the main exhibit area of the Civic Center at Pioneer Park on Saturday night, August 14, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Spectators are welcome to come and cheer on the competitors--there will be a "Peoples' Choice Award," determined by applause from spectators, as well as Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards in each age category, determined by judges' scores. It'll be a hoot! Keep watching this newsletter for further details.

7. West Coast Swing AT ARTISAN'S COURTYARD FRIDAY!
Heads up, we've got a West Coast Swing "stylin" and
smooth-out-your-technique lesson coming up this Friday night, July 9,  from
7:30 pm to about 8:45 pm at The Artisan's Courtyard off College Road
across from the Woodway. Lesson takers should have
basic proficiency with 6- and 8-count steps & patterns of West Coast
swing...push break (aka "sugar push"), passes & whip. And immediately
following the lesson, stick around for a swing/ballroom "Shakin' the
Summer Blues" dance, featuring a lot of cool tunes on a hot night for
West Coast swinging and other dances. The dance goes from 9:00 pm to
midnight. No alcohol or smoking, all ages welcome. Artisan's Courtyard
has their air conditioning running now, so you can beat the summer
heat...at least until you start to ignite the dance floor with your
scorching West Coast swing!

Our Thanks to Kurt Byers for the upbeat on Fairbanks dancing!

Get on Kurt’s mailing list: SwingD-L@lists.uaf.edu
https://lists.uaf.edu:8025/mailman/listinfo/swingd-l

QUESTIONS?  CALL NELLEE AT 223-0387 OR JUST CHECK OUT THE MAIN PAGE ON MY WEBSITE FOR

MORE INFO (www.akswing.com). Want to be on my swingmail list? Email me at admin@akswing.com.