Wishing you a safe and happy New Year’s
Happy Birthday wishes to Barry Durand, Rafael Diaz, Marianne Gonzalez, Eileen Erlich,
Mike Casamassima, Marta Hogan, Aubree Marchione and Donna Summer.
Randy Atlas & Trish Warren were married on December 11 in Bermuda. They had been dating for 7 years, and will be dancing their way to a fun future in Fort Lauderdale. They still go out dancing several nights a week, and have proven that this was the last dance for romance.

Dec 31, Thur – NY – New Years Eve – Dance – Long Island, Exciting Dance show with Mark James and Karen Lupo, the event is catered – Tables for Singles & Couples, for more details visit http://www.mjames.org/newyearseve_mcdance.html – 631-592-1358
The 20th Anniversary the Manhattan Amateur Classic takes place January 15 – 17, 2010, at the
Grand Ballroom, Manhattan Center, on 311 West 34th Street in New York City.
Wanted, four hustle couples to participate in a dance company performance starting in January 2010 with four shows weekly. Rehearsals start soon at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie St. NY, NY 10002 . Contact Roma Irizarry at 914-406-0315
Michael’s Cafe, the hot spot every Wednesday night for hustle, swing and Latin dancing. Celebrating 3 birthdays: Susan Laura, MinA and CK. No cover charge and free parking. DJ Mark spins till 12:45AM. Free dance lesson with Joey Commentucci at 8:30PM. Don’t miss the excitement. Located on Street Road in Bensalem Pa. Next week guest teacher is Disco Donna Boyle, Spread the word
This past November 29th at the US Swing Open 2009 Cabaret, dance/acrobatic champions David Paris and Zoe took first place in the most prestigious West Coast Swing competition. The entries were an excellent variety of ages, dance styles, teams, duos and solos.
Make it a great week,
Ron
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Dance Trivia
* Margaret “the purple tiger” Burns, is a former World Exhibition Champion, British Rising Star Latin Champion, United States 10-dance Champion, British Exhibition Champion, and British Disco/Hustle Champion. Her favorite dances have always been the Hustle & West Coast Swing. She has been in the dance business for a whopping 36 years.
* The Harvest Moonball in 1982 featured the best couples competing in the hustle division in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. In the finals the top three were: 1st place – Kenny Gonzales & Laudes Jones, 2nd Artie Philips and Maria Torres and in third, Steven Mitchell and Lisa Rivera.
* Al Pacino rocked the screen in “Carlito’s Way” which featured many of the hustle dancers portraying the energy in the club during this time piece. Everyone from the hustle scene auditioned for a part in the movie. Choreographed by Debbie Benitez, the move featured Diane Nardone, Bobby Morales, Billy Fajardo,
Nelly Cotto, Yvette Rivera, Stracy Diaz and Hector Berrios.
* Co host of America’s Ballroom Challenge, Ron Montez is a former seven-time U.S. National Dance Champion along with Elizabeth Curtis. Undefeated from 1979 – 1985. A co-host of the PBS Dance Championships, you can see him now as a featured choreographer on the hit show “So You Think You Can Dance. ”
* “Keep your minds together, you’re hearts full of love, and keep that thing that we call soul alive.” the inspirational words of Gerald Bledsoe the host of the dance show “Soul Alive”. Sadly, Gerald died of a heart attack at age 51 on September 27, 1994.
* The Dale Dance Studio Hustle Kings were one of the early dance troops from Brooklyn NY created by Henry Dior in 1977. It included many professional teachers like Diane Nardone, John Merisier, Fred Guarniccio, Patti & Gus, Lisa Nunziella, Marie Izzo, Eddie Simon, Maria Torres and Melvin Curry. They had an on going contract performing shows at 2001 Odyssey, the home of the club scenes for Saturday Night Fever.
* Founded by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995, the Pussycat Dolls began as a burlesque dance revue based in Los Angeles, spawned a second revue in Las Vegas, grew into an A-list phenomena with a revolving cast of guest celebrities, and eventually became a recording act with a number one dance hit.
* One of today’s top dance organizers on the East coast, Barry Durand, along with his first wife and dance partner appeared on the syndicated dance show Dance Fever. They performed an exciting single time East Coast Swing. It was also the last season for host Denny Terrio.
* She had a number one hit song in the country in 1979, “Harmony” which was very popular for Suzi Lane. Georgio Moroder produced the song, as he had been working for years with Donna Summer. Suzi was in a terrible car accident shortly after hitting the number one status and then, sadly, she vanished from the music scene.
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Top New Songs
1 Fireflies by Owl City
2 Bad Romance by Lady GaGa
3 TiK ToK by Ke$ha
4 I Gotta Feeling by Black Eyed Peas
5 Replay by Iyaz
6 Down by Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne
7 Whatcha Say by Jason Derulo
8 Meet Me Halfway by Black Eyed Peas
9 Party In The U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus
10 Empire State Of Mind by Jay-Z + Alicia Keys








