Birmingham Ballroom Dance Association
USA Dance , Chapter 6037

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Chapter dances

February Dance

Sunday, February 26, 2011
2:30-5:00

Waltz lesson with Kim Smith and Steve Hadley of Dr. Dance.

Music by Fred Gipson

Lesson at 2:00

Dress code: Dressy casual

LOCATION
Bailey Dance Studio, 1853 Montgomery Highway, Hoover

Members $7, guests $10

Dancers of all ages are welcome.

For information contact Priscilla Collums 205-873-1064 or priss522@aol.com

Our mission: To promote the quality and the quantity of ballroom dancing in our community.

Note that our monthly dances are held on the 4th Sunday of every month.

 
Become a member today
Follow this link to register with USA Dance online, or to download a membership application form www.usadance.org/membership/

The USA Dance Inc. central office can be reached by phone at 1-800-447-9047 or by fax at 239-573-0946 or by e-mail at central-office@usadance.org .
Annual dues are $25.00 per person for social dancers.

Watch the USA Dance promotional video at http://www.youtube.com/usadanceinc?gl=CA&hl=en .

Benefits of USA Dance membership
BBDA is much more than simply a social Dance Club. It is a Chapter of USA Dance, Inc., which along with all the other chapters works toward bringing more dancing to people and more people to dancing to share all its fun and joy and the friendships to be made.

How does a USA Dance chapter stand out - what else does a chapter do beyond just social dances?

1. For only $25.00 national annual dues, you are part of the premiere national dance association. As a member you have an open invitation to the activities of any local chapter. In fact the schedule of most chapters is posted on the USA Dance national website.
( http://www.USADance.org  ) USADance has over 200 active chapters. When you travel you have instant dance friends and contacts in nearly every major city. Simply contact the Chapter at your destination and find out where you can go dancing. When you get there you get to attend the chapter functions at the lower member rate.

2. Members receive 6 issues of "Amateur Dancer" per year. With this magazine you can be informed about the world of amateur ballroom dance, dance products, and dance events.

3. You are invited to join dance cruises offered and organized exclusively for USADance members and guests.

4. There are large, statewide and regional social dances and dance weekends sponsored by larger Chapters for USA Dance members.

5. By providing dance exhibitions and lessons to all age groups we spread the joy of dancing.


6. Our chapters encourage skill improvement, and donate our time to encourage non-dancers to get involved in dancing. We encourage particular attention to students in schools and colleges.

7. Members may attend and enter USADance competitions as a social or competitive dancer.

8. USADance has been selected by the U. S. Olympic Committee to be the governing board for ballroom dance competition (known as Dancesport) in the USA. The goal is for dance competition will be included in future Olympic Games.

In doing all these things we and our fellow USA Dance members help to spread the awareness of how much dancing can enrich a person's life. Ballroom Dance helps people find new social contacts, better health, more fun, increased physical activity, and a more positive mental outlook. … Come join us!

Chapter news

Volunteer of the Year

During the December 2011 dance, Fred Gipson was named volunteer of the year for 2011. Lilly Eagleson was awarded a certificate for her 7 years of service as Hostess for our Chapter.


IN MEMORIAM

Two members of the dance community recently died:

Donna Boone, the wife of BBDA member, Charlie Boone, and

Mary Oswald, who served on the BBDA Board as Treasurer 2004-2005.

Our condolences go out to the friends and families of these two ladies.

 

Election Results 

Our new BBDA board members are Jackie Tally, Priscilla Collums, Al Finley, Pat Blum, Jimmy Wellborn, Stan Digerness, Ceal Ebert, Madrene Roberts and Susan Sparkman. They will serve in 2011.  Officers will be elected at our first board meeting. Board members who are rolling off the board this year are Woody Holloway, Mary Ann McKim, Carol Shubert, Cynthia Gravlee, Joe Wesley and Patsy Martin.  We thank them for their many hours of service to BBDA.

 

Welcome to new members Jerry and Kathy Spenney who joined at our October meeting.

Congratulations to:
Dr. Abdel-Ghany and Priscilla Collums for having qualified as Dvida certified dance instructors.

Darry Martin of Gadsden and Sara Coates who were the only finalists from Alabama at the USA Dance 2011 National DancSport Championships. They placed 3rd in the Senior III Championship Rhythm dision.
 

Dance like nobody's watching
Here's great news for would-be-dancers: Birmingham almost leads the nation in having the most dance clubs, and there's a vibrant dance scene here. So where can you find ballroom or boogie in this town? Hint ... It won't be in nightclubs.

Read the whole article and look at the pictures at www.b-metro.com/dance-like-nobodys-watching

USA Dance news

National DanceSports Championships
In 2012, the National DanceSport Championships will be held at the Marriott Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, MD. from March 30 to April 1.

Results of The 2010 Governing Council Election
The Governing Council election concluded on October 30, 2010. Phil Sisk, National Elections Director, and his team of Election Tellers tabulated the ballots in early November. This was an uncontested election and the following Governing Council members have been elected to serve a three-year term, from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2013:

Lydia T. Scardina, National President
Bill Rose, National Senior Vice President
Stan Andrews, National Secretary
Esther Freeman, National Treasurer
Jean Krupa, Vice President of Social Dance
Ken Richards, Vice President of DanceSport
Inna Brayer, DanceSport Delegate
Scott Coates, DanceSport Delegate
Roger Greenawalt, DanceSport Delegate

Many thanks to all the candidates for their continued support and service to USA Dance.

 

 
Interesting dance links
To learn more about dance related subjects and events, visit some of these dance links .

The JBY newsletter, edited by Murray Echols, is another great source of dance information in and around Birmingham.

 
Confessions of  a dance junkie

By Wanda Fulton

National Dance Association Zone S Director

From National Teacher’s Association Newsletter

September-October 2008

 

“I am a dancer”…so goes the first verse of the song from Chorus Line.

 

Like many of you, dancing is not just what I do it’s about what I am.  Most people occasionally think about dancing and if the situation presents itself will take to the social floor and spend an evening moving to the music.  My life centers on dance.  I search for places and activities that offer a chance to dance. 

 

  • Whenever I hear the numbers 5, 6, 7, 8, I think dance.  When I walk down a long hall I practice waltz rise and fall, heel toe, toe, toe heel.  A tile or wooden floor invites a spiral turn attempt.  I stand in third position while in line at the store.
  • Rock, dip, tuck to me are dance terms as well as hammerlock, sweetheart, and barrel roll.
  • When I go into a new club or dance venue, the first thing I do is check out the floor, then look around for other amenities.
  • I drink bottled water or soda, not because of any concern about consuming alcohol.  I want to keep my dance skills as sharp as possible.
  • I always carry a pair of dance shoes with me, just in case there might be a dance.
  • I plan vacations by going online to find a place to dance near our destination.
  • I walk in time to the rhythm of the music being played in the grocery store and occasionally break into a step pattern.  I sway to the Muzak in elevators.
  • I have spent time and money traveling to dance events in other states and never ventured out of the hotel to see the sights.
  • I think of songs playing on the radio in terms of tempo and beat, what style dance.
  • When I watch a movie about dancing or where there is a dance scene, I get upset when the camera leaves the dancers to focus on the actors.
  • I would rather dance than eat, sleep, or watch TV.

When not dancing, I talk about dance.  Comparing steps and moves with other dance junkies, I have spent hours in Waffle House restaurants after a dance.  To show a direction or pattern we used our fingers on the table to represent feet and have on occasion danced down the isle to the amusement of the other diners and staff.  I recall waking up at three in the morning trying to remember a particular Tango pattern. I picked up the phone and called a fellow instructor and asked, “What is the foot position for the man in such and such number Bronze Tango pattern?  Being another Dance Junkie, my friend immediately responded with the step sequence.  Neither one of us thought that type of phone call was unusual.  Saying” thank you” I hung up.


I have participated in an activity I love, met the nicest people, and had some wonderful experiences.  As my body ages, the muscles and bones betray me and my dancing isn’t what it used to be.  I count my blessings that at least I may not always be on the floor but I AM A DANCER!

 

Wanda Fulton is a BBDA member who dances and teaches ballroom and country western style dance.  Wanda suffers from Parkinson’s disease. She says that dancing has kept her mobile and moving. Along with her medicine, dance is essential in the treatment of her condition.   

   
Our mission statement
1.     Serves as the National Governing Body for DanceSport, the competitive version of ballroom dancing, in the United States subject to the statutes of : a) the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF); b) the United States Olympic Committee (USOC); and c) the Amateur Sports Act of the United States Congress.
2.
     Organizes and supports programs for the recreational enjoyment of ballroom dancing by all ages and creates affordable opportunities for the general public to participate in ballroom dancing and DanceSport;
3.
    Promotes DanceSport as a sport both nationally and internationally and fosters its inclusion in the Olympic and Pan American Games;
4.
     Organizes and supports DanceSport events internationally and nationally, including national, regional and local championships;
5.
    
Selects the DanceSport Athletes to represent the United States in the IDSF World DanceSport Championships and the World Games and helps to finance their participation;
6.
     Promotes and supports ballroom dance programs in colleges and secondary schools;
7.
    Applies special programs to attract beginners to ballroom dancing and to both encourage and assist these dancers in meeting their goals;
8.
     Emphasizes to the public the healthful aspects of ballroom dancing; its physical, mental and social benefits;
9.
    Organizes and supports programs to increase the number of dancers and to assist in the elevation of dancing skills, both competitors and recreational social dancers.
 
2012 Dance schedule
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         

HSC - Homewood Senior Center
SCISC - Shelby County Instructional Service Center
 

 

 
 
Health hints

 

“Forgetful? – Fix it!  Renowned Baltimore neurologist and author Majid Fotuhi, M.D., a member of the LHJ Medical Advisory Board, shares his fun, creative and surprising tips to sharpen your memory and make your brain grow at LHJ.com/dontforget.  Guess what beats crossword puzzles?  Ballroom dancing!”

That article was on page 128 of the May 11, 2011 issue of Ladies’ Home Journal.

 

Another article on exercise recommended walking, running and especially ballroom dancing!!!

 

So, come on out to have fun learning more about Samba from an expert, improve your memory and get your exercise at the same time!

Samford students comment on attending a chapter dance
I did not expect the seniors to be good dancers, so I was extremely surprised when we met in the chair dance mixer and my partner swept me off knowing all of the steps to the foxtrot. 

This event made me realize that people do really love ballroom dancing as a hobby.  I realized how special this was for them when one gentleman I danced with told me that he "comes around to dance with the young people because it makes me feel like I'll live another week."  I told him I was glad I could help. 

I noticed the live band.  It was far more fun to dance with a live band than a DJ, and it made me want to dance more than if a CD had been playing. 

During one of the band breaks, there was a Foxtrot exhibition, which was fun to see.  It was a bit odd, because the couple doing the exhibition seemed a bit older but were wearing young clothes (the dress was a very fun dress); however, the dance routine was good, but I could not see any familiar steps.
 
The quality of dancing at this event was very high.  You could tell that our class was amongst some of the best ballroom dancers in Birmingham. 
 
Overall, I think this dance was a success.  It was made even better by a trip to the nearby Whataburger afterwards!
 
Having to ask the girls to dance was an interesting experience.  You have to be fast, or another guy will ask them before you can. 
 
I enjoyed watching the older men on the dances that I didn't know or just sat out.  Those guys were awesome, and a little bit crazy--in the best possible sense.  They were out there kicking and spinning and generally being amazing.  They had great moves and looked like they were having a great time. 
 
I believe that going to these types of events is one of the best things a young dancer can do.  It gives us the opportunity to see things we may not have seen and also the encouragement from those that were in our shoes one day. 
 
The exhibition dancers were very good.  The lady had on a crazy bluish dress on, which was a little garish at the black and white ball, but being an exhibition dancer, it was probably a good thing.  The dress also had a lot of streamers and things coming off the arms, and it looked like it would be hard to dance with so many things coming off your outfit, but she managed it quite nicely.  There dance was very smooth and ornamented--I couldn't see any basic steps at all.  It was awesome, because it looked like her partner and she were basically the same person with the same mind, because they always seemed to know what the other was doing, swirling around the floor in a foxtrot. 
 
It is one thing learning the dance steps in a classroom setting and it is an entirely different thing taking what you have learned and dancing with people you have never met in an unfamiliar setting.  Also, as a class, I think we got so much closer after going to these events and sharing a common experience.
 
I think like any class, dancing or history class, it is easy to get a lot of head knowledge but it is a whole other thing when you actually go out into the real world and actually use what you have learned.  That is exactly how I felt about the outside dances. 

 

       
 
2011 Officers, board members, standing committee chairs

Officers

President
Madrene Roberts

dmyroberts@yahoo.com
205-290-1510
Vice-President
Al Finley
alfin13@aol.com
368-0529
Treasurer
Cecelia Ebert
rhinoceal@aol.com
669-9871

Secretary
Jackie Tally
jgtally@aol.com
823-1659

Board members

Priscilla Collums
priss522@aol.com pcollums@shelbyed.k12.lal.us
664-3333

Jackie Tally
jgtally@aol.com
823-1659

Cecelia Ebert
rhinoceal@aol.com
669-9871

 

Stan Digerness
digerness@bellsouth.net
979-2637

Susan Sparkman

Pat Blum

George Barton

Standing committee chairs

Publicity
Priscilla Collums - Media        
Jackie Tally - e-mail
Joe Wesley - Facebook
Madrene Roberts and Pat Blum - Newsletter

Music
Fred Gipson

Webmaster
René Zgraggen

Newsletter
Madrene Roberts

Directory
Wanda Fulton

Dance Committee
Priscilla Collums - Chair
Cecelia Ebert and Priscilla Collums - Lessons and Exhibitions
Marc Lerner - Dance host
Music/DJ - Fred Gipson
Priscilla Collums - Mixers

Hospitality
Susan Sparkman - Chair/Registration table
Lilly Eagleson - Food and Refreshments
Susan Sparkman Lee Littenberg - Greeter, name tags, handwritten correspondence

Board members since 1994

   
       

Webmaster: René Zgraggen
renez@renez.com

since 2/25/05