Independence Day Ball Dance Camp

[ChaChaMama]

Anyone going to this dance camp?

I'm debating it. My partner is going to be out of town the weekend it starts, which is a bit of a problem. The instructors look great, though! So I'm trying to decide whether to go for all, part, or none of the camp.

If anyone else from here is going, that might help tip the balance in favor of the camp.

:) ChaChaMama

[NielsenE]

I'm hoping to go, but haven't been able to clear the time for it yet.

[IlyZislin]

Anyone going to this dance camp?

I'm debating it. My partner is going to be out of town the weekend it starts, which is a bit of a problem. The instructors look great, though! So I'm trying to decide whether to go for all, part, or none of the camp.

If anyone else from here is going, that might help tip the balance in favor of the camp.

:) ChaChaMama

I'll be there :) :) :) and you all should come. We are adding a few cool things that are not on the website yet - for one a DanceSport Endurance class every morning (should be a ton of fun and useful for those who want to know how to build up the stamina), and potentially another latin instructor.

[Merrylegs]

Date?
Location?
Time?
Price?
Website?
Organizers?

hmmmmm.......

Anyone going to this dance camp?

I'm debating it. My partner is going to be out of town the weekend it starts, which is a bit of a problem. The instructors look great, though! So I'm trying to decide whether to go for all, part, or none of the camp.

If anyone else from here is going, that might help tip the balance in favor of the camp.

:) ChaChaMama

[ChaChaMama]

I think this is legal:

http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=12274

ChaChaMama

[IlyZislin]

Date?
Location?
Time?
Price?
Website?
Organizers?

hmmmmm.......
Location: Arlington, VA (Washington DC) - right on the metro line and easily accessible from National / Dulles airports

Time: Saturday, July 1 - Wednesday, July 5 (long weekend)
Price: depending on student / adult status and if you are registring as a single or couple. See website
Website: not sure what the forum rules are - so see link by ChaChaMama
Organizers: Joe Wheeler and Ily Zislin (Same as DCDI)

[Masaya]

Hello everyone:

I was wondering if anyone was familiar with any of the Latin instructors, and if so who you would recommend for a private. I was thinking of Jean-Marc Genereux as he seems to have the strongest competitive record in Latin. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Ithink]

Igor and Polina are ten-dancers and instruct in latin as well as standard. I have heard that especially Polina is an excellent latin instructor, very techinical and fixes really important stuff that needs fixing (very good at zeroing in on technical aspects that need work and helping you fix them). I can vouch for both in Standard - they are both very different (sometimes hard to believe they are partners they have such different teaching styles and areas of emphasis) and very good. And so not expensive for how good they are!

I have had a lesson with Jean-Marc a long time ago (when I just started dancing and was a decent bronze dancer) and remember him being very funny and quite good.

Edit: and how can I forget Ron - he is just awesome! So fun to dance with:) And an amazing teacher!

Actually, if you go on the website and see the schedule you can get a good idea of areas of emphasis for each instructor and kinda glean their strengths from it... At least for the instructors I am familiar with, I see that what they are teaching is very much in line with their strengths...

[IlyZislin]

Hello everyone:

I was wondering if anyone was familiar with any of the Latin instructors, and if so who you would recommend for a private. I was thinking of Jean-Marc Genereux as he seems to have the strongest competitive record in Latin. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Wow - an excellent and a very difficult question... I have taken (for latin) with: Jean Marc, Ron Bennett, Dan Calloway, and Polina. All are excellent in their own way. As Ithink says, each instructor has their own strengths (not knowing what you are looking to gain from the lesson, it's harder to say which instructor you would find most useful). For example, instructor I have not taken with, Frank Regan, is well known for his musicality and expression/presentation. Also, all of the above judge major NDCA comps (Igor does not because he still does pro-am).

Finally, I think you were correct Jean Marc and Frank are probably people with most latin titles as competitors (and lessons with Jean Marc are more affordable than with Frank) - so Jean Marc is an excellent choice.

Hope this "not-so-much-an-answer" helps :)

[Masaya]

(not knowing what you are looking to gain from the lesson, it's harder to say which instructor you would find most useful). For example, instructor I have not taken with, Frank Regan, is well known for his musicality and expression/presentation. Also, all of the above judge major NDCA comps (Igor does not because he still does pro-am). Thank you for the excellent suggestions! I've only been dancing for a year and a half so I'm unfamiliar with any of these instructors, so I really appreciate the input.
As for what I'm looking to gain from the lesson, it's hard to say . . . I currently am competing in closed Gold for Collegiate Latin, and will probably begin training for Pre-champ over the summer. It's a big jump from closed to open so I'm sure I could use a lot of help in all areas!
One thing people have been telling me a lot is that I sometimes tend to "tense up" or "do too much" when I dance (especially in my upper body), and so I end up looking like I'm trying too hard. I guess I would like to learn how to appear more "relaxed" in my dancing without sacrificing clean technique and thus looking sloppy . . . From IlyZislin's suggestion it seems like Frank Regan is the person to go to. :)

[skwiggy]

Thank you for the excellent suggestions! I've only been dancing for a year and a half so I'm unfamiliar with any of these instructors, so I really appreciate the input.
As for what I'm looking to gain from the lesson, it's hard to say . . . I currently am competing in closed Gold for Collegiate Latin, and will probably begin training for Pre-champ over the summer. It's a big jump from closed to open so I'm sure I could use a lot of help in all areas!
One thing people have been telling me a lot is that I sometimes tend to "tense up" or "do too much" when I dance (especially in my upper body), and so I end up looking like I'm trying too hard. I guess I would like to learn how to appear more "relaxed" in my dancing without sacrificing clean technique and thus looking sloppy . . . From IlyZislin's suggestion it seems like Frank Regan is the person to go to. :)

If you're going for a more natural, relaxed look and feel in latin, I would recommend Ron. :)

[Ithink]

Ditto on Ron. A very relaxed and VERY effective dancer himself, he can do a lot with your "issue".

Frank Regan, at least in a group workshop that I was in, was really out there, IMO. Very unconventional and hard to apply concepts and a lot of terminology that's really weird...

[Masaya]

Thank you!

[IlyZislin]

If you're going for a more natural, relaxed look and feel in latin, I would recommend Ron. :)

Amen on that - Ron is probably one of my favorite coaches. I am planning to take with Jean Marc at the camp because he definitely brings a lot of the "performance" and technique aspects which is what I need to work on.

[IlyZislin]

Here are a few new and important announcements about the 2006 Independence Day Ball Dance Camp:

1) You must register before midnight on May 1 to avoid paying a late fee.

2) Private lessons are available with all our instructors and you DO NOT need to sign up for the camp to take private lessons - however, we do recommend that you book your privates online as some instructors may sell out.

3) We have added a special DanceSport Endurance class taught by Todd Borzych to get everyone warmed up in the mornings.

4) In addition to Todd Borzych, Lydia Petrigova has joined our already amazing staff.

For more details, visit www.IndependenceDayBall.com (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1QBVIJBxkCUEsDAw%3D%3D).

[ChaChaMama]

Anyone sign up yet?

I haven't yet, because seemingly I like to pay late fees. No, just kidding. I think I'm going to go for the first three days! The camp looks fabulous.

I would do the whole thing, but childcare issues and my reluctance to spend the 4th away from my small person are making this a hard decision.

ChaChaMama

[skwiggy]

I'm local to DC, and I'm not signed up for the camp, but I am signed up to take a couple of private lessons from some of the coaches while they are in town. I don't have time to do the whole thing, but I have to admit the workshop titles look very intriguing.

[skwiggy]

Amen on that - Ron is probably one of my favorite coaches. I am planning to take with Jean Marc at the camp because he definitely brings a lot of the "performance" and technique aspects which is what I need to work on.

Jean Marc sounds like the perfect choice for "performance". He's definitely one of the best performers I've seen.

[Ithink]

The workshop titles sound awesome. I *might* do a day or two in the latter half but definitely not the whole camp. I am signed up for a couple of lessons with visiting pros though...

[IlyZislin]

The workshop titles sound awesome. I *might* do a day or two in the latter half but definitely not the whole camp. I am signed up for a couple of lessons with visiting pros though...

For those planning to register - 40 people registered in the last 3 days. I am not sure if that rate will keep up, but if it does we will sell out really fast. Also, privates with Ieva and Erminio seem to be a hot commodity.

[IlyZislin]

We are happy, and sad, to announce that we are almost sold out. Those of you who still wish to register should do so as soon as possible.

Here are a few noteworthy items about this year's camp:

1) 72 different workshops and private lessons with World-Class instructors that include US & UK Champions and World & Blackpool Finalists:


Ron Bennett (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVQABxkCUUsDB1UA)
Todd Borzych (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVQABhkCUUsDB1UA)
Dan Calloway (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVQACRkCUUsDB1UA)
Jean-Marc Genereux (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVQACBkCUUsDB1UA)
Ieva Pauksena (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVcJARkCUUsDB1UA)
Lydia Petrigova (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVcJABkCUUsDB1UA)
Igor Pilipenchuk (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVcJAxkCUUsDB1UA)
Polina Pilipenchuk (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVcJAhkCUUsDB1UA)
Frank Regan (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVcJBRkCUUsDB1UA)
Erminio Stefano (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVcJBBkCUUsDB1UA)
2) The number of private lessons with these instructors is limited and slots are filling up fast. Even if you are not attending the camp, you are welcome to sign up for private lessons.

3) Most importantly, discounts are still available for Students, Couples and Groups.

If you have any questions or comments, please visit our website at www.IndependenceDayBall.com (http://www.independencedayball.com/lists/lt.php?id=cU1TBVcJBxkCUUsDB1UA), contact us at contact at IndependenceDayBall dot com or call us.

Also, a special thank you to all who are helping to make this year's camp a wonderful success!

[ChaChaMama]

Thanks for the heads up! I just officially registered myself for the first three days and my partner for days 2 + 3. (He unfortunately HAS to be out of town on day 1. Too bad, as there are some great-sounding jive workshops that day, and that is probably our weakest dance).

ChaChaMama

[chachacharming]

I hate to be the dullest pencil in the box, but is Independence just a camp or is it a comp as well?

[IlyZislin]

I hate to be the dullest pencil in the box, but is Independence just a camp or is it a comp as well?

No comp this year - one step at a time :) However, there's a social, an outing to the fireworks, and a yet unannounced lecture