Mad Jam 2008 was great

[jennyisdancing]

Hey guys,

Went to my first Mad Jam (Mid-Atlantic Dance Jam) last weekend in the DC area, and it was fantastic! I'm surprised no one else on here has mentioned it - it's one of the biggest West Coast Swing & hustle events in the country, I believe. Four days of workshops, comps, and dancing into the wee hours. I've been to other, similar events but this one is the biggest and best.

Highlights for me were:

Jordan & Tatiana's workshops - Tat showed a really cool little body ripple the follower can do to spice up a basket whip. Jordan showed some leader's styling, and how to lead patterns that hit musical breaks and accents. They are national WCS champs and are also excellent teachers.

Arte Phillips hustle workshop - You won't find anyone more entertaining than Arte, he's a jokester but also a fantastic dancer who really knows his stuff and beautifully explains timing, weight changes, and positioning.

All the comps were great, especially watching the pros do their stuff in the invitational and all-star Jack & Jills. And I have some friends who made finals in the newcomer and novice divisions.

Plus the social dancing was excellent - especially the first night (Thursday night). Most people don't come to MadJam until Friday or Saturday, so it's a smaller crowd Thursday, and overall a higher skill level. Everyone is nice and friendly.
I loved it! :bouncy:
Anyone else want to share your experience?

 

[CALI DOLL]

It was great seeing you, my friend...sorry we didn't spend much time together.

I really enjoyed Bill Cameron's, John Lindo's as well as Jason Miklic and Sophy Kdep's workshops. They were SOOOOO much fun and we learned so many cool things.

I'm proud of my friends for making finals in the Newcomer and Novice Jack and Jills. I placed 2nd in the Newcomer ProAm w/ my teach, Kenny Roesel. (Yay!). Good times were had by all.

Now, I'm super duper ready for Easterns. LOL!

 

[dancin/dj]

I went to mad jam 3 years in a row, the 1st 2 years i really liked, last year i did not enjoy mad jam, of course i did not go this year because of last year.some good friends went they had a good time. heres my + & - on mad jam, last year i had to wait till after midnight to dance in the west coast swing room(because of performers the show etc...)the hustle room was open but almost everyone was in there till after 12"00 i do both dances, i was bored out of my mind, cant they do the shows& perform and end by 10'30?, im not into they shows and jack & jill etc...(there are some who feel the same way) but on the positive west coast folks from all over, generally speaking, are cool(with say 10 percent not) thats a good number 90 no?, on the hustle i was part of hustle for 10 years,i just last month withdrew my support of that crowd(of course i still dance hustle).the teacher that was mentioned for hustle must have been on his medicine, because for 10 years i"ve seen him and some others treat people with malice & hatred,embarassing people in class and on the dance floor & thers a big name guy teacher in florida that still does the same thing( these are facts not slander) i have names and people who could testify to this& dates.and lets not forget the female teachers from philly, jersey & new york who have done the same,my beef with mad jam is i dont want to watch& wait till after midnight to dance, but overall its a well done event, and since they wont listen to my view and others we vote with our feet.on a side note i feel the same way about almost all the events i went to, SALSA, WEST COAST, & HUSTLE as far as waiting to dance socially, thats why i go..

 

[jennyisdancing]

I went to mad jam 3 years in a row, the 1st 2 years i really liked, last year i did not enjoy mad jam, of course i did not go this year because of last year.some good friends went they had a good time. heres my + & - on mad jam, last year i had to wait till after midnight to dance in the west coast swing room(because of performers the show etc...)the hustle room was open but almost everyone was in there till after 12"00 i do both dances, i was bored out of my mind, cant they do the shows& perform and end by 10'30?, im not into they shows and jack & jill etc...(there are some who feel the same way) but on the positive west coast folks from all over, generally speaking, are cool(with say 10 percent not) thats a good number 90 no?, on the hustle i was part of hustle for 10 years,i just last month withdrew my support of that crowd(of course i still dance hustle).the teacher that was mentioned for hustle must have been on his medicine, because for 10 years i"ve seen him and some others treat people with malice & hatred,embarassing people in class and on the dance floor & thers a big name guy teacher in florida that still does the same thing( these are facts not slander) i have names and people who could testify to this& dates.and lets not forget the female teachers from philly, jersey & new york who have done the same,my beef with mad jam is i dont want to watch& wait till after midnight to dance, but overall its a well done event, and since they wont listen to my view and others we vote with our feet.on a side note i feel the same way about almost all the events i went to, SALSA, WEST COAST, & HUSTLE as far as waiting to dance socially, thats why i go..

Dancin, I mainly go for the workshops and to see my friends there. I also felt there was enough social dancing for my needs. As you point out, there was another room open for dancing even when the comps were being held in the main ballroom. My only beef is that the comps were way behind schedule, thus delaying the dancing.

As far as your personal comments about any individuals, I can't speak to that because I don't know those people on a personal basis. I simply took their workshops and had a great experience. Actually I found all the instructors to be pleasant and professional. I've also enjoyed other, similar events such as Summer Hummer. I can't compare to previous years because I wasn't there.

 

[Ithink]

Loved MadJam. My husband and I did really well in the Advanced Strictly and he did really well in his first time in Advanced Jack&Jill My intermediate J&J showing wasn't as impressive But the late night dancing and the pro stuff was awesome. It was my 3rd MadJam and Dave always does a great job with it.

As for social dancing complaints: there was PLENTY of it! I was sick of social dancing by the end of the weekend

 

[dancin/dj]

Jenny, like you wrote the comps behind schedule. thats mainly my beef, sure there is plenty of dancin after12:30 in the morning but by then im tired from waiting around, and like i said they all do the same(salsa,hustle , west coast etc..) im not alone, most of the people i know feel the same, they dont write on here or any other boards for that matter, so i speak also for them, and jenn your experiance in hustle is as they used to say(all good) fine & maybe that will always be like that for you, but if a day comes either in hustle or whatever dance we can think of, where someone(dance diva or diver=male dude) puts you to shame publically in a class your paying for, then you would know what i mean, im not even really speaking about myself right now, im thinking a female friend who i nicknamed bto b, blond hair blue eyed, who left a hustle class in tears down in florida,from a well know male teacher(this guy comes up east sometimes) my friend was visting florida and told me the story, im only glad i was not there for ( the male teachers sake)

 

[nydancer1]

MadJam was a great time! Music was good, dancers were fun.

The pickle shot party was fun too....a bit too much fun if you know what I mean.

Gripes were that it was crowded for late night though and the comps ran late until 5:30 or something on Sunday.