"The well-being of each of us is interwoven in our care for one
another"...
- ANONYMUS
After so many years since the last one,
watch out for details on another
in 2010
THANKS!!
to all of the volunteers, teachers and
participants who made the Jan 4th, 2004
such an educational and charitable fun-filled
success!!
(We are now considering dates for another 'AIDS &
Cancer Learn-to-Dance-Athon' in 2010)
Now that we have the first one of this magnitude under
our belts, we hope to look forward to an even 'bigger and better' event
in the upcoming new year. Consequently, I will leave the information
available on this site so that anyone may get an idea of the format
and procedure.
And if you have the facility and desire to include an
along
with another event or even separately, please feel free to call me for
any assistance. I would love to see our Metropolitan Washington Dance
Community do more on a regular basis to use our passion for music and
dance to help those AIDS and cancer victims who are so desperately in
need of assistance all year long.
The January 4th, 2004
'AIDS & Cancer Learn-to-Dance-Athon'
was presented in conjunction with the 2004
'Yuletide Ball Championships and New Year's Eve Gala'
(Click
here for more details on the annual Yuletide Ball Championships and
New Year's Eve Gala)
which is held every year over New
Year's in Washington DC.
Hopefully you can make early plans to attend this 4-day
long, non-stop dance competition and New Year's Eve Gala at the end
of 2004.
The
2004 'AIDS and Cancer Learn-To-Dance-Athon' has also been designated
by the local reserves as a collection point for gifts for over 200 injured
troops who are either hospitalized or undergoing outpatient treatment
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other local military treatment
facilities.
Click here for details about the military
collection point
Please be aware that with the number of dances that we are introducing
during the 'AIDS and Cancer Learn-to-Dance-Athon', no one is going to
be able to perfect all of the figures in the allotted times. The objective
is for beginners to get a start on the basics, decide what dances they
like best and practice throughout the evening. And for the upper level
dancers to learn some new material, but not with the assumption that
you will perfect it in 20 to 25 minutes. Your teachers will be spending
much more time in these dances in their personal classes and private
coaching sessions, so get the details and follow up with them at a future
date.
Since there is not time for long
amalgamations, short individual patterns will be taught to leave more
time for dancing, practicing and for individual performances. What you
might not get completely in the mini-class, the teachers can possibly
help you with, during the practice times available.
Schedule of Events during the Jan 4th, 2004 'AIDS & Cancer Learn-to-Dance-Athon':
3:00pm
- Doors Open
3:10pm - 3:20pm Mambo Shuffle Line Dance
taught by Terry Chasteen (All Levels at once), followed by open dancing
with teachers' assistance.
3:30pm - 3:50pm Texas Two Step (Terry Chasteen-Beginners,
Ken Roesel-Intermediate/advanced, depending on the level of those attending)
followed by open dancing.
4:00pm School-aged Childrens' exhibition in Waltz
and Swing with teacher, Todd Borzych; followed by Waltz classes.
4:05pm - 4:30pm Waltz Ballroom classes in Beginner
Waltz (Terry Chasteen), Intermediate Waltz (Lasca Low) and advanced/open
Waltz (Mary Jenkins and Todd Borzych)
4:30pm - 4:45pm Open Dancing with teachers' assistance
and possible Ballroom demonstration by Todd & Mary.
4:45pm - 5:10pm Vintage Dance in costume (exhibition
in 2 dances with a class in 1 by Renee Camus)
5:10pm - 5:25pm Open Dancing
5:25pm - 5:50pm West Coast Swing Demonstrations
by Ken Roesel and Joyce Szilli, followed by classes in West Coast Swing
(Beginners-Terry Chasteen, Intermediate/Advanced-Ken Roesel)
5:50pm - 6:10pm Open dancing and practice with
teachers' assistance.
6:10 - Hustle performance by GQ and Ivanna
6:10pm - 6:40pm Hustle classes (Terry Chasteen-Beginners,
Joyce Szilli-Intermediate to advanced, Jonathon (GQ) Bowers & Ivamnna-Intermediate
to advanced in International Style)
6:40pm - 7:00pm Open Dancing
7:00pm - 7:05pm Argentine Tango performance by
Sharna Fabiano
7:05pm - 7:30pm Argentine Tango workshops (Sharna
Fabiano-Beginners, Leon Harris-Intermediate, Ponti Del
Mercado-advanced)
7:30 - 7:50 Argentine Tango performance by Ponti
Del Mercado followed by open
dancing
7:50 - 8:10 Salsa on 2 performance by Keith Givens,
followed by Salsa Shine and technique Workshops
(Terry and Abdul-Beginner to intermediate Salsa on 2 Shines, Keith Givens-advanced
Salsa on 2 Shines)
8:10 - 8:30 Salsa partnering classes (Marc
Alberstadt & Terry Chasteen-Beginners on 2, Leon Harris -Intermediate
on 1, Abdul Al-Ali advanced partnering Salsa on 2.
8:35pm - Ballroom & Latin Amateur Showcase
performance by Jim Berghdal and Victoria Chapman
8 :45pm - 9:10pm Swing and Jive classes (Terry
Chasteen beginner Swing Charleston/Lindy, Todd Borzycht-intermediate
to advanced jive)
9:10pm - Until Total exhaustion sets in - Open
Dancing
(A number of us danced and did not leave until almost 11:00 pm that
evening, which is when the fun really began. A sign of being true-blue,
obsessive-compulsive dance maniacs)
Other volinteers who were of major importance in making this event happen:
1. Ray Kaufman – Event Co-coordinator who was RUTHLESS
(like a drill sergeant!) in keeping me on time. Ray was solely responsible
for keeping what was an impossible time schedule on or ahead of schedule
throughout the event.
2. Myra Flemister
- DJ from 3pm to 7pm who did an excellent job keeping the music going
and everyone's performance music straight.
3. Patricia A Harris – USO collection point
for injured military at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital.
4. Discoteque Internationale - DJ after 7pm to
the end.
Many thanks to the above teachers and volunteers. Please
utilize their services, when possible, and let them lnow that you appreciate
their efforts in supporting in this event.
Since the Ballroom space, all teaching, DJ services,
etc are donated at absolutely no charge, exactly 100%
of all money 
donated will go directly to the listed charities, or toward any charities
designated by the sponsor/donors. Consequently, the more people we can
get into this event, the more fund-raising efforts might benefit the
AIDS and cancer victims and their families and loved ones.
*****************************************************
The January 4th, 2004 'AIDS and Cancer Learn-To-Dance-Athon'
is an event for everyone of all age groups and one that you definitely
won't want to miss. Whether you join us for only a few hours or for
all eight, mark your calendar
now to attend this one-of-it's-kind Learn-to-Dance
Marathon, the 2004 'AIDS and Cancer
Learn-To-Dance-Athon'. Beginner dancers, especially, won't want
to miss this non-stop charitable dance event, as you'll witness and
learn more dances in one day than you ever imagined possible. We'll
have beginner, intermediate and advanced classes and workshops in a
wide range of dance styles going on at the same time throughout the
afternoon and evening.
This unique and non-stop charitable dance event is intended for all
ages and for the entire family. Keep checking back at
www.PleaseDanceWithMe.com for updated scheduling information
regarding the many workshops and performances by some of Washington's
finest teachers and dancers. The January 4th, 2004 'AIDS
and Cancer Learn-To-Dance-Athon' immediately follows 4 days
of dancing and performing during the 'Yuletide
Ball Championships and New Year's Eve Gala' which will also
be held in the beautiful Capital Hilton Ballroom at 1001 16th Street,
NW (16 and K Streets) in Washington DC.
Once again, plans for the 'AIDS and Cancer
Learn-To-Dance-Athon' include more learning to dance, general
dancing, and performances for all age groups and levels of dancers in
one afternoon and evening, than most could possibly imagine...(and
only obsessive-compulsive dancers, music-lovers, and their friends,
families and loved ones will be admitted!!...).
"You need not have a partner
or any previous dance experience to attend"
COST OF ADMISSION FOR PARTICIPANTS:
Our hope is that most participants will attempt to secure donors to
sponsor them during this eight-hour Learn-to-Dance Marathon event to
bring in as much money as possible for the designated 501(c)3 charities.
We do not wish to discourage anyone who doesn't obtain sponsors, however,
from attending, so any donation at the door will be appreciated by the
AIDS and cancer victims. A $12.00 to $15.00 donation was accepted during
the first AIDS and Cancer Learn-to-Dance-Athon,
which took place on a much smaller scale in 1999. Again, however, we
do not wish to discourage anyone, and especially minority families with
children from attending, so we hope that everyone interested will attend,
regardless of the amount of money they're able to offer.
All donations will be greatly
appreciated...no donation is too large or too small. Donated
funds may be designated toward any one or more of the charities specified
below or toward any other 501(c)3 AIDS or Cancer charities. If
you have a favorite charity that is not on our list, we will be happy
to deliver funds to that organization, for absolutely no overhead cost.
Our objective is to maximize the return from the
generous donation of Ballroom space by The Yuletide Ball DanceSport
Championships and The Capital Hilton
while it is available to us. Consequently any funds offered toward
any charity will be accepted and appreciated. Checks can either be made
out to The Friendship Society for dispersal, or to the designated charity
or charities....and of course cash will be accepted. Any
funds not designated will automatically be divided equally among the
six charities listed below.
The 6 charities include:
1.Whitman-Walker
Clinic,
2.The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation,
3.The Entertainment
Industry Foundation's National Colorectal
Research Alliance (NCCRA, co-founded in 2000 by NBC's TODAY show
co-anchor, Katie Couric in honor of her late husband who was a victim
of colon cancer),
4.The
Mary-Helen Mautner Project for Lesbians with Cancer (it is estimated
that approximately 1/3 of all lesbian women are ultimately afflicted
with cancer and are usually without any spousal insurance or job-related
benefits to get them and their families through these major financial
and emotional crises),
5. St.
Jude Children's Research Hospital,
and last but certainly not least,
6. Oprah's
Angel Network. Oprah's tireless humanitarian efforts, which benefit
thousands of people across this country and around the world, provided
the inspiration that made this event possible.
Included in the format are 1/2 hour dance mini-classes
and workshops taught in both beginner and intermediate (and possibly
advanced) levels at the same time by a number of Washington's most talented
teachers every 60-90 minutes from 3:00pm to 11:30pm. There'll
be as much open social dancing and as many classes, performances and
exhibitions that we can fit into two ballrooms during the time allotted.
Most of the children’s exhibitions and events, plus those dances
that may most interest them will be scheduled in the late afternoon
and early evening. All of this intermingled with open dancing of all
dance styles in Latin, Ballroom, Disco/Hustle, C/W, Jazz, Hip Hop, Swing
and more in the larger main ballroom, as well as a separate Argentine
Tango and Salsa/Mambo dance party in the smaller ballroom for the duration.
Some of the volunteers still needed includes more
DJ assistance (especially equipment...we have the music) , as well as
a few more performers and teachers in Hustle, Country/Western, Hip Hop,
Flamenco, ballet or jazz, tap, modern and more.
The intermittent performances, which are planned
throughout the evening in the different styles of dance may include
exhibitions or mini non-competitions, (which may be judged without a
placing by YOU! through your audience applause...and which probably
means that everyone will
win!...). A few of those performances may possibly include:
A. Wheelchair
dancers (performing couples
consisting of one able-bodied dancer and one wheelchair dancer),
B. Blind and seeing impaired
dancers (consisting of one seeing and one seeing impaired dancer),
C. Deaf and hearing impaired
dancers (consisting of one hearing and one hearing impaired dancer),
D. Senior citizen dance
couples,
E. Grade
school and high school dancers,
F. As well as traditional
performing couples, dance troops and formations of absolutely every
dance variety, to include Salsa, Tango, Ballroom, Latin, Swing,
Hustle, Viennese Waltz, Country/Western, Flamence, etc.
G. We may also offer not-so-serious fun events
for anyone to enter, such as ROB0-CHA CHA,
COMBINED JACK-&-JILL, JACK-&-JACK and JILL-&-JILL
Salsa and/or Swing contests (where the dance partners are matched by
drawing out of a hat) or any number of rediculous, nonsensical possibilities.
If you are part
of a performing couple or dance team, or if you would like to volunteer
to assist by teaching or other means, please call Terry Chasteen at
202-462-0870. A list of teachers and performers
will be posted on this and other web sites as they are received and
as scheduling is finalized.
Again, due to the generosity of our sponsors who
are supplying the ballroom space without charge, as are the teachers
and the many volunteers, exactly 100%
of the tax-deductible funds
will go directly to the charity or charities for which they are intended.
Those volunteering, performing or teaching are
welcome and encouraged to bring and display their marketing material
or information about their organization or business, as well as become
listed on this and other web sites. We encourage
others to also include this information on other personal web sites,
as well. If you decide to, let us know so we can supply you with additional
updates as they become available, or you may cut and paste directly
from this one. Members of the local TV, radio and newspaper media
may be present to MC and host different aspects of the event.
We hope that if you choose only
one resolution for this New Year, you'll make it a promise to mark your
calendar early and attend what is guaranteed to be one of the most enjoyable
and unique weeks of non-stop music and dancing that you've ever experienced.
Starting with by far the most elegant of all New Year's Eve events,
The Yuletide Ball New Year's Eve Gala
on the evening of December 31st. Followed by 3 days of The
Yuletide Ball DanceSport competitive events, Professional
and Amateur Dance Competition (including exactly what
you enjoyed watching on PBS's 'Championship Ballroom
Dancing', only here it's LIVE!!) which ends on Saturday evening,
January 3rd, and finally the Sunday afternoon and evening
AIDS and Cancer Learn-To-Dance-Athon' on January
4th, 2004. Help us share our passion for music and dance with
the rest of Washington’s Not-Yet-Dancing community and at the
same time, offer much needed assistance to those who are so much less
fortunate than we are. People whose tremendous medical and financial
needs will extend far beyond the present Holiday season.
This event could definitely be a terrific project
for any social, school or work-related organizations or for the entire
family to participate in. All age groups are welcome and encouraged
to help collect pledges and to join us during the non-stop dance festivities.
Whether you spend a few hours with us, or stay to experience the complete
8+ hours of this Learn-to-Dance
Marathon, is much less important to us than just the fact
that you actually COME! All participation and fund-raising
efforts will be greatly appreciated by the AIDS and cancer victims and
their friends and families, so please be diligent in contacting as many
potential sponsors and donors as possible. And just as importantly,
be sure to come, yourself.
A sincere thanks in advance to
the many volunteers, as well as the major sponsors and supporters of
this one-of-a-kind event, including to date:
* Ron Bennett's
Yuletide Ball Championships and New Year's Eve Gala;
* The Capital Hilton Hotel, 1001 16th Street,
NW;
* The Chevy Chase Ballroom and DanceSport Center,
5207 Wisconsin Ave., NW;
* Lambda DanceSport DC,
* The Friendship Society,
I am overwhelmed
with the numbers and quality of teachers, performers and other essential
volunteers who are ready, willing and eager to make this event happen.
To volunteer, teach, become a sponsor
or participant, to perform or to include this information on your personal
web site, contact:
Terry Chasteen, 202-462-0870, TerryChasteen@hotmail.com
www.PleaseDanceWithMe.com … and THANKS!!
THE
JANUARY 4th, 2004 'AIDS AND CANCER LEARN-TO-DANCE-ATHON' HAS ALSO BEEN
DESIGNATED AS A COLLECTION POINT FOR GIFTS TO INJURED MILITARY AT WALTER
REED ARMY MEDICAL CENTER....
Bring your gift items and a message of appreciation
for those who have been injured in the line of duty for our country.
The Reserve Officers Association (ROA), Maryland Chapter 11, Emotional
Awareness and Response to Servicemembers (E.A.R.S.)committee
is seeking donations for patients being treated for injuries received
during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and
Noble Eagle. There are currently approximately
200 plus soldiers who are hospitalized or undergoing outpatient treatment
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military treatment facilities.
The soldiers have the basics they need, but could use a few things to
make their hospital stay much more comfortable, such as: telephone cards
so they can call home, disposable cameras, men's underwear - both boxers
and briefs, women's sports bras, luggage with wheels, shower shoes,
boxes of note cards with stamps, new men's and women's sports type comfortable
clothing in all sizes, hand held games, paperback books, and CD's.
This is a great way to say 'Thank You' to the
soldiers for their service. Officers from the Reserve
Officers Association, Maryland Chapter 11 will be on hand to
collect donations during the AIDS and Cancer Learn-to-Dance-Athon
on January 4th. For more information, you may contact the committee
chairman:
Anthony Walker, LT US Public Health Service, Health Programs
Manager, Office of the Chief Physician Assistant, Federal Bureau of
Prisons, Central Office Room 1000, 320 1st Street NW, Washington D.C.
20534
202-353-4659/4664, Fax 202-305-0862
click here to obtain
a pledge donor form
click
here to download and print or to save and send a flyer for this event
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