US Open 2016 Update #2 - What's NEW this year?
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NEW THIS YEAR!
THE FIRST CONGRESS!
- Lectures
- Workshops
- Dance Theory
- Evening Social Dances
- Competition Reviews
- Celebrity Participation
- Multi-Media Presentations
- Judging Analysis of Open Competitions
The US Open Swing Congress Mission
"To educate our competitors on techniques and theories that will help improve their dance and elevate our dance globally. The staff is an elite group of highly skilled, teaching, professionals with many Championships to their credit. They will provide the competitors with an in- depth analysis through; reviews, commentary, construction/deconstruction based on their competitive presentations at the US Open for 2016. The Congress will also feature forums, discussions and round tables that help us understand our History and brain-storm strategies to develop avenues for the future growth of our West Coast Swing Community. Our goal is to create the “Next Step” for our community and lead our community to the future. This Congress focuses on competitive dancers but is open to serious dancers of all levels."
Creative Director: Benji Schwimmer
Instructors:
- Jordan and Tatiana
- Robert Royston
- Sharon Savoy
NEW THIS YEAR!
JUNIORS!
US Open Event Director Ruth Farmer says that the Board of Directors has worked hard this year to make the Open attractive to young dancers.
"Last year we had about 40 Junior Shaggers. This year Sam and Lisa West are coming with their Junior Shag team, so we're expecting an additional 20 young dancers. It's just what we wanted! We're really interested in bringing lots of kids into the community and we'd like the Open to be a vehicle to accomplish that goal."
"We've got Junior Lindy dancers, too!" Ruth adds, "And we're hoping to have both Lindy and Shag expert judges on our Judging Panel, so that those dances are respected and represented."
US Open Routine divisions have often been "multi-genre." Meaning that if you dance in Classic, you're competing against Lindy, Hand-Dance, and Shag couples too, in addition to West Coast couples.
This year, Ruth says, not only will Routine divisions be "multi-genre," Strictlys will be multi-genre, too. (These are NASDE Strictlys, by the way. Not your normal Striclys. So NASDE points and NASDE prize money.)
"Junior Strictlys will be multi-genre; in two age levels. "Junior I" for ages 6-14, "Junior II" for ages 15-20," Ruth adds.
Jack and Jills, of course, cannot be mixed-genre for obvious reasons.
CALLING ALL HAND-DANCERS!
Ruth, Phil, and the US Open Board of Directors want Hand Dancing represented at the Open! Hand Dancers in DC, Texas, St. Louis - your beloved, crowd-pleasing, US Open presence is in demand!
SO WHO'S COMING?
"I don't know what it is," Ruth says, "But routine couples always seem to wait until the very last minute to register. Maybe they're undecided? I don't know why, but it happens every year. For as long as there's been an Open, there are couples registering at the LAST FINAL MINUTE.
"So we have no idea what the numbers will be one month from now, but as of today here's a quick glimpse of what we have so far ...
9 Teams!
8 Young America couples
14 Young Adult couples
11 Sophisticated couples
15 Rising Star couples
17 Classic couples
24 Pro-Am Routines
So .... Are you ready?
HAVE YOU REGISTERED?
HAVE YOU SENT YOUR PICTURE AND BIO TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM?
GOT YOUR ROOM RESERVED?
COUNTING DOWN!
42 DAYS TILL GAME DAY!
... tick tick tick ...