October/November/December 2012

"Life, ideally, I think, should be like the Minuet or the Virginia Reel or the Turkey Trot,
something easily mastered in a dancing school."

Kurt Vonnegut, Slapstick

Greetings from Waltz Time! This newsletter offers a calendar of upcoming waltz dances and workshops, dance community news and informative articles.

Our newsletter is sent every two months and offers a calendar of waltz dances and workshops, dance community news and informative articles. We encourage your articles for our newsletter. Or tell us what would you like to know! Please send your story or suggestions for topics to staff@waltztimedances.org.

Waltz Time is an all-volunteer committee that produces the twice-monthly Sunday afternoon waltz dances and the Annual Strauss Ball at Glen Echo Park's Spanish Ballroom. View the entire year's calendar at our web site.

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From all of us at Waltz Time

 

Saturday Evening, October 13: Waltzing Under the Stars with the GIGMEISTERS

Join us on Saturday night, October 13 for a very special evening waltz, featuring the Gigmeisters with Dave Wiesler, Alexander Mitchell, Paul Oorts, Ralph Gordon. For this special evening of Waltz, we've asked the band to play a somewhat different repertoire from our popular Sunday Afternoon waltzes -- lots of waltz, of course, but the band will also include a few tangos, some 4/4 time music suitable for foxtrot, swing, or blues, and some Viennese waltz. To complement this special evening waltz and musical selection, we have asked Lilli Ann Carey to teach Waltz workshops throughout the weekend - see details below.

For the dance, there is a beginning/intermediate waltz lesson from 7:30 - 8:30 pm, followed by dancing until 11:30 pm to great music! Cost is $15/person, including the lesson. All tickets sold at the door, Bumper Car Pavilion, Glen Echo Park. For directions, please visit Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD 20812.

 

Waltz Workshops with Lilli Ann Carey
Saturday & Sunday, October 13 & 14

Just in time for the October 13th, Waltzing Under the Stars dance with the Gigmeisters, Lilli Ann Carey conducts two days of workshops on Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14 in Cross-Step Waltz and a special Foxtrot session. Cross-step Waltz is perhaps the most flexible and creative slow waltz variation. It fuses beautifully with so many other dance forms. Lilli Ann not only teaches classic cross-step waltz moves but has been responsible for moving the dance form ahead with variations that include salsa, west coast and east coast swing. Beautifully flowing and leadable and absolutely playful, you won't want to miss this series of workshops from one of our favorite out-of town instructors.

Saturday, October 13, Glen Echo Park, Ballroom Annex

• 10:00 am - 11:30 am: Introducing the Basics to Cross-step Waltz
• 11:45 am - 1:15 pm: Partner Satisfying Variations

Sunday, October 14, Glen Echo Park, Bumper Car Pavilion

• 10:00 am - 11:30 am: Quick Intro to Cross-step Waltz for Newcomers, then moving on to patterns not taught on Saturday.
• 11:45 am - 1:15 pm: Something Different - "Fred and Ginger Foxtrot" - SSQQ. A little style, a little grace, and great tips on how to make this dance feel and look elegant and effortless.

 

Two workshops per day, each 90 minutes, with 15 minutes after each one for rest or practice. Registration at the door, 9:30 am; cash or check made out to Waltz Time.

• One workshop (90 minutes) - $20
• One full day (two 90-minute workshops) - $30
• Both days - $55

 

You may see some of what Lilli Ann has been teaching by going to Dance For Joy! and clicking on the green box on the home page to connect with her YouTube videos. Lilli Ann has taught cross-step waltz most recently in Juneau, Portland, and the SF Bay Area as well as teaching 4-5 nights a week with her company, Dance For Joy!. She also runs the highly successful outdoor dance series in Seattle, Dancing 'til Dusk, which attracts hundreds of participants each year, as well as a new summer Waltz Camp and an annual Viennese Ball.

 

Making a Glass Ball Gown

Carol Hurwitch, a former Waltz Time committee member, has taken up new creative endeavors at Glen Echo Park. In addition to her fondness for creating pottery, Carol has added a new passion - glassblowing! Recently, Carol presented her glass-blown Ball Gowns at the Labor Day Art Show at Glen Echo Park, and is now a featured artist - along with Paul Swartwood and Mark Hill - at the upcoming Glassworks Exhibition at the Popcorn Gallery at Glen Echo Park.

The show runs from October 6 - 28, but it just so happens that the Opening Reception with "meet the artists" is on Saturday, October 13 - the same day as the waltz workshops with Lilli Ann Carey. So take a walk over to the exhibition during the day. For a sneak preview of the technique for making such delicate works of art, check out this video: Ball Gown.

Carol is still working on her website, so it might not be complete when you receive this newsletter. Be sure to check back as she makes progress on the site.

 

A Dancing President?

With just 35 days left before the 2012 election, virtually every poll question you can think of has been asked at least five times - except this one: "Who would you rather see as a contestant on 'Dancing with the Stars'?"

The latest Washington Post-ABC News poll asked just that question in their latest national survey. Here's what they found:

 

Washington Post-ABC News poll, Sept. 26-29, 2012

Even Republicans prefer Obama on stage, by 44 to 33 percent margin. It could be a compliment, or perhaps a wish for what they would like Obama to do in January instead of beginning a second term in office. After all, just 7 percent of Republicans say they'd support his re-election if they voted today.

 

Volunteer with Waltz Time!

Give us 45 minutes of your time and you can dance for free! Waltz Time is seeking volunteers for each Sunday waltz. There are several slots available, including attaching wristbands and sweeping after the dance. To volunteer, simply sign up before the waltz on the appointed day. There will be a sign-up sheet at the table. We appreciate your help!