FEATURES VOL. XXXX No. 1 September 23, 2016 USDC 2016 XXXX ANNIVERSARY OF DANCEWEEK RESULTS Forty years ago consistency and accuracy. 2. The United States Dance Dick Mason Because of this incredible Congress annual event and EVOLUTION OF had an idea to achievement, Dick Mason was seminar inducted into the National 3. Publication of the national BALLROOM DANCE report the re- sults of ball- Dance Council Hall of Fame bi-weekly newsletter, IN THE PAST 40 room dance several years ago. DanceWeek. YEARS competitions in In 1998, The Heritage Dance 4. The publication of Ability, the United States on a weekly Foundation, a 501 ( c )3 non The Ballroom Dance basis. His first issue of Dance- profit corporation created by Journal, THE NEXT week was devoted to the re- Charles S. Zwerling, MD 5. Establishment of amateur CHANGE IN porting of the results of the bought DanceWeek from Dick and professional dance DANCING? United States Ballroom Cham- Mason in order to continue his scholarships fine work and report the news 6. Serving on the board of pionships (USBC). This endeavor was remark- of ballroom dancing in the directors of the National SOMEWHERE IN able considering that there was United States. Dance Council of America MEDEIROS TIME: no internet for easy access to 7. Assisting Competition various dance results and pho- DanceWeek became overnight Organizers for tax deductible tographs of the competitions; the flagship scholarship events there were no computers to for the BOARD OF DIRECTORS LETTERS TO lessen the work load of typing Heritage and transcribing of infor- Dance Dr. Charles S. Zwerling, DANCEWEEK mation; and, there were no Foundation Chairman printers that could transcribe whose mis- all this information into an sion is: to promote the interna- Melissa G. Zwerling, easily readable newsletter. tional sport of partnership Vice Chairman Dick Mason relied on his t dancing through encouraging elephone and friends in the opportunities for dance educa- Patti A. Troy, dance business like Mr. John tion, cultivating excellence Board of Directors Kimmins to provide the within the sport and elevating necessary results and overall standards for a superi- Since Danceweek began interesting developments in or competitive environment. reporting the United States the ballroom industry. Over the past years the Ballroom Championship In all the 22 years Dance- Heritage Dance Foundation forty years ago, it seems Week was published by Dick has developed and maintained appropriate to share the Mason, there was never a many worthwhile projects, results with you again from lapse in producing the news- including: this year’s USDC 2016. letter. Despite vacations, busi- 1. The Junior Dance ness and illness, Dick Mason Foundation assisting youth in We hope you enjoy this produced his newsletter with ballroom, special issue of DanceWeek Page 6 DanceWeek UNITED STATES DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS Thank You DWTS By Charles Zwerling, MD Forty years ago DanceWeek had its first issue at the ated “Dancing Stars of Wayne County” in 2011 to 1976 USBC ( United States Ballroom Champion- raise funds for the Wayne Education Network in the ships). Since that first issue we have seen various form of teacher and student educational scholarships. changes and effects to the ballroom industry. In 1989 Over the next two years we were able to donate in when I first began ballroom dancing, the overwhelm- excess of $200,000 to this program. Then we expand- ing belief was that ballroom dancing or dancesport ed the concept to raise funds for our local Humane would become a sport in the Olympics. The result, Society and Animal Shelter in conjunction with Ball- hopefully, was that ballroom would gain valuable ex- room Barks. The past two years we added “Stars United States Dance Championships UNITED STATES BALLROOM CHAMPIONSHIPS® in posure to the general public; and, ultimately the ball- Dancing for Cures” to help assist cancer patients with September 5-10, 2016 1982. room industry would have financial growth and suc- their bills in conjunction with Cures for the Colors. So Lowes Royal Pacific Resort at Universal - Orlando, FL United States Dance Sport Championships, World Dance cess with enhanced media coverage. Eventually, ball- on our local level, the impact of DWTS has changed American Ballroom Company; United States Dance Sport Championships, United States National Ballroom room dancing would become a mainstay on one or and touched numerous lives. Championships Championships, United States Ballroom Championships, more of the major television networks and revenues Organizer(s)/Directors(s): Wayne Eng United States Grand Championships, United States Dance would flow into the dance studios. Based on recent But there is more. Last week I received a phone call America's Most Prestigious Competition! Championships, United States Open Dance Championships rulings and decisions by the Olympic Committee, it from DWTS to see if they could use my dance studio All American Multi Dance Competitions Featuring and World Professional Dance Sport Championships are all appears that this dream is over. for one of their TV couples. So in Goldsboro, NC we WD&DSC Professional Classic Show Dance Division trademarks of American Ballroom Company, Inc. and are World Mambo Championship presented under rights granted to American Ballroom Com- were treated to a behind World Cabaret/Exhibition Championship pany by the NDCA and are all registered trademarks of But, then an incredible phenomenon happened. On the scenes practice ses- United States Professional Open To The World Standard & American Ballroom Company, Inc. June 1, 2005 ABC television premiered its new sum- sion by Jana Kramer Latin mer show “Dancing With The Stars” based on the and pro Gleb Savchen- United States Amateur Open To The World Standard & About American Ballroom Company and the British television series Strictly Come Dancing. We ko. After their exhaus- Latin United States Dance Championships are now in the 23rd season of this TV show. Now tive practice United States National Latin, Rhythm & Ballroom would be a good time to session, they were kind (Smooth) American Ballroom Company, Inc. (ABC) was incorpo- reflect on the worldwide impact of DWTS. to pose with one of our Event Contacts: [email protected] (310) 544-4636 http:// rated in March 1971 by Ms. Mary Molaghan & John Mon- The obvious effect of DWTS has been the great finan- instructors Jo Ann Bar- www.unitedstatesdancechampionships.com te. At that time ABC was granted a license from the Nation- cial success for the TV producers, bour at the Acme Thea- al Council of Dance Teachers Organization (NCDTO), now American Ballroom Company proudly presents the follow- the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) to con- advertisers and all the celebrities and dancers who tre. ing feature events: duct the official United States Ballroom Championships® have participated in the show. Careers have been FEATURING: (USBC), now known as the United States Dance Champi- made and former careers have been restored. DWTS So what started as a summer filler program in 2005, ?United States National Open & Pro/Am Championships onships® (USDC) in all styles and divisions for Amateurs is now licensed to over forty two countries throughout DWTS has become a worldwide ?United States National Professional Championships and Professionals. the world. phenomenon. Thank you DWTS for all the hours of enjoyable TV, for stimulating growth and acceptance The winners and runners-up from the U.S. National Profes- The Charter was later revised in 1975 and remains the same But there is additional result from this incredible TV of ballroom dancing, and for creating a vehicle to sional International Standard and Latin will represent the today. The USBC was first conducted at the Waldorf Asto- show. Due to DWTS success, another excellent dance raise funds for numerous charities throughout the USA in the WDC World Professional Dance Champion- ria in 1971 and continued there until 1975, when they were show, “So You Think You Can Dance”, arrived on the world. ships. FEATURING: held in Washington D.C.. From there it returned to the Wal- scene showcasing ballroom as well as tap, jazz ballet ?The U.S. Pro/Am Grand Championship dorf Astoria from 1976 to 1981, then the Felt Forum at DWTS you are a perfect 10. The winners of the U.S. Pro/Am "Open" Latin, Rhythm, Madison Square Garden in 1982. It was then back at the and modern. The ballroom industry, domestically and worldwide, have witnessed exponential growth in new Standard, Smooth and the winners of the U.S. Pro/Am Ten Waldorf Astoria for 1983 and shared between the Felt Fo- Charles S. Zwerling, MD, Dance and Nine Dance Championships will compete on rum and the Waldorf Astoria in 1984. In 1985 it was moved business. Social and competitive dancing has Saturday afternoon to determine the U.S. Pro/Am Grand to Miami Beach, FL and held at the Sheraton Bal Harbour. become more mainstreamed and many more spin off Founder of the Heritage Champion. The Championships remained there until 1988. In 1989 it TV shows have used ballroom dancing as an integral Dance Foundation® and ?The United States Open Professional Ballroom and Latin was held at the Fontainebleau Hilton and returned to the part of their programming. Editor of DanceWeek for Championships, A WDC Super Series Ranking Event. Sheraton Bal Harbour in 1990. From 1991 until the present, the past 18 years. the USDC has been held at the Fontainebleau Hilton Hotel. But there is more. On a personal note, Dr. Debbie www.ballroom.org American Ballroom Company began conducting the ABC conducted the World Professional Championships Grady and I with the Heritage Dance Foundation cre- Page 2 DanceWeek Page 19 DanceWeek BALLROOM KRUMP UNITED STATES DANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (Standard) in conjunction with World Dance Promotions at Company (ABC) since 1997, and current Chairman of the Having been on a forced Hiatus for the standing the stronger use of feet and ankles the Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York City in Board, President, and CEO of American Ballroom Company past two and a half years, due to ill health, will allow for a better execution of patterns 1984 and recently conducted this event in 1998 in Miami.