Happy Fourth of July! Please take some time to reflect on recent and past events and think about how fortunate we are to be Americans. Think about how Americans pull together during times of tragedy and chaos. People helping people, together we shall overcome. I saw with my own eyes how neighbors help one another in the worst Arizona wildfire burning in the White Mountains (my old stomping grounds). The firefighters, police, and emergency personnel are just incredible!
Our club is made up of volunteers. We donate time and effort for the continuance of the dance West Coast Swing and for you as a member to enjoy it. If you love the dance as much as some people do, please volunteer some time to a club committee and/or function. For the Jack and Jill committee see Linda De La Torre. For the Holiday Party committee see Linda Lowell. For the anniversary party see Rose Marie. For Publicity ideas see Elly Cummings. For the election committee see Alex Kosiorek. Your help will be welcomed and appreciated.
A big cost savings for the club would be to have all members with Internet access to print the club's newsletter at home from the web site www.tsdc.net, instead of being mailed a copy. Please check with Bob Firl, newsletter editor, for details. Postage is going up, and we are looking at ways to save.
Smile at Bill Garrity because he might take your picture. He accepted the position of club photographer.
TSDC was mentioned in the quarterly issue of "Tucson Guide" as a place to go to be part of the "swing scene"! Elly Cummings, Treasurer and acting publicity chair, is always working for you!
Thank You For Being a Member,
Big Daddy Dave Peña
Board of Directors Meeting July 10th 7 pm. All members are welcome.
Postage is increasing. Viewing and printing the newsletter from the Web site is encouraged.
Only the membership secretary and newsletter editor will have the complete club mailing list.
Jack and Jill this month on July 11th.
Happy Hour Sat. July 20th, 7 - 9 pm, at 8 Traxx
Dance camp of different dances discussed.
Bill Garrity is the official Club Photographer.
The Tucson Mayor will draft a proclamation declaring West Coast Swing Day for the club's
25th Anniversary.
Reminder that all announcements are approved by the President.
Job descriptions needed for the four coordinator positions.
Election results discussed and materials
voted to be destroyed.
(continued from page one)
If your Instructor offers a progressive lesson structure be sure to take all the levels along the way. Don't rush ahead, skipping levels, thinking you are too advanced for the basic stuff. You need to know everything you can about this dance as it's an educated dance. You can't get too much education. When you master the Advanced level go back and revisit the basics. When you've done all that, it may be time to take private lessons to work on your specific strengths and weaknesses.
At some point
you may "outgrow" the Instructor you started with, you may just need a
change, or you may need to broaden your horizons. If money and distance
are not too much of a problem, you can travel to most metropolitan centers
and find top notch West Coast Swing Instructors. If you are competing take
advantage of lessons offered by the best dancers and teachers in the country
available at conventions. Take from many Instructors and find one who fits
your level of dancing, personality, and style of learning.
After taking all these lessons, do we really need a Coach? Your Instructors cannot take the individual time in group classes to work on your personal needs. Taking a series of private lessons with one Instructor over an extended period of time, you've got a personal relationship with someone who has invested their time in your dancing. If you do better, it makes them feel better, and is good for their professional reputation. Ask them if they will watch you in a contest and provide feedback. Expect to pay for their coaching time. They are not instructing just for the "fun" of it.
Think about acting lessons. Some people seem to blossom in the limelight. "Hams" are always ready with a big smile, a saucy wink or an exaggerated strut just at the right moment in the music. A few acting lessons may help to bring out the "ham" in you. (continued next month)
Support your club newsletter. Anyone owning a business or providing a service is invited to place an ad in the newsletter which is currently mailed on a monthly basis. Send your camera-ready ad and