Tampa Bay Linedance Classic 2003
Tampa Bay, FL
November 7 - 9
EVENT DIRECTORS:
Scott Hucks & Arline Winerman
 

I unfortunately must forgo my usual pic and caption format for the First Annual Tampa Bay Classic event report because I had no photographer this time around as CJ was not there to witness this excellent first time event.  I've read a number of other reports out there so there isn't too much to say that hasn't already been said, however, I'll still give it a shot.

Instructors were numerous! Florida certainly has a terrific pool of local talent as they had to dedicate one workshop room just to fill in all of them including Florida area favorites: Marilyn McNeal, Christine Bass (now nationally known thanks to her big hit Beer For My Horses), John Dembiec (Goody Two-Shoes), Nettie Manzo, Joyce Fornero, Sandi Brooks, Nancy Morgan and Kathy Brown.  The rest of the rooms included the following:

The entire schedule of dances from the event can be found here.  Everyone had their favorites and many I'm sure were missed by me, however, it did help that the demos were by time slot (as they were at Windy City) - cool that the idea is catching on! 

My personal favorites:

Out The Door - Alison Biggs: Heard no mention of this one anywhere and frankly, I'm surprised since I had a blast doing it!  I do hope you'll check this one out as you are passing up on a fun one.

Cho-co-latte - Yvonne Anderson: Fun song, fun dance, will be big.  What am I saying, I think it already is.

In The Mood - Glen Pospieszny (co-choreographed w/ Bev Crane): Great response to this one - our class is already loving it.

Clean Up To Elbow - Guyton Mundy: Certainly has potential to be a national hit.

So What - Bill McGee - Missed the class cause I was up against it, but looked great from the demo.

Stop, Look & Listen - Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs: Much better song now than the originally choreographed song.  Check this one out!

Fiddlesticks - Vivienne Scott: Cute dance that was received well.

Naughty - Johanna Barnes (taught by Bryan McWherter) - looked sharp in the demo, will give it a shot....

Other favorite dances already mentioned previously:

Turning Up The Heat - Peter Metelnick (already taught here)

Yee Haa - Simon Ward (taught by Glen Pospieszny)

Dancing Til Dawn - Mark Cosenza & Glen Pospieszny (taught by Glen Pospieszny)

Freak Out - Doug & Jackie Miranda

Long Train Running - Doug & Jackie Miranda

Ain't No Mountain - Doug & Jackie Miranda

Cold Blooded - Scott Blevins

Chase The Sun 2003 - Yvonne Anderson

Bucklehuck - Carole Daugherty (taught by John Robinson)

NuFlow - MIL (taught by Dancing Dean)

Do It Do It Do It - Ron Kline (taught by Marilyn McNeal)

One Thin Dime - Michele Perron (taught by Dottie Wicks

Infatuation - Johanna Barnes (taught by Scott Blevins)

Romantasy - Peter & Alison

No Parking Baby - Jeremy Oldham (taught by John Robinson)

Brickhouse - Junior Willis

Don't Keep Me Waiting - Bracken Ellis (taught by JP Potter)

On The Rocks - JP Potter

My Teaches were:

Start Walking!

No More Excuses (brand new) &
Blindsided (Lucy Strack & Betty Maddox)

OK, that was a list!  I probably missed some great ones, but that was one of the problems - I couldn't split myself in two enough to go to some of the other workshops.

Next year, I think a few more reteaches are in order!

The workshop room floors were a bit smaller due to the larger than expected turn out.  They were expecting around 200 but ended up with closer to 350. 

Open dancing kept the floor filled for the most part.  There were a few folks looking to showcase their dances for the others by clearing the floor and having the 2 or 3 of them demo the dance during open dance time.  While this practice will work for a dance that is truly awesome, other times it could work against folks if the dancers are antsy to get out on the dance floor.  I’m hoping that with the large number of dancers attending this event, there would be enough interest next year to warrant a competition similar to that of Tarheel and Windy City where others have a chance to showcase their material for the judges and dancers by demoing and teaching their dance.  At this time, folks are much more receptive to seeing hot new dances with the added bonus of instantly being able to learn them.  As I recall, this type of competition was how Junior Willis’ Dirty Pop dance was discovered at Tarheel and Junior went on to teach the following year….. Similar can be said for Ron Kline’s Do It Do It Do It dance which competed at Windy City and now is getting the attention is deserves. 

Popular dances getting frequent airplay over the course of the weekend included Swing Your Chains, Cold Blooded, Another Quickie, Sexy Stir Fry, Sugar Sugar, Cool Whip, Bye Bye, Bucklehuck, Beer For My Horses (cool to see all of those “glasses” raised!), NuFlow, Bidness, Nasdravia, Badda Boom Badda Bang, Southern Delight, Yes You Won’t, Phloor Philla, Too Funky For Me, Start Walking and many many more….that’s just the ones I recall.

Reports on the dinner show were all great!  No length issues and the buffet did not have assigned seating, so no long lines to wait through.  Great idea folks! 

What’s in store for next year?  Expanded floors in the work shop rooms.  This year there were too many people and too little floor.  Less instructors and more reviews also are being considered for next year.  No matter what, count me in!