Phil E DanZnewZ, August 23, contains video links to all the dances from our Disney Dance Camp Showcase.
Past Performances:
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Favorite Things at Stardust Ballroom, May 5, 2017.
DiscoAmerica, June 2016
Many thanks to Donna Boyle and Joyce Sizli, for allowing us to perform for the dinner dance again this year. Illan and Caitlin competed at USA Dance Manhattan Amateur Classic, Jan. 17, 2016, in youth gold Latin. They were 3rd of 12.
JOHN & ANN'S WEDDING, SEPTEMBER 2015
One of Universal's couples was preparing their First Dance for their wedding and requested a dance from our staff to be performed during their reception. Knowing they had met at a dance, I figured they must have eyed each other from across the crowded room, so I chose Strangers In the Night for the performance--there's some rumba, some bolero, some foxtrot. I also taught the guests a tango line dance (by the bride's request) and used a tango version of the same song. If you want something special for your special event, ask us first. We can add some special and unique spark to the day. DISCO AMERICA, JUNE, 2015
We thank Donna Boyle for inviting us to do this dance at DiscoAmerica Championships, June 13, 2015. We originally did this number at Universal Ballroom Center's Christmas Party, Dec. 13, 2014. It grew to a nearly 5 minute presentation as we added to Josh Brownlie's original Bronze Adult Latin Class's 'Study of Alemana to Advanced Hip Twist' 6 wk course amalgamation. Sandra Fortuna's Wednesday night PDR class had an 16 bar PDR Cha Cha combo which was added next; then Josh's Jr bronze cha cha dancers; then Sandra's youth hustle followed by the adults and juniors and youth dancing the PDR Cha Cha for the big finish. Preparing this dance was a positive experience all around and the impetus for some good work at dancing school for the staff and for the dancers at Universal Ballroom Center. DISCOAMERICA, JUNE 2002
Universal was turning out some fabulous dancing even 'back then.' Brian and Tamara, Salsa Show, DiscoAmerica, 2002. |
September in the Rain, Stardust Ballroom, May 5, 2017.
USA Dance Chapter 3012, September In The Rain, Nov. 20, 2016.
Thank you their president, Phil Zoebish, for having us perform; thank you to our parents who do so much driving so the dancers can dance! Fundraiser, Village of Hope Orphanage in Vietnam, Nov. 12, 2016, with Illan, Andreas, Michael, Kaelan, Jaiden and Ava Bella, Angelina, Olga, Caroline, Valerie, Dee, Sydney, Natalia.
MY WHEELCHAIR CHOREOGRAPHY FOR THE ARNOLD, MARCH 2010
I finished this dance in 2010 in time for the Arnold, a fitness conference, competition and festival that included dancesport, in Columbus, Ohio. My long time friend in the business, Sam Sodano, set up the demonstration for wheelchair dancing. You can't believe how excited I was to know this activity and my work would be displayed to so many dancers and to fitness names like Arnold Schwartznegger. The main idea was to develop a dance whose priority was the connection, mostly physical, between the performers. It needed to be recognizable as a cha cha, it needed to be a little exciting, and a lot rhythmic. The dancers needed to feel physically comfortable and display their terrific physical attributes, hence the sleeveless shirt and the stretchy pants with minimal stones. I am very proud of this dance and totally excited about wheelchair dancing moving towards more acceptance and recognition in the dance industry. Eventually, this couple went, as the first USA dancers in their division, to the IPC European Championships in Germany. They were sponsored through Universal Ballroom Center and the dancers here who supported the project to send them. Choreography, costumes, wheelchair, all provided by Sandra Fortuna. SWING FLING, AUGUST, 2015
Here is the video of the Oye Como Va routine as performed at the Swing Fling, 2015. We performed it at DiscoAmerica in June, and were hoping to get through it then. At Swing Fling, we expected it to go better. Was it better? Definitely. Was it good enough? Absolutely not! Are the discrepancies apparent and fixable? For the most part. Will the dance get more alterations? Sure. Was the goal achieved? Well, one must understand the goal in order to determine the success of the dancers in achieving that goal. The goal was not to win, nor impress, nor be effective. It was to just do something. Not satisfied with this dance, but still pleased at the improvement of this dance. What needs fixing? Plenty! But let's look at it from the point of a goal instead of the point of the final result. The initial goal was to support a local dance event organizer, Donna Boyle, in her efforts to produce an annual dance weekend. Choosing to participate in the exhibitions meant getting in shape, designating a certain amount of time to putting a dance together. Once the performance for DiscoAmerica was over, the secondary goal was to continue to tweek the dance and improve it for presentation while maintaining and improving the fitness level. After this performance at Swing Fling, there are no fewer problems on the list of necessary improvements than there were 6 weeks ago. However, there is a certain amount of enjoyment in feeling more in control and feeling like there is a possibility of making the dance worthy of some level of personal satisfaction. It will just take some regular practice and attention. The Saturday night exhibition performance was just part of the dance weekend. Jane, Toria, Josh, Illan, Terry, Anna, Yelena, Donna, Rochelli, were all there having a ball! We had so much fun dancing! If you felt like a different mood, there were two rooms for WCS, one with very update music and the other with more classic blues. If you needed to get more energized, there was another ballroom featuring hustle music. All afternoon, you could choose to participate in contests, spectate or attend one of up to three different workshops. |
Sandra Fortuna was part of a very distinguished panel of judges at the United States Dancesport Championships, September 7-13, Orlando, FL.
She is a licensed NDCA and WDSF judge, a past judge for WDC and USA Dance, member of the USA Dance Teacher/Student commission and co-chair of USA Dance invigilation committee.
Photo by Keith Todd.
She is a licensed NDCA and WDSF judge, a past judge for WDC and USA Dance, member of the USA Dance Teacher/Student commission and co-chair of USA Dance invigilation committee.
Photo by Keith Todd.
TodayZ ThoughtZ
It is probably safe to say ours is the ONLY school completely compliant with the rules for USA Dance events, and we are definitely the ONLY school offering teacher certification training for teens. We are probably the only school providing any special classes for no charge. Plus, registered Universal dancers participating in teacher training received their textbook for the class for FREE, compliments of my friend, Brian Wells.
Years ago, I was one of the original founders of a wheelchair dance non-profit. I wrote their manual, funded lessons, travel, wheelchairs, costumes, shoes, space, etc., ran lecture demonstrations, did significant choreography and was the original instigation for a TV program called Dancing On Wheels, BBC, based on the DWTS format. It's time to do some more wheelchair dancing at Universal. We will have an open class for interested dancers soon. I really want to see our youth get involved. It could be a very special and unique skill for them to learn and know--AND ONE MORE INTERESTING, UNIQUE, UNUSUAL ACTIVITY TO LIST ON THEIR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.
It is probably safe to say ours is the ONLY school completely compliant with the rules for USA Dance events, and we are definitely the ONLY school offering teacher certification training for teens. We are probably the only school providing any special classes for no charge. Plus, registered Universal dancers participating in teacher training received their textbook for the class for FREE, compliments of my friend, Brian Wells.
Years ago, I was one of the original founders of a wheelchair dance non-profit. I wrote their manual, funded lessons, travel, wheelchairs, costumes, shoes, space, etc., ran lecture demonstrations, did significant choreography and was the original instigation for a TV program called Dancing On Wheels, BBC, based on the DWTS format. It's time to do some more wheelchair dancing at Universal. We will have an open class for interested dancers soon. I really want to see our youth get involved. It could be a very special and unique skill for them to learn and know--AND ONE MORE INTERESTING, UNIQUE, UNUSUAL ACTIVITY TO LIST ON THEIR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.