Welcome to American Dancer
FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE IN 2024!!!
Welcome to American Dancer, the official online magazine for USA Dance, Inc.
2023 is gone. I don’t know where it went and how it went so quickly. But we went through all 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, and 8760 hours of it. Certainly, we accomplished a lot, right? Go ahead and start listing your achievements…I will wait.
Wow! That’s great! You must be so happy. Yes, I said Happy – as in elated, joyful, ecstatic…
You’ve listed your achievements, and you aren’t really happy? Why not?
Recently I was talking with my friend, who was catching me up on all that was going on. She was traveling, attending weddings, playing with the grandchildren, finishing a few projects, and starting some new projects. Then she said that she missed dancing. It had been a year for her…and this fabulous lady knows how to dance. She said, she missed her “Happy Place”.
I have heard this a lot lately: We just don’t have time. Or…He just doesn’t enjoy it anymore. Or…This or that hurts. Or…It is too far away. Or…It is too expensive. Or…We are tired at the end of the day. The list and excuses go on.
As dancers, one of our happiest places is on the dance floor. The music starts and our feet feel like they are about to take off without us. We smile and start looking around to see where the floor is and who we can grab to share the moment. Dancing is our high, our exercise, our pain killer, our pass time, and our emotional release. It is our chance to dress up, compete, socialize, laugh, perform, and challenge ourselves. It’s fun!
Those who are not dancers will never understand the joy of being invited for a song, getting into a frame, learning new steps, leading a partner into a new pattern, following steps you never learned, spinning around the floor, and laughing at the finish of the adventure. They don’t understand, so they don’t think you are missing anything. Well, you are!
We’ve all heard the phrase, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” It is true! And I am giving everyone an interesting challenge as you step into the next 365 days: Be a little selfish! It is time to find and take back your Happy Place. Do you love and miss dancing? Make a New Year’s resolution to return to the dance floor. Start by just showing up. Walk through the studio door and put your shoes on. If your partner won’t go, go without them.
Want more? Take a group class. Sign up for a few lessons. There are a lot of good teachers.
Is your area lacking in social dance opportunities? Find a place – church, school, hall, etc. – and host your own event.
Did you have a disagreement with the local studio? Stop it…Bury the hatchet. That studio needs dancers, and you need to dance.
Are you a social dancer who always wanted to try competition? Don’t wait. Go to a local competition and watch…not just the Professionals, catch a good Bronze competition. You will quickly realize that you can do it too.
No partner? You don’t need one for most social dances. Or, start with Pro-Am and ask around. You might be surprised.
Are you a competitor who needs a change? Change your choreography, consider moving up a level, or take up an additional style. Talk to your teacher about your competition future. Go to a camp. Pull your dresses and tail suits out of the closet and try them on. Plan your first competition for 2024. Better yet, sign up to compete at Nationals or overseas.
It’s your Happy Place. You deserve it. Don’t let another 8760 hours go by without putting on your dance shoes.
It’s 2024 and the dance floor is calling. BE HAPPY!
Rose-Ann Lynch
Managing Editor, American Dancer
ARE YOU READING AMERICAN DANCER?
YOU SHOULD!
American Dancer continues to report, write, and take pictures, but we can’t do it alone. If you are good with the pen and/or camera, please consider contributing articles and/or photos. Anyone who is a member of USA Dance is welcome to be a full-time, occasional, or one-time contributor to this publication. Here’s what we are looking for:
- Social news, stories, and photos about USA Dance chapters, events, and individuals
- USA Dance Competition news, events, stories, and photos
- WDSF Competition news, events, stories, and photos
- USA Dance administrative information
- Dance and Dance Organization tips
- Ideas – Maybe you don’t like to write but have a good USA Dance story; let us know.
- USA Dance Opinion/Editorial Pieces
American Dancer retains the right to edit any accepted submissions. As a picture is worth 1,000 words, don’t forget to include dance photos with your written piece. We also take stand-alone photos with short descriptions. (Note: To be published, all photos must identify those pictured and include photo credits)
We hope you enjoy reading about USA Dance and the Dancing World!
Rose-Ann Lynch
Managing Editor
Rose-Ann is the expressive half of the Mike and Rose-Ann Lynch partnership. They have been USA Dance DanceSport Athletes since 2009, and are current and 20-time Senior American Smooth National Champions. They are also three-time Senior III International Ballroom National Champions and have represented the United States in six World Championships.
Rose-Ann is a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel with 22 years of service. She is a1984 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a Masters in Public Communication from American University.
Carson Zullinger
Official Photographer
Zullinger is a working artist who has been heavily involved in the arts community since the late 1970’s. He was a founding member of the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, serving as President of the board during its early years. He rejoined the board in 2006 and served for 10 years including Development Chair, and Treasurer. He also was honored to serve on the Delaware State Arts Council for seven years. He currently serves on the Board of the Biggs Museum of American Art.
Carson is the 2014 recipient of the Masters Artist Fellowship from the Delaware Division of the Arts. He has exhibited extensively since the early 1980’s including the Delaware Art Museum, the Delaware Contemporary and the Biggs Museum of American Art. His work is in Museum and private collections. He has volunteered for USA Dance since 1999.
Christine Trask
Staff Writer
Christine Trask, a mother and retired Purchasing Director, has been a volunteer columnist writer since May 2009. She has written for various dance publications such as “Dancing Times” and “Sheer Dance.” As a member of USA Dance Minnesota Chapter #2011 from 2009 to 2014, she has performed in various Minnesota showcases and competitions. In 2015, she moved to Florida where she continues to write and perform in dance shows. In 2017, Chris received a top gold award for a solo Viennese Waltz competition at the Tropicana Dance Challenge in Florida. In addition to her passion for dance, she travels and spends time with family and friends.
If you have a story to share with American Dancer, please contact Chris at traskca@yahoo.com
Julie Wilson
Fashion Expert
Julie Michelle Wilson is the owner of Encore Ballroom Couture, the leading consignment and rental dress company in the ballroom dance industry. She has been a professional dancer for almost 20 years. She enjoys creative expression on and off the dance floor!
Callie Maginnis
Fashion Team
Callie Maginnis is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a double major in Fashion Design and English. She is the dress manager at Encore Ballroom Couture and loves the sparkle and shine of the ballroom dance industry!
Tom Hufnagel
Commentary
Tom Hufnagel has intermittently been an active member of USA Dance’s Chapter #2015 Youngstown-Warren, Ohio, since the 1990s. He used to work as a Microsoft Office software instructor at ETI Technical College in Niles, Ohio, but is now retired. Along with the college director, Renee Zuzolo, he taught East Coast Swing and Waltz to the students for free. Tom learned ballroom dance in Columbus and Grandville Heights, Ohio.