There was Judy, in the ballroom of the Overland Park Marriott, attending the Kansas City Dance Classic. “603!” She screamed, which was the number on her brother-in-law’s back. “603, Yaaaaaaay!!!!” Her family members joined it chorus. As graceful dancers whirled past her on the floor, she cheered and clapped for all of them, but her family got that extra push of sound.
Then it happened — The distinguished lady judge dressed in black, standing 10 feet in front of her, turned from the floor, looked at Judy over her shoulder, and turned back again. It reminded her of a teacher in high school. “I’ve always been this way,” said Judy. “This is nothing new. I’m loud and energetic, and appreciate people who can do things that I can’t even think about….Sometimes I just can’t help it. It just comes out!” But, she was concerned that this was the “stop-it” look and thought, “Uh oh, is she mad at me?”
Judy tried to restrain herself as the fabulous music by DJ Todd Wakefield played on and the elegant couples danced. This was so much fun!! Excitement overtook her again, and she clapped and sang a song she recognized.
Then came the next dance, and again she erupted in cheers of “603,” accompanied by her sister-in-law, Stacey. The two could be heard across the vast ballroom floor. The judge started to turn again, and the girls both held their breath. Were they too loud? Was Judy going to get in trouble? Was someone going to throw them out of there? After all, it was ballroom dancing, not NFL Football with the Kansas City Chiefs! Oh Nooooo! Judy looked cautiously at the judge’s face but was met with a huge grin and bright laughing eyes. Judge Patti Panebianco was enjoying the Kansas City hometown energy, and Judy and Stacey smiled back broadly. “That made me feel a whole lot better…we were not going to get kicked out,” said Judy. “The judge was actually laughing in the end.”
Who would have known that ballroom dancing was so much fun? But this wasn’t Judy and Stacey’s first Kansas City rodeo. In the past, they had attended at least five Kansas City Dance Classics with their husbands, Brian Lynch (Judy’s) and Kevin Lynch (Stacey’s). They were all there for the big Saturday night, because once a year, their brother, Mike Lynch, and Rose-Ann came to town, and they weren’t going to miss it. “It’s a family affair,” said Stacey. Plus, ballroom dancing is so different, and the Kansas City Dance Classic was the only time they got to see this stuff in real life.
This year, they had extra help in the cheering section. They were joined by friends and ballroom first-timers Dale Dorner and Leasa Carr. “Dale said, my fraternity brother is dancing at a competition at the Marriott. Do you want to go?” said Leasa. “And I said, yeah, that would be fun! Leasa also mentioned it to her friend, Melissa, and lo and behold, the three of them came together.
Saturday night, they showed up not quite knowing what to expect. Dancing with the Stars was their only taste of ballroom; they had never seen it in person. “I was expecting to watch people dance professionally, and that’s what I got!” said Dale with a grin.
“I understood that there were four or five different dances and that the judges were judging all of the dancers on the floor at the same time. But I didn’t really understand how they were scoring,” said Dale. “My eyes were on Mike and Rose-Ann.”
Kansas City organizers Matt and Ellen Pansing recognize that they host many ballroom first-timers and epitomize the Midwest’s warmth, engagement, and welcome. Although attendance was slightly down this year, those dancing gave it their all, and those cheering, especially near Judy and Stacey, made up for it in volume. “The atmosphere was a little more relaxed than what I anticipated,” commented Leasa. “I anticipated that it would be a more formal setting. But the group behind me was pretty rowdy!”
“I wasn’t surprised by the cheering,” laughed Dale. “I’ve been to events with the Lynch family before, and it is generally loud!”
“The Kansas City Dance Classic is a family affair. The atmosphere is always bubbly and ready to go,” said Stacey. “I’m not there for the points and scores… I like the dresses…and enjoy watching the flow of everything and seeing how everyone is so in step. It is pretty cool how everyone moves around each other.”
“I love the dresses, and we enjoyed clapping and hollering for everyone who came into our area. They were all awesome,” said Judy. “I really liked yelling for this one couple in the yellow dress (Senior V couple Ron and Carol Magee)…I said, ‘I like your dress,’ and she smiled… She didn’t look at me because she was concentrating, but she smiled.”
“I really liked the music this year,” said Stacey. “It was more modern… Even though it was slowed down, it was still fun that we knew some of the songs that you were dancing to…It was so good! The dancers seemed to enjoy it more also.”
We’ve seen changes through the years and have watched you grow,” added Judy. “We’ve seen the couples improve. Even though our eyeballs are not trained, I know that both of us have seen you improve.”
“It is nice to have this opportunity to watch ballroom dancing,” said Stacey. “Otherwise, I never would have gone.”
“It was a wonderful evening and was amazing to watch!” said Leasa.
Since Judy wasn’t thrown out this year, what is their plan for the 2026 Kansas City Dance Classic, June 6-7?
“I’m sure we will come on Saturday night,” said Stacey. “Yes, we’ll be there.”
“Whoooo hooooo! That will be Stacey’s birthday! It is going to be rowdy! Look out!” said Judy. “I’m putting it on my calendar right now!”
