Florida Sunshine Dance, Symposium, and Challenge Competition

Ballroom dancing in Tallahassee is alive, strong, and well!  In our post-Covid environment, partner dancing is making a great comeback.  Many people think ballroom dancing refers simply to “classic” styles like Waltz or Foxtrot.  But it also incorporates many other genres, such as Latin, Social/NightClub, and Country Western.  “Ballroom” has evolved over the decades to keep pace with artistic, musical, cultural, international, regional, and temporal influences.  There truly is something for everyone.

The USA Dance Tallahassee Chapter #6010 is back at it again, bringing all genres of dance together in a 2 ½-day weekend event — the 3^rd Annual Florida Sunshine Dance, Symposium, and Challenge Competition.  It was held at the Tallahassee Senior Center, with the largest wood dance floor in town.  All activities began with a kickoff celebratory social dance including a champagne toast, catered dinner by LB Productions, and playlist music provided by DJ Alex Spencer from Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, August 18.

Saturday, August 19, things got really “HOT HOT HOT” on the dance floor with our Am/Am, Pro/Am, and Teacher/Student Competition featuring International Standard & Latin, American Smooth & Rhythm, and Social/Nightclub dance styles. We rounded out the day with a “Just Social” competition for the Social dancers.  

Thank you to all who were the VIP officials for the Competition.  Patti Panebianco – Competition Chair, our Adjudicators were Shawn Fisher, Joe Mounts, and Andrea Zaramella. Alex Spencer was on double duty by being the Music Director and the Emcee for the Competition. 

We want to also thank Charles “Chuck” Garrett and Lee Oswalt for making the trip to Tallahassee to round out our group of 85 attendees.  Chuck and Lee are on the DanceSport Senior Athlete Committee and having them at our competition speaks volumes.

But wait there was more… Saturday night everyone came back to a semi-formal social dance featuring a catered dinner from Bella Bella, dancing (or listening) to the smooth, jazzy, big band sounds of the Tallahassee Swing Band, and an LED Lumination Dance showcase, performed by Joe Mounts and Jennifer Gilbin.

After all that fun, we still have more… we also offered group lessons or private coaching sessions on Sunday, August 20, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Patti Panebianco, Alex Spencer, Andrea Zaramella, and Joe Mounts were the instructors for the day. 

The classes were great, and we learned so much.  But the class that stood out the most was Patti’s on the Shared Axis.  Really inspiring!  If you get a chance to take a class from her on the Shared Axis or any of the instructors we had, it is worth every penny. 

We would like to extend a special thank you to organizations such as the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA), Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), the City of Tallahassee, Visit Tallahassee, and the Tallahassee Senior Center who have all helped USA Dance #6010 – Tallahassee Chapter bring these events to the local community!

Are you disappointed you were unable to attend the Challenge Dance Weekend Event?  No problem, make plans to join us June 21 – 24, 2024, pending the approval of the Ballroom Competition Organizers Committee.

We have made a few changes such as the 4^th Annual FL Sunshine Dance will have a Kids’ Program for those Competitors that travel with children.  More information to come, as we get closer to the date.

Dance has a culture all of its own.  Dance is Art.  Dance is a Sport.  Come join us to see what it is like to be a part of the Tallahassee dance family community.  All are welcome.  Save the Date!!!!

(Editor’s Note:  Read how this fun event inspired old friends to reconnect.  Jam Jenkins shares his and Dori Wuepper’s story in Reconnecting Through Dance at the Sunshine Challenge.)