Girard, OH — On December 7, 2024, USA Dance Youngstown, Ohio, Chapter #2015 hosted a monumental event: the 20th anniversary of the celebrated Snowflake Ball. This year’s anniversary ball took place at the beautiful Avon Oaks Ballroom in Girard, Ohio, welcoming dancers, enthusiasts, and supporters from near and far for an evening of Smooth and Latin ballroom dancing.
This gala celebrates two decades of tradition and elegance, which began under the visionary leadership of Susan Ryan. She served as USA Dance’s local chapter president when she first introduced the Snowflake Ball. Driven by a desire to create a truly festive and grand holiday event, Susan, along with Joanne Pacurar and her dedicated board, launched the inaugural Snowflake Ball in 2004 at the historic Packard Music Hall in Warren, Ohio. Susan and her team’s meticulous planning and commitment to the community ensured the event’s success, quickly making it a cherished tradition. She still possesses the original seating chart from that first ball, a testament to the care and detail that went into crafting the experience.
Since its inception, the Snowflake Ball has been a staple of the holiday season for dancers in the area, offering a refined space to celebrate the beauty and art of ballroom dance. Each year, this USA Dance chapter organizes an event that combines timeless elegance with modern energy, featuring smooth and rhythm dance styles. From the sweeping steps of the waltz and foxtrot to the upbeat rhythms of Latin dances, the dance floor at the Snowflake Ball is always alive with grace, style, and camaraderie.
Susan and her team have significantly influenced the event. Their dedication to creating a welcoming atmosphere, attention to elegance, and insight into what makes an event memorable continue to inspire each new Snowflake Ball. Year after year, she and her team carefully manage every detail, crafting an annual celebration emphasizing community as much as dance.
“USA Dance has always been about bringing people together,” Ryan stated recently. “The Snowflake Ball is a chance for us to celebrate dance and each other…to honor our love of movement and music in a setting that feels as special as the season itself.”
With its classic charm and spacious environment, the Avon Oaks Ballroom was the perfect setting for this year’s celebration. Attendees and many USA Dance chapters experienced an evening that honored two decades of tradition while welcoming new dancers and guests. The 20th Anniversary Snowflake Ball was filled with beauty, joy, and unforgettable dancing.
As the USA Dance community in Youngstown/Warren and beyond celebrated this milestone, it was a night of reflection, joy, and anticipation for the years to come.
American Dancer thanks Tom Hufnagel for his article. Do you have a dance story to tell? Send it to Managing Editor Rose-Ann Lynch at Americandancer@usadance.org.
Tom Hufnagel is an active member and the Vice President of Chapter #2063 in North Coast, Ohio. He has been a member of USA Dance since the 1990s. Previously, he worked as a Microsoft Office software instructor at ETI Technical College in Niles, Ohio, but he is now retired. Alongside the college director, Renee Zuzolo, he taught East Coast Swing and Waltz to students as a perk to their schooling. Tom learned ballroom dance in Columbus and Grandview Heights, Ohio.
