Last weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs won! Go Chiefs!!!!!!!! Love Patrick Mahomes!!!
Last weekend, the Kansas City Royals won!!! Go Royals!!!!!!
And, last weekend, the Kansas City Dance Classic was a big WIN!!!!! Go Matt and Ellen Pansing!!
The 2023 Kansas City Dance Classic, held at the Marriott Overland Park in Kansas City, Kansas, September 16-17, drew dancers of all ages and dance levels from across the country, and…everyone left smiling.
It’s hard to believe that this special competition has been running for a decade, but this was the 10-year anniversary, and it is still going strong. Organizers Matt and Ellen Pansing promised a ballroom dance competition that continues to focus on Amateur couples, and they delivered. Along with that, in 2016 they added Teacher/Student, so now they also cater to many Pro/Am dancers.
Dancers had everything they needed – great music, a lovely hotel, a large floor, a nearby practice floor, vendors, good Kansas City food, friends, and a lot of fun! It was even noted that at one point, one full final included seven couples from seven different states. How often does that happen?
The distinguished judging panel led by Chairman Daniel Calloway, included Dana Edwards, Shawn Fisher, Stephen Hadley, Patti Panebianco, Kimberly Smith, Martin Smith, Phillip Stephens, Irina Trebunskaya, Yelena Vesnovskiy, Ruslan Wilder, and Yuehwern Yih. Rounding out the panel of officials were Emcee Ricky Semlitz, Music Director Todd Wakefield, Scrutineer Daniel Dilley, and DRO Andrea Miranda.
Sadly, the competition, like most USA Dance competitions, was a little smaller this year, as some Country-Western Dancers were lost to a nearby competition. But next year that won’t be a problem….Yes! Another WIN!!!!
The Kansas City Dance Classic will be changing dates and has already been sanctioned to run June 29-30, 2024. This will also space out the USA Dance competitions for dancers trying to hit more Regional Qualifying events, as Chicago DanceSport Challenge follows closely – October 13-15 this year – and the USA Dance Carolina Fall Classic is rumored to be returning next fall.
What are people saying about this competition?
- “Great evening of Championship Events in all styles!”
- “Congratulations to all!”
- “Please convey our gratitude to a group of fantastic volunteers!”
- “Excellent event!”
- “Thank you, Matt and Ellen for another great Kansas City Dance Classic competition!”
- “Great event indeed!!! Shout out to Matt Pansing and Ellen Pansing!!”
- “See you next year!!”
Did you miss it this year? Or…say it is not so…you’ve never been to it? You only have to wait eight months. Get your calendars out now and write in the dates. Here they are again…June 29-30, 2024. Don’t say you didn’t know about it.
Let’s let Matt and Ellen sum up this article: “THANK YOU – We appreciate you competing at the 10th annual Kansas City Dance Classic last weekend. We hope you enjoyed your day and a half of dancing and your time in Kansas City. Please put KCDC 2024 on your calendar for June 29-30, 2024.”
