John Wheaton’s Jack & Jill O’Rama was this last weekend in Orange County California. Check out the results and for more info go to http://www.centralcoastswingdance.com/

Female Pro/Am
1 Daniel Guido & Melissa Rutz
2 Gary Thompson & Mary Ann Nunez
3 Christopher Dumond & Tara Trafzer
4 Carson Brand & Stevie Blakely
5 Jason Travis Taylor & Kelly Casanova

Male Pro/Am
1 Ben Morris & Aisha Lodjic
2 Arjay Centeno & Janelle Guido
3 Doug Rousar & Alyssa Glanville
4 Alfred Lee & Megan Montana
5 Manny Viarrial & Colleen Palmer

Strictly Swing- Open “A”
1 Jason Wayne & Yvonne Benavidez-Wayne
2 Ben Morris & Melissa Rutz
3 Arjay Centeno & Melina Ramirez
4 Luis Crespo & Joanna Meinl
5 Josh Clark & Kara Frenzel

Strictly Swing – Open “B”
1 Matt Nicholls & Simone Andrade
2 Jason Travis Taylor & Olivia Ogden
3 Christopher Dumond & Alyssa Glanville
4 Peter Fradley & Kate Lovegrove
5 Steven Guido & Jennifer Pasetes

Jack & Jill – Novice
1 Cameron Crook & Kate Lovegrove
2 Evan Pardo & Jessica Greer
3 Christopher Coser & Hannah Clonch
4 Patrick Plagens & Jennifer Pasetes
5 Nate Woodward & Bonnie Lucas

Jack & Jill – Intermediate
1 Steven Guido & Janelle Guido
2 Hrafnkell “Alan” Palsson & Elise Valdez
3 Carson Brand & Glenda Smith
4 Kevin Bretney & Regina Shpigel
5 Matthew Taylor & Tamara Golden

Jack & Jill – Advanced
1 Christopher Dumond & Olivia Ogden
2 Matt Nicholls & Kara Frenzel
3 Jason Travis Taylor & Alyssa Glanville
4 Geoffrey Nighswonger & Aisha Lodjic
5 Daniel Guido & Simone Andrade

Jack & Jill – Masters
1 Manny Viarrial & Jill Aversa
2 Mike Gadberry & Patty Ingram
3 Richard Beauchamp & Kelly Casanova
4 Patrick Plagens & Bess Rodriguez
5 Steven Tondre & Colleen Palmer

Jack & Jill – Juniors
1 Michael O’Connor & Nicole Clonch
2 Christopher Dumond & Jenna Lynch
3 Cameron Crook & Aisha Lodjic
4 Carson Brand & Hannah Clonch
5 Eitan Zar & Bonnie Lucas

Jack & Jill – Grand Masters
1 Larry Sanders & Colleen Palmer
2 Phillip Manor & Sherry Shahan
3 Mike Daniele & Betty Whyte
4 Randy Ponitzman & Fay Atkens

Jack & Jill – All American
1 Jason Wayne & Malia San Nicolas
2 Ben McHenry & Janelle Guido
3 Donnie Carl & Alyssa Glanville
4 Josh Clark & Lisa Brink
5 Tom Bryant & Michele Adams

Jack & Jill – 60′s Era
1 Ben Morris & Melissa Rutz
2 Martin Parker & Jill DeMarco
3 Ben McHenry & Mackenzie Goodmanson
4 Cameron Crook & Alyssa Glanville
5 Robert Campos & Janelle Guido

Jack & Jill – Sophisticated
1 Martin Parker & Susan Brown
2 Alfred Lee & Michele Adams
3 Manny Viarrial & Kelly Casanova
4 Luis Crespo & Carrie Lucas
5 Gary Jobst & Glenda Smith

Jack & Jill – Champions
1 Jason Wayne & Torri Smith
2 Ben Morris & Jill DeMarco
3 Doug Rousar & Yvonne Benavidez-Wayne
4 Luis Crespo & Mary Ann Nunez
5 Sean McKeever & Melissa Rutz

Jill & Jack
1 Joanna Meinl & Arjay Centeno
2 Yvonne Benavidez-Wayne & Jason Wayne
3 Kara Frenzel & Manny Viarrial
4 Janelle Guido & Christopher Dumond
5 Yvonne Benavidez-Wayne & Gary Thompson

From April 22 – 25, 2010 at the gorgeous Grand Geneva Resort in Wisconsin it’s Swing Dance America. Check out the videos below for a taste of 2009

Hosted at the beautiful 4-diamond Grand Geneva Resort & Spa by Event Director Glen Miller; 2010 is gonna be another record breaker! Enjoy golf, scenic trails, horseback riding, indoor water park, full spa! Dance on Three (3) separate ballroom floors! Enjoy the ambiance of professional stage backdrops and lighting and see some of the best dancers in America in our Classic and Showcase Divisions, and in the Saturday Evening Show, while you’re entertained by Emcee Robert Royston. Don’t forget you can compete in one or more of 25 Dance Divisions and enjoy over 25 Dance Workshops.

Swing into Spring at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Join the LARGEST Swing & Hustle Dance Event in the Midwest!

For more info check out the website http://swingdanceamerica.com/

Video and quotes from attendees at America’s Classic Championship 2010. Part II coming soon…

ACC totally rocked this year! All the choreographed routine divisions were well executed. The Open Showcase and Open Classic, and Master’s Classic were especially hot! The energy was great throughout the weekend, and the DJ’s did an awesome job with the music for both social dancing, and the comps.
Glen Miller – Swing and Hustle Dance America

“Dance Like No Ones Watching”. My favorite part of ACC was the Showcase & Classic division, because that’s where I hope to be soon! Also, the social dancing was great as well. Meeting new people and enjoying the Dance. I also, loved that they are starting Truman’s Dream for the Juniors. I have a 9 year old that West coast swing as well and he wants to compete. We’ve competed before and he needs a partner. All and All it was Great at ACC!!
Angie Jones – Swing Professional

It was huge! It was so much fun! Social Dancing was great and someone told me they have been to other events, but they said they would never miss ACC ever again!
Debbie Figueroa – Swing Professional

Americas’ Classic was one of the best events I have ever attended. Mario & Cher put on a first-class event that ran smoothly and efficiently. The competitions ran mostly on time, which is especially impressive considering that many of the competitions had a large number of competitors. I think the competitions ran so well in large part due to the use of the electronic scoring system provided by Event Express Pro. This system allowed competitors to be called back for semifinal and final rounds hours sooner than if the scoring had been done on paper. This was the first event I had been to that employed this system, and I definitely noticed a difference. I am already looking forward to attending this event next year!
Angela Risser, Managing Editor The Rhythm Lounge

Part II, more pics and video coming soon…

It’s time for the America’s Classic Championships and it’s gonna be great! Event Directors Cher Peadon & Mario Robau Jr. have kept it going and it’s now in it’s 19th year!!! Congrats to you both!

Thought of as a warm and hospitable place, Houston is the home town to this event, and you know in Texas everything is big, so expect a big party! Check out the vid below from 2009 Pro Strictly Swing Comps:

Full event passes are only $119 at the door! For more information America’s Classic Championships.

There was a Hustle Heatwave in the Windy City this past weekend, October 16 – 18, 2009!

May I Have This Dance owner and Professional Instructor, Nino DiGiulio hosted the 5th annual Chicago Hustle Championships, and this was the best one yet. Dancers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Florida, and of course all over the state of Illinois came to the beautiful May I Have This Dance studio for 3 nights of dancing, competitions, and workshops.

NY Hustle Champion, Donna DeSimone, was the featured instructor. Her workshops drew a huge crowd of enthusiastic mid-westerners who left the classes raving about Donna and are already begging Nino to bring her back to Chicago soon!

Glen Miller, event director of Swing & Hustle Dance America, was on hand competing, judging, and DJing. Tina Price was also a featured Pro and Judge for the Hustle Championships. In addition to Scholarships and Cash Prizes, winners received event passes for Swing City Chicago, Swing & Hustle Dance America, C.A.S.H. Bash, and the Chicago Classic.

The newly crowned Chicago Hustle Champions are Chris Van Houten and Colleen MacDonald, who also teach out of the May I Have This Dance studios in Chicago where many categories of competitions were held. Below is the final rundown of the top placements; vids and photos coming soon:

HUSTLE NOVICE J&J
1st Place: Jola Faszczewska & Wayne Rohr
2nd Place: Shoshanna Sheid & Joe Kurowski
3rd Place: Drina Seifert & Wayne Rohr

HUSTLE INTERMEDIATE/ADV J&J
1st Place: Susan Grupp & David Burrage
2nd Place: Joann Podleski & Jamey Pietrowiak
3rd Place: Denise McIntosh & Tim Moran

HUSTLE PRO-AM NEWCOMER FEMALE
1st Place: Cynthia Parcher, Instructor–Chris Van Houten
2nd Place: Janet Ohle, Instructor–Nino DiGiulio

HUSTLE PRO-AM NOVICE MALE
1st Place: Peter Daane, Instructor–Colleen MacDonald
2nd Place: Wayne Rohr, Instructor–Bev Solazzo
3rd Place: Joe Kurowski, Instructor–Colleen MacDonald

HUSTLE PRO-AM OPEN FEMALE
1st Place: Bernie Espiritu, Instructor–Colleen MacDonald
2nd Place: Shoshanna Sheid, Instructor–Nino DiGiulio
3rd Place: Julie Mayer, Instructor–NinoDiGiulio

HUSTLE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
1st Place: Peter Daane & Marcy Null
2nd Place: Joe Kurowski & Jola Faszczewska

HUSTLE CHAMPIONSHIPS
1st Place: Chris Van Houten & Colleen MacDonald
2nd Place: Paul Cameron & Angie Cameron
3rd Place: David Czifra & Elizabeth Gutzwiler

HUSTLE INVITATIONAL J&J
1st Place: Chris Van Houten & Maren Oslac
2nd Place: David Czifra & Angie Cameron
3rd Place: Cary Petit & Colleen MacDonald

WEST COAST SWING NOVICE J&J
1st Place: Nancy Butchler & Ron Oberman
2nd Place: Cindy Parcher & William Blanchard
3rd Place: Angie Kostoff & Tim Moran

WEST COAST SWING OPEN J&J
1st Place: Melissa Greene & Cary Petit
2nd Place: Dawn Lara & John Bianchi
3rd Place: Amanda Doerr & Ray Ogren

For the music aficionados/Salseros/Latin Dance performers, in salute to Hispanic Heritage Month, Corniche Entertainment presents, LA Vida Music Festival at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

An evening filled with vibrant pulsating Latin music at the historic Hollywood venue and a benefit for a wonderful charity for Los Angeles youth. Grammy nominated Latin Jazz legends Hubert Laws, Pete Escovedo and acclaimed percussionist Louis Cruz Beltran headline at the First La Vida Music Festival at 7pm on Sunday, October 4th. Special guests will also perform.

Proceeds benefit Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI), a youth baseball and softball program currently celebrating their 20th anniversary, encompassing over 185 cities and over 150,000 girls and boys.

Super packages include a VIP Ticket with dinner at Boardners, overnight stay at the Hollywood Heights Hotel and a pre-show artists reception including cocktails/wine/hors d’oeuvres and CD giveaways! Tickets range from the $35 dollar general admission tickets to the $125 dollar super vip seat tickets. Additional information can be obtained at www.FordTheaters.org or The Ford Box Office at 323.461.3673

Barry Durand’s 18th Annual Swing Fling was held August 6-9th at the Hilton Dulles in Herndon, VA. It was a weekend full of competitions, workshops, and plenty of social dancing. There was great staff of dance pros and top DJ’s in attendance that helped to make it a great party! Check out RLTV’s video and photos to get a glimpse into this fun event!

Pro – Fabulous, energetic, late night social dancing with great vibes, that lasted into the wee hours of the morning.

Con – Competitions ran rather late as did the awards on Sunday.

[Editor's note: Photos and more vid's coming soon, or subscribe to our youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/rhythmloungetv]

Known as one of the largest Hustle events in the US, WHDC is given kudos for a well organized event and smooth Operations staff, great music and the great vibe amongst the attendees.

So far the line up of world class instructors is:

Anthony Lee, Elizabeth Darchi, Brian Gallagher, Chris Bates, Chris & Lisa Schaupp, Daniel McGee, Dave Moldover, Diane K. Nardone, Donna Boyle, Donna DeSimone, Erica Smith, Gary Ulaner, George Garcia, Jameson Kilburn, Joyce Szili, Kelvin Roche & Lori Ann Greenhouse, Lisa Hockley Nunziella, Lori Brizzi, Melody Cochran, Michael Frank, Roberto Pagan, Ron Bess, Silvana Gallagher, Stephanie Risser, Tina Price, Tony Pace, Tybaldt Ulrich, Wingo Hom and this year, Robert Cordoba has joined the staff also.

Also new this year is Ballroom Competitions on Friday, forms and more info to follow on the site shortly.

And don’t forget to sign up and participate; Ron Bess‘ Open Forum on The Growth of Hustle will also be conducted here, with the WSDF, notable Hustle Pros and The Rhythm Lounge in attendance. Come by to check it out, participate and affect the Growth of Hustle!

Online registration is now available for World Hustle Dance Championships, http://www.dkndance.com/2009registration.html

Also get your Competitions forms for Hustle/Wcs/Salsa/and Ballroom workshops & competitions & the Event Schedule is now live. http://www.dkndance.com/2008worldhustlehome.html

Also, Pasha who is currently featured in Burn the Floor, the smash Broadway hit and was also a finalist (Top 20) in So You Think You Can Dance as well as featured in Dancing with the Stars will be donating his dances, along with his partner Anya, for Hustle for Hounds in the Circle of Love. He and Anya are also teaching a workshop, don’t sleep, check it out on http://www.nyhustlecongress.com.

Choreographer Luis Salgado is in for the Circle of Love too, so you’ll have plenty of Broadway talent on hand to lend the great vibe that New York Hustle Congress is known for.

Sign up now, and make the most of the best city in the World! http://www.nyhustlecongress.com.