National Dance Day in Washington DC!

The National Mall
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Join DC Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Nigel Lythgoe, celebrity judge and producer of "So You Think You Can Dance" TV show. As our nation struggles to combat obesity, we invite you to come celebrate popular forms and to promote physical fitness across the United States

For more info:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4819-Cable-TV--Celebrity-Examiner~y2010m7d25-National-Dance-Day-promotes-dancing-for-healthy-exercise 

Are Thank You Notes to Vendors Necessary?

I came across this online discussion topic and as an etiquette consultant, wedding vendor and former bride, it peaked my interest. From my perspective, a vendor's fees and gratuities cover costs but word of mouth keeps vendors in business.  Hence, the widespread popularity of social media and review sites like Wedding Wire, Yelp, Project Wedding, etc... That's why referrals and testimonials are the highest compliment. The feedback and endorsement is ultimately more valuable than the one time sale because it represents one's reputation which is priceless. Vendors build up a portfolio and credibility based on a solid history of success and customer service. What's more, most of the vendors that make our weddings magical are small family businesses and they need our support more than ever during the most serious economic downturn since the Great Depression!

Virginia State Ballroom Championships

July 15-18

Virginia State Ballroom Championships

Hyatt Regency - Reston VA Town Center

Organizers - Rosendo Fumero and Ahmed Hussien

VirginiaState@aol.com http://www.dancesportchampionships.com

Tentative Schedule: http://dcdancenet.com/vastatechampionships/

Saturday Evening Gala Features Professional Championships

For spectator tickets & table reservations only, please contact:

http://dcdancenet.com/vastatechampionships/

OR contact:

Beverly A Donahue, 220 Kentland's Blvd #1, Gaithersburg, MD 20878

(301) 926-9591 bevdonahue@msn.com

OR

Nick Short, Suite 615, 4242 East West Hwy Chevy Chase, MD 20815

(301) 657-9095 short.nick@gmail.com

Checks payable to: Virginia State Dancesport Championships

Ballroom/Latin Dance Camp in July!

July 3-7. 2010

Independence Day Ball and Ballroom/Latin Dance Camp
The Hilton, Rockville, MD Executive Center 

Features: 

*     Over 150 Latin and Standard workshops!

*     Dance Instructors are Blackpool, US and World Champions and Finalists (e.g. Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Erin Andrews)

*     Private lessons available with ALL of the instructors

*     Four workshop CHOICES every hour

*     Separate Advanced track for Open and Professional level dancers

*     Over 10,000 sq ft of dance floor

*     Independence Day Ball social dance party

*     Performance class taught by Danny Quilliam with special show

*     Practice space open all night long

*     Immersion program in Argentine Tango

*     ISTD Standard Symposium

 Visit www.ChampionshipDanceCamps.com/idb  for more information.

The Wedding Dance Specialists teaches all the styles of dance and can prepare you for any occasion so contact us!

 

International Salsa Congress in DC this weekend!

June 18-21, 2010
6th Annual International Salsa Congress in DC!
Crystal City Hilton
Arlington, VA.

Brings some of the worlds finest Salsa dancers, performers, and instructors into the DC area!
Salsa workshop classes
Salsa Performances!
Salsa Vendors (shows, attire, music)
Salsa parties 11pm to 3AM every night!

42 Workshops + 10 hours of bootcamps + daytime social dancing+ party till 3am+afterparty

Contact us to learn how to thrive or just survive on the dance floor!

Award Winning Engaging Affairs Event Planning Endorses TWDS!

Award Winning Event Planners at Engaging Affairs surprised us with this lovely review on their blog. We are so flattered that one of their consultant Sara chose TWDS to prepare her and her husband for the most sacred dance of their lives! Here is their blog review:

There is a lot of debate among my couples about whether or not to take dance lessons for their wedding. I'd say most intend to and more than half actually do it. I think dance lessons are a great idea and can be a fun prewedding activity. That being said, if one person is dead-set against it, then dragging them through the lessons will not be fun. Better to stand and sway than to have one person gritting their teeth through the dance.

But if you are both willing to try, then go for it! Guests love when couples have a fun first dance complete with spins and dips. And I love seeing the excitement on couples' faces when they finish their dance and get wild applause.

We love the folks at The Wedding Dance Specialists because, well, they specialize in teaching couples to do a first dance. Even in one lesson, they will have you dancing more smoothly! Our own Sara and her now husband took lessons through The Wedding Dance Specialists and danced like pros. Sara says that they are living proof that anyone can be taught!

I also love that The Wedding Dance Specialists work with you on selecting a first dance song and have a list of appropriate songs on their website with clips so you can listen to a bit of the song. As the folks on American Idol will tell you, song selection is important. There is nothing more awkward than realizing halfway through a first dance that the lyrics are totally inappropriate.

So check out The Wedding Dance Specialists and get dancing!

Here is a link to the Engaging Affairs Bridal Bubbly Blog which is full of creative ideas and great advice on event planning!

Independence Day Ball Dance Camp

July 3-7, 2010
Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Executive Meeting Center
1750 Rockville Pike,
Rockville, MD
301-468-1100

Learn from Blackpool, UK, US and World Champions and Finalists.
Evening fun social activities including 4th of July Fireworks near the White House!
Already confirmed instructors include:
. Maksim Chmerkovskiy
. Glenn Weiss
. Victor Fung & Anastasia Muravyeva
. Rufus Dustin
. Bill Sparks
. Danny Quilliam & Ieva Pauksena

Independence Day Ball dance camp will feature over 150 workshops from World-Class instructors.
Four concurrent workshops will be taught every hour - 2 Latin (Cha-Cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive, Paso Doble) and 2 Standard (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep and Viennese Waltz).
These workshops will focus mainly on technique.
There will also be a performance class focusing on figures and presentation.
Will continue to expand separate Advanced track for Open and Professional level dancers.

Nightly social events: trip to downtown Washington to see Fireworks on the National Mall near the White House, Capitol and Washington Monument.
Friday Night Social Dance.
"Pizza with the Pros" - a Q&A session with our panel of instructors that always ends in laughter and one-of-a-kind demonstrations.

Testimonial: Where else can you have so many group lessons from instructors who are World Champions? In every room, there's a different world champion teaching something. That's pretty exciting. 
- Daniel (West Lafayette, Indiana)

Visit www.ChampionshipDanceCamps.com/idb for information.