LOS ANGELES SWING DANCE CLUB, INC. (LASDC)
Bi-Monthly Newsletter MARCH/APRIL 2017
Volume 47 – Number 2 Club founded in 1970
Website: laswingdanceclub.com Visit & ‘Like’: facebook.com Los Angeles Swing Dance Club
MEMBERSHIP DUES PAST DUE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2016
Dues: Singles $25 and Couples (same address) $40 (Use renewal form enclosed)
Sunday Dance Admission: Members $6 – Non Members $8
Plus special drawings, etc. for Members
JOIN TODAY
47TH
SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2017
ANNIVERSARY DINNER DANCE, Golden Sales Hotel
More details soon
BAND SCHEDULE – MARCH/APRIL 2017
Sun., March 5 = William Porter Band
Sun., March 19th = Good Rockin Daddy
Sun., April 2nd = SwingShift
Sun., April 16th = Good Rockin Daddy
Sun., April 30 = Guest Band
th
‘Nominations for Officers’ membership meeting
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Please attend the Nominations Meeting for Officers of the Los Angeles Swing Dance Club,
being held per our By-Laws, Article VIII, on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at 2:45 p.m. at the club
site – Golden Sails Hotel, Long Beach. This is your opportunity to nominate candidates for the
four major offices.
The officer positions open are: President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. If you are
interested in running for any of these positions, please contact Bill Parker or any board member.
Per By-Laws, no person shall be eligible who also serves on the Board of any other swing dance
club; also must have served a three-month period, as a member of the club in good standing, prior
to the first of March of election year.
L.A.S.D.C. BOARD MEMBERS @ August 2016
President
Bill Parker
(562) 927-7575
Vice President
Nancy Taylor
(310) 837-9501
Secretary
Carol Camasta
(714) 840-2983
Treasurer
Jim Allen
(714) 894-6822
Entertainment Director
Barbara Wallace (562) 597-1345
Ways & Means
Martine Whitford (562) 426-4338
Newsletter Editor
Fran Tassin
(714) 826-6712
Membership Chairperson
Karen Smith
(714) 403-2125
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Ambassadors-at-Large: LeRoy Pendray (562) 433-8977 and Mary Collins (714) 965-0335
Historian:
Colleen Johnson (562) 694-4951
Webmaster: Larry Kroeze Dance Teacher: Terra Jakobsen assisted by Kent Jakobsen & Linda Davis
L.A.S.D.C. ADVERTISING RATES
Please support L.A.S.D.C. bi-monthly newsletter. We have 300 members who share an enthusiasm for West Coast Swing
Dancing. Our members are interested in dancing items, businesses, services, real estate, food, etc. Rates are:
Charge for ads: Full Page -$30.00, One Half Page - $20.00,
One Quarter Page - $15.00, Business Card - $10.00
To advertise in our Newsletter, please email notification and/or ready to print copy to
Newsletter Editor: [email protected] or call (714) 826-6712
L.A.S.D.C. FACEBOOK AND WEBSITE
For more information on our club, please view our Website, laswingdanceclub.com. It is updated regularly by our
Webmaster, Larry Kroeze. Current posts include photos, special events, places to dance and our current Newsletter.
Also, please “like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LASwingDanceClub for latest news.
To sign up for a new Facebook account, enter your name, birthday, gender and email address into the form on
www.facebook.com. Then pick a password. After you complete the sign up form, they will send you an email. Just click
the confirmation link to complete the sign up process. Now all you need to do is search for the LosAngelesSwingDanceClub
and click on the LIKE button. You will then be notified automatically when we post something to Facebook. You can also
post pictures or news to our Facebook account.
NEWSLETTER DELIVERY by U.S. MAIL vs. EMAIL
We will continue to send the Newsletter by U. S. Mail but are asking our members to “opt-out” and help save $$$ (and
trees) by requesting your bi-monthly Newsletter by email. The benefits: your email Newsletter will be in color, you will
receive it faster, and it will help us defray postage costs.
Please contact Newsletter Editor at [email protected] or call Fran Tassin at (714) 826-6712. Thank you.
…..SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID WHICH I GENERALLY
REALIZE RIGHT AFTER I HAVE SAID THEM…….
SUNDAY SCENE JAN./FEB.2017
A winning combination on Sunday, January 1st at
Los Angeles Swing Dance Club’s first dance of the
year in the Lounge at the Golden Sails Hotel in
Long Beach: William Porter Band, D. J. Don
Estep and all the great swing dancers
attending…howdy Bob Brewer…luckiest 50/50
winner is Dee Cheston…a BIG THANK YOU to
Audrey Rodriguez for cleaning up on Sundays –
the LA.S.D.C. board and Mario appreciate your
hard work…did you know that Gracie Barnes and
Frankie Rodriguez swing danced together while in
high school…Jerry and Jackie Cobb we miss
you… Fay Roberts thanks for note from So.
Carolina – we miss you, too…big welcome to
Dorothea & Darole…
SUNSHINE WISHES to: Judy Wilson recovering
after dogbite…Ray Yanagita had a motorcycle
accident but doing fine…Dona Schessler not up to
par…Kathy Corcoran recuperating from serious
illness…best wishes to Patti DeMaio recovering
operation on shoulder…Manny Torres –
continuing treatment…Ann Mills – broke her
arm…Maria scheduled for surgery mid
February…Vicki Haywood operation on
Valentine’s Day...June Latanzio…
CONDOLENCES: Paula McHan’s nephew died
recently…Armand Gonzalez – his nephew died
suddenly…Dean Raftery – special balboa dancer we will miss you …sincere condolences to Hal
Marcham and family on the loss of their wife and
mother, Bobby Marcham…
Alcantar Band . guest band, entertained us on the 5th
Sunday in January.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday,
July 30, 2017 – L.A.S.D.C.
47th ANNIVERSARY
DINNER DANCE.
More information soon.
Places to Dance
Sundays 1st, 3rd, & 5th - LASDC, Great Western
Golden Sails, 6285 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Long
Beach. Dancing to a Live Band 3:00 - 6:30 p.m.
(Dance lessons 2 - 3 p.m. included with paid admission)
www.laswingdanceclub.com Visit & “Like” Facebook.
com / Los Angeles Swing Dance Club (562) 927-7575
Sundays - SDSDC, 3 - 7 p.m. El Cajon - Elks
Lodge - 1400 East Washington Av. (619) 444-1812 or
(858) 274-6422 - www.elks.org
Tuesdays - DSDC 7 - 9 p.m. Pavilion Dance
Studio, 401 S. Pavilion Way, Palm Springs 92262
(760) 323-8272
Thursdays –Atomic Ballroom, West Coast
Swing Dancing, Irvine (949) 250-3332
Fridays-Press Box, 8 p.m.-12 Westminster
Bob Brewer www.thepressboxdance.com
Saturday - 2nd Sat. each month – Starting Gate,
Los Alamitos 1 - 5 p.m. Non-stop dancing to music of
Don Estep [email protected]
Las Vegas - for dancing events, call Lynn
Martinez (702) 239-2268 or Ron Meyer (702) 283-1491
L.A.S.D.C. BOARD MEMBERS @ March 1, 2017
President, Bill Parker
(562) 927-7575
[email protected]
Vice President, Nancy Taylor (310) 837-9501
[email protected]
Secretary, Carol Camasta
(714) 840-2983
[email protected]
Treasurer, Jim Allen
(714) 894-6822
[email protected]
Entertainment, Barbara Wallace (562) 597-1345
[email protected]
Ways&Means, Martine Whitford (562) 426-4338
[email protected]
NewsletterEditor, Fran Tassin (714) 826-6712
[email protected]
Membership, Karen Smith
(714) 403-2125
[email protected]
26
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY
WISHES to
MARCH &
APRIL
BIRTHDAY
MEMBERS
MARCH
Tony Romano
Michael Jonas
BILL PERRY
We will miss our quiet,
but friendly dancing
friend. He passed away
after a lengthy illness.
Our condolences to
family and many
friends.
2017
6
12
14
16
17
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
28
30
Gloria Gonzalez
Paula McHam
Jean Vendetta
Judy Kadak
Heather Armstrong
Dyke Lansdale
Robert Larson
Romero Mendoza
Carolyn Flynn
Ruth Ray
Gloria Potrzuski
Mary Duffy
Linda Hiles
Barbra Tofte
George Thomas
Elizabeth Kennedy
Lenora Harrison
Pete Peterson
Polly Culbreth
Marjorie Eason
APRIL 2017
1
Colette Casey
3
Sandra Voullaire
Lester Davidson
4
Anna Walters
5
Leon Raper
Fidel Rocha
7
Kathy Corcoran
13
Jerry Baca
14
Anita Gold
15
Frank Cornella
Joyce Geib
22
Ken Craw
24
Ron Andrews
BILLIE SMOUSE
Our deepest
condolences to Billie’s
friends and family.
Billie passed away
recently after being
diagnosed with
pneumonia. We will
miss her “personality
plus”. (Picture shows
releasing of balloons.)
SANDY VINGE
Sandy Vinge is now lighting up the Ballroom in the Sky.
Sandy passed away in early February.
From her eulogy: “Sandy Vinge had a gift: she made you
feel special. She was friend to all and foe to none. Yes,
she loved her glitter, but no bauble was brighter than her
presence. The mention of her name brings a smile.”
KATHY CORCORAN
I am honored to accept Fran Tassin’s invitation to write a personal bio and information on my
recent health scare. We are hopeful others will benefit from information about my medical
experience.
I was born and raised until age thirteen in the far northern part of Wisconsin. I lived in Superior Wisconsin which we
jokingly referred to as Siberia Wisconsin, because it was that cold.
I was a tomboy and loved ice skating. I wanted to be a school teacher and had dreams of becoming a skater for
Shipstad and Johnson Ice Follies. After begging my parents for skating lessons, I learned that I had ability but needed
dance lessons for arm movements and grace. Back to begging my parents, now for dance lessons. My parents agreed,
hoping this might get their tomboy out of the trees.
My family moved to Riverside, CA where I traded my skates for an apron in parent’s fast food restaurants. I
entertained my tomboy with music and dance interests, playing flute and twirling flag baton with the high school band.
In 1968, I started teaching ballroom dancing for Arthur Murray Studios. I was fortunate to work and train with a lot of
great teachers. I believe the best dancers are both studio and street trained. Studio training for technique, style and
lead, street for expression, versatility and ability to dance with anyone.
Through the years, I worked in sales and marketing but never stopped teaching. Teaching let me feed my addiction. It’s
my drug of choice. My cocaine.
At age 37 (1984) I opened my own studio, New Energy Ballroom Dance Studio, in Yorba Linda, CA. I had a business
partner and a husband for a few years. I bought them out of my life and continued my business. After meeting my
husband, Jim, twenty-two years ago, we started making plans to build my studio on to our home. We built a six hundred
square foot ballroom. It was the smartest business move I think I have ever made, adding value to my property and no
landlords to deal with or teachers to employ.
I am fortunate to do what I love to do. I didn’t become a school teacher but still admire them greatly along with
nurses, firemen and writers.
I love to dance with the LA Dance Club members. I don’t get there often enough because I still teach a lot and don’t
always have the energy. I tell my students I am going dancing with the big kids. Big kids is my name for the clubs
experienced senior dancers.
My medical story: for many years, I have suffered with being short of breath. Complaining to my medical company,
they repeatedly told me it was asthma or bronchitis. In early November of 2016, I refused to accept their diagnosis and
insisted on a CT scan. My CT revealed an ascending aortic aneurysm. This condition is often not diagnosed because it
seldom has symptoms. If there are symptoms they can be shortness of breath, hoarseness, cough, difficulty swallowing,
maybe chest pain described as a deep aching or throbbing. I had four of these symptoms.
The most reliable testing for this condition is a CT, or MRI, echocardiogram, ultrasound or x-ray. Most often aneurysms
are detected when people have these tests for other reasons. In my case, they were looking at my lungs.
To make matters worse, I had a CT in 2008 and a stress test in 2009. Both of these tests revealed my aneurysm but my
medical company told me they were fine. I should have been monitored, medication given and surgery done. Had I not
been diligent and listened to my body, I wouldn’t be here.
The cause of this condition is not really known. It could be genetic, age, smoking, inflammation, traumatic injury, high
blood pressure or high cholesterol. They don’t know the cause of mine.
The only advice I can offer is to listen to your body, ask questions or ask for a test to be repeated. It is a real shame we
can’t trust the expensive medical care we pay for.
I would like to inform the dance community that after close to twenty years serving as a Director or Vice President of
The California Swing Dance Hall of Fame that I no longer support it. You may contact me if you would like to know the
reasons.
I am looking forward to seeing you all soon. Save me a dance, Kathy Corcoran.
WHAT IS SWING DANCING?
“Swing” is an all-American couple’s rhythm dance consisting primarily of 6-beat and 8-beat
patterns that cover either a circular or slotted area on the dance floor. Swing incorporates the
use of underarm turns, side passes, push breaks, and whips – plus “4-beat” rhythm breaks
syncopations and extensions of the same.”
Defined and approved by the original swing Dance Council in 1985
Seems pretty clear; defines it well. Not much left to the imagination. However, the individual
dancer practices it differently, as well they should, otherwise dancing becomes choreographed
gymnastics.
One of the joys of dancing is flirting with the rules while observing the substance of the art.
The well-grounded beginning dancer usually experiences this first when they discover how easy
it is to double and triple time a break ending. Next, syncopation seems to occur when the
intermediate dancer realizes they can “bend the notes” to extend or shorten a pattern while
maintaining proper timing.
About the time one rolls over into intermediate dancer territory, they become aware that there
is someone connected to the ends of their arms; their partner. Prior to this epiphany, the dancer
has been all about self and lazar focused on: Proper timing. Appropriate pattern choice for a
particular passage of music. Physically executing the patterns that define the music. Providing
or responding to the lead of the partner. Etc. This manifests in the dancer being introspective
and often appearing to be dancing in segments rather than flowing.
Don’t despair. It’s generally about here on the terpsichorean progression charts that dancers
come to the undeniable conclusion that dancing is truly a team sport and they then surge ahead.
A principal hallmark of a dancer passing from the intermediate to the advanced ranks, and
beyond, is abandoning “me” dancing to embrace “we” dancing. “Me” dancing is exercise. “We”
dancing is the summit of pleasure and performance art. When leader and follower quit the floor
with wall-to-wall grins – they’ve shared “we” dancing.
What are your most memorable dance moments? Those times when you and your partner
dispensed with ego, danced to your partner’s strengths, and covered for their weakness’.
Particularly unforgettable, are the point/counterpoint moments when both partners successfully
respond to, and answer, challenges issued by the other. This is red meat dancing. This is “We”
dancing. This is dancing together!
And that is Swing Dancing.
Bert Anderson (4-13-07) (760)202-1837 [email protected]
DAWN MANGANELLI
Charter Member #7
Dawn Manganelli still has the
most beautiful long, red hair.
We visited with her recently at
her ‘home care’ facility. Her daughter is overseeing her
well-being. Dancing is still foremost in her thoughts. We
reminisced about ‘old’ times, dancers, music, bands,
etc. So happy to see she is doing well under her ‘health’
circumstances.
Following is the “Personality Profile” written by Danny
Darryl back in 2007.
“Dawn Manganelli was born in the city of Parma,
Idaho, graduating from Boise High in the capital city of
Idaho. Can you imagine her playing a big bass drum?
She did!!
Dawn loved the business of entertainment, so while in
Jr. High, she joined the drama club and had the lead role
in two of the plays. When she was nine years old, she
entertained with a version of Pistol Packing Momma; at
eleven years old, she did a tap and hula routine. After
graduating from high school, Dawn’s life went in
different directions. She became a hair model. She tried
her hand, at being a waitress. Kaboom! Dawn met her
husband. They moved to San Diego and a girl was born.
Well, let’s put it this way. In her life, she had three
daughters, Donna Marie, Melody and Stephanie. The
daughters are successful in their professions.
Other ventures were: operated a glass elevator on the
side of a hotel building. Many people that entered the
elevator for the first time were in a trauma, but they
finally adjusted to the sight. Dawn had a ball. Dawn has
done some income tax work. She branched out into the
field of metaphysics. This sounds interesting-she went
to Cal State Northridge for further study; she was a
grocery checker, but she soon gave it up, because
dancing was uppermost in her mind, working very hard
to improve her dancing. Her first swing dance partner
was George Christopherson, who I am sure many of you
know. They won their first swing dance contest,
representing the L.A.S.D.C. Later, she and Paul Lindsey
started a swing class at the Staircase.
Dawn is a great dancer. Gentlemen, ask her to dance,
but watch out for her sore left arm, because it is still
somewhat tender. Have An Enchanting Evening”.
(Editor thanks Dawn and Danny for story)
SUPERBOWL PARTY 2017
Dancers had a great time: dancing, watching exciting
game between Patriots and Panthers, eating hot dogs
with all the trimmings, sauerkraut (OMG it was soooo
good – homemade by Karen Smith), chili, Molly brought
cole slaw – thank you Molly, Vicki brought goodiesthanks kiddo.
SwingShift provided great swing dance music; new
couple wanted to know their schedule, they loved the
band.
The Board of Directors voted to have a free $100
football pool, available only to members. Winners
included Vicki Haywood and Frank Cornella.
Your great Board of Directors all contributed food
and/or help. We have a great team on the Board of
Directors.
WEST COAST SWING DANCING - ALWAYS A LIVE BAND
Sunday, March 5th
Sunday, March 19th
Sunday, April 7th
Sunday, April 21st
West Coast Swing dancing, every 1st, 3rd, & 5th Sunday of each month from 3 – 6:30 p.m.
Location: P.C.H. Lounge at Best Western Golden Sails Hotel, 6285 E. Pacific Coast Highway,
Long Beach, CA. 90803. WEST COAST SWING DANCE LESSONS at 2 p.m. are included in the
price of admission: Members $6 and Non-members $8, lowest price in town with a
LIVE BAND!! See our Website: www.laswingdanceclub.com, or call Bill (562) 927-7575
“Like” us at www.facebook.com/Los Angeles Swing Dance Club
HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP? IF NOT, DO IT NOW!
DON’T MISS OUT ON: DISCOUNT PRICE AT DOOR, SPECIAL DRAWINGS FOR MEMBERS
AND OUR BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ++++
Website:www. laswingdanceclub.com
L.A.SWING DANCE CLUB, INC.
P. O. Box 2415, Huntington Beach, CA 92647-2415
ADDRESS-CORRECTION REQUESTED
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