NATIONAL STEP DAY

Well another year has come and gone, and I had a good time at the National Step Day event. Although I was attending several events that evening, I managed to attend them all. I got a chance to dance with people, and a chance to see some improvements within their dance too. Something I did notice is that, memory recall wasn’t the best with everyone. Because this dance is repetitious, I’ll work on getting folks to have that recall. So break out those “Move Lists”, and get ready to be DRILLED on those moves. Also, we’ll welcome newcomers John, Tashia, and Naomi this Thursday. I want to congratulate Ms Monique Sanders for her accomplishment in winning the beginners Step contest at the National Step Event this weekend. CONGRADULATIONS GOOD JOB!

GET READY!

Good Morning Steppers,

Get your pens, pencils, crayons, eye liners, and spray paint ready. There’s a lot going on, first there’s Class tonight at the Elk’s. Tonight will focus on the contest, getting folks ready and mentally prepared starting at 6pm. And at 6:05pm when that’s done, the fun will get started. Also, I’ll have the latest installments in the G Style DVD collections. Now you’ll be able to see, and read those instructions anytime you wish. Now for all those events, wait for it, wait for it….

Steppin In New York

Hey, I'm still in New York. Steppin here was fun, and just like it should be. Now, I'll return to Phoenix and try to keep the excitement going. I did learn some new steps, and of course I'll share. So I would ask or tell to practice because we both know that you're not going to. (smile) She I'm learning------

Oh Yeah

I hope you all had a good weekend, I know I did. My faith in dance has been RENEWED! I was reminded just how things should be, and can be when you actually practice. I’m still amazed with what she was able to do, especially with the turns, considering she’s only been dancing 5 months. Now that’s what I’m talking about, 5 months and almost ready to run with the BIG dogs. Impressive, because if she wouldn’t have told me she’d only been dancing or doing our traditional 8 count for 5 months, I would have thought she had been dancing a lot longer than that. Very Nice, Good Job!

Now I’m not for teaching 24/7. And what I mean by that is, when I’m out dancing, I just want to dance. Every now and then I’ll get out there and count for people, and walk them through basic steps. But I don’t like doing that EVERY time I’m out, that’s what class is for. However, I do try to point out small things that will help you get better. And usually it’s just pointing out a bad habit you may have picked up. Just a small pointer to help you progress in this dance. Well, someone told me that they would like to just get one dance in without me saying something about their dancing. (bad habit that they keep doing) OK DONE! I really apologize to that person, and to anyone that I may have done that to, or with. You’re absolutely correct, teaching is for class, and that’s where I’ll keep it from now on. And when I’m out dancing, I’ll keep those insane, strange, and cool steps down to a maybe one per song. I'll save all that other stuff for when I go out of town. Now you say that you love the dance, or that you really want to learn it, well now it’s time to put your dancing where your mouth is. So now you should at least, AT LEAST, PRACTICE 30 MINUTES A DAY. And if you can’t do that, then make sure that you at least get in 3 hours of practice in a week. AND CLASS DOESN’T COUNT. And this practice doesn’t mean try and make up some footwork, it means practice your basic steps. And hopefully you’ll be able to STOP stomping one your 1, and your 4. Your whole count or pattern should look the same, remember you’re just walking. Now if you stomp like that when you’re walking, then you’re all set keep up the good work. J But if not, then you have some more work to do. Have fun, and good luck.

Let's Get Started

Well, now that everyone has had some time to let it all sink in, here’s the new SET IN STONE Schedule. OK from 6 PM until 7 PM, is for those beginners, and those that have not fully grasped the full concept of “The Basics”. That means, if you don’t know your count, YOU’RE A BEGINNER!, if you don’t know your five BASIC patterns, YOU’RE A BEGINNER!, if you don’t know a plan left turn, and a plan right turn, either half turns, YOU ARE A BEGINNER! And if you’re looking at your feet, or your neighbors feet trying to figure out, or see if you’re still with the group or not, YOU’RE A BEGINNER! And if you think you know them, that’s great, just be ready for the test to make sure you know them. Don’t worry it’s only going to be 2 songs, one done by yourself with me calling out those steps, and NOPE there won’t be any breaks, or rests in between. And the other with me leading you. Passing the test will insure that you know the steps, and can execute them correctly. And the last is verbal, I’ll ask you in depth questions about those basic steps. So you might want to actually know what foot does what, when, where, why, and how, because I’m asking. It’s time to build the foundation of your dance, and we need that to be STRONG. And it’s NOT strong if you do a single turn, or a double turn, and lose your count. And ladies, if you can’t do those simple things, then YOU NEED TO STOP TRYING TO DO FOOTWORK. Let me say that again, LEARN THE BASICS FIRST, BEFORE YOU VENTURE OUT TRYING BRAIN SURGERY. Why are you trying to drive on the freeway, when you can’t even drive in normal traffic? Don’t like that analysis, how about this one: Why are you trying to perform brain surgery, when you haven’t even finished your first year of med school? Shouldn’t you at least learn the rules first, or learn how things are supposed to work first? OK look at it this way, you’re in the hospital for a checkup, and two doctors come in. One of the doctors comes in and has his stuff together, clipboard, got your chart, knows your name, and makes you feel at ease with the procedure that’s going to take place. Or, do you want the 10 year old kid that comes in, clothes mess up and dirty from playing in the dirt earlier, name tag falling off, and for the life of him, can’t figure out how to use the stethoscope? YEP, that would be those folks that do the basics they WAY they want to, and not the way it’s supposed to be done. Why am I being so mean you say? I’m not being mean, but getting back to what I KNOW is best for you. You’re going to hate it at first, but learn to appreciate what I did for you later. And just so everyone knows, I’m not looking for the biggest class, or the biggest following, or trying to be liked. And I know I’m going to lose people because they think because they have done the basics for an hour last week, that they shouldn’t have to do it anymore they got it. Well cool, I don’t want those folks, because they’re going to jack up the dance anyway. If you’re going to be stepping on my feet, at least you can want to do it right and just step on my feet less and less. J I just want people here to dance with, so I don’t have to always drive to Vegas, or LA to dance. But I don’t mind doing so. J

Now for those that ARE taking the BEGINNERS class from 6 to 7 PM, the cost is $5. And those that are staying the whole time, meaning taking the next level of the class then it’s $7 for 2 hours. Get ready because we are getting back to solid LEADING, and SOLID SOLID FOLLOWING. MEN WE WILL LEARN THE 3 MAIN BASICS FOR YOU! Because once you move up to the next level, you’ll use them OFTEN, and you’ll need to know how to get into them while doing another one.

Weekend Fun

Go LAKERS!

And Sorry Mavs fans, the LAKERS kicked your butts last night. J And more of that in the Playoffs. Ok, as for what’s going on this weekend, just read the post below:

TONIGHT - FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011 - FIRST FRIDAYS

1st Friday (Happy Hour) - American Legion - 16th Street/Broadway Rd. 5pm- Until. Free Food, Music, Dancing and Prizes

SATURDAY - APRIL 2, 2011 - April 2^nd from 5 to 8pm at the Bulpitt Auditorium on the Phoenix College Campus, 1202 West Thomas Road

The Apollo Talent Show - Sponsored by Square N Compass - Tickets are $10 In-Advance, $15 At-The Door, $5 Students with ID At-The Door

Purchase Online at www.square-n-compass.com - Proceeds to benefit the SNC Law Student Scholarship. The recipient of this year's award - a J.D. Candidate of the Class of 2013 at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

STEPP INN - SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 2011 (EVERY SATURDAY)

Steppin and more. Bougainvillea Golf Course, 5740 W. Baseline, Laveen, AZ. DJ Brahman spins 8p-Midnight, $4 cover. DJ's Smokin' Rib

Shack, BBQ and more. Enjoy an evening of dancing, mature people having a great time.

SUNDAY - APRIL 3, 2011 - (Every 1st Sunday - LINE DANCING) - Jackson on 3rd - 245 E Jackson St in downtown Phoenix

Soulful Sundays Smooth Blues, Jazz and R&B Oldies - (featuring Line Dancing from 4pm to 7pm) - Featuring "DJ Money Mike".

Located between 2nd and 3rd Street on Jackson - directly in back of the US Airways Center. Free Parking is available in the several areas the rear of the Jackson on Third Building and at the Parking Meters. $5 donation supports SNC's 2011 community service events ie. the Apollo Comes To The Valley, the Chocolate Party, the Phoenix White-Out, Summer Madness, the Equinox etc...

Also AZSWS Setppin Event is just ONE week away. It will be filled with Fun, Food, Fashion, Dancing, Dining and more. You’ll get to see many different style of dancing, including Chicago Step. You’ll be able to witness some Detroit Bop, Detroit Ballroom, Line Dances, and more. And I hear that they’ll have designated men there for those ladies that say the never get a dance, or to dance. Well, “Just ASK ME” men will be there for your convenience.

And now you know, Now GET TA` STEPPIN!