Oscar and Lenk Pedrinelli will be in the capital region on Saturday, April 6th. Albany AIDA is offering a one-hour workshop on the basics of International Foxtrot. The class will be held at the CM School of Fine Arts, located at 17 executive Park Drive, Clifton Park 12065. All levels of dancers are welcome. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. No partner is necessary.

Oscar and Lenka have recently retired from competition. They teach dance in New York City and Washington, DC. They are among the foremost standard dancers, having placed as finalists in many competitions and even appeared in a music video with John Legend. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity!

The Albany Chapter of AIDA welcomes Ed Simon who will be our instructor for a Dance Camp here in the Capital Region. Ed is a former United States Professional American Ballroom Champion. He is a U.S. Theatrical Silver Medalist, a World Classic Showdance finalist, and has over 100 titles in competitive ballroom dancing. Since his retirement from competition, he has trained and choreographed US and world champions and finalists. Mr. Simon is designated a world-class judge for the World Dance Council and has a long list of other honors in the world of ballroom dance. He has been featured in film and television, including America’s Ballroom Challenge for PBS, and has trained and choreographed for hit series such as Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. Ed Simon is also a proud member of AIDA.

Workshop #1 Developing of Foxtrot timing from SSQQ TO SQQ 12:30 -1:15 Workshop #2 How to use your feet to increase musicality 1:20-2:05

Workshop #3 How to use your hands and body to improve connection 2:15 to 3:00

Cost for AIDA members is $20 each or 3 for $50

Cost for nonmembers is $25 each or 3 for $70

A limited number of private coaching sessions are also available. Coaching sessions are 45 minutes $150 for members, $160 for nonmembers.

The camp will be held at The Giuliano Studio 48 Huron Street

Albany, New York 12203

For more information or to register contact paulapecoraro@gmail.com No partner is necessary

Join AIDA Examiner Lori Woods Gay to hear about the brand new Social Fun Dance Medal Tests, regular Medal Tests, and to ask any questions you may have.

Scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Albany AIDA Medal Tests

Time: Jan 28, 2023 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Time: 6:00 - 8:00

Location: 48 Huron Street, Albany. Proof of covid vaccination required.

Ask any coach or judge and they will tell you, it’s always important to know the basics and execute them well! It improves all of your dancing. In the early weeks of this class, pre-bronze figures were reviewed. Now we’re working through some of the more advanced bronze syllabus figures, including Fan, Hockey Stick, Alemana and Natural Top. Want to learn or review any or all of those? Come join us!!

Rita Algarra is a world-class dancer, coach, and judge. She is experienced in many styles of dance, including Standard. Latin, and Show Dance. We are fortunate to have her coming to the Albany area to coach us. Private lessons will be available as well as three workshops. Our thanks to Dance Fire Studio at 2341 Nott Street in Niskayuna, where all events will take place. See flyer and registration form below for details. For more information, email Sue Martin at AlbanyDanceCamps@gmail.com.

J&R Dance holds a dance every Thursday night at the Ukranian American Club, 1 Pulaski Street in Cohoes. They also raise money for various charities, and those in need - including sending a significant monetary contribution to Ukraine. Word has gotten out! On September 29, a delegation of six doctors from Ukraine will be in the area and will be coming to the dance to show their appreciation. It would be great if we could get a large number of AIDA members to come out to show their support as well! Louise Giuliano will be teaching Viennese Waltz.

Some details:

• Lessons start at 6:30

• Dance 7:15 - 9:30

• Cost is $15 including lessons, but AIDA members get a $2 discount!

• COVID vaccination is required

For more information, contact Joy at jrdancellc@gmail.com, or call her at (518)320-2012.

COME JOIN US at Crystal Cove in Averill Park on Sunday, September 4, from 5-10 PM for lots of dancing and a dinner buffet! There will be a cash bar for beverages, or bring your own wine. Gorgeous venue, nice wooden floor, good friends, delicious food, great music, and lots of dancing. Who could ask for more? Address is 38 Old Route 66 in Averill Park. For additional details, see the “Celebration of Dance” page, or email AlbanyNY.AIDA@gmail.com.

Our February Learn and Practice will be here before you know it. Our instructor will be Jason Fenton. He will be teaching East Coast Swing at a beginner level and then intermediate level. The cost for AIDA members is $10. Non-members $15. This Learn and Practice will be held at the American Legion, 200 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY 12144. We look forward to seeing you there!

We would like to invite everyone to stop by our table at the upcoming "Love is Alive" Pop Up market organized by CM School of Fine Arts in Clifton Park on February 12th from 1pm-5pm. Learn more about our organization and enjoy the many other vendors present.

From the organizers:

Support local small businesses and enjoy a little self-care at the Pop-Up Market. Grab gifts for loved ones while renewing, refreshing, and reviving yourself along the way.

Enjoy being inspired by award-winning book authors and music artists, and be among the first to hear about their exciting new releases! Vendors include:

- Artisan Crafts & Jewelry

- Wellness products

- Book sales/signings by local & internationally acclaimed authors

- Complimentary music assessments

- Art Gallery Exhibit

- Chair Massages & Reiki

- Essential Oils

- Door Prizes

Sponsored by CM School of Fine Arts: Private and group instruction for music, dance, art and acting. "Painting the world a brighter shade of beautiful... one student at a time"

Location:

CM School of Fine Arts

17 Executive Park Drive, Clifton Park, NY 12065

Our January Learn and Practice will be here before you know it. This month our instructors will be Tom Hourigan. He will be teaching Hustle and Two Step. The cost for AIDA members is $10. Non-members $15. This month's Learn and Practice will be held at CM Fine Arts, 17 Executive Park Dr. CLifton Park, NY 12065. We look forward to seeing you there.

This Sunday, December 19th AIDA will be hosting a party to thank our instructors and enjoy an afternoon of dancing pleasure. The event will be held at CM Fine Arts, 17 Executive Park Dr., Clifton Park, NY 12065. Light refreshments will be served. We have invited our instructors from previous Learn and Practice events as a way to recognize them for their support and thank them for their efforts. It will be a relaxing and dance filled afternoon. Members will be $10, Nonmembers $15. We hope to see you there!

Albany NY AIDA will be holding its monthly Learn and Practice on Sunday, November 28th. This month’s topic will be Salsa and Rueda. We are pleased to announce that our instructors for this month will be Johnny Martinez and Jennifer Cornell. Both Johnny and Jennifer are will known in the area dance community. The price for the session is $10 for AIDA members and $!5 for nonmembers, This month’s session will be held at J & R Dance Studio located at 2580 Brookview Road in Castleton, NY !2033. Don’t miss out on this enjoyable afternoon!

Our next Learn and Practice. will be held at the Fred Astaire Studio in Latham. The studio is located at 368 Troy Schenectady Road in Latham. Boris and Sasha will be teaching Waltz and Samba. They are the owners of the Latham Fred Astaire Studio.

Boris and Sasha have achieved the highest certification level of a Dual Fellowship in International Standard and Latin from the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (USISTD), and a Triple Fellowship in American Smooth, American Rhythm, and Theatre Arts from Fred Astaire Dance Studios®. In 2019 they became Members of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios International Dance Council.

The cost for AIDA members is $10. Nonmembers $15.

We hope you can join us for an enjoyable afternoon of dance.

Learn and Practice at Crystal Cove. The topics for the day are Tango and Swing/Jive. Louise and Paul Giuliano will be our instructors for the afternoon. Following the Learn and Practice will be a short break, then at 3:30 there will be dancing. AIDA will have water and soda available for purchase. Participants may bring food if they desire.

The board of AIDA will be reviewing COVID protocols as the date gets closer. As it stands now we ask for proof of vaccination. If you are not vaccinated or prefer not to show proof, you will be asked to wear a mask.

Admission for AIDA members is $15 for both the lesson and the dance. $10 Lesson only, $5 dance

Nonmembers $25 for both, $15 for lesson, $10 for dance.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

We are excited to be hosting our first in-person Learn and Practice. This session will take place at Crystal Cove in Averill Park. Ashley and Alex Ivashchenko will be instructors. They will be teaching American Rumba and Waltz. As in the past, the Learn and Practice session will last two hours. After a break of 30 minutes, there will be dancing from 3:30 to 5:30.

The cost for this event will be:

$15 for Member of AIDA (lesson $10, Dance $5)

$25 for People who are not members of Albany NY AIDA ($15 for the lesson and $10 for dance)

To pay in advance contact Joy Barnard at leslierice1@yahoo.com

Water and Soda will be available for purchase, bring your own food if desired.

Jang and Adele are accomplished dancers. Jang has a Ph.D. in Dance. They have competed internationally and have many noteworthy achievements. At the Ohio Star Ball, Professional American Style 9 Dance Champions. They were also World Masters Professional American Smooth Champions, Blackpool Professional American Rhythm Finalists, Korea-International DanceSport Championships, Open Professional Ballroom & Latin Champions, British Classical (Ballroom) Show Dance Champions, and UK Open Professional 10 Dance Champions. We are truly fortunate to have such amazing dancers to teach one of our Learn and Practice Events!

Albany NY AIDA is holding a picnic fundraiser at Tawasentha Park in Guilderland on Saturday, Jun 19th from 6-9 pm. This is our first in-person event since the start of the pandemic. We are looking forward to reconnecting with you! DJ Ray Smith will be playing dance music. Please bring your own picnic dinner, there will be water available for purchase. Natalia O’Connor and Florin Vlad, owners of Dance Fire Studio will be teaching a ChaCha line dance. There will be some great raffle baskets available.

Albany Aida wants to continue providing quality dance experiences, this fundraiser will provide a bigger budget to schedule these events. Please note the pavilion has a concrete floor. No Glass is allowed. There is plenty of free parking. When arriving at the park, let the person in the booth know you are attending the event in the large pavilion. There is a suggested donation of $10.

Shake off those quarantine blues and join us!

Our May Learn and Practice will be taught by Florin Vlad of Dance Fire Studio. We are excited to have Florin return as an instructor. Florin will be covering the topics: How to Dance Efficiently. and Practical Advice on improving your movement. We are looking forward to a great session! Please join us.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89088152087?pwd=VmUyRlJtelpJanhKY3h6bXRUYXlQQT09

Meeting ID: 890 8815 2087

Passcode: 436942

The Albany Chapter of USISTD is delighted to have Jason Fenton return for our April Learn and Practice event.

Jason Fenton – Swing, Lindy Hop and Charleston Dance Instructor

Jason has been social dancing for over 18 years.  He first took Ballroom Dance lessons at Arthur Murray Studios and has been an instructor in Swing, Latin and Ballroom Dance around the Capital District for over 13 years.  He currently organizes and promotes Swing and Ballroom Dance events throughout the Capital Region through Albany Swing Dancing.com, the Arts Center of the Capital District and the Dance Flurry organizations.  He has been instructing Swing at the Arts Center from 2009 to the present and at J & R Studios in Schodack since 2019.  He helped found the event: Swangin’ At Speakeasy 518 in Albany, NY and Swing Night at 518 Craft in Troy, NY. For the past five years, he has instructed at the Swing Night in the Barn at Racebrook Lodge and now at Dewey Hall in Sheffield, MA. He also teaches private lessons.

Jason can be contacted at fentonjason@hotmail.com or if you would like to have Albany Swing Dancing host or instruct at your event, please find us on Facebook or contact us at Albany Swing Dancing.com (info@albanyswingdancing.com).

For our April session, Jason will be teaching East Coast Swing and one partner Charleston. Join us!

Our March Learn and Practice will be taught by Igor Litvinov. He will be showing us exercises and steps for Waltz, Foxtrot and possibly Tango (Time permitting).

Igor started dancing at the age of 6 in Moscow, Russia. Throughout his juniora, youth and amateur career, Igor was the Russian National Champion and a finalist in major European championships like German Open, French Open, and the Italian Open. In 2000, Igor moved to the US and started his professional career with his partner, Julia Iveleva. In America, they have won close to 100 events and represented the USA at the World Championships in the Professional Standard and Showdance categories. They have been US National Standard finalists for 10 years and were three time winners of the Showdance division at the Ohio Star Ball Championships.

In addition to being a professional competitor, Igor is a certified instructor by the United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (USISTD) He is also a licensed Adjudicator and National Judge for the National Dance Council of America. Igor is the co-organizer for the Maryland DanceSport Championships.

Igor is the owner of the Ballroom Hub in Manhattan.

We are thrilled to have Igor conduct our March Learn and Practice!

Featuring guest judge and examiner Michael Choi

Please join us for the Spring Ballroom Challenge on March 13, 2021, sponsored by Dance Fire Studio! This event consists of two parts, a Proficiency Competition, and USISTD Medal Testing/pro exams. Dancers may participate in one or both. Our esteemed guest Judge and Examiner will be Michael Choi, one of just a dozen USISTD-certified Examiners in the country. He is one of the preeminent trainers of dance teachers in America and has performed at various events worldwide. This will be our first in-person event since the start of the pandemic. We will take several precautions to ensure everyone’s safety, including keeping registrations to a minimum.