Board Members

Gary and Kathy Willmes 343-3309

Henry Olivier and Linda Splittstoesser 399-9813

Dennis and Arlene Wilkerson 255-4383

Don and Elaine Reed 343-8929

Dan and Ronalda Driscoll 348-2557

Treasurer – Dan Driscoll 348-2557

Committees

Cards: Kathy Goodrich-Willmes 343-3309

Telephone/E-mail/Newsletter & Web page -

Donald Reed (reed_de@hotmail.com) 343-8929

Membership: Elaine Reed 343-8929

Practice: Linda Splittstoesser 399-9813

Public Relations: Terry Marvin 341-1285

Area Representatives

Belle Fourche / Deadwood / Lead / Spearfish

Sturgis / Whitewood / Vale

Patrica Hofer - 644-1649

Rapid City

Arlene and Dennis Wilkerson 255-4383

Linda Splittstoesser 399-9813

The Board of Trustees includes all elected positions at large, area representatives, and the last past president. If your area appoints a new representative contact the president so he/she can be included.

Advertising Rates

Business card ad (card only, no larger than 2 inches)

Non-member $45/12 or $25/6

Business card (member) $1 per issue

Full page ad $15.00 per issue

Half page ad $7.50 per issue

Per column inch $1.50 per issue

Fliers $.03 (150 flier minimum)

Send payment with a brief worksheet explaining your figures to Dakota Territory Dance Club, ATTN: Treasurer, PO Box 9583, Rapid City, SD 57709.

Newsletter article deadline is the 20th of the month previous to publication. Contact a board member or send information to Dakota Territory Dance Club % Newsletter Chairman, PO Box 9583, Rapid City, SD 57701

CHECK OUR WEBSITE:

http://rap.midco.net/reedde/www

Notes From the board

It is hard to believe but it is already time to plan for the holidays. Be sure to put the annual Dakota Territory Dance Club Christmas Dinner and Dance on your holiday calendar.

What:

DTDC Christmas Dinner/dance

When:

Sunday, December 3,2006

Doors open: 11:30 a.m.

Potluck Dinner at 12:00 noon

Dance to Midnight Sun Band

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where:

Moose Lodge Family Center on E. St. Patrick St., Rapid City, SD

Who:

Everyone is welcome! Please bring family and friends for a wonderful way to start the holiday season. We hope to see you there!

Remember, there is no charge; donations only if you wish. Our club will furnish a cooked ham and buns, condiments, coffee, plates, cups, napkins and utensils. The bar will be open if you wish to order drinks or sodas. Please bring a side dish, snack or dessert to share and join in the holiday fun! If anyone: couple, single or line dancers would like to do a spotlight dance, please let Linda Splittstoesser know.

Our dance lessons were temporarily put on hold this month while our instructor, Linda Splittstoesser recovers from foot surgery. Linda reports the surgery was successful and she just may be ready to put her foot to the test at the upcoming Christmas Dance. Linda reports she will definitely be ready to team up with Henry to resume our DTDC dance lessons in January. The first lesson is Tuesday, January 2^nd, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Cha-cha lessons will be given at both the beginner and intermediate levels each Tuesday evening in January in the Viking Hall, at Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Center on Canyon Lake Drive.

February’s lessons will include the Waltz and the Two-step.

Thanks again to Linda and Henry for sharing their skills and enthusiasm for dance! Their next DJ dance will be on Friday, January 12, 2007 (8:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.) at the Moose Lodge. (No charge; donations only). Be sure to mark it on your calendar! And just a reminder to singles, be sure to attend! We need more singles to attend so everyone can enjoy all the dances.

Don’t forget to attend the monthly DJ dances now held at the Canyon Lake Senior Center Viking Hall on the last Friday of each month. The next dance is on Friday, November 24th from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Admission is $5 per person). A free dance lesson is held at 7:30 p.m. prior to the dance. These dances are hosted by Debbie Ellertons; Heartland Dancing.

Reminder: Les Harrington offers free dance lessons (donations only) on Sunday afternoons (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) at the Moose Lodge. Les needs more men to attend these lessons. Les also gives free dance lessons at the Stampede every Tuesday evening from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Happy Holidays!

November, 2006 Meeting Minutes

Dakota Territory Dance Club

November 10, 2006

The DTDC Board held a brief meeting to review the current Treasurer’s Report and complete planning for the coming dinner and dance.

Dan Driscoll, Treasurer, submitted the following treasurer’s report:

Balance (9/30/06): $976.44

Deposits: $262.00 (lesson fees & membership dues)

Expenses: $180.00 (CLSCC rent)

Balance (11/10/06): $1,058.44

Henry Olivier reported that Midnight Sun Band is confirmed for the Christmas Dance on 12/3/06 at a cost of $400. They will play from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Henry will prepare a ham for the Christmas potluck dinner. Les Harrington will have the bar open that afternoon. Elaine Reed will bring buns for the ham, plates, cups, napkins and utensils. DTDC will make a donation to the Moose Club to cover the cost of the coffee, condiments, etc. used for the dinner.

Linda reported that turnout for the October dance lessons was low. Hopefully with more advertising, the January lessons will garner better attendance.

PRACTICE

THE DANCE CLUB NEEDS YOU & YOU & YOU! We can’t have too many people!

We will offer Cha-cha lessons in January. The Cha-cha is a favorite dance for many; because we were unable to offer it in November, we have rescheduled it to open the New Year. Each week’s lesson will build on the skills learned in the previous lesson. Have a great time with us in January and enjoy the Cha-cha!

Our turnout for lessons in October was low. In order to continue offering lessons each month we must have enough people attend to cover the cost of the room rent. Please come on out in January and encourage your friends to come as well.

We hope you like our change in the lesson format this year. We will be working off a pre-set schedule of dances for each month. The beginner level lessons will address the basic footwork and basic moves of both dances from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The intermediate level lessons will offer you the opportunity to learn more complex moves and patterns. This session runs from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Cost for the lessons is $3 per person, per evening, with dancers paying on a monthly basis. Our lessons are held in the Viking Hall at the Canyon Lake Senior Citizen’s Center, on Tuesday evenings, October through April, with a break in December.

We need volunteers for everything!!! Speaking of volunteers if any would like to volunteer to teach a move at the second class please get a hold of me. If you have never done this kind of thing before and would like to try it now is the time. Again just call me. That's all from my corner.

We need single men and women!

Linda Splittstoesser, Henry Olivier

Practice Chairmen

Email

We appreciate all of the E-mail addresses we have now. It has saved many hours on the phone when notifying members of club activities. More addresses can save more time. We encourage those of you who have not shared your E-mail address with us, to do so.

Send your E-mail address to: reed_de@hotmail.com

Membership News

Membership Due Dates are printed on the newsletter-mailing label “Membership Due” is stamped on newsletters the month previous to and the month of your membership due date. “Last Newsletter” is used the month after your due date. E-mail recipients will receive a follow up memo

regarding their due date. Please use the attached membership registration form to send your renewal ($15/ person.)

Encourage your friends to join us.

See you on the dance floor!

Elaine Reed, Membership Chairman

Member Profile

Happy Reeds attending the Colorado Country Classic,

June 2006

UPCOMING EVENTS:

12/03/06 DTDC Christmas Noon Potluck Dinner/Dance 12:00 noon, with Midnight Sun Band (1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

Moose Lodge, Rapid City, SD

01/13/07 Winter Wonderland Dance,

showcase and workshops. Liederkranz.

403 W. 1^st St., Grand island, NE.

http://www.dancestepsonline.com

Other Links:

http://www.coloradocountryclassic.net

http://www.oklahomadancefest.com

http://www.jitterbug.org/december06.htm

http://www,dancefun.com/index.htm

http://www.ucwdc.org/eventschedule.shtm

All About Dancing

DANCE BASICS:

Dance Dictionary:

For many of you taking dance lessons the terminology may seem “foreign” or confusing. The following list of common dance terms and their definitions by Skippy Blair is designed to help you “translate” dance terms.

Action: a move by one partner that initiates a reaction by the other partner.

Back: a direction that requires a 4^th or open 3^rd foot position, the free foot directly behind the weighted foot.Boot Hook or Figure 4: a country western foot position that allows the free foot to cross the knee.

Break: a change of direction that returns the body home.

Break Turn: turns in opposite direction of the forward foot and returned the body home (Step forward left, turn right; forward right, turn left).

Centering: connecting the center point of balance (Solar Plexus) of both partners to each other.

Check: an abrupt change of direction (quicker, tighter change of directions than a rock step or break step).

Compression: resistance toward each other to a degree that requires reaction.

CPB: Center Point of Balance (located in the Solar Plexus); the Center of all movement.

Cross: crossing one foot over the other (in front).

Drive: the connection between the sending foot and the CPB.

Drop: a supported move where one partner is lowered and supported by the other.

Follow: reaction to a lead. He leads on “&” and she follows on “a”. Both step on the count “1”.

Foot Positions: 1^st: feet together, 2^nd: feet directly apart (side), 3^rd: heel to instep, 4^th: walking a straight or curving line, 5^th: toe to heel.

Force Point: The specific part of the body that leads the action.

Forward: a direction that indicates 4^th foot position in front of the weighted foot.

Heel Splits: both heels point out and then in, often referred to in country dancing as “pigeon toes” or “buttermilk”.

Hook: hooking one foot behind the other, either left or right. (Forward hooks are called “locks”.)

Kick: A movement of the free foot (a kick should take place on the beat).

Lead: an indication of direction which takes place on the “&” count.

Leverage: an away resistance to a degree where action requires a reaction.

Lift: one partner fully supports the other, who has both feet off the floor.

Pivot: a half turn that turns in the direction of the forward foot (forward left, turn left or forward right, turn right) in 4^th foot position traveling line of dance.

Pivot Turn: a turn of any degree, less than a full spin, in the direction of the forward foot.

Point: a foot action usually performed in syncopations, pointing on the beat (not on the “&” or the “a” count).

Power Point: The spot directly behind the ball of the foot.

Press: the action of pushing the power point of the sending foot down in order to move the body up or out.

Reaction: seeing or feeling the result of a lead or an action; the other half of action/reaction.

Receiving Foot: the foot that lands on the beat of the music.

Resistance: action either away or toward a partner; resistance comes in degrees.

Rock: a change of direction with a rocking action that returns the CPB home.

Sending Foot: the foot that presses down in order to move the CPB out.

Shuffle: a traveling triple popular in country western dancing.

Side: a direction that moves the CPB directly to the left or right into 2^nd foot position.

Spin: a full rotation of the body on one foot.

Split: both feet moving in opposite directions with weight on both feet.

Spot or Spotting: a method of turning or spinning that focuses the eyes on one spot.

Style: a personal interpretation of arm or body position that does not alter the “essence” of the dance.

Swivel: a move that changes direction on the weighted foot. Swivel always takes place on a pressed foot on the “&” count.

Torque Turn: a turn in the opposite direction of the forward foot where the body continues traveling in the same direction, e.g.: the “&a” before count 3 in the follower’s part in the Whip move in West Coast Swing.

Vine: any “side, cross behind or side, cross in front” move (a 4 or 8 count move).

“CENTERING”

Skippy Blair - March 2002

The NUMBER of “Centers” in one individual dancer seems to be the biggest question on “Centering” today (March 2002). Logic tells us that any object has only one “Center”. In my study of the “Psychology of Learning”, I was fascinated with how the “rules” carried over into dance. The idea that we “learn MUCH faster if we have only one definition for one word” was one that I had always subscribed to - even before my detailed study. The study also confirmed my belief that simplicity is the key to fundamental learning. Many times, I have been asked to make a dance decision as to who was right and who was wrong. Fortunately, my mind usually cuts through the fuzzy stuff and is able to observe that both parties are saying the same thing - but each person is expressing it in a different way. I have a favorite saying: “NOTHING is wrong - if you are doing what you set out to do.” The flip side of that is that “what you set out to do” might not be the highest level that you are capable of performing.

When it comes to “Centering” - or any other concept - my MAIN concern is that I want the student to LEARN. I spend many hours dissecting information and rearranging that information in a way that will assist the recipient in developing better dance habits. It is important to me that the student be able to immediately apply each new concept once that concept has been presented.

When it comes to “Centering”, The Universal Unit System® maintains that there is only ONE center. However we DO acknowledge, and regularly refer to, three separate “ZONES”:

Shoulder Zone: Encompasses the area from the top of the shoulder, down to the bottom of the rib cage.

Hip Zone: Starts at the top of the hip-bone and goes down to where the leg connects to the hip.

Center Zone: Covers the lower edge of the rib cage – down to the upper edge of the hips. The Center Zone

ties all three Zones together.

Let’s pretend that you have a wide support belt that goes around your waist. (You can even purchase one at your local medical supply or drug store.) Place this support belt tightly around your waist, with the top of the belt barely covering the lower ribs - and the bottom of the belt - barely covering the top of the hipbones.

This center “support” has now pulled the body all together into one dynamic dance machine. Once the whole “Center Zone” gets controlled, you can narrow down the concentration into the top of the Center Zone; which is the “Center Point of Balance.” When you concentrate on your “CENTER” and move that center, you will feel the effect on all three zones of the body. A feeling of power and control starts to develop. You begin to experience a cooperative effort among all of your body parts. It’s a very secure feeling. You can experience this feeling rather quickly (with the aid of a support belt) or you can experience this feeling by pulling all of your abdominal muscles up into your center. This process takes a little time and effort, but I guarantee that it’s worth the effort. This exercise has become known as: “squeezing the banana”. It feels like someone squeezes all of your center area into your middle forcing your center upward and your shoulders back and down.

LOCATING your own CENTER (CPB) - which is short for “Center Point of Balance”. Unlike a center of mass (used in martial arts for a lower base stance) or a center of gravity (which seems to change location with every body type), our “Center Point of Balance” is located in the same place on every person. It is located in the Solar Plexus - right in the center - where the ribs come together. If you stand with your feet together you will find that you can move your “derriere” 4 inches forward, backward or sideways and still not lose your balance or have to move your feet. You can do the same with your head - shoulder - arm - foot - but NOW - move your “Center” four inches in ANY direction and you will have to move a foot. Your “Center” has changed the location of your body to a new location. That is the whole point of “Centering”.

Another way to identify the location of your center is to assume that your body is a mannequin. Place a fist into its Solar Plexus - that’s the area where the rib cage meets well above the waistline and well above the naval.

Placing a fist in the Solar Plexus area, we could lift a mannequin a few inches off the floor. The feet would fall directly under it’s “Center” and the head and shoulder area would stay upright. If we placed a fist in the lower abdomen of the mannequin, its top half would fall over. If we placed a fist in the shoulder area, it would immobilize the shoulders producing stiffness and a lack of flexibility and body flight. Dancers who use their hips or shoulders

as their “Center” are easily identified by those who understand the concept. It is amazing to see the difference in the level of performance once they learn to tighten the zones and move from the “Center Point of Balance”.

INDIVIDUAL CENTERING

Being “Centered” lines up the Power Point of the foot, through the knee, through the “Center Point of Balance”, and up through the chin, in one coordinated movement that allows the body to land precisely ON the beat of the music. Correct, individual “Centering”, produces great posture and a sense of body dynamics. It creates a look of power and a feeling of professional performance. You can identify this look on specific dancers, but if I tried to list the ones who have it, I would certainly miss someone and get myself in trouble. The next time you are observing social dancing where upper level dancers are simply enjoying the dance - look around. You will be able to identify that extra element of “centering” by the tingle it creates in your own spine.

In evaluating the performance of a ballet dancer or a jazz dancer, the same degree of professionalism exists. Movement is classified by how well the dancer moves from the “Center” and not foot first. They are not evaluated by how fast or how complicated but how well the body moves from the center. “FOOT follows FRAME.”

The center moves first. Once you can control the center to move on the “&” count - prior to a weight change - moving from the center becomes the focal point for all movement. That one act alone immediately adds an extra “Dynamic” to your dancing. You will be able to FEEL the difference. It takes a little time before you can maintain the feeling, but just feeling it ONE time, allows you to experience that the dynamic exists and is within your grasp.

PARTNER CENTERING

It is very difficult to perfect “Partner Centering” if the individuals involved are not “Centered” themselves. However, one partner that is well centered can have a positive influence on the centering and total performance of the other partner.

STAGE ONE in learning “Partner Centering” is what we call the “Flashlight Technique”. This simply teaches each partner to aim their center either toward each other or toward a destination. This will help even basic dancers to start the centering process.

For the Man: His “Flashlight” (Center Point of Balance) will be aimed either at his partner or in the direction that he wants the partner to travel. This makes a strong connection without the necessity for arm leading, and also maintains a sharper slot. (A wonderful feeling for the follower.)

For the Lady: Her “Flashlight” will aim at her partner’s chin. This tends to lengthen her upper torso, which in turn develops better posture and centers her whole body toward her partner’s center. As she rotates in various patterns, her “Flashlight” will return to him as quickly as the tempo of the music allows. This one technique alone will elevate any performance that was lacking proper centering.

Competition Observation: “Centering” to the judges is not considered good taste. There are times when centering to the judges is part of the natural unfolding of the routine when both partners are actually facing the judges. However, there are times when either the leader or the follower seems to center their “Flashlight” toward the judges instead of toward each other when it is not appropriate. In judging circles, we refer to that as “mugging the judges”. It is particularly noticeable if the lady faces the judges on every anchor instead of facing her partner. It not only detracts from the performance but also loosens the “center” connection of the partnership.

STAGE TWO of developing “Partner Centering” requires more control of each partner’s individual “Center”. More than having each partner simply face each other - a certain degree of leverage (based on a tight control of the 3 zones and a lifted “Center”) - develops a more professional “attitude” which is the hallmark of the upper level dancer. When two partners are really “Centered” to each other, an astute observer becomes aware of the action/reaction that takes place in one split second. If you are part of the partnership, you should be able to feel that action/reaction. The leader’s “Center” moves on “&a” and the follower reacts to that lead. This allows both partners to land - at the same time - precisely on the beat of the music. Both partners may choose to dance different rhythms - even different syncopations - and still be totally “Centered” because they are connected from one partner’s “Center” to the other partner’s “Center” - THROUGH the hands - but not only BY the hands.

As a teaching technique I sometimes use slightly flexible ropes to show how the “Center” does the leading rather than the arm. The rope is wrapped around the man’s “Center” while the lady holds on to the rope. He finds out that his “Center” needs to move in the direction that he wants the lady to go. Their hands are not connected and yet she is able to follow his lead. In the real world the lady frequently has to compensate for an arm lead in order to make the move look more fluid. However, the reverse is also true. Many ladies strong-arm their partners, believing they are doing a better job of following. It is sometimes impossible to determine who did what to whom because “arm leading” leads to “arm following” and perpetuates the problem from both sides. MOST patterns are best led with body leads, directly from the “Center”.

DTDC MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION FORM

NAME(s): ________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: ________________________________________________________

E-MAIL: ________________________________________________________

WEB ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________

TELEPHONE: ______________________. NEW-REG. ____. RENEWAL: ___

BIRTHDATE: ________________________. SPOUSE’S: __________________

Mo. & date Mo & date

ANNIVERSARY: _______________________

$15 PER PERSON PER YEAR MAIL TO: DAKOTA TERRITORY DANCE CLUB

ATTN: ELAINE REED

Questions: Call Elaine Reed PO BOX 9583

(605) 343-8929 RAPID CITY, SD 57709

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING CLUB AND DANCE ACTIVITIES

Nov. 24	Debbie’s DJ Dance at *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr*. 7:30 – 11:00 PM
Dec. 03	DTDC Christmas Potluck Dinner/Dance with Midnight Sun Band 12:00 p.m. Moose Lodge
Dec. 08	DJ Dance with Linda & Henry. 8:30 PM at the Rapid City Moose Lodge
Dec. 29	Debbie’s DJ Dance at *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr*. 7:30 – 11:00 PM
Jan. 02 Dir. Mtg. 6:45pm	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Cha-Cha.*
Jan. 09	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Cha-Cha.*
Jan. 12	DJ Dance with Linda & Henry. 8:30 PM at the Rapid City Moose Lodge
Jan. 16	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Cha-Cha.*
Jan. 23	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Cha-Cha.*
Jan. 26	Debbie’s DJ Dance at *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr*. 7:30 – 11:00 PM
Jan. 30	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Cha-Cha.*
Feb. 06 Dir. Mtg. 6:45pm	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Waltz & Two-step.*
Feb. 09	DJ Dance with Linda & Henry. 8:30 PM at the Rapid City Moose Lodge
Feb. 13	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Waltz and Two-step.*
Feb. 20	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Waltz and Two-step.*
Feb. 23	Debbie’s DJ Dance at *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr*. 7:30 – 11:00 PM
Feb. 27	DTDC lessons. 7:00 PM for beginners and 8:00 PM for intermediates. *Canyon Lake Senior Citizens Cntr. Waltz and Two-step.*
Apr. 27-28	Black Hills 11^th annual Dance Festival at the Rapid City Civic Center