An Interview With Me
11.20.07

B: We are here today to discuss dance news with Bruce... Bruce? Are you ready?
 
BP: uhhh...My reflection is talking to me? Am I hallucinating?
 
B: Well, I think it is a matter of perspective. You think I'm a reflection, but I could be you and you could be my reflection. Then again ***
 
BP: STOP! I'm getting a headache. My therapist says hallucinations and headaches are bad signs...Let's get this over with...
 
B: Very well. We have news that you have taken over the Friday night dance at Goldcoast. Is it true?
 
BP: As of January, that is correct. Beth and I will be running the dance on Friday nights.
 
B: Details, please?
 
BP: We have been thinking about this for awhile and struck the deal with Vinny and Jeff. We will be programming the night and have decided to focus the content of the evening on West Coast Swing.
 
B: Just West Coast?
 
BP: Mainly. The mix will be comparable to the one I use at our Floorplay dances at the Palms Ballroom. There will be a couple songs an hour in Hustle, Salsa or other styles, but the majority will be music that we listen to on the national dance circuit.
 
B: You use a computer for your music?
 
BP: That is also correct. I will premix the evening on my system. We will accept requests if they maintain the integrity of the mix and slide them in between the premixed material.
 
B: What other changes will there be?
 
BP: We will be starting the dance at 8PM rather than 7:30PM. This will give us a better window for workshops prior to the dance. We know it is really tough to get home, ready and come out to dance that early. Every minute helps. We intend to integrate this with our workshop weekends from time to time. This will add shows on occasion. We'll be building themes and contests into the dances from time to time.
 
B: OK...so why is this happening?
 
BP: That's a really long story, but we'll summarize here.
 
First, the community was huge in supporting Beth and I in our hour of need. We will never forget that. The support was both local and across areas of the country as well. In our way, this is a chance to impact the community as they impacted our lives. We are looking to create a focus at Goldcoast Ballroom again. We have had repeated requests for a dedicated weekly dance with more current swing music. These requests have come from local dancers who have been to our Palm Beach dance, as well as dancers that are familiar and travel to national level events. We know that the community can support a dance here and there. Our feeling is that it has grown enough to begin developing a weekly opportunity to enjoy West Coast Swing.
 
Next, we have an area that is just beginning to wake up to changes that West Coast Swing has undergone. More dancers are attending events and bringing back that energy. We want to create a base for that and use it to expand the interest and level of the dancing here in South Florida.
 
Finally, everyone is aware of the great facility that is Goldcoast Ballroom. For whatever reasons, we have had mixed success in using such an awesome place for dances. We have built a lot of good relationships with Goldcoast and individuals throughout the community. We believe that partnering with Goldcoast with a focus on West Coast Swing will take the whole dance scene to another level.
 
B: What about the ballroom and hustle folks?
 
BP: In regards to ballroom, we are hoping that the Saturday dances at Goldcoast will strengthen again. Jeff and Vinny have also discussed using another night for ballroom if the demand is there.
 
Hustle has been sharing time with West Coast Swing and from both sides, the evening has been less than satisfying. We still will play hustle, but we are going to focus the dance in one style and believe that enough cross over exists to maintain some connection for the hustle dancers.
 
B: You mentioned workshops earlier. Are you bringing Jordan and Tatiana back?
 
BP: As a matter of fact, we have tentative scheduling in October of 2008. We have a few details to be ironed out, but the process is well on the way to become a hard date with them.
 
B: Anyone else?
 
BP: We are close to finalizing a weekend with a wonderful couple from Ohio, Jason Miklic and Sophy Kdep. We are just working on the dates to bring in Jennifer DeLuca again, but this time with her partner, Michael Kielbasa. We are also looking into some workshops with Beata Howe, Arjay Centano with Melissa Rutz and Parker Dearborn with Jessica Cox. Others we have started talks with include John Lindo, Mary Ann Nunez, Robert Cordoba and Deborah Szekley.
 
B: Does this impact your classes at all?
 
BP: Not at this point. The classes on Thursday have been consistent and well attended. We have developed enough contrast in levels to really be able to push forward in the Intermediate class. We are getting great feedback on both sessions.
 
B: So, is Friday going to expand that offering?
 
BP: We are developing our plans now. My impression is that we would like to create a potential bridge between beginner and intermediates with Friday night. This would be an expanded version of our lesson format we use at Floorplay. We'll take a basic and run through it to adjust students within the framework of that fundamental in WCS. Then we will tweak those fundamentals to show them how to create variety and contrast in their dancing.
 
B: You spend a lot of time traveling to find new music and material. How will these plans impact that activity?
 
BP: Our objective is to not allow it to change the travel plans we have. We are working with several people to develop coverage when we travel to competitions. We are expecting to be able to use that depth to allow us to continue our search for good ideas and good music.
 
B: That's it for now. We will see if we can't get an interview in with the Mrs., soon.
 
BP: I think I'll go call my therapist...