Dance Highlights for George
1990 Begins taking West Coast Swing Lessons at Avenue Ballroom East Begins taking private lessons with Belinda Ricklefs Identifies imbalance in the teaching of Partner Dancing (i.e. too much emphasis on steps, not enough on play, music and partnering) and communicates that to Belinda Co-develops and co-teaches a course "Partner Dancing for Partners" with Belinda Ricklefs Practices West Coast Swing with friend Joan Watson who becomes a favorite dance partner Co-founds Dancing For Fun dance club with Belinda Ricklefs and others 1991 Begins taking West Coast Swing classes with Nick Lawrence Holds weekly practice sessions in back studio at Ashkenaz and gives a number of parties there Holds first "Mystery Dance Contest" Takes some lessons in Country Waltz from Ruben & Linda Chavez (in time, Linda becomes a favorite partner) Joins Next Generation Swing Dance Club Meets Linda Nicoletto in a Nick Lawrence class, and she becomes a favorite partner 1992 Takes Night Club Two Step Class with Rachel Helm (and falls in love with the dance) Wins a half price private with Laura Garcia Takes a series of privates with Laura focusing on basics and body leads Persuades Belinda Ricklefs to teach a class in Night Club Two Step Helps choose the music for it and gets much deeper into the music Helps Juanita Hamilton with West Coast Swing basics at an Ashkenaz dance (and she becomes a favorite partner) 1993 Takes a Course in Focusing, which turns out to be very relevant to dance Purchases all of Margaret Batiuchok's Thesis on "The Lindy" Conceives of the Intergalactic Lindy Society with Margaret Batiuchok Promotes and plans for the about to be born Lindy Society and its first event Plans the first Lindy Society Weekend with Belinda Ricklefs. 1994 Co-founds The Northern California Lindy Society with Belinda Ricklefs and Margaret Batiuchok Oversees the first Northern California Lindy Society Weekend featuring Margaret Batiuchok and "The Essence of Lindy" workshop Is the angel for the Lindy Society for the first year, making up all losses plus donating money to the society as a nest egg Begins exploring the subjective side of dance with Margaret Batiuchok both for himself and for bringing it forth in others Designs the first Lindy Society T shirt with Laurie Ann Lepoff (includes words "an affiliate of the Intergalactic Lindy Society") Publishes "What's Lindy", his first article in the Ballroom Dancer's Rag 1995 Contributes a Happy Birthday page to the Journal for Frankie Manning's 80th birthday from the Intergalactic Lindy Society The Intergalactic Lindy Society is referred to in the New York Times Margaret Batiuchok publishes "A New Club in California" in Jitterbug Magazine, at that time the primary West Coast Swing Magazine which is based on and includes an interview with George on starting the Lindy Society Publishes "Luna & Sol in Dance" and "What's Dance Magic" articles in the Ballroom Dancer's Rag 1996 Does first official West Coast Swing dance performance (with Linda Chavez) Dances on the Dugout with the San Francisco Bay Swingers' Performance Group Publishes "Danielle's Dream" in the Ballroom Dancer's Rag 1997 Becomes leader/coordinator of San Francisco Bay Swingers' Performance Group Is recognized with Margaret Batiuchok & Belinda Ricklefs by Bay Swingers for our work in founding the Northern California Lindy Society Holds the first Bay Swingers' "Mystery Dance Contest" Dances on the Dugout with the San Francisco Bay Swingers' Performance Group again Publishes "New York, Margaret Batiuchok" in Jitterbug Magazine Publishes "How Fast Are We Dancing" in Dancing USA Publishes "The San Francisco Bay Swingers Dance Club" in The Ballroom Dancer's Rag Starts the Dance Magic Review. Publishes "A Gift from Three Dancers" Publishes "Dancing with Beginning Dancers" Publishes "A Review of Margaret Batiuchok's Thesis 'The Lindy'" Serves as a board member and secretary of the Bay Swingers for part of the year 1998 Co-founds East Bay West Coast with Amy Aldrich Creates web sites for East Bay West Coast and San Francisco Bay Swingers Creates web site for Margaret Batiuchok Creates web site for Dance Magic Review Publishes "What's West Coast Swing - the shadow side" Publishes "Meeting and Dance Magic" Proposes that the San Francisco Bay Swingers relocate to The Danceasy Works to make the move to The Danceasy smooth Publishes "Soul Two Step" Publishes "A Review of 'The Wave'" 1999 Produces first Flash & Trash comedy skit, "The Dance Contestants from HELL" Dances as Flash with Linda Chavez as Trash. 10 people in the cast. 2000 Dance focus shifts from partner dancing to dance meditation. 2001 Publishes "You Can Create Your Own Dance Meditation" Publishes "Free Form Partnering" 2002 Publishes "Feldenkrais and Dance"