2013 Year of Dance

2013 is going to be my Year of Dance and I am so excited.  I have signed the contract with the City of Clarksville which is through August of this year then we will look at extending contract to a yearly basis. Of course, that will all depend on the success I have at establishing a great ongoing class program.

Am I worried, a little but I have faith that I am a great Instructor and that the students will spread the word that LB’s classes are fun, energetic and a great form of exercise.  I have already prepared a great variety of beginner/intermediate dances that encompass music from country to pop.  I will continue to watch the web for new dances that I feel will fit into this area. The one thing I have learned with teaching at the Clarksville Athletic Club is that Pop and Country are the two favorite genres.  I will see once the classes get going if I need to expand on that area.

I will be doing continued research to provide a great variety of great dances for the students. I will most likely pull what is popular in local clubs. I will continue to check out the most popular dances from the websites and dance classes around the country.  I want my students to be able to jump in at any club or class they happen upon.

I am now in negotiations with the City of Oak Grove, Kentucky to provide an International Line Dance program at their community center.  This would be a great location for a program due to the close proximity to Ft. Campbell Army Post. I feel we could offer a great program for the Military families in the area.  These negotiations are still ongoing at this time. I have proposed a free Introduction to Line Dance class to see what type of response we may be able to get on that side of the county.  I think we can pull students from neighboring towns like Hopkinsville, Guthrie and Pembroke by starting this program.

Yes, 2013 has been dubbed Larry B’s Year of Dance.  I encourage anyone visiting the area to drop in on a class and if you have any friends/family in the area to pass the word along that we are going to have a great year of dance in Clarksville, Tennessee.  See you on the Dance Floor

Keep Dancin’

LB

75 Years of Memories

Guest Author this week is Ellen Valinski.

It's hard to believe that I celebrated my 75^nd Birthday this July. With that many years, I have memories that could fill a book. I thought I would put some of my most favorite memories to paper and share with everyone.

Starting my own Honey Feliceti's Dance Studio at 16 years of age was just the beginning of a long career in business. After school every day I went to my small studio on Front Street in Worcester, MA. I only had 27 students in my first year. My parents helped out, so I was able to pay rent and phone. I would Baby Sit at night on weekends to pay for advertising. I was involved in all my high school shows, which was also great advertising. Dancing in shows for many groups such as Jewish War Veterans, Sons of Italy, Local T.V., U.S.O., Army hospitals, orphanages and so many others.

I was 18years of age when I married my soul mate Andy, who just happen to be 7 years my senior. He helped me so much with my business. I had over 100 students by this time, making my life a little easier.  My studio was now the whole 4^th floor of the Front Street location over Paris Curtain Shop. Business just kept getting better and better each year. Also now being old enough to perform in the good old fashion nite clubs on weekends, I did not need any further financial help from my family.

Dancing in the nite clubs was so much fun. I was entertaining with people like Totie Fields, Vaughn Monroe, Smiling Jack Smith, Jack Carter, Jill Corey, Walter Fields, The Nadeau Sisters, Jerry Lucci, and so many great musicians.

Next great memory was the birth of my first son, Andy Jr. Now Mom and Dad were back as baby sitters, without them my business would not have continued to grow to over 250 students. 

As I continued teaching and dancing at nite clubs, along came son number 2, Brian and then my daughter, Andrea.  Andy and I moved into a custom built house, across from Mom and Dad, the perfect baby sitters. Business was good, I had 4 teachers including myself, two other studios in different towns and over 400 students. 

Early Urban Renewal meant my 4^th floor studio was to be demolished but the new studio was a great step toward continued success. The location was a former nite club with mirrors everywhere and full of great memories of past entertainers. My wonderful husband, Andy replaced the carpet with a  wonderful hard wood floor. I had over 600 students, a receptionist, 6 teachers and a great old piano player, Gert. What a gem she was.

I had Honey Felicitti's Dance Studio for 25 years before ending that part of my business career.  Just wait till I tell you about my next business...

Till then, Ms. Honey