2010 Northwest Dance Extravaganza

Last weekend we photographed the 2010 Northwest Dance Extravaganza in Seattle.   The event was presented by the Dance Workshop’s Lynn Offutt and crew.  This was the 26th anniversary of the Spring event and featured many talented performers from across  the country.

The Extravaganza is an all day event and we arrived for the daytime priogram which included gerneral dancing, and group competitions in International and American Rhythm styles.  This was our third event with the Dance Workshop so many of the performers and dancers were familiar to us.

This event is a photographers dream, the participants are elegant and come fully decked out in custom garments, coiffed beautifully from head to toe. As the day progresses the dance floor is filled with every color of the rainbow.

While the female participants are the centerpieces, the male dancers do not slack in the presentation department. There is a very subtle underlying air of competition that exists concerning clothing, hair, and style. Each dancer does his or her best to look as beautiful at 10:00 in the morning as most people do for a once in a lifetime wedding event.

The competition showcases many dance styles throughout  the day. We saw the Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango (my personal favorite), Viennese Waltz, and the Quickstep. The  Argentine Tango,  a very sensual and erotic version of the common Tango was highlighted by a very talented couple.

One of the many fun things about these contests is the variety of music that is played. The DJ, Terry West, is a master at music selection and never fails to entertain. The contestants dance to songs from the 40′s to the present, while the onlookers tap their feet, and in some cases, wait their turns. . Terry’s skills are magnified by the professional  direction of MC’s Denny Balascio and Shannon Knauss. Together they put on a show anyone can enjoy.

As the evening progressed, every style of Ballroom dance was exhibited. Performances varied from subtle to flamboyant. Watching the contest is really a dance lesson in itself, with a few life lessons concerning team work, trust and physical conditioning thrown in.

The dinner show featured a number of performances by special guests.  There was an Argentine Tango solo, a Ballroom demo, some Latin and Swing demos. and a Theater Waltz solo.

The solo routines during the event were all  spectacular, but the Grand Finale was the best of them all. The team of  Decho Kraev and Bree Watson were featured. This couple of six years are known for their tremendous technique and highly creative routines. Their footwork is exceptional and their extensions as graceful as can be.

At the end of the day we packed up our gear, tired, but happy. Watching people dance with enthusiasm all day is an excellent mood lifter. No matter how tired you are, there is a part of you that wants to go home and put on your Saturday night best, and take you partner out for a turn on the floor.

If you are a fan of Ballroom Dance, I suggest you set aside some time on September 19th, and attend the Crystal Ball, held by The Dance Workshop.

You can see our gallery of  dance photos here.