Dance Organizers (The Movers and Shakers)
While you will not be able to go Swing Dancing every night of the week on the Island, you can go dancing every night if your expand your geographic and dance style horizon. There is a wealth of resources, if you know where to look. Below are a some of the non-profit social dance clubs, university clubs, instructors, dance studios, newsletters, websites and even individual event promoters, that contribute to the local Long Island dance scene. So go take a dance lesson, go to a Dance weekend or venture out to a different city.
Dance Magic Ballroom (Dance Magic)
US ballroom champion Giny Rae and partner Peter Sciurca have been teaching ballroom dancing to many people on Long Island through their instruction at Brookhaven National Lab and Stony Brook University. They also teach dance at their ballroom studio in Saint James. Check out their website for their social dance parties (typically Friday, Saturdays and Sundays).
Giny Rae and Peter Sciurca
Dance Magic Ballroom and Dance Studio
655 Middle Country Road
Saint James, NY 11780
Phone: (631)584-7100
Web: http://www.DanceMagicBallroom.com/
Email: Dancemgc@optonline.net
Giny Rae - Owner and Artistic Director
A member of the Dance Educators of America (DEA), the National Dance Council of America (NDCA), and the Professional Dancers Federation (PDF), Giny Rae has over 20 years of experience as a social and competitive dance instructor in American, International, and Cabaret styles of Danceport. She has competed and performed nationally, internationally, and on television. Her students have earned junior, amateur, and pro-am championships, and Dance Magic has won several studio awards. Her leading corporate client is the Ballroom Dance Club at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Giny has been Adjunct Professor of Danceport at the State University of New York - Stony Brook, and is also the Head Coach of the SUNY - Stony Brook Ballroom Dance Team and Club.
Giny Rae also has over 20 years experience as a competitive professional dancer in the Latin, Ballroom, and Cabaret divisions. She also holds the degree of “Member with Honors” from the North American Dance Teachers Association, qualifying her as a Championship Level Competition Judge. Her competitive accomplishments are as follows:
1993 - Empire State Ballroom Classic Champion
1992 - PBS-TV “Evening of Championship Ballroom Dancing” - Featured Performer
1991 - U.S. Ballroom Champion - Rising Star Cabaret Division
1991 - U.S. Ballroom Finalist - Open Cabaret Division
1987-1991 - American Star Ball Champion
Baltimore/Washington Open Champion
Imperial Star Ball Champion
North Star Ball - Rising Star Champion
North Star Ball - Open Division Champion
New England Imperial Champion
Peter Sciurca - Owner and Business Director
After studying at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center, Peter returned to ballroom dance, and, in 1992, he and Giny Rae formed their professional parnership, and in 1997 they married. A member of the Dance Educators of America, National Dance Council Association, North American Dance Teachers Association, and the Professional Dancers Federation, Peter holds several teaching certificates in the arts including, Communication and Theatre, Dance, and Musical Theatre Arts. As a volunteer instructor at SUNY Stony Brook, Peter has taught ballroom dance to the university students and is also the Assistant Coach of the Stony brook University Ballroom Dance Team. As partners, Giny Rae and Peter are Empire State Ballroom Classic Champions. Peter has also appeared on television in the pilot and promos for Dennis Leary’s “Rescue Me”, and is a professional firefighter with the New York City Fire Department.
Alexis Andrea - Instructor
An accomplished dancer and the daughter of Giny Rae, Alexis has returned from performing with the London based production of “Simply Ballroom”, at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Alexis is a graduate of the Performing Arts High School in Syosset, New York and holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has been President of the Stony Brook University Ballroom Dance Club and Competition Team and has won many awards during her competitive career. When she is not traveling, Alexis teaches several classes at the studio.
Upcoming / Recent Events
08/15/2008 -- Open Workshop / Dance Social: WEST COAST SWING!
01/18/2008 -- Dance of the Month - Swing
01/11/2008 -- Dance of the Month at Dance Magic - Swing
05/11/2007 -- Swing Workshop and Dance Social
05/04/2007 -- Merengue Workshop and Dance Social
04/13/2007 -- Friday Night RUMBA Dance Workshops and Socials
03/09/2007 -- Friday Night Dance QUICKSTEP Workshops and Socials