Hello Dancers!

Glenn and I are busy planning City Lights Ball – 2010, and hope you have put the competition on your calendars for Friday, January 28, 2011 - Sunday, January 30, 2011!

Recently, there was an article in DanceBeat by Hazel Newberry talking about how entries are often late, and therefore prices for airlines being higher, and how that causes havoc for all concerned in a competition. We agree that Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance (don’t you LOVE that expression!?), so we really hope that you take advantage of the lower rates through the airlines AND hotels by advanced reservations! Last year, Saturday night’s competition tickets sold out nearly two weeks in advance. We had to reluctantly turn away people to attend what turned out the to  be THE NIGHT, with Mirko and Allesia, World Professional Standard Champions, giving one of their last performances together. So, PLEASE, this year get your tickets in advance for dancing, the dance camp and the evening performances. For your convenience, under Event Information on the web site, we have links to the hotel, travel services and the airlines.

This year, World Professional Latin Champions Michael Malitowski & Joanna Leunis will be gracing us with their presence on Saturday night at City Lights Ball. We recently have seen them again secure their position at The International in London. Let me tell you, both Glenn and I were WOWED! Their speed, elegance, precision, subtleties literally bring tears to your eyes. We promise, this is not to miss. Mark your calendar!

We will offer a mini Dance Camp over several days, with some of the best instructors there are. Last year we offered a workshop by Mirko and Allesia, where we sold out space and had people raving about how helpful it was. This year will have several sessions over two days with both group and individual lessons. Check our website for information on this DANCE CAMP, including the names of instructors, sessions, topics and registration.

We are now Dance Sport Series approved. So, all dancers who want to earn points and continue your Dance Sport involvement, you can do so at City Lights Ball! Be sure to use our New Forms that offer this new opportunity for you!

New This Year:

• Professional Rising Star
• Professional Show Dance - open to all categories
      (new this year is the Artistic/Technical judging)
• Professional Theatre Arts
• Pro-Am Compulsory Dances
• Pro-Am Rising Star
• Pro-Am Ten Dance and Nine Dance
• People's Choice award
• World Dancesport Series Qualifying Event

The Preliminary Schedule is listed on the site, but note that the competition starts now on Friday and ends on Sunday afternoon, and again, with Sunday and Monday as the Dance Camp. Register now!

Again this year, we are offering online ticket ordering and online registration for competitors. If you register to receive mailings, you'll receive online updates and information. Seating is limited and prioritized with those who come in groups, attend both nights, eat dinners and then on a first-come, first-served basis. Specific seats cannot be ordered this year, but we'll have the same floor layout with table seating around the dance floor and risers. Prioritized seating at the Sponsored Tables are available too.

We plan again to offer dinners before each evening competition, but this year it will be for Friday and Saturday nights January 29 and January 30. You couldn't beat last year's dinner. Yummy! Healthy! No packages required. This year only advanced reservations; we won't be selling tickets at the door.

You could REALLY help City Lights Ball, if you share your thoughts about our competition with others who might not know about us through Facebook, Twitter, Dance Blogs (plus texting and whatever). We invest in the competition with the best available shows, floor, ambiance, food and snacks, lights, judges, staff and more. Instead of extensive, costly promotion, we are hoping that you will help us keep putting funds into the competition, and pass on the word through your friends and family.

Each year we've grown, and we hope to grow more this year too! Let us know how we can make it the best competition of the year for you. As the date of the competition approaches, we get so busy and things start to pile up. We insist on being customer oriented and responsive, but sometimes can't be due to the volume of requests. You can help us by first checking citylightsball.com

Thank you for your interest, and start your dancing year right at City Lights Ball, 2010!

Best Regards,

Barbara Gore and Glenn Weiss
Organizers - City Lights Ball