On the Road! Since its inception, The Music City Classic, organized by Lawrence & Daniel Elkin, (and Milly Elkin), has been held in Nashville.  But this year, hotel pressures forced a move to Louisville, KY.  The venue was the beautiful and elegant hotel, the Sellbach Hilton – a landmark hotel in Kentucky.

It has been some years since I visited Louisville.  In fact as I discussed with Chairman of Judges, Gary Pierce, on the first night, it has actually been close to 30 years since we were last there, attending what was then the largest event in the USA, the MUST (Mid United States Tournament).  Louisville has changed a bit, and 4th Street, where the hotel is located, is now a party street, filled with clubs and restaurants.

"Every dance is a kind of fever chart, a graph of the heart." The competition attracts mostly local (i.e. Nashville) studios and has always been an event with one of the most enthusiastic audiences in the country.  This was certainly still true this weekend and Travis & Jaimee Tuft delighted the vocal crowd with their theatrically styled Smooth show.  They received numerous standing ovations. There were professional divisions in newcomer and pre-champ levels as well as Open Rhythm and Open Smooth, plus a 9-couple cabaret – anything goes – division that was quite strong.  The winners of the Cabaret were Clyde Harris & Summer Elkin in a closely fought contest with runners-up, Jaime Black & Robin Ray.  Darian & Tiffany Chancellor won the Open Smooth and Tim Polascheck & Katherine Hutchinson won the Open Rhythm. Another great feature of the Music City is the Studio Formation competition.  This year 4 studios competed and the inventiveness and talent on display was very impressive and varied.

"Part of the joy of dancing is conversation. Trouble is, some men can't talk and dance at the same time."

Keep watching Dance Beat for a more in depth review.  Coming soon to the members’ section.