Convention 2016

2016 Square Dance Convention

The party at Dance Dearborn has ended. We hope you had fun! This was your Convention! The dancers, callers and cuers who filled out last year’s survey provided lots of input into this Convention. We set a few additional goals; it was exciting to see them become reality! We had over 400 registered dancers from 14 states and Canada! The Mainstream floor was filled with dancers! The Great Room, located in the Hotel Lobby, was always filled with fun!

A big “Thank You!” to all the dancers, callers, cuers and line dance leader who volunteered their time and talents to create a fun atmosphere for Dance Dearborn! The impromptu duets were a nice surprise and one of our favorite parts! A special “Thank you!” to the callers, dancers and clubs who supported the Wood Floor Fundraising Dances by volunteering to call, dance or sponsor a dance! Callers at the May dance were: George Ferguson, Ray Marsch, Ben Purkett Sr., Marvin Reuter, Jenn Troy, Cindy Warner and Walt Zatorski, with a short guest appearance by Ray Wiles. Christmas in July was sponsored by Walt and Carrie Zatorski, Tom and Pam McCarthy, and the Tom Katz Square Dance Club. These activities raised $1,780 towards paying for the wood floors! Using all wood floors cost approximately $2000 more than using wood round dance floors and tile square dance floors. If there are any clubs, cuers and/or callers who would be willing to sponsor a Wood Floor Fundraising Dance for the 2017 Michigan Square & Round Dance Convention, please contact the Germans at squaredancemi@gmail.com. We would appreciate the help!

Thank you to the Dance Dearborn Committee members! We appreciate your support and the many hours of work you put into the Convention. Dance Dearborn was a team effort; we couldn’t have done it without you!

The winners of Competition Squares were:

1st place - Marschmellow Squares

2nd place - Doe-Si-Doe's

3rd place - Country Twirlers

Honorable Mention - Flushing Road Runners

Convention pictures and videos can be found on Facebook at 2016 Michigan Square & Round Dance Convention and on Photobucket at http://s349.photobucket.com/. Many have been posted, but there will be more to come!

Only a small percent of dancers have completed the survey. The time has passed, but we will continue to accept surveys through September at http://goo.gl/forms/opCs6eIhbLeoorgi2. The surveys we’ve received have been very positive! Dancers liked the variety of callers and dancing. Several commented on the success of the Great Room. A few comments from dancers: “The stage in the lobby allowed people coming and going to see what our dancing (squares & rounds) is all about for people of all ages.” “Loved dancing and watching things in the lobby.” “Facility was nice. The wood floors!!!!!!”

Register for “Work the Gears Through the Years,” the 55th Michigan Square & Round Dance Convention, by January 1, 2017, to get the best deal! New this year, take special care of your one-and-only ribbon; it is your ticket into the Convention. Your purchase of a Convention t-shirt helps support and advertise the Convention!

New dancers are the future of our activity. What can you do to introduce the wonderful world of square dancing to the non-dancers of the world?

Again, “Thank you!” to EVERYONE! We had a great time at Dance Dearborn and hope you did too! See you next year in Dearborn/Detroit at Work the Gears Through the Years!

Pam and Russ German, General Chairs

54th Michigan Square & Round Dance Convention

55th Michigan Square & Round Dance Convention

Join us on August 18 (Trail End Dance), 19 and 20, 2016 for the 54^th Annual State Convention. We'll be at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Detroit - Dearborn, 5801 Southfield Expressway, Detroit MI 48228. Phone: 313-336-3340, Web: www.Dearborn.DoubleTree.com

If you're a history buff, you can find information on past conventions here.

What You Can Expect for 2016!

• Thursday Night August 18, 6:30 pre-rounds, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Trail End Dance: Don’t miss this special dance with Featured Caller, Bobby Poyner and Featured Cuers, Jerry Buckmaster and Zodie Reigel. Free admission with your “I’m Registered” ribbon. $10.00 admission per person if you are not registered for the 2016 Michigan Square and Round Dance Convention.

• Friday: Caller’s Seminar; Dance All Night after party

• Saturday: Fashion Show; After party sponsored by 66th NSDC

ALL DANCE FLOORS ARE WOOD THIS YEAR!

6 Halls of FUN DANCING FRIDAY & SATURDAY.... including:

• Main Dance Hall: Plus, High Energy Plus, Hex, Progressive Squares, Ph. II Rounds each hour Friday and Saturday evenings, Competition Squares (with prizes for the first ($300), second ($200), & third ($100) place teams!), Latest & Greatest (New & Experienced Calling Teams)

• Mainstream Hall: High Energy Mainstream, Dangle Dance, Easy Rounds, Lines or Traditional most hours

• DBD/Advanced Hall

• Variety Hall: C-1, Workshops, Sewing Seminar

• Rounds Halls: Ph. II-V Program, Showcase Teaches.

• Theme baskets have always been a highlight of our State Convention. This year’s format will be a combination Silent Auction and Raffle. All clubs, as well as individuals, are invited to create and donate a basket. Associations are encouraged to donate a basket with free dance passes for every club that is a member of their association. Please submit this form by August 1, 2016. Proceeds will be used toward the cost of wood dance floors in all halls for the convention.

Schedule

Thursday: Trail-In Dance 6:30 pre-rounds, 7:00-10:00 p.m. (casual attire acceptable)

Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (casual until 6:00 p.m.)

Friday: 10:00 p.m. – ??? Dance All Night after party (lasts as long as there are callers and dancers)

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (casual until 6:00 p.m.)

Saturday: 10:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. After party sponsored by 66^th National Square Dance Convention

Dance Registration

Get your advanced tickets early (before July 1, 2016) for the weekend package at an exceptional value of only $18 per person. At the door, weekend ticket package cost is only $22 per person. Youth under the age of 18 years may attend for free.

Please download and complete the Convention Info and Registration Form, write a check payable to MCSRDC and mail your registration form and check to: Vickie Stewart & Dan Harris, Registration Chair, 404 S Ottawa St, St Johns, MI, 48879. If you have any questions, just drop an email to squaredancemi@gmail.com.

Parking

Parking is free, but it is a gated parking lot. Hotel guests need to register before parking. Your room key will get you in and out of the parking lot. Non-hotel convention guests will need to have their parking ticket validated. The hotel is going to have a validation station set up.

Hotel Registration

When making reservations, ask for the Square Dance Convention group rate of $109.00 plus tax per night. A Hot Breakfast Bar is included with your room. Those rooms not reserved by August 4, 2016 will be released to the general public. After that date, our group rate may continue until the Convention date if rooms are available; however, be advised that late reservation rates could be higher.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Detroit - Dearborn

5801 Southfield Expressway

Detroit, MI 48228

313-336-3340

www.Dearborn.DoubleTree.com

ROOMS MAY BE BOOKED ONLINE OR BY CALLING THE HOTEL

Camping Update

Wayne County Fairgrounds and RV Park

10871 Quirk Road

Belleville, MI 48111

A variety of campsites are available starting at $23.00 per night. Full hook-ups are $39.00 per night. Good Sam members and seniors receive a 10% discount. The campground is located 20 miles from the DoubleTree Hotel.

Please make your reservations through the fairgrounds, 734-697-7002.

www.waynecountyfairgrounds.net

Camping Chairs

Sandy and Roger Fry

734-716-0289

T-Shirts

For a more detailed list of local restaurants click here.

Attractions

Extend your stay an extra day or two and visit some of Dearborn’s unique sites. The Henry Ford is a collection of experiences that span three centuries of American life: museum, village, factory and IMAX. A few of Detroit’s many museums include: Motown Museum, Detroit Historical Society, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, Cranbrook Institute of Science and Detroit Institute of Arts.

Donna and Larry Maggard, our Advertising Chairs, invite you to place an ad and promote your business by connecting with the many dancers who'll be at the convention. Details here.

Convention questions should be directed to the Convention Chair at squaredancemi@gmail.com.