 Team Twister lived
up to it's brand new motto "Taking Florida by Storm"
which was changed temporarily from "Taking Texas by Storm"
just for the occasion. If there was anyone who hadn't yet
heard about IAGLCWDC's new group from Texas, they definitely had
heard about us by the time the weekend was over. It seemed
like everywhere you turned there was a Twister.
The
event where the Twisters made such a splash was the 8th
Annual Convention of the IAGLCWDC held this past Memorial Day
Weekend in Ft. Lauderdale (May 24-28, 2001) .
Under the direction of dance coach and choreographer Rowdy
Dufrene, Team Twister, the competition and performance component
of Texas Twisters, took home two 1st place trophies, winning both
categories in which the team competed: "Team Line Dance"
and "Team Couples Dance."
The Twisters also had six team members enter the
Individual Line Dance and Couples events, one of the largest
contingents from any team. In Couples Dance competition, Dan
Sigale and Dave Hayes won 3rd place in the Waltz, 3rd in the
Two-step, and took 3rd place overall in their Couples Division. In
Individual Line Dance, Artie Hammond took 2nd place overall, and Dan
Sigale took 3rd place overall. For a while it was a Twister parade
as one or the other, or both of these two competitors went up to
the front to receive their awards for each line dance. Individual
Line Dance competition consists of six possible dances with
1st-3rd awarded for each dance. To be considered for overall
placement a competitor must enter at least three of the six
dances. The line dances were: Tush Push, Slave to the Habit (which
was choreographed by team member Dave Hayes and his former dance
partner), Metamorphosized, Dizzy, Bump in the Dark, and Dancing
Machine. Another of the Twisters placed 4th in "Slave to the
Habit."
What makes the team's success at the competition
even more impressive is that Texas Twisters was formed in August
of 2000 (by comparison, several of the competing teams in IAGLCWDC
have been dancing together for years). In addition to the two
competition routines, the team also performed an exhibition
routine on the opening night of the convention that was
enthusiastically received by the convention attendees. Getting
three routines to performance and competition levels in less than
eight months is a remarkable achievement and the result of long
hours of practice.
As part of the preparation for the IAGLCWDC event,
the team entered a team dance competition at the Texas Hoe-Down in
Fort Worth last March, winning "First Place Overall" for
their efforts. The Hoedown is a straight competition and part of
the Fun Country competition circuit.
The Texas Twisters is a Dallas/Fort Worth area Gay
& Lesbian Country Western Dance Club. Club membership is open
to anyone with an open mind and an interest in Country/Western
Dance. Team membership obviously requires a higher level of
commitment.
The club holds regular Dance Clinics at either the
Roundup or the 651. The Dance Clinics feature line dances and/or
couples dance steps which are uncommon or new to the DFW area. All
Dance Clinics are open to the public. The Twisters is also a
charitable organization and will be scheduling fund raising events
as soon as it receives its 501(3C) status.
Congratulations
on a job well done!
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