Tag: line dancing Page 6 of 11

The Stella Cabeca Story Then and Now Part 25

On November 1, 2016

In Dance, dancing, exercise, Fitness, line dance, line dancing, Stella Cabeca, Uncategorized

part 25

I met many young dance teachers and choreographers at these events. I remember one young man in particular. At an event, I was just visiting;I had heard about him but never seen him in person. He walked in the room; people were digging and poking me whispering “that’s Guyton ” all excited and a little crazy.

He was quiet seemed a little sad-faced, sitting looking down at the floor; I was thinking what are they making such a fuss about? Well, I took his workshop and learned some amazing dances and thought wow this guy is going to be big someday.

Another time, I went to an event called Boot Camp right in my neighborhood. It was awesome, I saw local dance team Rockin Renegades perform. It was one of the best performances I had ever seen. The leader and choreographer of this team was a young lady named Jennifer Toolen. Jennifer later danced with me for many years in fact, she used to dance at my classes in Tamarac. She eventually married and became pregnant with her son. I watched that baby growing as she danced through her pregnancy.

She went in to become a well-known instructor, choreographer, winning dance competitions as a solo competitor and with her team. She is the director of several of the biggest line dance events in the USA. Including The Tampa Bay Line dance.

The Stella Cabeca Story Then and Now part 23

By admin

On October 17, 2016

In Dance, dancing, line dance, line dancing, Stella Cabeca, Uncategorized

part 23

My first workshop at an event was Cocoa Beach; they put me in a tiny room very early in the morning. They later had to move me to a bigger room as so many dancers came to my class. I had a blast and was just myself loving teaching as always and having fun with everyone. I was teaching dances that were different and challenging. After that I taught at Sunshine State Festival in the main ballroom had the fun dance of the weekend that JG2 loved and played every hour seemed like.

Next Space Coast event met a pretty little lady I took her class she took mine. I told her she was great and would go far, she told me I was great. George had a crush on her, her name was Jo Thomson. Also met a young lady who wanted to borrow my shirt as she needed one; line up for a parade she was going to be performing in her name was Scooter Lee. I also taught at many other events Orange Blossom Orlando, Tampa Bay Classic Tampa.

Stella Cabeca Story Then and Now Part 22

By admin

On October 11, 2016

In Dance, dancing, line dance, line dancing, Stella Cabeca, Uncategorized

part 22

I started attending weekend line dance events here in Florida my first was the Sunshine State Festival here in Weston. Well known instructors would come from all around the country to a big hotel where we would have dance floors in several rooms as well as the main ballroom. The dancers would book the weekend and pay to stay in the hotel and take dance classes of their choosing with teachers they often followed from all over the world.

This event was ballroom dance mainly and had added line dance to the event. During the weekend there was competition for all levels and choreography. My first time attending was learning line dance from was well-known teacher from Carolina JG2. I loved his classes I loved learning dance after dance I even took students with me and entered choreography and dance contests.

We danced till we dropped all weekend nonstop oh and lot of party’s in our rooms and a lot of CHAMPAGNE. I was hooked on these events and started to attend others in central Florida and Tampa and Orlando. Dancers and teachers from all over the world were attending these events learning from the top most well-known instructors.

When I was asked to teach at my first event, I was absolutely thrilled but very scared. There are up to in those days at these events as many as 5 or more classes in different rooms at the same time. What if no one came to my class? What dances would I teach? What would these teachers think of me? Was I good enough?

Stella Cabeca Story Then and Now part 21

By admin

On September 27, 2016

In Dance, dancing, Fitness, line dance, line dancing, Stella Cabeca

part 21

My classes were getting bigger and by now I had gone from my very first gig teaching at Club South Beach to Pure Country to Hillbilly Rock to Normans to Gone Country and full circle to teaching at Davie Junction as full time instructor. The floor was jumping every night and my classes in community centers getting stronger.
During this time I was publishing dances in various publications and eventually got my own monthly page in the Country Weekly, which was a free newspaper all about South Florida country scene. I would post our favorite dance of the month.

I was now teaching dance full time though not making much money was able to make it with George working 2 jobs as he always had, allowing me to live the dream.
I was getting more and more calls to do private events such as birthdays, bar mitzvah, weddings, and corporate functions. Clubs were getting better and bigger line dance crowds, KISS radio coverage including live coverage from Davie Junction and some other events I was asked to attend.

Stella Cabeca Story Then and Now part 20

By admin

On September 18, 2016

In Dance, dancing, line dance, line dancing, Stella Cabeca, Uncategorized

part 20

Whilst still teaching in the Country & Western clubs and bars, I started classes in my local city community centers in Miami Shores and North Miami Beach. It was not easy as I had to get licensing insurance and go under contract, with city as an independent contractor. I got license and insurance through American Callers and am still with them all these years later. I had to carry a million dollar umbrella insurance, and licensed to play music in public forum through B.M.I. and ASCAP. Also later on I had to additionally insure each city separately and then I would receive the fee for each student less percentage for the city that was 20% back then now it is 30%. If nobody came to class I made no money but still had to pay for insurance, licensing, advertising, etc.
When I first started had maybe 3 to 10 students, all of whom were my friends. I worked for a long time at a financial loss but eventually started to build it up and develop a solid class at each level. Being in the high profile clubs helped a lot to as I had a strong following at that time and they started to cross over from the clubs to my classes. They realized they could learn more in class and then do more dances at the Country & Western venues.
Through working at Davie junction with live bands every night, I was booked to do private gigs with the bands. This was a great partnership as I could teach the people attending the functions some fun easy dances to the music the band would play during the night.
More of the Stella Cabeca story to follow..
Thank you for following my story as it unfolds.
Love Stella