You have already read Dance Cruise Checklist – Part 1 and Part 2. Proper planning ahead of time will help to guarantee a relaxing vacation.

General Checklist (continuted)

• One Week Out
• • Communication Plans: Let your friends, relative, or neighbors know how to reach you. Your cruise documents will specify how to contact you by phone or fax. Be advised the charges may be very high for both you and the caller!

    Designate one person as the prime point of contact. That person should know your ship, room number, booking number, ship phone, ship fax number and the best times to reach you (take time zone changes into account). Tell the rest of your friends and family to use this person as the point of contact in any emergency.

    For non-emergencies, use e-mail. Internet cafes are readily available on today’s ships. You can use your own email address, or the lines will assign you a free email if you don’t have one. You will still pay for usage charges. Often the Internet is a better and less expensive communications tool than a telephone.

    Many ships have added cell phone service at sea. Ask your travel agent or cruise line. Roaming charges apply, but it can be less pricey than calling from your room.

    In port, many cell phones will work just fine; call your carrier a week before departure to see if your phone is international in nature and whether you can send and receive calls from specific ports.

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  • Keys, Alarms, and Other Tasks: Give a key to your home or business to a trusted friend/neighbor. Make certain they keep your keys in a secure place – not just out in plain sight. Arrange for that person to check on your house, water your plants, verify that your pet service is performing as expected, shovel the sidewalk (if it is winter time), and other similar tasks.

    Let your neighbors know that someone will be watching your home while you are away. Make arrangements with your alarm/security company and designate a temporary contact person in case your alarm should go off. Your trusted friend/neighbor should also know your alarm code (provide him/her with a temporary code, or change your code when you return).

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  • Finalize Your Luggage: You have been looking at your intended items for several weeks now. Consider all of your clothes, shoes, and accessories. Eliminate one-time use items. Match colors. Imagine yourself carrying your luggage though the airport and from the baggage claim to the taxi stand. Then edit some more.

    Do not pack cruise documents, airline tickets, film, cameras, jewelry, medication or valuables in checked luggage. (Ever try to get a bag back from an airline after it’s checked? The same problems occur with cruise lines.) If you accidentally check the bag and then remember your camera or medication is in it, you likely will not see it for several hours after embarkation. Worse yet, your luggage could be lost.

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  • Stock Up on Film, Video Tape, or Digital Media: These items are usually available on board or in ports of call, but at a considerable premium over your local prices. Pack plenty of batteries and remember the charger for your digital items.
• The Day Before Departure
• • Finalize Your Luggage: Attach cruise line luggage tags to your bags. Have proper identification inside and out,and include a copy of your itinerary inside all bags.

    The night before departure, close up your suitcases and finalize your carry-on bag. Place passports, cruise documents, air tickets or e-ticket confirmations, medication, camera and film supplies, and any other important information like medical records in your carry-on.

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  • Take Enough Cash: Always take cash, especially small bills for tips to porters, taxi drivers, and tour guides. Do not rely on traveler’s checks and credit cards, alone. Vendors in ports of call may not take credit cards or travelers checks. If you arrive during a bank holiday, you may not be able to cash your travelers checks anywhere. On board ATM may run out of money (or have high surcharges).
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  • Get Your House In Order: Run the dishwasher. Discard leftovers and other food items that will not last until your return. Pay bills that will be due while you are away. Set your thermostat to an energy efficient “hold” temperature. Water your plants. Make sure pets have food and water (even if a pet sitter is planned.)
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  • Reconfirm Arrangements: Reconfirm child and pet care, limo service, house sitters, and airline departure times.
• Day of Departure
• • Lock your home. Set your alarm. Draw the shades. Pack your keys in your carry-on. Make certain your passport, cruise documents, and airline tickets/confirmations are in your carry-on – NOT on your kitchen counter! Give yourself enough time to get to the airport.

    You have planned carefully. Now enjoy your vacation!

Return to Dance Cruise Checklist – Part 1.

You have already read Dance Cruise Checklist – Part 1. Proper planning ahead of time will help to guarantee a relaxing vacation.

General Checklist (continuted)

• Short Term
• • Pack Only What You Need! Most cruise cabins are smaller than hotel rooms. Travel agents say most cruisers over-pack and regret it later. Waiting to pack until the night before your departure means you will likely bring extra items “just in case”.

    Set up your travel luggage in an area of your home and begin to place your intended items in piles next to your luggage, remembering to consider shoes and toiletries. Over the next few weeks, evaluate what you really need to bring and start eliminating the excess.

    If you do not really need formal wear (or you are planning to skip formal events anyway), you do not need to bring those items. You may want to have five or six interchangeable outfits. If you have not worn something in years, you probably will not wear it on board.

    By avoiding over-packing, you also avoid the hassle of having airport security disrupt you overstuffed luggage if they choose to inspect it. You also reduce the chance of excess baggage fees.

    Some cruise lines have a fee-based baggage service that will pick up your bags from your home, and the next time you see your luggage it will be in your stateroom.

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  • Medicines and Toiletries: Make sure your prescriptions are up to date and you have refills. Bring an extra week’s worth of medication in case there are flight delays or winter storms that delay your return home.

    Follow TSA guidelines for your over-the-counter items (liquids less than three ounces, everything packed together in clear zipper bags). Place your non-essential items in checked luggage. You may want to bring Alka Selzer, Pepto Bismol, or other remedies with you instead of purchasing them while on board (where the prices are likely to be higher than at your local drug store).

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  • Medical Records: If you have significant medical issues, bring a copy of your medical records and test results. These can be extremely helpful if you require a doctor while on board. It may take a few weeks for your doctor to assemble these records for you.
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  • Pets: Arrange for boarding or in-home pet care, and put any instructions in writing, including the phone number for your vet and any pet insurance documents and vaccination certificates. Let your vet know that your pet care provider has your permission to make decisions on your behalf.
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  • Transport to the Airport: If you are planning to travel by limo from your home to the airport, book this early – particularly if you are traveling during busy times for limo services (like prom, home coming, or weddings).

Dance Cruise Checklist – Part 3 (one week out)

Go to sea with other ballroom dancers! A dance cruise, as the name implies, is a vacation on a cruise ship that brings ballroom dancers together. Most dance cruises are booked through companies or travel agents who market cruises specifically to ballroom dancers.

From the US, many Alaskan, coastal, and Caribbean cruises are possible throughout the year.

General Checklist

• As Early as Possible
• • Make certain your passport is valid! Apply for expedited service if necessary.
• Three Months to Six Weeks Out
• • Shore Excursions: Your cruise documents will include a “shore excursions” booklet. When you book your excursions well in advance, your excursion tickets will be waiting for you in your stateroom or they will be delivered to you at dinner on your first night on board. You will not have to wait in potentially long lines on the ship for excursion tickets, and you are more likely to get the excursions you want when you book in advance!
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  • Spa and Salon Appointments: If you can book these early, make your appointments on sea days. This allows you to potentially have more time in ports of call.
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  • Embarkation Gifts: If you are celebrating a special occasion during the cruise (like a birthday or anniversary, etc), you cruise documents will inform you how to book gifts, special packages, champagne and hors d’ouevres for your stateroom, spa packages, or onboard gift cards.
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  • Airline Tickets: Make sure your name is correct and that your flight dates and times correspond to your cruise departure and return. Try to get a seat assignment from the airline in advance to help avoid being bumped from your flight.
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  • Credit Card Planning: The cruise line will ask for a credit card upon embarkation to cover on-board expenses. Upon check-in, the cruise line will perform a “credit card authorization”, which is not a charge to your card, but a hold on your available credit line.

    The amount may be from $50-$200 per day of the cruise, or even more. Of course, you will not be charged unless you actually buy additional on-board services, but the hold on your credit line reduces the purchasing power of your card. If you have a low credit limit or if you already carry a balance, your card may be declined when you use it during shore excursions.

    If you rented a car prior to your cruise, there may be other “credit card authorizations” that further affect your purchasing power

    It is wise to have multiple credit cards – use one for cruise line check-in and on-board purchase, and use another for shore excursions.

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  • Arrange a House Sitter:
  • Arrange for Child Care: Do you have someone locally who can care for your children, or will they need to fly somewhere to stay with your extended family? Book their travel early.

Dance Cruise Checklist – Part 2 (two-to-four-weeks out)

New in January – Intermediate

• Rhythm II [ more info ]
  - Sundays 11am-1pm at Kanopy (on State Street) for eight weeks
  - Excellent for anyone who has completed an intro-level class (Salsa/Rhythm) with either me or Sarah
  - Excellent for anyone who has taken other intermediate-level classes
• Smooth II [ more info ]
  - Sundays 1-3pm at Kanopy (on State Street) for eight weeks
  - Excellent for anyone who has completed an intro-level class (Smooth/Ballroom) with either me or Sarah
  - Excellent for anyone who has taken other intermediate-level classes
• - Each class is $135/person | $220/two-people
  - Similarly, $220/one-person-both-classes

New in January – Beginning

• UWCE Ballroom/Smooth [ more info ]
  - Wednesdays 4:30-6pm at 122 State Street
  - Designed for people with no prior dance experience
• UWCE Salsa/Latin [ more info ]
  - Wednesdays 6:30-8pm at Kanopy (on State Street)
  - Designed for people with no prior dance experience

Related pictures based on the following tags: advanced-beginner,beginner,bolero,cha-cha,darrell,fox-trot,kanopy,mambo,merengue,rumba,salsa,swing,tango,uwce,waltz

Event Dates

This event occurred
in the past.

Overture’s Tommy Awards program is an education initiative that honors and celebrates excellence in musical theater production among area high school students.

A number of educators and performing arts professionals are dispatched to the participating high schools to review their productions. Since the inception of the Tommy Awards program, Darrell has been one of the reviewers.

Schools from the greater Madison area, as well as schools from as far away as New Glarus, Baraboo, and Waukesha are participating for the 2010/11 season.

The 2011/12 season begins in November. I am reviewing the following shows…

Hello Dolly

• Beaver Dam High School
• Friday, 04 November 2011 @7:30pm

The Secret Garden

• Devine Savior High School
• Saturday, 05 November 2011 @7:30pm

Annie Get Your Gun

• Necedah High School
• Friday, 11 November 2011 @7:30pm

Annie Get Your Gun

• Oregon High School
• Saturday, 12 November 2011 @7:30pm

Please consider attending one of these shows with me. Tickets are available through the High Schools.

The Tommy Awards 2011/12 season culminates in spring with an evening of awards and performances at the Overture Center in Overture Hall. Darrell has been an Awards Ceremony presenter each year!

The Awards Ceremony at Overture Center is a public event. We encourage you to attend and help support area musical theater. Click Here for ticket information.

Highlights from 2011 Tommy Awards Ceremony

Related pictures based on the following tags: darrell,musicals,tommy-awards

Short Sessions in August

• Short Session Salsa (3 weeks) [ more info ]
  - Thursdays 7:30-9pm at Kanopy (on State Street)
  - Three weeks (4.5 hours total)
  - $25/person | $40/couple
  - Excellent for recent UW Continuing Studies Summer Salsa/Latin dancers
• Short Session Latin Drills (2 weeks) [ more info ]
  - Saturdays 1-3pm at Kanopy (on State Street)
  - Two weeks (4 hours total)
  - $25/person | $40/couple
  - Sampler sessions for new or experienced dancers
• Short Session Ballroom II (2 weeks) [ more info ]
  - Saturdays 3-5pm at Kanopy (on State Street)
  - Two weeks (4 hours total)
  - $25/person | $40/couple
  - Sampler sessions for experienced dancers

Specials for Multiple Course Enrollment

- enroll in any two “Short Session” courses for $40/person
- enroll in all three “Short Session” courses for $50/person

Email Darrell to reserve space in class. Please indicate which class(es) you will attend.

New in September

• Salsa/Rhythm 101 [ more info ]
  - Mondays 5:30-7pm at Kanopy (on State Street)
  - Excellent by itself or with concurrent enrollment with my UW Continuing Studies class
• Salsa/Rhythm II [ more info ]
  - Sundays 11am-1pm at Kanopy (on State Street)
  - Excellent for anyone who has completed an intro-level class (Salsa/Rhythm) with either me or Sarah
• Smooth/Ballroom II [ more info ]
  - Sundays 1-3pm at Kanopy (on State Street)
  - Excellent for anyone who has completed an intro-level class (Smooth/Ballroom) with either me or Sarah

Related pictures based on the following tags: advanced-beginner,art-of-dance,ballroom,beginner,darrell,kanopy,salsa

In this fourth year of the Sheboygan “Movers and Shakers Gala”, Darrell and Sarah each danced with excellent celebrity dancers. For the second year in a row, Darrell coached his star to win the event. Sarah’s star won in the inaugural year, bringing three of the four wins home to the Art of Dance.

This year, Sarah’s star Matt danced an Argentine Tango to the Vitamin String Quartet version of Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”. While they didn’t take home the trophy, they did get a nice collection of perfect 10′s, and Matt’s buttons, stickers, and banner (plus the giant Swarovski crystal “Q” on his back) were real crowd pleasers!

With an audience of 520 of the Sheboygan area’s most prominent business leaders and families, this event is a very prestigious fundraiser – raising money for Lakeland College, the Sheboygan Symphony, and numerous charities.

Sheboygan Gala 2011 Photo Gallery

Movers and Shakers Gala Website – official recap

Interview Video for Dana Bemis

Interview Video for Matt Quasius (super funny)

Related pictures based on the following tags: sheboygan,sheboygan-gala

With the TV no longer the first activity of the day/weekend, I have gotten yard work done, worked on my music collection, repaired a plumbing problem, and started making interesting plans.

This weekend was an interesting test. Sarah and I were house guests in Sheboygan (working with our “stars” in the Annual Sheboygan Mover’s and Shaker’s Gala). When we got done teaching at about 10pm, I’d normally make a snack and turn on the beautiful zillion-inch LCD TV and try to find a show on one of the 100+ regular and HD channels.

This week, it didn’t even occur to me to look for the TV remote. I did some work on my laptop instead.

After working with our stars again on Saturday morning in Sheboygan, we met up with our Madison Delegation to the WI State Dancesport Chamionships in Milwaukee. Our Sheboygan stars and their spouses joined us at the competition, trying on dresses and buying shoes. Sarah’s star even bought his entire costume, and his wife tried on fancy ball gowns for the fun of it!

On the return trip to Madison – on the way to the USA Dance Dance – I started having a lot of great thoughts…

• A monthly outing to some local cool restaurant, like Ella’s Deli (on East Washington), the Waffle House (Middleton), the Hubbard Ave Diner (Middleton), etc.
• A monthly movie night – get together at someone’s house, make pop corn, and watch a movie or two.
• A monthly road trip to a dance in another city – Milwaukee, Rockford, Davenport, Wausaw.

I think any of those things – done as a group – is better than an evening at home with the Discovery Channel.

Want to read more: see the entire No More Cable TV series.

It has been nearly a week since I Eliminated my Cable TV Subscription. It has been great! Already, I have stopped falling asleep on the couch, since I’m not sitting around all night watching reruns, Robot Chicken, or infomercials.

I have even started eating better again. Not like I ate particularly poorly before, but since I’m not sitting in front of the TV, I’m not compelled to snack. I did, however, manage to blow out my bass guitar amp and break a set of drum sticks.

When I was 15 years old, I got my first guitar. Like many rock-stars-in-training in the late 1980′s, I idolized CC Deville, from the band Poison. Unfortunately, I never did figure out how to be a screaming lead guitarist, but I have continued to play music my entire life.

My family had an old player piano – a full-size upright 88-key piano with pedals! You put a special roll of perforated paper into the piano (kind of like old IBM punch cards, but in a roll) and pedaled the pedals. The piano played the music on the roll. I also taught myself to play some TV theme songs – Cheers and Perfect Strangers and such.

At age 12, I started playing Clarinet. I was the only boy in the Clarinet section, and I was pretty good, too. I learned to play my cousin’s Flute and my sister’s Alto Sax within a few years of that.

In high school marching band, I played bass drum. I was probably about 5′ 9″ tall and weighed a whopping 140 lbs at the time – I didn’t grow to full height until around Sophomore year of college. The drum was heavy, about 50 lbs, but it was also pretty fun.

High school was also the time I started playing guitar, and bass guitar. When I graduated from college, I traded a car for a drum set, but ended up selling it after too many complaints from my neighbors in my apartment. A few years after that, I bought an electronic drum set.

I had been looking for the original Simmons electronic drums – think Flock of Seagulls – but they were remarkably hard to find in working order.

Now that I’ve literally unplugged the TV, passing the time when I’m not busy teaching or dancing involves actually doing something, like practicing music.

I do wonder what the kids of today – raised with excellent distractions – consider accomplishment. Is getting the high score an accomplishment? Is killing the monster in a video game an actual accomplishment? I bet it feels like an accomplishment.

Have technological distractions (TV, video games, etc) begun to replace the sense of accomplishment that used to come from mastering a musical instrument, building a bridge with an Erector Set, defeating a neighboring school in a track meet, getting the best score on a test, graduating with honors, or completing an advanced degree?

Want to read more: see the entire No More Cable TV series.

I am getting little annoying problems around the house fixed. My wireless network did not work properly. I was using an old Linksys router handed down to my by Sarah, and I think it was upset that I was only using it as an access point instead of as a gateway.

So, after teaching a last minute private dance lesson this afternoon, I met with the seller of a much better router (found on Craigslist) and made the exchange. It did take me a couple hours to reconfigure the new router (simple) and rewire my network cabinet (spaghetti), replacing two pieces of equipment (and their large bulky power bricks) with a single piece of equipment.

Now, for the first time ever, wireless works in my house.

Want to read more: see the entire No More Cable TV series.