Message to Our Students

Dear All,

If you weren't at The Ark on Saturday then you didn't get to hear the big secret! Well here goes! NO I AM NOT PREGNANT! Hugo and I (Grace) are relocating and moving Dancing With Grace to Sunny Tampa Florida! This is one of those bitter sweet announcements! Hugo has been blessed with a fantastic job opportunity that we couldn't refuse. As Puerto Ricans we have wanted to live in a warmer climate for some time and we now have our chance, "Gracias a Dios".

Moving will mean that we will leave all Tuesday Promenade Salsa Lessons to the www.salsa-now.net team formed by Nissim Albaig (one of our DWG instructors for the last few years!), his wife Sasha Albaig, Michael Fok & Georganne Cammarata . They will be supported by back up DWG instructors Rowan Job & even David Malek on occasions. None of you have to stop your Tuesday lessons at The Promenade! Grace will be coming back to teach workshops at The Promenade monthly and/or salsa congresses for the next 7 months once a month. So you still get to learn from me on select weekends. All the information on my workshops is on our main page, this newsletter, and flyers will be at The Promenade and circulated around the dance community by Baltimore's Best Latin Dance Instructors.

Since we are relocating to Tampa you will also have a place you can come visit very soon! Our home is being built as we speak! I can take you out to the salsa hot spots here to have fun if you are ever in town. Did I hear "Road Trip!!!!!?". I hear the buzz already...

Hugo and I and the entire DWG team thank you for making our lives so full of joy and happiness. Our last big saturday night event will be held on May 30th at The Ark (29 S. Front Street Baltimore) Teaching the students of Baltimore has been a privilege and I look forward to the reunions we will have at the workshops in the next few months!

We will teach salsa throughout the month of May and go down memory lane! So even if its been years since you attended please come and join us for at least one class to say goodbye. I also have about 10 private lesson slots left for May and a few in June so if you want to get a last lesson in before we leave please email me ASAP. Please keep in touch by emailing us or visiting Grace at the DC Congress, Philadelphia Congress or Belly Dance Nationals! Email anytime at

- grace@dancingwithgrace.com
- hugo@dancingwithgrace.com
- niss@salsa-now.net

PS. If you ever learned anything from us we want you to remember this... that if you do salsa, do it for a reason and help anyone you can in the process. Show random acts of kindness, patience and gentleness to beginners and never let pride get in the way of who you were truly meant to be as a dancer. We are so proud of you....God Bless each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Grace & Hugo Badillo

Grace Receives The National Volunteer Award!

Not many Americans are nominated to receive the National Volunteer Service Award from The President Himself.

Grace was awarded this on April 22, 2009 in Washington DC for her tireless efforts to help those in need and inspire others to do the same.

(click to enlarge)

Grace thanks all the special people who contributed to her receiving this award! You know who you are!

Thank You For Helping Others
Through Dance

DWG's history over the last ten years has been one of giving and helping those in Baltimore & Beyond through the generous donations, voluntary event entertainment, donations of our DVDs, Dance Lessons, and Products, and the help of our students. Over the years we have helped raise over $750,000 to organizations like:

• Kennedy Krieger Institute, Grace Badillo Co-Chair (Children with major disabilities like Spin bifida)
• Dance For The Cure, Grace Badillo, Chair (Esophageal Cancer)
• Hands Across The Americas (Sending Doctors on Missions Trips to South America)
• Preschool for the Arts @ St. Anne (Raising money for much needed supplies)
• Christian Children’s Fund (Supporting a family with all their needs yearly)
• Sexual Assault Resource Counseling Center (SARCC), PA (Raising money for resources to reach Latina Women who have been raped)
• Centro De La Communidad (Helps Latinos w/immigration, learning a second language,  employment, housing & more)
• Hispanic College Fund (Dancing with Grace gave $30,000 worth of  dance scholarships to 3 students)
• Hispanic Youth Symposium, Chair of Talent Show, MC of DC Symposium (Where we mentored children to perform and compete for college money)
• YWCA, Baltimore & Colorado (Helping 72 homeless families have a fantastic Christmas)
• The Head Start Program (Program that provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.)
• The Fuel Fund of Maryland (Providing much needed monies for low income families to heat their home during the winter months)
• Caring Communities, (Serving Children with disabilities)
• The Arc of Baltimore Community Resource Center (The Arc of Baltimore works in full partnership with foster parents caring people who have opened their hearts, minds and homes to children in crisis.)
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (Breast Cancer Research)
• Special Olympics (Sponsoring those who want to go!)
• Casey Cares Foundation (For children with terminal illnesses)
• The Girl Scouts (Community outreaches)
• Private Orphanages in Puerto Rico, Mexico & the Dominican Republic (Food, supplies, monies)
• Harvest Ball For Babies (To raise money for the homeless)
• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (Educational Programs and tools for patients)
• Caring Communities.org Caring Network Respite Care Registry (Respite care is temporary relief or "intermittent Breaks" for caregivers and families who are caring for those with disabilities, chronic or terminal illnesses, or the elderly.)
• National MS Society (Raising money for research)
• Arundel Lodge, (Empowering Adults with Mental Illness)
• Hospice of The Chesapeake (Supporting those who are dealing with advanced illnesses or bereavement through hospice)
• Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland     (Raising money for awareness and research)
• Annapolis Preschool (To raise money for necessities)
• Baltimore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (Events and Entertainment)
• Dance Shoe Donations through HYM Style for Children in Colombia. (Purchasing shoes for teams of dancers that want to compete in the Columbia).
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) (Raising funds)
• 11th Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women in New York City (Walk in memory of those who died of cancer)
• Make A Wish Foundation
• Children of The Nations (Helping the orphans of many countries; We Will support this year!)

Thank you for doing SALSA FOR A REASON and letting us inspire you to your greatest potential. We love you.... Grace and Hugo

YWCA Homeless Shelter

Head Start Event

Orphanage in Puerto Rico

Bravo Award

The Bravo Award Goes to.....

Susan Clayton 2nd Place, Miesha Blackwell 3rd Place, Michelle Reider 4th Place, Charlene Breckinridge 5th Place

To my fabulous dancers. I was so proud to find out that out of the 5 top money fundraisers, 4 of the people who raised the most money were 4 of my students! Thank you for raising money to help Dance For The Cure. You were the top 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th fundraisers! You did a great job! We are so proud of you! Our next performance will be even more entertaining and fun with you involved!

Sincerely,
Grace & Hugo
Dancing With Grace Productions

Grace’s Salsa Tips

Tip #1: New Instructors: Just because you take a class from a new instructor doesn't mean they have to be your instructor. I like to tell people to try different instructors and see who meshes with your personality. Do you like encouragement? Or are you the type that likes a drill sergeant? All instructors are different. Find one that fits you and continue learning from them!

Tip#2: REPEATED FROM LAST WEEK FOR A REASON! Have something mean to say about a dancer? The next time you want to say something horrible about someone, look in the mirror and ask yourself how you would feel if someone was saying bad things about you when you danced. You wouldn't like it so don't do it to someone else. Next time, try to find the positive aspect you can point out instead.

YOU SMELL SO WELL!
OR DO YOU? (Isn't this picture cute?)

We all smell.. some good.. some bad.. some really funkylicious. It's okay, you aren't alone. Sometimes the problem is that people who are already sweating put on deodorant again, on top of the last batch they used. This can amplify the deodorant smell and make you smell worse! Be careful! Some of us don't use deodorant and its a cultural thing. Well, we love all cultures in America but can't stand to smell the funk that may come along with activities that cause you to perspire more than usual. Pretty please with sugar on top, can you use deodorant? Your future spouse and dance partner will really appreciate it and your teacher will too! ha ha.. Feel the funk-don't smell it!

Is Dancing A Sin?

Have you ever wondered if dance is a sin? Many of us have been taught about God (the creator of Heaven & Earth). What does He say about Dance? To read Grace's article, "Is Dancing A Sin" click here:

Grace would love to know your opinion. Email her at grace@dancingwithgrace.com

Check out the last email I received about this article:

Hi Grace-

I loved your article on dancing.   I grew up being told it was a sin…so I was prohibited from dancing.   So guess what I wanted to do most of my life?  Yep!

BTW…Is there a sinful form of dancing?…of course.   And there is a sinful form of eating, driving cars, watching TV, recreating, etc.

I loved your take on the issue.   Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned and experienced.

As a Baptist Minister, and Christian radio Talk show host I now enjoy dancing with my wife…and I DON’T CARE anymore what the legalists say.

Neil
PS  I’m not much of a dancer…but it’s fun, and I hate the fact that the enemy tried to steal it from God’s people.  Well, I am committed to taking it back! 

DC Salsa Congress 2009


Grace will be a vendor in the DC Salsa Congress.

Philadelphia
Salsa Congress 2009


Grace will be teaching workshops and will be a vendor in the Philadelphia Salsa Congress.

DC Bachata Congress 2009


Grace will be teaching workshops and will be a vendor in the DC Bachata Congress.

The 9th Annual New York International Salsa Congress

The New York International Salsa Congress is New York City's PREMIER Latin Dance & Music event where the world comes to dance no matter your style and/or age. Held for 3 days & 4 nights (this year September 3 - 6, 2009), every Labor Day Weekend, which was rightfully declared the Official New York Salsa Congress Weekend by Mayor Bloomberg in 2005.

Register Today

www.mambofateegz.com
The Official Attire of Salsero/as Worldwide

Purchase Our New Beginner & Intermediate Salsa Videos

What makes our video different from others? Click here to find out at www.salsawithgrace.com or buy now!

For more details or to purchase our salsa videos please click on the button above.

Contact Us

Please feel free to forward this issue to friends and associates. Anyone can subscribe for free.

To subscribe to receive the DWG Newsletters click here.

To contact us at:

Dancing With Grace Productions
2505 Lord Baltimore Dr.
Suite A-121
Windsor Mill, MD 21244
Phone:
(410) 903-0648

E-mail:
ContactUs@dancingwithgrace.com