Words cannot really describe the excitement and success of
this convention. Mary Galentine
explained during the two evening opening ceremonies, all the committee members,
who worked so hard preparing for the convention, deserve the credit for its success.
Co-chairs
Dennis Budinski and Mary Galentine
Thanks Dennis and Mary, and COCDC members, for this great Convention.
The festivities began at 7 AM on Thursday, with a
demonstration for the Fox Entertainment Channel 28 of Columbus.
There were five squares square dancing for this demonstration being
telecast live over Channel 28, and this also proves, you can get square dancers
out at any time of day.
Thursday, May 2, 2013, – Trail End Dance for
the 53rd Ohio State Dance Convention, Aladdin
Shrine Conference Center,
Callers Tom Strickland and Jack Pladdys, and
Cuer Phyllis Burdette. It
was reported the Plus dance floor was packed during both the squares and rounds.
May 3 and 4, 2013, 53rd Ohio State Dance Convention, Two Enchanted Evenings, by COCDC in Columbus, Ohio, Aladdin Shrine Conference Center.
Entering the main entrance door, we were welcomed by some
of our COCDC friends. Just inside, there was a young gentleman, between the age
of 10 to 12, playing a grand piano, very difficult songs, he was good.
Next, we are greeted by the friendly smiles of more of our
COCDC friends, at the registration desk.
The COCDC quilt was opposite the registration desk.
The council/federation displays were next.
The Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky
Federation. received the award this year (the one on the left in the
picture above).
The COCDC display had to be a
close second, it looks great, thanks.
At the
end was a table with 20 plus “Gorgeous Baskets” filled with all sorts of
goodies. Editors Note: As a coin collector, I fell in love with a coin clock
that had birds on every coin, and I don’t know how many tickets I put in, but
I got the clock, thanks Fred of Rhythm Reelers, for making the clock.
The first dance hall we encounter is the DBD/Advance/Challenge
dance hall.
On the right, we find the Mainstream and Lines hall,
and found Jason Raleigh doing the calling.
During the “Singles Meet-Greet-Dance” on Friday afternoon, there were
nine squares attending.
Across the hallway was the large Round Dance Hall, a very
specious room and with a wood floor. During
the daytime, there were several “Teach” sessions. Thanks to all the cuers
who shared your time and talents for the dancers to enjoy.
I noticed that later in the evenings, this floor was packed with three rings, like when Linda Bishop and Stuart Lewis were cuing.
Around the corner and into the big room, the Plus hall,
where things moved fast and the excitement was high.
What I like
about going to the State Convention is, seeing my square dance friends again,
from all over Ohio.
A summery of attendance, there were 695 pre-registration, 131 Walk-ins, for a total of 826 dancers.
One of the most thrilling experience is to dance to the “Yodeling Duo” Pamela Courts and Jason Raleigh. They are great.
As a side trip, there were three buses to take us to the
Ohio State Capital building, where we danced by the front steps,
And to the OSU Shotenstien Center, where we had 11
squares dancing. I went inside to the OSU store, and didn’t find any Michigan
t-shirts.
The Happy Squares gave a Friday evening demonstration on advanced square dancing.
Square Dance members from the
Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky Federation are “Building
Up Steam” for the 54th Ohio
State Dance Convention, to be held May 9 and 10, 2014.
Mary Galentine passed a newly created “Ohio State Square Dance Torch” on to the Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky Federation for next years convention.
There were about 320 square dancers having dinner together.
The show with Elvis (aka Mike Albert) was simply great, very funny, and he had an excellent singing voice.
We want to give our personal
thanks to Co-chairs Dennis Budinski and Mary Galentine, and to all the
COCDC club members that helped put this State Convention together.
This is one great success for the record books now. THANKS.