Outreach to the community is an important part of the USA Dance mission. Chapter teams all over the country have gone into schools, malls, and other public venues to demonstrate ballroom dancing and talk about its many social and physical benefits.

The Los Angeles chapter's 2004-2005 Outreach Team, organized by Outreach Director Kim Knode, produced a series of such educational shows.
The chapter Outreach shows featured a brief introduction to USA Dance and a variety of performances by our members, with narration by Kim describing each dance and its history. Shows were tailored to the audience to the extent possible.

This summary is a tribute to all those who volunteered their time to participate in Outreach, and particularly to Kim, who made it all happen. Thanks, Kim!

December 3, 2003 - Granada Hills High School
Organized with chapter member Michele Walton.
The Lineup:
Felix Ray and Priscilla Dean - Foxtrot
Nathan Burroughs and Priscilla Dean - Waltz
Gary and Alison Lee - International Rumba and Cha-cha
Phil & Alexandra Caluen - American Rumba and Cha-cha
Michael & Yvonne Caan - Argentine Tango (a crowd favorite)
Michael Caan & Michele Walton - Bolero
Kim Knode & David Watkinson - West Coast Swing
Jeffrey the Barak & Aida Valencia - Salsa
This was a terrific inaugural event, with our program being performed for two consecutive classes. Michele's students in the audience gave her a lot of well-earned applause!

April 30, 2004 - Granada Hills High Prom
At the California Science Center
The Lineup:
Kim Knode
David Watkinson
Michele Walton
Michael Caan
Phil Caluen
Alexandra Caluen (also taught a brief, basic salsa lesson)
In addition, Michael Donovan and Benna Miller donated an hourlong Salsa lesson to GHHS seniors the week before the prom.
Can I just say proms have changed a lot since I went to mine??

May 19, 2004 - University High School, West L.A.
The Lineup:
Gary & Alison Lee - International Rumba and Cha-cha
Phil & Alexandra Caluen - American rumba, Smooth waltz
Michael & Yvonne Caan - Argentine Tango
Michael Caan & Lisa Milillo - Bolero
Kim Knode & David Watkinson - Swing medley
The Uni High show was part of a day of other performance events. They have a great big auditorium and stage over there, a terrific place for a show.

August 28, 2004 - Sunbridge Care Center, Santa Monica
The Lineup:
Nathan Burroughs & Kristin Kozlowski - American tango, Viennese waltz
Nathan & Dahlia, last name unknown - Salsa (very hot. This couple also performed at a South Bay Dance Club Black & White Ball in 2004)
Michael Caan & Karen Ming-li Ho - Foxtrot/Tango medley
Phil & Alexandra Caluen - American Cha-cha, Smooth waltz
Kim Knode & David Watkinson - Swing medley
Steve Marsh - saxophone warm-up for our audience. He was great!

December 19, 2004 - Beverly Hills Carmel and Beverly Hills Carmel North Senior Residences
The Lineup:
Jeffrey the Barak & Kim Knode - West Coast Swing
Michael Caan & Lori Chaikin - Bolero
Andy Herrera & Aida Valencia - American Tango
Jeffrey the Barak & Ruth Mizumoto - Cha-cha
Phil & Alexandra Caluen - American Rumba and Bolero
Jeffrey & Ruth - Foxtrot
All team members persevered in the face of stereo difficulties and a carpeted floor. The audience appreciation made it worthwhile, and the team rewarded itself afterward with lunch at Michel Richard!

March 16, 2005 - John Muir School, Santa Monica
The Lineup:
Kim Knode & David Watkinson - West Coast Swing
Phil & Alexandra Caluen - Foxtrot
Michael Caan & Karen Ming-li Ho - Bolero
The best part of this event was a swing lesson provided free to the fourth- and fifth-graders in attendance by Russell Adcock of L.A. Dance Experience. The funniest moment of any of our shows was when Russell told the kids they had to hold hands. You could hear the "AAAIIIIGGH" for miles.

October 2005 - Beverly Hills Carmel North
The Lineup:
Nathan Burroughs & Lucy Ni - Smooth Waltz, Swing
Phil & Alexandra Caluen - Cha-cha, Foxtrot
Presentation by Kim Knode
Music by Jeffrey the Barak
Our last, mini-show was presented as part of a "Casino Day."