About Us
Mid-Michigan USA Dance Chapter 2043 board, Jim Laforge; Peter Scharkow; Joann Hagen, Treasurer
- Credit
- Richard Ciaravino, President; Denise Ciaravino, Secretary; Liane Rittmaier, Lorrie Ito, Vice President
Chapter Dances
Mid-Michigan USA Dance Chapter 2043 holds their dance the second Friday of each month at the St. Brigid's School gym, 130 W Larkin St. Midland, MI 48640 unless otherwise noted. Parking is available off Ellsworth St or off Larkin St. Complimentary dance lesson included with the price of admission. Members $6.00, Non-Members $12.00, Affiliates $9.00, Students $3.00, with ID and under 21. Dance lesson begins at 7:00 to 8:00pm with general dancing from 8:00 to 10:30pm.
Chapter 2043 Board Members
The present board will serve through December 2014. The Board members have agreed to serve in the following capacities:
- President: Richard Ciaravino
- Vice President: Lorrie Ito
- Secretary: Denise Ciaravino
- Treasurer: Joann Hagen
Board Members:
- Jim LaForge
- Liane Steinbacher
- Peter Scharkow
How You Can Help
Our Chapter, as with any membership organization, needs member support. The important thing is to attend as many functions as you can and and let your board members know if these functions meet your expectations.
Volunteer to help during functions; this could be welcoming arrivals at the door, setting up refreshments, making newcomers feel welcome. Help with publicity, planning events, newsletter, set-up and clean-up after our dances but first and foremost, GET ON THE DANCE FLOOR at every opportunity!
Introduce your friends and acquaintances to ballroom dancing. Invite them to chapter activities and encourage them to become members of USA Dance Chapter 2043.
USA Dance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit national organization, approved by the Internal Revenue Service, and is authorized to solicit and receive donations from the public to support it's promotional and educational programs. USA Dance is committed to improving the quantity and quality of ballroom dance in the United States. USA Dance sanctions competitions and participants must be a member of USA Dance to compete. USA Dance volunteers work, educate the public about the physical, mental and social benefits of dance.
If you are not a member and wish to become one, please follow this link: http://membership.usadance.org/
How We Started
Mid-Michigan USA Dance was organized in September, 1996 by a group of people from Saginaw and Midland who answered an advertisement in the local newspaper. At that point in time there was minimal communication via the internet so people were kept abreast of dances and venue changes by regular mail post cards and the newsletter "The Rumbateer". The venues changed quite often until they settled at the Columbian Hall in Fisherville for many years. When that facility was taken over by new management, we were on the move again. We spent some time at the Midland Community Center, school gyms and church basements all in Midland. We then ended up at the Freeland Sports Zone for a couple of years until recently moving to our current venue of St. Brigid's Church school gym at 130 W. Larkin St. in Midland.
Out of the original 25 people that started up the Mid-Michigan USA Dance chapter, there are only a couple who are currently still active members. We are always looking for new members and new ideas to keep the chapter alive and growing.
