USA Dance 2012 National DanceSport Championships

Carson Zullinger, photographer

IMPORTANT NEWS RELEASE & INVITATION
USA DANCE 2012 National DanceSport Championships



Contact: Angela Prince, USA DANCE, Director of Public Relations
Cell 704-507-2699 afprincepr@aol.com


COMING TO BALTIMORE, March 30 – April 1
USA DANCE 2012 NATIONAL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Showcasing America’s Top Ballroom, Latin Dancers
Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, March 30 – April 1, 2012

32nd Annual Event Highlights:
Dancing With The Stars Celebrity Judge CARRIE ANN INABA Joins
USA Dance as National Celebrity Ambassador; Honorary Judge for the
Annual USA Dance Star Quality Awards, Friday & Saturday Evenings

BALTIMORE, MD – Nearly 1,000 of America’s top ballroom and Latin dance competitors will compete in Baltimore, Mar. 30 – Apr. 1, at the 32nd annual USA DANCE 2012 National DanceSport Championships, organized and hosted by USA DANCE, Inc., the National Governing Body for DanceSport in the United States, and USA member organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF). The three-day, continuous dance event will be held at the Renaissance HarborPlace Hotel in Baltimore, starting at 8 am and running until 11 pm each day.

Tickets are available to the general public and a sell-out crowd is expected to attend. Tickets can be purchased at registration for the day-time sessions, but tickets for the night-time competitions and shows should be purchased online to assure availability of seats. The website is www.usadancenationals.com or interested attendees may call 646-734-9666.

Celebrating its 32nd year, the USA Dance 2012 National DanceSport Championships is the official national championships for Ballroom and Latin competitive dancing, a recognized sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) known as DanceSport. And with Ballroom and Latin dancing popularity at an all-time high globally, the USA Dance Nationals is the most prestigious and largest competitive dance event of its kind in America.

Special attraction at the USA Dance Nationals will be the participation of Carrie Ann Inaba, celebrity judge on ABC-TV’s top-rated show “Dancing With The Stars,” who joins USA Dance not only as its Official National Celebrity Ambassador beginning 2012, but also as Honorary Judge at the USA Dance Nationals for the prestigious 3rd annual USA Dance Star Quality Awards, on Friday and Saturday evenings.
In addition, for the first time at the USA Dance Nationals, there will be a special performance show, featuring Aubree Marchione and Nick Scott, the current #1 wheelchair dance couple in America. They are the Atlantic Coast and Heart of America Dance Champions and are the first couple to ever represent the United States of America in the World Paralympic Wheelchair Dancesport Championship.

At the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships, approximately 1,000 amateur DanceSport athletes have qualified throughout the year at the USA Dance National Qualifying Events. These athletes represent America’s top ballroom and Latin talent. In Baltimore, they will vie for national titles and placements on the USA Dance World Teams to compete at upcoming World Championships, sponsored and sanctioned by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), member organization of the International Olympic Committee. Also in Baltimore, approximately 20 DanceSport couple finalists will be selected for competition at 11 World Championships held throughout the year in countries around the globe.

In addition to hosting an elite judging panel of nationally and internationally acclaimed adjudicators, USA Dance is proud to announce that throughout the weekend, many of the celebrity youth and adult couples who have performed on ABC-TV’s “Dancing With The Stars”, “So You Think You Can Dance”, “America’s Got Talent” and other television dance and talent shows will also compete in their respective divisions.

The USA Dance 2012 Nationals will include all four major ballroom dance styles -- International Standard, International Latin, American Smooth and American Rhythm – ranging from Bronze, Silver and Gold to Novice, Pre-Championship and Championship levels

Competitors are expected to represent nearly every state in the nation, ranging from Pre-Teen (as young as age 7) and Youth (to age 18) to Adult (age 19+) and Seniors (35 to 70+). There is also a strong participation by competitors of all ages from the Baltimore and Washington DC areas.

According to Daphna Locker, Nationals Chairperson, “The USA DANCE 2012 Nationals will definitely be a star-studded destination event. Spectators will see America's finest ‘real life’ dancing stars in action.” And as Locker confirmed, the 2012 Nationals will also host some of the world's most elite ballroom personalities - internationally acclaimed judges and emcees and other well-known Baltimore/Washington DC celebrities throughout the weekend.

Advance packages and individual tickets are available online at www.usadancenationals.org or at the door, although early-bird purchase is recommended for all evening events which traditionally sell out quickly. Special discounted pricing is available for Teens (ages 13-18) and Pre-Teens (under age 12).

Adult In-Advance Weekend Package pricing:
Weekend Day & Evening Packages – Adults from $120 to $175; VIP $250
Weekend Evening Only Packages - $90

Adult In-Advanced Individual Session pricing:
Daytime Open Seating $15
Evening Reserved Seating $35

Adult At-Door pricing:
Weekend Day & Evening Packages – from $140 (sold Friday only)
Weekend Evening Only Packages - $105 (sold Friday only)
Daytime Open Seating - $20
Evening Reserved Seating - $40

Adult Social Weekend Package pricing:
Social Events $200

ABOUT USA DANCE:
USA DANCE Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization responsible for the promotion of recreational ballroom dancing and competitive DanceSport in the United States. As the National Governing Body for DanceSport, as recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and as member of the International DanceSport Federation, USA DANCE has the additional mission to gain the International Olympic Committee's final approval of DanceSport as an Olympic medal sport.
www.usadance.org and www.usadancenationals.com

Website: www.USADANCE.org and www.USADANCENATIONALS.com
Facebook: USA DANCE INC & USA DANCE NATIONAL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS
YouTube: USADANCEINC (see representative videos of 2011National DanceSport Championships)
Twitter: USA DANCE INC

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USA DANCE MEDIA CONTACT:
For additional information, interviews, special show arrangements, at-event liaison.

Angela Prince
USA DANCE Inc., Director of Public Relations
Pre-Event and On-Site Cell Phone: 704-507-2699
afprincepr@aol.com


USA DANCE EVENT ORGANIZER:
For tickets, vendor/sponsor contact.

Daphna Locker, Chair
USA DANCE, Inc., DanceSport Organizing Committee
Pre-Event and On-Site Cell Phone: 646-734-9666
daphna.locker@gmail.com