Good sized crowds showed up Friday evening, though not as crazily jam-packed as typical Robson Square Friday night events in the past. This meant couples could actually move on the dance floor!

Saturday afternoon was a huge success, with great weather. Large crowds gathered for key events, then went their separate ways, followed by new crowds forming for the next demo. An estimated 2,000 people took in various parts of the event over the weekend.

Andrew Miller, chair of the event, reported that during his lunch break in a nearby cafe, he heard an animated discussion at another table about the “world-class ballroom dancing happening over at the art gallery.”  Well done to everyone involved!

We especially appreciate the many volunteers who worked tirelessly Friday afternoon, Saturday morning and again on Saturday evening to set up and take down the facility. Thanks to the many demo couples who delighted the audience with their skills — they represented all age groups from Juvenile to Senior III. It was especially exciting because of the very slight slope to the floor which made spins and balancing so much more difficult. Thanks to the teachers: Zillion Wong and Sarah Liang, Murray Schellenberg, and Joel Marasigan and Clara Shih, who volunteered their time to provide the free dance lessons. We would also like to recognize coaches Kyryl Dudchenko and Roland Michtchenko who provided a contingent of Juvenile and Junior couples for the performance demos.

The Summer Dance was made possible by a Direct Access Grant from the Province of BC. The conditions of the grant required us to use the funds for an event similar in structure to our Robson Square Summer Dance Series. We are pleased to report that the grant covered all the expenditures for the event.

These funds have made it possible to produce the Robson Square Summertime Dance Series, and to cover a significant part of the annual SnowBall Classic budget.

In response, we are seeking corporate and private sponsorship funds to assist with these events. SnowBall Classic is hosting the World Cup Latin in 2010, which brings additional expenses because of IDSF regulations.

We are revising our SnowBall budget to deal with this reality. Thanks to our new location back at the Hyatt Regency hotel, we can seat many more spectators which means we can significantly increase revenue. In addition, the venue provides much more usable space for vendors. We ask the dance community to bear with us, understand the situation, and assist in any way possible. SnowBall is Vancouver’s key DanceSport competition and we wish to continue the tradition of quality, especially with the World Cup event and with the eyes of the world upon our city due to the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

We’re also investigating other possible sources of provincial government support for these major initiatives, as they help put the province in the spotlight.

How can you help?

• If you operate a business, please consider advertising in the SnowBall program. If you are or know someone who operates a dance-related business, become a vendor at SnowBall and benefit from the spacious, easy-to-access vendor area.
• We also have many opportunities for SnowBall sponsorship. We are seeking a single title sponsor for naming rights, as well as sponsorship of various signage possibilities such as floor banners, seating signs and other ways to get logo recognition in front of the large, affluent SnowBall audience.
• Consider becoming a SnowBall Patron. Patrons can be individuals or companies, receiving tickets and special recognition for their financial contributions. For a very small investment, you can support a flag or trophy to help reduce our costs, receiving recognition as a SnowBall enthusiast in return.
• Encourage your friends and family to attend. While SnowBall has traditionally been well attended with some sell-out nights, this next year it is vital that the entire event is a completely sold-out weekend to maximize revenue.
• Offer your time as a volunteer at SnowBall. The more volunteers we have, the more we can reduce costs in a number of areas.

Please contact SnowBall chair Brian Dudley to express your interest as a sponsor or patron of the SnowBall Classic.

Robson Square for 2010 will require funding from outside sources, as DanceSport BC does not earn enough revenue to cover the costs of the program. We are seeking a title sponsor to allow the Robson Square summertime event to continue next year. Please contact Pinky Wong if you are interested in this prestigious opportunity.