“Hand Dance: A Capitol Swing”, a new documentary on Hand Dance produced by The National Hand Dance Association. The documentary focuses on Hand Dance, its history and impact of this 50 year dance culture on the residents and communities of Washington, DC.

Executive Producers – The National Hand Dance Association
Producer – Beverly Lindsay-Johnson
Production Assistant – Kim Frazier
Narrator – Angela Stribbling

“Hand Dance: A Capitol Swing” was funded in part by a DC Community Heritage Grant from the Humanities Council of Washington, DC and a grant from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

Click HERE to see the documentary in its entirety (24 minutes).
 

2011 National Hand Dance Association List of Achievements (partial listing)

• NHDA receives a $3,250 Major Grant from the Humanities Council of Washington, DC to sponsor a screening of the documentary “Hand Dance: A Capitol Swing”, followed by a panel discussion on the history and evolution of Hand Dance from the Lindy Hop to Hand Dance, and conclude with a Hand Dance party.  February, 2011    The community outreach program is free and open to the public.  Saturday, April 30, 2011 at the Chateau Hand Dance club in Washington, DC. 
• NHDA has been selected as a Member of the United Way Campaign of the National Capitol Area.  NHDA will campaign for Federal and private sector employee donations to raise funds for programs and projects related to Hand Dance which benefits the community at-large.  February, 2011
• NHDA participated in the 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC on March 31, 2011. The is the sixth year that NHDA has presented Hand Dance to a world audience.
• NHDA has been selected to present Hand Dance at the Arena Stage during the Arena Stage “Homecoming Open House” celebrating its new theater during the Southwest Arts Festival on September 24, 2011

2010 National Hand Dance Association Achievements (Partial Listing)

• National Cherry Blossom Festival - March 2010 (Hand Dance Presentation) 5^th year.
• Participation in "Dancing With Flava" Texas Regionals Weekend Jam - March 2010
• NHDA Shoe Drive for Haiti - March 2010 (Community collection of 2,500 pairs of shoes to donate to the Haitian earthquake survivors.  Goal was 1,000.  Collected 2,500+)
• NHDA received DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities $1,000 Grant to continue the NHDA archiving of the history of DC Hand Dance and NHDA - April 2010
• NHDA received Humanities Council of Washington, DC $2,000 Community Heritage Grant to continue the NHDA archiving of the History of DC Hand Dance.- June 2010
• "Nothing But The Oldies, Part 2" Dance Party and Fundraiser - May 22, 2010
• United Black Fund awards NHDA $750 grant to the Youth and Young Adult Division
• LIVE! at Woodrow Wilson Plaza - July , August 7 and September 4, 2010 (Hand Dance Presentation)
• NHDA non-profit sponsorship of Tri State Connection Fundraiser, July 10, 2010, “An Evening of Partying in Your Dance Class T-Shirt”, VFW Post 9619.
• National Dance Day on the Mall – July 31, 2010  (Rhythm & Style, Praise Academy, Yvonne and Imani, Randy & Tia, Lawrence Bradford)
• Youth Summer Hand Dance Party and Fundraiser – August 14, 2010 - Christ United Methodist Church
• DC Dance Festival – Sponsored by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.  5^th year. August 22, 2010 – Atlas Theater
• NHDA History of Hand Dance Archiving Project, Oral History interview sessions (closed sessions) “Hand Dance Class Explosion – 1990 to the Present” and “The Music of Hand Dance – 1950s to Today”, August 2010LIVE! At Woodrow Wilson Plaza – Summer Ain’t Over Dance Party, Friday, September 5, 2010 (NHDA Members and General Public)
• Gwendolyn Britt Senior Center, North Brentwood, MD, September 2010  – 4 week senior hand dance workshop – (NHDA and Praise Academy)
• Camp Springs Senior Center, October 2010  – 3 week hand dance and line dance workshop (NHDA Our Lady Queen of Peace Sr. Dancers)
• Humanities Council of Washington, DC – September 21, 2010 – NHDA received the distinguished “Grantee” Award for programs and projects which preserve DC’s heritage. 
• Humanities Council of Washington, DC 30^th Anniversary Awards Program –   September 23, 2010 (NHDA and Smooth & EZ)
• Completion of documentary produced by the National Hand Dance Association “Hand Dance: A Capitol Swing” (Producer, Beverly Lindsay-Johnson and Production Assistant, Kim Frazier).  October 2010
• NHDA is sponsored by the United Black Fund of Washington, DC, The United Black Fund assists Washington, DC non-profits with administrative space and consulting with becoming stronger non-profits for community outreach – November 2010
• Holiday Coat Drive (in partnership with Teenarama Incorporated), December 14 and 19, 2010, VFW, Suitland, MD. Collected 6 boxes of outerwear for the homeless and those in need.

NHDA has a new home at the United Black Fund.  The United Black Fund (UBF) has assisted non-profit organizations whose goal is to strengthen community efforts and empowerment for over 30 years.  As a member organization of the United Black Fund, for the next 18 months will have office space at 2500 Martin Luther King Avenue, SE, Washington, DC  20020.  NHDA is proud of its affiliation of UBF and thank its Executive Director, Barry Lenoir for giving NHDA the opportunity to be a part of this prestigious and longstanding community organization. 

At the 15^th Annual Hand Dance Ball of the New Baltimore Hand Dance Association Charm City Dancers in December, 2010, organization President Shirley Duncan presented NHDA President Beverly Lindsay-Johnson with 2 Citations for her role through NHDA in the preservation of Hand Dance.  The Citations were from Congressman Elijah Cummings (MD) and Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.  Lawrence Bradford of the Smooth & EZ Hand Dance Institute received a Citation from President Barak Obama and 2 other Citations for his role in preserving Hand Dance.

NEW NHDA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

10% discount on Dance Shoes from the on-line Dance Shoe Store of the Silky Smooth Dance Studio (Sandra Mason) for NHDA members whose dues are current.  Go to the website and view the fashionable dance shoes for men and women. 

**NHDA ID numbers are needed to place your on-line order and take advantage of the discount. 

Go to:  http://www.silkysmoothdance.com/index1.html 

Sandra Mason: 703 491-7961

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10% discount on massage therapy services provided by "Bodies and Backs" for NHDA members whose dues are current.  For a list of services go to http://www.bodiesandbacks.com/    Vernon Mabry (301) 879-1819 office

**NHDA ID numbers are needed to place your order and take advantage of the discount. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MADJAM WINNERS FROM THE HAND DANCE COMMUNITY

Division

JUNIORS 

Akil Boatwright & Alexis Garrish (5th Place)

PRO AM SPOTLIGHT FEMALE

Ashley Riddick & Kevin Fitzhugh (1st Place)

ADVANCED STRICTLY SWING

Akil Boatwright & Tren Veal (3rd Place)

James H & Tori Ellington (11th Place)

OPEN STRICTLY SWING

Maxence Martin & Deonna Ball (6th Place)

Marcus Smith  & Melina Ramierez (14th Place)

JACK & JILL INTERMEDIATE WEST COAST SWING

Akil Boatwright & Beverly Brunerie (9th Place)

JACK & JILL ADVANCE WEST COAST SWING

Christopher Dumond & Tren Veal (1st Place)

JACK & JILL SOPHISTICATED SWING

James H & Sue Lambell (2nd Place)