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ABOUT SONNY WATSON

About Sonny Watson

About Sonny Watson
Sonny Watson ...

        Sonny Watson started dancing Hustle, Country and Various Swing dances in Los Angeles, California around 1979/1980. By 1982 he had won many contests and began teaching West Coast Swing plus other dances. Sonny founded the Valley Swing Dance Club with his friend Kenny Wetzel in February of 1985.

        In November of '85 he entered his first U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships with his then partner Valerie Browne. Since then Sonny has competed in the U.S. Open showcase, Team, Sophisticated and Strictly Swing divisions with partners Valerie Browne, Tracy Roberts-Adams, Kris Hagerty, Marie Salazar, and current partner Deanna Mollmann. As well as the Local and National Jack and Jill and showcase circuit many, many times. Sonny and his partner Deanna Mollmann took First Place in the 1997 "U.S. Open" Pro Streetswing division (aka Champions Strictly Swing).

      Through the years Sonny has competed in a vast number of contests, which have taken him all over the USA. Sonny has received many awards, including two

he is most proud, 'The U.S. Open Teacher / Promoter award' and being inducted (2x's) into the "California Swing Dance Hall of Fame" and World Swing Dance Hall of Fame in 2007 plus an induction into the All~Swing DJ "Hall Of Fame" in 2007. Sonny has also been in the Top Ten N.A.S.D.E. Tour many times through-out the 1990's.

     Sonny Watson was instrumental in helping the "United States Swing Dance Council" (U.S.S.D.C.) pass a bill to make West Coast Swing the Official State Dance Of California. Sonny is a certified, trained judge. When he isn't competing, he serves as a judge at many of the national events. He has taught, Judged and Competed at many national events including: the A.S.D.C. (New York,) Atlanta Grand Nationals (Georgia,) Phoenix, Boston Tea Party, Virginia State Open, California SwingThing, Monterey Swing Fest, Jack and Jill O'Rama, Swing Diego, Dallas D.A.N.C.E., Dallas Classic, New Years Dance Championships (Dallas,) Las Vegas, Swing Worlds, US Open Swing Dance Championships and more. Sonny is also Chairman of the Board of the Dance History Department for the World Swing Dance Council.

        As a nationally-recognized swing dance Coach, Choreographer and dance Instructor, and DJ, Sonny Watson has and does teach at many local and major three-day swing events from New York to California. Sonny teaches Master, Group and Private lessons in Southern California (located in the San Fernando Valley) and has always had to limit his traveling to meet the needs of his current students. Sonny teaches what is generally recognized as one of the best looking styles of West Coast Swing in Southern California. He was one of the first to use the "French Cross" with Contemporary timing ("and three") as well as the Traditional timing ("three And") for the ladies and "Tap-Pivot-Step" (not Tap-Step) for the guys. His expertise in musical interpretation and styling is un-equaled in his field. His style is very recognizable in his students and is very well respected throughout the United States. Jack and Mary Ann Bridges of the U.S. Open wrote: "Sonny Watson has one of the largest followings in California."

        Sonny has taught at many famous swing night clubs/venues over the years in Southern California such as the Longhorn Saloon, Tavern On The Green, the Forge, Sleuth's Bar and Grill, the Valley Club, the Press Box, the Crest Lounge (aka Jitterbugs Lounge, Paladino's,) the Hacienda Hotel, Golden West Club, Borderline Bar & Grill, and many more. He has taught at various dance studios such as Let's Dance L.A., Arthur Murrays, B and B Dance Studio, Debbie Reynolds dance studio, Westmore dance studio, Moorpark College, Pierce College, Cal-Tech, UCLA and many more. Sonny has had some wonderful training from some of the best like Eddy Vega (Hustle / Aerials), the Appels (Aerials), Jill Morton (International ballroom), Kenny Wetzel (Lindy, Mambo, WCS), Tom Slater (Aerials), Phil Adams, Lisa Nunziella (Aerials, Hustle), Skippy Blair and the Dinzels (Authentic Argentine Tango.)

        Sonny has been seen in a few T.V. dance segments, such as the E Channel, Two On The Town, Eye On L.A., E Entertainment ("Worlds Coolest Clubs" with Brian Setzer), the Nashville Network, 7-UP Commercial with Patrick Swayze and for the L.A. Rams Football Team's Half-Time show and more. He has also worked on a few movie projects which never aired :( Sonny has worked with a few Music and Movie Stars such as Kim Catrell, Charles Rocket, Kay Lenz, Michael Monarch (of Steppenwolf) and Robert Duvaul, who are absolutely fabulous people.      

        Sonny Watson has worked with many dance teams such as the "Show Stoppers," "Leather and Lace" and his own team "Swingshift which was created in 1987 by Sonny Watson as a social dance team and continued on to become one of the best West Coast Swing dance teams in the nation. His memorable choreography to "Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the New Tokens and "Baby I'm a Star" by Prince have won Sonny praise for his outstanding choreography. Later Sonny formed the team again featuring any social dancer who wanted to take part called Swingshift: 'Back to Basix' 'to give anyone a chance to fulfill a dream' and went on to comptete them in the U.S Open, alltho they didn't place, that was not the purpose. Sonny does not perform the team every year :(. Sonny coaches and choreographs others who are now competing and doing exhibitions and some have even went on to become successful teachers themselves. Some are first time competitors, and many are top dancers.

noinfo Some great students I have had the pleasure to teach swing too over the years, plus many, many others.

        Adam Mara, Alex Court, Amanda B., Beverly Durand, Brent Patteson, Buzz Malatsky, Danish, Dayna Miles, Debbie DanDurand, Deborah Hampton, Dena Wayman, Denise Gibson, Dianne O'Connor, Donna Lynch, Eddie Valdez, Elaine Burkow, Elizabeth Pffeley, Elise Herman-Valdez, Frank and Claire, Gary Gauwain, Jared Tracey, Jeremy Powell, Karla Klibanow, Kelly Baker, Kelly Hall, Leanna Chase, Linda Gilbert, Linda Parsons, Louise Bretz, Big Jim Behrens, Joan Hunter, John Ford, June Valentine, Lisa Kay, Kay Lenz, Kris Hagerty, Leanna Chase, Martha Collins, Merideth Jones, Michael Monarch, Miguel, The Mollmann Sisters, Ned Van Eps, Oscar Spear, Petra Tunmar, Richard Fritsen, Rosie Campos, Sam Bryant, Sandy Paterson, Shaheed, Tanin Kosol, Tom Montanez, Tommy Thompson, Tracy Roberts, Trish Connery, Wendy Mara and thousands more.

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