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he is most proud, 'The U.S. Open Teacher
/ Promoter award' and being inducted (2x's) into the "California
Swing Dance Hall of Fame" with the latest induction
in 2006 as well as being inducted 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 1990s.
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, including A.S.D.C. (New York), Atlanta
Grand Nationals, 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), 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 ("and three") and
Traditional timing for the ladies and "Tap and 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 night clubs 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, 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), Tom Slater (aerials), Phil
Adams, Lisa Nunziella (aerials), Skippy Blair and the Dinzels
(Arg. 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.
 Some
great students I have had the pleasure to teach swing to over the years, plus many, many others.
Adam Mara, Alex Court,
Amanda B., Beverly Durand, Brent Patteson, Buzz Malatsky,
Dayna Miles, Debbie DanDurand, Deborah Hampton, Dena Wayman,
Denise Gibson, Dianne O'Connor, Donna Lynch, Eddie Valdez,
Elaine Burkow, Elizabeth Pffeley, Gary Gauwain, Jared Tracey,
Jeremy Powell, Karla Klibanow, Kelly Baker, Kelly Hall, Linda
Gilbert, Linda Parsons, Louise Bretz, Big Jim Behrens, Joan
Hunter, June Valentine, Lisa Kay, Kay Lenz, Kris Hagerty,
Leanna Chase, Martha Collins, Michael Monarch, The Mollmann
Sisters, Ned Van Eps, Oscar Spear, Petra Tunmar, Richard Fritsen,
Rosie Campos, Sam Bryant, Sandy Paterson, Tanin, Tom Montanez,
Tommy Thompson, Tracy Roberts, Trish Connery, Wendy Mara and
thousands more. |
