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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" 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.
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. |
