September 2001

CDN Archives

Charles Dickens truly defined where we are today.  How sad that it takes a tragedy such as we have endured to bring the best of the American people. 

These were the opening words of the memorial used at the USO Memorial Dance on Saturday night.  The memorial was dedicated to Don Ditulio and Janice Lasden, two UCWDC dancers who were aboard American Airlines flight #11 on that fateful Tuesday morning, as well as to the thousands of other lost on that day.

An honor guard of the Chicago dance community’s active duty military and veterans was formed as US Army Corporal Bobbie Jo Leskon maintained the honor of presenting Colors (the American Flag).  They received a spontaneous standing ovation for their service.  This was followed by a candle light ceremony during which Corporal Leskon traveled around the room with Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA playing in the background.  People watched with tear-filled eyes as the flag made it’s way flowing around the room.

Over one hundred people attended the USO memorial dance.  An exhibition show showcased Chicago’s top West Coast Swing dancers in their latest routines and the few people who were still seated were amazed by the huge advanced Jack N’ Jill with 22 couples. 

The most entertaining portion of the night seemed to be the celebrity dance after the exhibitions in which the dance competitors were paid a donation to the fund raiser for a minute of dance time.  Funds were collected throughout the night for the Ditulio and Lasden families and all profits from the door went to the fund as well.  Burnett’s management made this possible by reducing the cost of the ballroom by $350 in the spirit of the event.

Across the country, other fund raising dance events were held on Saturday, September 15th as well this weekend.  Michigan Swing, Indy Swing, and even New York were some of the locations that held fund raising, morale boosting dances.  New Mexico’s dance fiesta, a UCWDC event,  focused on a red, white and blue fundraiser their entire weekend.  It was indeed a time that the American dance community banded together to soothe and help each other . . .  and to reach out and help strangers in need.