Event Director Bracken Heidenreich
Dec 28, 2023
Schedule, Themes, Location, djFeed, Dance Requests, Stepsheets, Online Registration List, Classic Lessons, Power Hours, Key Links
HELLO
Hello, fellow flamingos! Start flappin' your wings and get ready to fly! Fla-lingo Flashes will be coming more frequently now to prepare everyone to arrive at the Pavilion, flocking in flamingo frills for the most flamazing flamingle ever!
In this Fla-lingo Flash:
Schedule - With a request for the flock!!!
Themes
Location
djFeed
Dance Requests
Stepsheets
Online Registration List
Classic Lessons
Power Hours
Key Links
SCHEDULE
I’m working with our flocktastic staff to pull together a schedule that mixes dance levels, dance rhythms, music genres, classic dances, new lessons, and more! When we get it nailed down, it will be posted and sent out.
For now… WE NEED YOUR HELP to fill a few special spots on the schedule.
Please take a few seconds to fill out the form (included in the EMAIL 12/27 to the flock).
In the meantime, here’s the sky-level plan for our fabulous flamingle:
Thursday, January 18: This is the welcoming evening dance with the flockstar introductions, a quick & fun lesson, dancing of some pre-scripted favorites, and open dancing by request with announced floor splits.
- 5:30 PM Pavilion lobby opens for packet pick-up only. Main hall is not open yet.
- 7 PM Pavilion doors open
- 7:30 PM Dancing with DJ Megan
- 8:30 PM Flockstar Introductions and Fun Lesson, followed by pre-scripted dances (determined by your pre-event votes!)
- After enjoying the pre-scripted dances that highlight our flockstar choreographers, DJ Megan will continue the night with all-request open dancing until 10:45 PM.
- 10:45 PM music ends; all flamingos must exit by 11 PM
Friday, January 19, and Saturday, January 20: Friday and Saturday workshops will be improver to high intermediate level dances.
- 8:30 AM Pavilion Opens
- 8:45 AM Flamingo Festivities Begin
- Workshops, Open Dance, with Lunch “Break”
- 5 PM Dinner Break
- 7:30 PM Flockstar Power Hour (Joanne & Jill on Friday; Jo on Saturday), followed by Dancing with DJ Megan
- 11:45 PM music ends; all flamingos must exit by 12 midnight
Sunday, January 21: Sunday workshops are beginner to improver level dance lessons. Sunday also has the open dance party to finish out the weekend. Flamingo Funday Sunday is a relaxed, easy day for those who like the easier dances.
- 8 AM Pavilion opens
- 8:20 AM Flamingo Funday Sunday Festivities begin
- Workshops, Open Dance, with Lunch “Break”
- 4:30 PM Event Ends; All Evidence of Flamingling MUST Be Cleared Out of the Pavilion by 6 PM
THEMES
EVERY DAY is a good day for a FLAMINGO. It has been SO MUCH FUN every year to see the costumes and personal table decorations brought by dancers and fun frivolity of the flamingos and lights. Needless to say - these are here to stay! There's lots of flamingo paraphernalia out there - feel free to flock in flamingo frills (say that 5 times fast) all weekend! From past years, I remember some flamingos love wearing tutus!!!
The SATURDAY NIGHT THEME PARTY is Keep the Magic AGLOW! Wear anything that glows or lights up - ring, pin, hat, shirt, etc. The crazier, the better. If you do go ALL OUT, be sure to do a test run of your lights in advance - with dancing - to make sure your lights don’t impede your moves! It’s such a high-spirited night of fun.
LOCATION
Palm Springs Winter Break is held at a City facility with a beautiful wood dance floor. The building is called The Pavilion. Located at 401 South Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, California 92262.
Parking is available immediately next to the Pavilion in a free lot, first come, first serve. Carpooling is always encouraged.
The Pavilion is part of Sunrise Park – a 38-acre Parks and Recreation complex. Sunrise Park is also home to the Library Center, Swim Center, Palm Springs Stadium, Leisure Center, Mizell Senior Center, and Palm Springs Skate Park. If you are interested in any of these, please call the phone numbers listed here: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-facilities/sunrise-park
djFEED @ PSWB
BACK THIS YEAR – PSWB has a djFEED! for everyone to use. http://www.djfeed.net/pswb/
You don’t have to remember the website address. The QR code on your 2024 PSWB event nametag will take you directly to the djFeed that Marcus Lindfors (Sweden) has set up for Palm Springs Winter Break.
djFeed is open and running NOW if you would like to get familiar with it before the 2024 PSWB.
djFeed is a website that everyone can view from their own devices (phone, tablet, computer…. but who brings a computer to a dance event???).
djFeed shows what’s coming up in the Pavilion and lets dancers submit dance requests through the djFeed.
Yes, you can still walk up to our DJ Megan to write your request.
Yes, you can still look at the projector screens in the Pavilion to see the upcoming playlist.
Do you sometimes forget the dance you want to request by the time you walk to the dj? Use djFeed on your phone or tablet to evade the amnesia zone between the dance floor and the dj table. http://www.djfeed.net/pswb/requests/
Is the projector screen not at the best angle or lighting for you to read clearly (or are you so nearsighted that it’s just too far away)? View djFeed from your phone or tablet, or your neighbor’s phone or tablet.
Lots of dancers have seen and used djFeed. This is the second year we will have it at Palm Springs Winter Break. It’s actually open RIGHT NOW for pre-event requests!
DANCE REQUESTS
http://www.djfeed.net/pswb/requests/
On or before January 15, please continue to send your pre-event dance requests in through the djFeed. Your pre-event requests help us plan floor splits and help your fellow flamingos see which dances need to be fluffed out and reviewed before the event.
After January 15, please hold your requests until we are at the Pavilion. During the event, you can submit requests through the djFeed or writing on the request lists.
Top pre-event requests right now are:
- Everyone Needs a Hero
- Ghosted
- Devil in a Dress
- Good as You
- Gypsy Queen
- Moses, Roses, Toeses
Add your favorites! http://www.djfeed.net/pswb/requests/
STEPSHEETS
Printed stepsheet booklets have to be pre-ordered by December 31. For those who pre-order, your printed stepsheet booklets will be given to you at check-in. If you can’t remember if you ordered one, check the registration list posted on the website under the Registration tab.
ONLINE REGISTRATION LIST
The list of registered dancers is posted on the website. I’m doing my best to keep it updated more frequently as the event gets closer.
If you have fellow flamingos who haven’t registered yet, please let them know that online registrations will be accepted until January 16, unless we sell out before then.
CLASSIC LESSONS
Last year, we tried some QUICK classic reviews… we got feedback from the flamboyance that they liked bringing the dances back, but we need full lesson lengths for them. With that in mind, there ARE classic lessons planned throughout the weekend. We won’t be able to fit as many classics in as last year, but we will include those that got the highest votes from early-registered flamingos (voting is now closed).
POWER HOURS
YES! We loved the power hours that debuted last year, so they are back again! The Friday and Saturday night dances will start with POWER HOURS hosted by Joanne Brady & Jill Babinec (Friday) and Jo Thompson-Szymanski (Saturday). Our flockstars have full control of their power hours with the only direction of: “involve participation from the flamingo flamboyance!” This means for the FIRST HOUR of the nighttime open dance, your headlining flockstars decide what we do to PARTY!
KEY LINKS
Some links for registered flamingos:
djFeed requests: http://www.djfeed.net/pswb/requests/
Facebook: If you’re on Facebook, join the Palm Springs Winter Break group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/464658321967893
Sunrise Park Information Page: https://www.palmspringsca.gov/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-facilities/sunrise-park
THANK YOU
The saying, “it takes a village” is true when it comes to putting on an event. This would not have happened without you all registering for the fun, and it would not happen without the generous time and effort of the volunteers and staff. I feel blessed to have dance friends who graciously stepped up to the plate to help make this happen. THANK YOU for the woman power, man power, and overall support for continuing Palm Springs Winter Break, where flamingos roost each January.
This was a LONG Fla-lingo Flash... there's more to come between now and the event! (table decorating contest, check-in process & times, food/drink at the event, floor splits, dances to practice, opportunity contest, what to bring, what not to bring, and updates & reminders of everything that comes to mind!)
Please send any questions to me, and I'll do my best to answer and share with the flamboyance!
Bracken Heidenreich
PSWB Event Director