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Panel of Judges
Linus ELLIS | Judge
Linus Ellis, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, has been involved in the performing arts for most of his life. He is a music graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City and has been a music instructor in schools as well as a Professor of Music in college. He has been a concert performer for more than 40 years and has played over 300 keyboard concerts in the United States and Europe. He has served as Director of Music for various churches in the Eastern United States. He is a commissioned lay minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is currently the Associate in Ministry at First English Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia where he serves in various capacities including Organist and Director of Music.
Linus began Ballroom dancing as a child. He has won sixteen first place awards in sanctioned dance competitions, including the 1996 CWLDA Golden Male International Grand Championship. He teaches dance privately and has taught for various local, national, and international organizations. He has coached winners in five different dance sanctions. He has served as a dance judge for events in various sanctions.
Linus believes that Music and Dance are the languages of the soul and that each of us needs to learn those languages to better understand ourselves. We need to learn how to sing, or learn how to play an instrument to be able to speak the language of music. We need to learn how to move to speak the language of dance. Then we will be able to speak the languages of the soul.
Cherie JOHNSON | Judge
Cherie Johnson began her formal dance career at the age of 8 as a tap dancer and performer. In 1990 when country music became popular, she was involved with both line dancing and country couples dancing. Cherie has choreographed many couples routines, and line dances that are popular world wide.
She has performed at various dance events in the United States and Canada and has taught workshops and classes in Waltz, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Night Club, Country 2 Step, Cha Cha, Rumba, Motion Study and Body Movement, and Lead and Follow. She is Bronze Level DIVDA Certified in Waltz and continuing her education for certification in all Bronze level dances..
Cherie is a member of the USA Dance Association in Florida, and has been a member of the National Teachers Association (NTA) since 1993 completing Levels I, II, & III Line Dance Certification. She is also a Certified Judge for the IAGLCWDC.
Cherie believes that music feeds the soul while dancing feeds the spirit. She is 100% responsible to bring joy and love to the world through music and dance.
Jim ROBLES | Judge
Jim Robles resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has been dancing since 1993. In 1996 Jim and his partner were the Atlantic State Gay Rodeo Association overall champions in Division 3. In 1997 they placed 2nd.
In 2000 Jim began competing on the UCWDC (United Country Western Dance Council) circuit in the Pro-Am divisions. He has won over 15 overall championships. In 2003, Jim and his then teacher Meredith Stead won the World Championship in the Pro-Am Newcomer Division. In 2004 he and Meredith were 6th in the Novice Division.
Jim has taught and judged at several IAGLCWDC and Gay Rodeo conventions. He is very excited to be a part of Montreal's OutGames country-western dance competition.
Rowdy DUFRENE | Judge
Rowdy Dufrene hails from Austin, Texas , where he has currently teaching out of GO DANCE, Austin's premiere dance studio. He is currently a Masters level competitor in the UCWDC Dance Circuit and a Board of Directors Member and Judge Certification Instructor for the American Country Dance Association. Rowdy was the Dance Director of the IAGLCWDC's 2005 Annual Convention, " The Best Little Hoedown in Texas", and is a certified judge in the IAGLCWDC circuit in all dance forms. He has been Teaching, Coaching, Choreographing, Judging and Competing in Country Dance for over 16 years. He is a 2 time UCWDC World Champion, a 4 time ACDA Nationals Champion, and an Open Professional Swing Dance Champion.
Over the years, Rowdy has captured over 20 Grand Championship titles, and has coached many students to win National and World Championships. He is truly excited to be a part of the OutGames, looks forward to meeting as many of you as possible and wishes all of the competitors the Best of Luck.
Shawn SWAITHES | Judge
Shawn Swaithes began dancing as a hobby. In 1996, he partnered with Donna Bonham and they began working their way up through the divisions of the United Country Western Dance Council (UCWDC). Three years later, Shawn and Donna won the 1999 World Championship in the Masters Classic division, followed by the title of Classic couple of the year in 2001. Shawn has traveled all over the United States to coach and judge in various venues and has coached winning students to Pro Am World Championships from the Newcomer to Intermediate level. Shawn is an active member of the DC Swing Jam Swing Team, the current UCWDC World Champion Swing Team and has recently become a journeyman level judge on the UCWDC circuit. À
Lee
FOX | Judge
Originally from Georgia, Lee Fox moved to Florida nineteen
years ago. He is the IAGLCWDC Director of Dance.
He has been teaching Ballroom, Latin, and Disco
for twenty-seven years, and Country/Western for
the past fifteen years. A former ballroom competitor,
he has judged several competitions in the United
States. He and his ballroom partner, Scott, competed
in ballroom at Amsterdam 1998 and Sydney 2002,
making the finals both times.
He is a member of
Southern Country South Florida and has served
as the choreographer / instructor for the Southern
Country South Florida Dream Team for six
years and is currently the choreographer / instructor
for the SunDancers and a member of a new team,
Crossfire. He and his country partner, Chris,
were the first Championship winners in the IAGLCWDC
Couples Competition in 1998 and have performed
at many hoedowns and fund-raisers.
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TWO GREAT
LATE REGISTRATION FEE OFFERS!
Go for the full package or for the à la carte – it’s up to you! Register as an individual or as a team. Bring your friends. Come play for real.
Hurry! Time is running out!
Registration closes 1 July 2006.
| FULL REGISTRATION
PACKAGE* |
| Sports and
Culture |
$325
CAD |
Full Registration
package for Sport and Culture participants
includes:
- One event (sport or culture)
- Participation at the Opening
Ceremony
- Participation at the Closing
Ceremony
- One métro/bus pass
- A participation medal
- Free admission as a spectator
to your selected sport/cultural activities
- Reduced admission fee to all
other sports (as a spectator)
- Participant Souvenir Bag which
includes: city and transit maps, official
games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal
and Québec tourist information brochures
- Rebate of $100 CAD for the
International Conference
- 20% discount for the games'
souvenir book
- Over a week of friendship,
fun and discoveries!
*Note :
- Subject to change without
notice.
- Additional sports/cultural
activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD.
- Offer
valid for new registration. Subject to availability
as some events (sport or culture) may close
before the deadline. |
 I
want to register now >> |
| For more information, please
visit the Registration page. |
| À
LA CARTE PROMOTION* |
| Sports and
Culture |
$75
CAD |
The À la carte Promotion* for Sport and
Culture participants includes:
- One event (sport or culture)
- A participation medal
- Free admission as a spectator
to your selected sport/cultural activities
- Participant Souvenir Bag which
includes: city and transit maps, official
games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal
and Québec tourist information brochures
- Over a week of friendship,
fun and discoveries!
*Note :
- Subject to change without
notice.
- Additional sports/cultural
activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD.
- Offer
valid for new registration. Subject to availability
as some events (sport or culture) may close
before the deadline. |
| I
want to register now >> |
| For more information, please
visit the Registration page. |
|
|
TWO GREAT
LATE REGISTRATION FEE OFFERS!
Go for the full package or for the à la carte – it’s up to you! Register as an individual or as a team. Bring your friends. Come play for real.
Hurry! Time is running out!
Registration closes 1 July 2006.
| FULL REGISTRATION
PACKAGE* |
| Sports and
Culture |
$325
CAD |
Full Registration
package for Sport and Culture participants
includes:
- One event (sport or culture)
- Participation at the Opening
Ceremony
- Participation at the Closing
Ceremony
- One métro/bus pass
- A participation medal
- Free admission as a spectator
to your selected sport/cultural activities
- Reduced admission fee to all
other sports (as a spectator)
- Participant Souvenir Bag which
includes: city and transit maps, official
games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal
and Québec tourist information brochures
- Rebate of $100 CAD for the
International Conference
- 20% discount for the games'
souvenir book
- Over a week of friendship,
fun and discoveries!
*Note :
- Subject to change without
notice.
- Additional sports/cultural
activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD.
- Offer
valid for new registration. Subject to availability
as some events (sport or culture) may close
before the deadline. |
| I
want to register now >> |
| For more information, please
visit the Registration page. |
| À
LA CARTE PROMOTION* |
| Sports and
Culture |
$75
CAD |
The À la carte Promotion* for Sport and
Culture participants includes:
- One event (sport or culture)
- A participation medal
- Free admission as a spectator
to your selected sport/cultural activities
- Participant Souvenir Bag which
includes: city and transit maps, official
games programme, souvenir poster and Montréal
and Québec tourist information brochures
- Over a week of friendship,
fun and discoveries!
*Note :
- Subject to change without
notice.
- Additional sports/cultural
activity (maximum 3) at $75 CAD.
- Offer
valid for new registration. Subject to availability
as some events (sport or culture) may close
before the deadline. |
| I
want to register now >> |
| For more information, please
visit the Registration page. |
|
|
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