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    Mary Manzella's Awards and Honors

TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS

 

  • Certified by the Golden State Dance Teacher's Association with an Award

  • Completion of more than 400 hours of training with world-renowned Skippy Blair, the “Dance Teacher’s Teacher"

  • Bachelor of Science Degree in Education

  • 30 Postgraduate credits in Education

  • Teacher in elementary education for 12 years

 

NOTABLE HONORS

 

  • California Swing Dance Hall of Fame Shining Star Inductee

  • National Swing Dance Champion

  • Western Regional Swing Dance Champion

  • Performed West Coast Swing, Swango, Argentine Tango, Latin, and Ballroom Dance for Hollywood stars

  • Performed for 3000 people at the Anaheim Convention Center

 

SPECIAL AWARDS

 

  • Best Individual Footwork

  • Best Showmanship

  • Best Choreography

  • Top Female Teacher

  • Best Timing and Execution

  • Best Routine US Open Swing Dance Championships

  • Dedicated Teacher Award through the Golden State Teachers Association

  • Certificate of Recognition Award from the California State Legislature for Outstanding Contributions to California in the Field of Dance

  • Tribute given by the San Diego Swing Dance Club for her dance achievements and her contributions to the dance community and the Club in West Coast Swing

  • Tribute by North County Elks Club for years of contributing to the growth of dance in North County

 

SPECIAL FEATURES

 

  • Judge at the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships

  • Instructor at the US Open Dance Championships

  • Dance Performance at a Private Party Hosted by Pilar Wayne, John Wayne’s surviving Wife.

  • Performed the dance Swango for the Feather Awards which is the “Oscars Awards” of Dance Community; guests included such notables as Ann Margaret, Donald O'Connor, Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse, and Danny Thomas.

  • Performed on KUSI-TV with North County Swing and Ballroom Students in a news segment by reporter Rod Luck

  • Featured on Dancing with Joy! television show

  • Featured on the cover of Dance Action magazine, a National Dance Magazine

  • Featured in the Union Tribune Newspaper

 

 

DANCE TEACHING HONORS

 

  • Feather Awards nominee for Most Popular Female Teacher

  • Nationally recognized Workshop Instructor and Judge at swing dance competitions throughout the U.S.

  • Instructor of all forms of Swing, Ballroom, Latin, and Nightclub dancing

  • Former owner of Emerald Ballroom

  • Dance Instructor on more than 15 cruises

 

 

OFFICES HELD

 

  • Advisory Board Member, California Swing Dance Hall of Fame

  • Past Dance Director, for many years, and now Activities Director for the San Diego Swing Dance Club

  • President of the North County Swing and Ballroom Dance Club. (Club no longer active)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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