Press Release:

On Thursday, March 14, Genesee County’s Adults with Developmental Disabilities celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at the Byron Fire Hall. 

JT, the evening’s DJ kept the dance floor lively with very popular dance tunes. One of the evening’s highlights was when the DJ qued up the YMCA; in came some of the Byron Fire Fighters in full uniform to lead the dance. Everyone happily joined right in.

Throughout the evening Robert Radley, the volunteer photographer, clicked away taking lots of great photos. There was lots of excitement when dance coordinator, Morgan Leaton, announced that the next dance would be the PJ Dance on Thursday, April 11. She handed out flyers and asked folks to come wearing their PJs.

Dances start at 6:30 p.m. and run till 8:30 p.m. and are open to anyone with developmental disabilities aged 13 and up residing in Genesee County. Proper staffing is required. If you would like more information or wish to volunteer, please contact Morgan Leaton at 585-815-3157 or morganrleaton@gmail.com.

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

On Thursday, February 15, Genesee County’s Adults with Developmental Disabilities celebrated Valentine’s Day at the dance in Byron Fire Hall. Amongst red hearts, cupids, and lots of red, pink, and glittery balloons - a great time was had by all.

Snacks and drinks were prepared and pizza was served up by many members of the Byron Ladies Auxiliary as well as some volunteers.

DJ, Big Saxy, cued up plenty of tunes that kept the dance floor hopping throughout the evening. When the song, Locomotion, was played volunteers led a dancing parade that circled around the hall. Volunteer photographer, Bob Radley, clicked away taking lots of great photos. 

Toward the end of the dance, Morgan Leaton announced the date for the next dance, the St. Patrick’s Day Dance, as Thursday, March 14. The DJ for that dance will be JT.

The dances are open to anyone with developmental disabilities aged 13 and up residing in Genesee County. Proper staffing is required. If you would like more information or wish to volunteer, please contact Morgan Leaton at 585-815-3157 or morganrleaton@gmail.com.

Submitted photos.

Press Release:

Byron Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary is very happy to announce that thanks to Morgan Leaton, our treasurer, and her mom, Debra Leaton along with other members of the Byron Fire Department, the Genesee County Dances for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that ended in 2016 are coming back to the Byron Fire Hall at 6467 Townline Road (Rt. 262), Byron. 

Pat Iamon first organized the dances in 2002 and the dances continued for 14 years until her retirement as she lives in FL half the year. However, she will be helping Morgan and other volunteers get the dances up and running.

The first dance will be a Halloween Dance on Thursday, October 19, almost exactly 7 years from the date of the last dance. The dances are from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Folks are encouraged to wear their costumes and prepare for a fun-filled evening!

Unfortunately, Tom Mazerbo our fun-loving DJ passed away several years ago, but Uncle Joe, who was the photographer for many years, will now be acting as DJ. He will queue up some great dance tunes for the evening.

There will be a $5 cover charge (no charge for staff/parents/chaperones). Snacks and beverages will be available. We are asking each staff/parent/chaperone to sign in with their name and the names of the consumers they are bringing as they enter. Individual and group receipts will be available. Proper staffing is required!

The date for November’s dance has not been finalized yet but will be announced at the Halloween Dance. Iamon said, “I’m so happy that Morgan and her mom decided to head up this much-loved, multi-agency community event and I’m looking forward to seeing many familiar faces!”

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to help please email Pat Iamon at: piamon@gmail.com.

Harrison specializes in hip hop, acro, and break-dancing.

Options* are:

• Friday: $20 -- Open Gym class. All ages, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at MCA Gymnastics Studio, 7820 Caswell Road, Byron.
• Saturday: $50 -- Open Hip Hop Workshop. From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at LAW Dance Studio, 218 W. Main St., Batavia.
• Sunday: $50 -- Recital Choreographed Opening Number -- for LAW dance students only, required, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1 to 2:30 p.m.

*LAW Dance students -- Come to all three classes for $100.

Call to register (585) 297-2559.

About Maceo "Mace" Harrison

He is a hip hop dancer and choreographer born in Maryland, D.C. At age 7, he started pursuing hip-hop dance. At age 15, he began attending hip hop battles, performing at talent shows and even auditioned for "America’s Got Talent." At the age of 17, he joined his first dance studio, where he learned ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern and tap.

Spending four years on a dance competition team, he won multiple scholarships and overall awards for his hip hop solos. He also made it to the third round of auditions during season 11 of, “So You Think You Can Dance.”

In 2016, he received a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City for their hip hop program and was featured dancing for Missy Elliot in her music video, “Snatch Your Weave.”

He's also the First Base Dancing coach for the Savannah Banana's Baseball team in Savannah, Ga. Here is a video interview of him that covers the history of Harrison as the dancing first base coach.

You can check out some of his content on his social media channels: 

Twitter: @harrison_maceo / Instagram: @danceiz_lif3 / Tik tok: @danceiz_m3

CAN-USA Sports is proud to announce that a unique event is set for Sunday May 16th at Dwyer Stadium as KMS Dance Academy will present their Annual Dance and Cheer Showcase outdoors at Dwyer Stadium this year! 

KMS Dance Academy has been a staple in the community offering a wide range of dance classes from ages 2 through adult, including tot hip hop, baby ballerinas, and competitive level classes, by owner/director Erica Grazioplene, a local to Batavia with more than 25 years experience.

Grazioplene is very appreciative of the Muckdogs and CAN-USA Sports.

“I would like to thank Nellie and Robbie for helping me fulfill my promise to our dancers and families at KMS Dance Academy that we can have a show this year," she said. "I am so grateful and excited to work with them and the Muckdogs organization." 

This will be the first time the event will be held outside for the first time in the history of the showcase and also the first time the stadium will host another event outside of baseball as well. 

Robbie Nichols, owner of CAN-USA Sports, told media members “When we decided to come to Batavia we knew that there was a lot of possibilities to bring entertainment to this venue outside of just hosting baseball games. Bringing in a competition like this is just the first step of the process and we are excited to see more and more events come to Batavia and utilize this beautiful stadium as much as possible.”

Tickets are on sale now! You can call Erica Grazioplene at KMS Dance Academy at (585) 409-6875 and reserve your spot at Dwyer Stadium for this historic event Sunday May 16th!

The New York State DanceForce, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts, announces the fourth cycle of the Western New York Choreographers’ Initiative (WNYCI).

The program provides professional development for choreographers living in New York’s 17 westernmost counties: Chautauqua, Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler and Seneca.

The application deadline is Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. EDT.

The WNY Choreographers’ Initiative is designed to help WNY resident choreographers develop their choreographic skills by providing them with appropriate resources that are generally unavailable or unaffordable. These resources include a minimum of 24 hours of creative time, professional dancers, the guidance of a mentor chosen by the artist, and a $2,500 stipend.

The exact design of the project will depend on COVID-19 health recommendations at the time of the project. Two choreographers will be selected for the award in 2021.  

“This initiative is open to choreographers working in all dance genres. Each project is basically a mini-residency, designed to fit the specific needs of each artist,” said WNYCI coordinator Lois Welk. “In 2020, the artists were doubly challenged to reinvestigate their choreographic habits -- first by the mentor and then by COVID-19.”

The New York State DanceForce is a consortium of 19 dance activists committed to increasing the quantity and quality of dance activity throughout New York State. Each of our members receives an annual allocation to create projects that bring dance artists to upstate NY communities in customized residencies.

Since its founding in 1994, the DanceForce, through the work of its members, has funded over 400 projects, raising more than $3 million in support of these endeavors.

Complete guidelines and application forms, can be found at www.danceforce.org. For more information contact WNYCI coordinator Lois Welk at: loisapril9@gmail.com.

The New York State DanceForce, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts, announces the third cycle of the Western New York Choreographers’ Initiative (WNYCI).

The program provides professional development for choreographers living in New York’s seventeen westernmost counties: Chautauqua, Niagara, Erie, Cattaraugus, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming, Allegany, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Yates, Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, and Seneca.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. (EST) Dec. 4.

The WNY Choreographers’ Initiative is designed to help WNY resident choreographers develop their choreographic skills by providing them with appropriate resources that are generally unavailable or unaffordable.

These resources include 24 hours of creative studio time, professional dancers, the guidance of a professional mentor chosen by the artist, and a $2,500 stipend. Two choreographers will be selected for the award in spring 2020. 

“This initiative is open to choreographers working in all dance genres," said WNYCI Coordinator Lois Welk. "Each project is basically a mini-residency, designed to fit the specific needs of each artist.

"Some artists have split the time between their home community and New York City. Others have done their entire project in WNY. The only requirement is that at least half of the activity happens in the WNY community.” 

The New York State DanceForce is a statewide consortium of 19 dance activists committed to increasing the quantity and quality of dance activity throughout New York State. Each member receives an annual allocation to create projects that bring dance artists to Upstate NY communities in customized residencies.

Since its founding in 1994, the DanceForce, through the work of its members, has funded more than 400 projects, raising more than $3 million in support of these endeavors.

Complete guidelines and the application form can be found at www.danceforce.org. For more information, contact WNYCI Coordinator Lois Welk at loisapril9@gmail.com.