Tour de Dance ®

Tour de Dance offers….
An exciting, fun, inter-active, multi-generational, fitness-oriented, hugely popular, social, media-worthy, dance-oriented entity that frequently partners with appropriate venues to provide an attraction that increases attendance at the gate.

What is Tour de Dance?
It is an entity created by Mary Lou Kaye, a DEA and PDF-certified dance instructor, to promote a national circuit of dance contests, dance instruction and teacher certification.  It is designed for the hundreds of  thousands of grass roots dancers in the country who are anxious to excel in their favorite activity and/or test their skills against others, providing a great show in the process.  The Dance Program is a feature attraction that will increase attendance at any venue where excitement, entertainment and fun are the rule of the day.

 Tour de Dance can be: 
            ■  A Stand Alone Event
            ■  An attention-grabbing attraction at an existing venue
            ■  Adapted for a multitude of interest groups with varying goals
            ■  A great draw for free media coverage

COMPETITION
There will be State Championships in many areas of the country and Canada, culminating, when appropriate, in a Tour de Dance National/International Championship.  The Dance Competition can be structured in several ways, each of which appeals to different sets of demographics.  The dances chosen for the contest can cover a wide spectrum of interest and ethnic groups.  Some examples would be salsa, lindy-hop, merengue, polka and all basic social dances, i.e. Waltz, Tango, Swing.

The dance championship can be set up in age categories where appeal to multigenerational attendees is desired.  The contest can involve one dance or several, resulting in three-dance champions.  There are millions of non-professional dancers who would jump at the chance to strut their stuff in an amateur-friendly, respectful dance environment.

It’s very important to note at this time that one of the most important keys to a contest’s success is the use of trained and qualified judges.  A strong interest in the activity or the ability to dance well are not the same skills as adjudicating.  Specific training and experience in judging are the necessary credentials.

The staff of Tour de Dance has been trained and involved in contest evaluation ever since its inception 20+ years ago.  They are highly capable, qualified and committed to
doing an excellent job.  We have had no disgruntled participants in our history…...a truly remarkable achievement!

DANCE INSTRUCTION
The dance instruction aspect offers a support system for the visibly exciting, highly
entertaining, competitive side of the program. It offers an opportunity for motivated spectators of the glitz and glitter to begin their own dance education.

This continually feeds into the database of competitors and instills loyalty to the sponsor/provider of the opportunity.  These new, loyal customers will far outnumber the contestants and will spread the word more rapidly than wildfire!  Get into conversation with a
dedicated dancer and you will discover in no time that they think everyone they know should join them on the dance floor.  And, most importantly, they will share the story and source (sponsor/provider) of their dance journey to anyone who will listen.

PARTNERING VENUES
Frequently Tour de Dance will partner with existing, highly successful venues which act as hosts for the Dance Program.  Hosting venues for the Tour de Dance program are chosen carefully for their longevity and historical success as well as compatibility with the event. 

DIRECTOR OF PROJECT
The Director of Tour de Dance project is Mary Lou Kaye who developed the basic format of the contest almost 25 years ago.  The contests are so well-received that in all that time there has never been a complaint about one of the events.  The competitors enjoy and learn from the event…..and the audience is educated and entertained.  What a combination !!!

■ Has been teaching in her own studio in Illinois and Arizona since 1965;

■ Has taught and organized dance contests at festivals in:

■ And in addition to establishing Good Times, An Event Planning Concern in 1975, has been Events Coordinator at the following events:

                        National Polka Festival  (NY)
                        Music and Dance Festival  (MI)
                        Grand Hotel  (Mackinaw Island—MI)
                        Sugar Loaf Resort  (MI)
                        Lawrence Welk Resort  (MO)

■ She has produced 5 instructional dance videos which are currently available around the country.  They are marketed through the Reader’s Digest Association, Book-of-the-Month Club and many other distributors.  They can also be found in libraries through out the United States and Canada.