Belles Run Philadelphia 2019
36th Annual IAGSDC convention
Dates: 04-07 Jul 2019
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Host hotel/venues: Philadelphia 201
Hosting club: Independence Squares
Convention committee title: Dance for Independence, Inc.
Convention committee members: Norma Beard, Dane Bragg, Donna Bragg, Ed Guckin, Will Hamp, Fred Harke, Ellen Yezzi
Calling staff:
- Sandie Bryant
- Vic Ceder
- Barry Clasper
- Bill Eyler
- Darren Gallina
- Betsy Gotta
- Dayle Hodge
- Geo Jedlicka
- Michael Kellogg
- Harlan Kerr
- Ett McAtee
- Don Moger
- Chris Phillips
- Anne Uebelacker
- Trail-in dance called by Hunter Keller
Sound staff:
Vendor list:
Fun Badge Tour stops and highlights:
- Penn's Landing
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Belmont Mansion (no dancing)
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
Pre/Post convention events & tours:
- Markets, Mosaics, and Magic Walking Tour
- Lancaster/Amish Country Country Bus Tour
- Street Food for Thought (Food Truck) Walking Tour
- City Overview Bus Tour
- History in HD Walking Tour
- Mural Segway Tour
- Italian Market Immersion Walking Tour
- Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner and Square Dancing Cruise
Notable Notes and Highlights:
- an ambassador, Belle Run, was created to promote the convention
- Saturday night contra dance with caller Donna Hunt and music Coracree
- Kaleidoscope tip called by Bill Eyler during the Grand Finale
- Sunday night square dance cruise with caller Howard Richman
Specialty Tips: (as listed on convention schedule)
- Bear Tip
- Concentric World
- Heritage Tip
- It's Later
- Leather Tip
- Long Hair Tip
- Magic Underpants Tip
- Medallion Tip
- Memorial Tip
- Moonshine Tip
- No Touch Tip
- Out of the Darkness Tip
- Pop Star Patter Tip
- Redwood Tip
- Venus & Mars
- Women's Tip
IAGSDC officers:
IAGSDC meeting notes:
Attendance: 762
Attending clubs:
Honky Tonk Queen winner: Ida Dunham
Golden Boot Award: presented to Allan Hurst by Pam Clasper and Barry Clasper
10 Year Medallions - Recipients: 30
20 Year Medallions - Recipients: 28
25 Year Medallions - Recipients: 9
30 Year Medallions - Recipients: 4
Newsletter: "The Towne Crier"
- Issue #1 (Nov 2017)
- Issue #2 (Mar 2018)
- Issue #3 (May 2018)
- Issue #4 (Jul 2018)
- Issue #5 (Oct 2018)
- Issue #6 (Dec 2018)
- Issue #6a (Jan 2019)
- Issue #7 (Mar 2019)
- Issue #7a Hotel Update (May 2019)
- Issue #8 (May 2019)
- Issue #8a Tours (May 2019)
- Issue #8b VisitPhilly (May 2019)
Ephemera:
Convention Banner
Convention pin
Magnet
Magnet (Fun Badge Tour)
Calling staff
External Links:
- Convention website via archive.org
- Facebook group
- AP article - 'Gay square dancers add new spin to centuries-old dance style'
- CBS Philly coverage - 'The Most Fun You Can Have Standing Up'
- The Philadelphia Inquirer article - 'It's the world's best-kept secret'
- KYW Newsradio coverage - 'Hundreds converge on Philly for international gay square dance convention'
- Local radio WHYY coverage - 'Swing Those Partners'
- Philadelphiua Gay News article - 'Gay Square-Dance Con Will Do-Si-Do To Philly'
- WWDB-AM Talk 860 coverage - 'Outside the Box'
