frontlines

Ballroom
Dance Champ
At Age 8

A Fact
A Day

Jacob Welch
collects , more of
ff 'CN
his 18 Ill ribbons.

Barbara Lewis
I Contributing Writer

first in all 18 dances.
The Motown Showdown attracted
160 contestants. The competition was
Bloomfield Hills third-grad-
produced by Blake Kish, owner of
er is on his
Birmingham Ballroom
in Birmingham, who
way to becom-
ing a ballroom dancing
hopes it will become
phenom.
an annual event.
Jacob Welch, 8, took
For Jacob, the road
his dancing teacher's
to ballroom suc-
suggestion and entered
cess started with a
the Motown Showdown,
mother-son dance at
a three-day profes-
his school, Eastover
sional and amateur
Elementary in
competition held in late
Bloomfield Hills. He
September at the Adoba
was a little nervous
Hotel in Dearborn.
about dancing in
Partnered by his
front of others, said
teacher, Meredith
his mother, Elizabeth
Watkins of Metro
"Libby" Welch.
Detroit Ballroom, Jacob
Jacob's grand-
danced the waltz, tango
parents,
Susan and
Jacob Welch and partner/
and foxtrot in two age
Robert
Paletz
of
teacher Mer edith Watkins
groups (12 and Under
Farmington Hills,
and Junior) in each of
were taking ballroom
three proficiency groups (newcomer,
dance lessons and offered to give one
novice and preliminary bronze). The
of their sessions to Jacob. That was in
panel of professional judges rated him
March.

A

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"He went to the lesson, learned a
few steps and just loved it," said Jacob's
dad, Matthew Welch.
Jacob, who also attends Sunday
school at Temple Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield, asked his parents if he
could continue lessons.
In May, his teacher, Watkins, told the
family about the Motown Showdown
competition and suggested Jacob enter.
For two months, he increased his les-
sons to two a week.
Jacob practiced diligently.
"He worked really hard to get his
routines down," said Libby Welch.
"We're really proud of him."
Jacob's teacher says he's really easy
to work with. "He's very disciplined
and has a lot of focus for an 8-year-old
kid," Watkins said. "I'm very proud of
him. He's a very promising student."
Jacob says ballroom dancing is fun.
"It makes me feel happy and excit-
ed," he said. "Even if it's hard, I just
have fun."
He's already looking forward to next
year's competition.

❑

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5-11 Kislev 5775 Vol. CXLVI, No. 16

Next Generation
28
Obituaries
94
Out & About
78
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26
Red Thread
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Staff Box/Phone List. .6
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76
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75

Shabbat Lights

Shabbat: Friday, Nov. 28, 4:43 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Nov. 29, 5:48 p.m.

Shabbat: Friday, Dec. 5, 4:41 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, Dec. 6, 5:47 p.m.

Times are from Yeshiva Beth Yehudah calendar.

Columnist
Danny Raskin

84

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D

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These tidbits
from history are
cited for all 365
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Currents Art
Calendar.
The calendar
also features
a stunning
array of essays,
poems and artwork by more than
50 Jewish artists that reflect Jewish,
American, universal and seasonal
themes.
"The Jewish Currents Arts Calendar
showcases the efforts of wonderful peo-
ple, past and present, and offers inspira-
tion by some 50 artists and writers who
are striving to live both responsively and
responsibly:' said Lawrence Bush, editor
of Jewish Currents.
Bush provides the calendar with
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pages titled "Jewish Troublemakers in
America: which details and analyzes
the Jewish contribution to progressive
American political and cultural move-
ments over the course of two centuries.
The calendar features poetry from
Esther Cohen, Judith Kerman, Jessica G.
de Koninck, Marc Jampole and Sparrow,
among many other writers, and visual
art and photography by Quimetta Perle,
Harry Wilks, Matthew Septimus and
Mae Rockland Tupa, among many other
noted and notable artists.
Each month features a full-page work
of art, a calendar grid and two additional
pages of writing, thematically linked to
the seasons, the Jewish holidays and the
human life cycle.
The calendar also serves as the Winter
2014-15 issue of Jewish Currents maga-
zine.
Order the calendar at jewishcurrents.
bigcartel.com for $16.95.

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November 27 • 2014

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