Suzy & Hondo Dance Studios

ABOUT US

STUDIO FACTS

Our school is located on Tyler Ave SE in Bemidji township. Tucked in the forest surrounded by Poplar, Iron Woods, Oak, Birch and Maple - Suzy and Hondo School of Dance is a 48 x 88 brick fronted building, with a blacktop parking area, 3/10 of a mile south of the intersection of Tyler Ave and Roosevelt Road (County 8). Our School is a Home Business with a geographical address of 3173 Friesland Lane SE and a Tyler Avenue access.

STUDIO MAP

Directions from the north - or through Bemidji: Follow Bemidji Ave/Paul Bunyan Drive SE, go Left at the fork (at the old location of Bemidji Sports Center) following Paul Bunyan SE, turn Left at County Road 8 - aka - Roosevelt Road SE - aka - the Old Cass Lake Hiway, drive 1.8 miles East (passing the Technical College, passing Lake Ave, passing the residential areas) to the FIRST CROSSROADS - Turn Right on Tyler Ave, go South 3/10 of a mile - our BRICK BALLROOM will be on the Right.

Directions from the east - (FROM Cass Lake, Grand Rapids or Duluth direction) - or Hiway 2: Take the first exit in to Bemidji, this will be Paul Bunyan Dr SE, then take the first (hairpin) right on to 23rd Street SE - aka - County 404, drive 1 mile East to the FIRST CROSSROADS, turn Left, travel North on Tyler Ave SE, 7/10 of a mile - the BRICK BALLROOM will be on the Left.

Directions from the south - (FROM Park Rapids, Brainerd, Minneapolis, etc.) and/or Hiway 71/Hiway 197/Washington Ave South: travel North on 71 towards Bemidji, crossing Highway 2 via the overpass, continue 1/2 mile from overpass, to the FIRST CROSSROADS, (intersection of Carr Lake Road/County 404/23rd Street SE, adjacent to Bemidji Town Hall), turn Right - travel East 2 miles (crossing Paul Bunyan Drive SE, past Farr's Auto Body, past the Pipeline, past the Plumbing company) to Tyler Ave SE, turn Left, go North, traveling 7/10 of a mile - the BRICK BALLROOM will be on the Left.

Directions from the west - (FROM the Wilton, Crookston, Grand Forks direction) - or Hiway 2: Take the Park Rapids exit as though you are going to Park Rapids, turn Left instead at the top of the ramp, travel North 1/2 mile, crossing Highway 2 via the overpass, continue to the FIRST CROSSROADS, (the intersection of Carr Lake Road/County404/23rd Street SE, adjacent to Bemidji Town Hall), turn Right - go East 2 miles (crossing Paul Bunyan Drive SE, passing Farrs Auto Body, passing the Pipeline company, passing the Plumbing company) to Tyler Ave SE, turn Left, go North, traveling 7/10 of a mile - the BRICK BALLROOM will be on the Left.

SHOES

Suzy and Hondo School of Dace is an Authorized Dealer of Very Fine Dancesport Shoes - customizable suede sole shoes in the color, material, width, and heel height of your choice. (Otherwise please carry in clean shoes for the dance floor). Shoe policy - we will place a shoe order two times per month, or we can order your shoes immediately by adding a shipping charge. Shoes must be paid for in advance. Once we have a credit card transaction, cash payment, or a cleared check we can place your shoe order.

BIOS

When I asked Suzy what she wanted in her bio, she said, "tell them I am the lazy one that sits around the house." So there you have it!

No, really now, here is what you actually want to know about Suzy:

She is a Scorpio born in the year of the Horse. Her favorite ways to pass the time, other than being with our girls and me, are reading Science Fiction novels, sitting by the lake and redecorating our home.

Suzy is known for her long beautiful black hair, highlighted with wonderful varying streaks of blonde. And her exotic looks are partially a result of her Asian heritage.

Ladies, don't hate her because she is small. Her diminutive Chinese Grandfather and petite Mother are where she gets her physical attributes. She just can't help it! That's all. And wow can she make a cocktail dress look good. Growwwwwlllll!

Oh!

Maybe you wanted some background on her dancing? Ahhhhhhh, now I get it.

Here you go:

In addition to being President in charge of Strategic Oversight at Top of the River, Inc., Suzy is the sole dance instructor at Bemidji State University. Her specialties there include Social Dance, a one-credit course, and Methods of Teaching Rhythms and Dance, a two-credit majors class. Suzy also advises the BSU Dance Team and the campus Swing Dance Club.

Plus! Each April she is Director of the annual BSU Funtastic Dance Follies, a community tradition since 1945-46, and this is in addition to serving on the BSU Homecoming and BSU Snowball committees.

Most importantly, while I may be the talker, she is most assuredly the talent in our duo.

WOW!

Respectfully submitted by: HONDO!

Curriculum Vitae

Me? Writing about myself? Hmmmmm. Maybe the third person will be easier.

Well, here goes.

Hondo was born July 30, 1964 in Fall River Mills, CA. For you Astrological types he is a Leo born in the year of the Dragon. So, according to that, he will be leading the way or completely down for the count. And, as such, will need lots and lots of attention. Sound familiar to anyone?

Offsetting his "non-stop" nature is a tendency to be shy and withdrawn at times. So you get both extremes - the bouncing off the walls supercharged Marvel comic book character or the observing, reflective, introspective, philosophical, bookish, casual wannabe Jamaerican.

Whoa - that's a lot to say. And, all of it, I must say, without saying the word I. Ah nuts, almost made it! Saaaaaay, that was a dangling participle, wasn't it? Nobody's perfect.

Now, Hondo's greatest dream, other than having a ridiculously happy family, is to teach dancing in northern Minnesota, while traveling two months of the year to warm beachside locales teaching and performing with Suzy. We're talking LA, Miami, San Diego, Vegas maybe, or even Cuba, France, Greece. Can you dig that? I know that you could. Wow, what a vision!

Okay, okay okay. Now, about the dancing.

But - maybe a bit of background first.

Hondo started dancing in 1989, when he enrolled in Basics of Social Dancing at Bemidji State University. The course was taught by the legendary Marion (Mrs. C.) Christianson. At the completion of the class he was asked to join the BSU Funtastic Dance Follies annual production, (they REALLY needed guys) and danced a Waltz and a Latin Mixer. Yay! Dancing in front of people even. That summer Suzy and he started dating, became engaged in Hong Kong - 1992, and got married four months later.

Together now Suzy and Hondo started teaching with Mrs. C. (Suzy's Mom by the way), and upon her retirement in 1995 began teaching private lessons and community education classes on their own. In 1998 they decided to turn their love into a Hobby Business and formed Top of the River Social Dance Studios.

Okay okay back to the bio.

As the CEO (Chief Entertainment Officer) of Top of the River, Inc., Hondo is responsible for the ideas and creative elements that make up the Classes, Social Dances and Clinics sponsored by Top of the River. While the President approves all of the curriculum, play-lists and strategies, the ideas (good, bad or otherwise) start with him. So far Hondo's percentages, respectively, are about 20%, 40%, 40%. But, bless her heart; Suzy patiently listens to each and every idea, (even the one about bikinis cigarettes and beer), before imparting her perfect wisdom. (Can you tell she is approving this as well)?

And this is how the well-oiled Top of the River machine works. Hondo comes up with the ideas and the plans and Suzy shoots them down, er, um, provides her words of support and wisdom, then shoots them down, er, sometimes she smiles and says "Okay go with it." Then we know we have a WINNER! Hooray!

uh-oh, what's this?

.da.da.dt.dt.da.da.da.dt.dt.dt, this just in, da.da.dt.dt, we interrupt this bio, da.da.dt.dt, and heeeeeeeeeeeere's Suzy:

Okay! Hondo got his shot at my bio - so here's my two cents...hee hee hee...

Hondo is DEFINITELY the talker in this duo! But he's also the one that people gravitate to and love to visit with. He's extremely fun-loving...somewhat crazy...and totally unpredictable! (I was told that, "I would never be bored" around him...Boy! Were they right)! And he looks so good in his suits! Hondo is anything but the ordinary "run-of-the-mill" kind of guy - he's great!

With that, I now return you to your previously scheduled program - Suzy

So there you have it!

Oh, you know what, let me add one more thing. We are often asked why we don't compete as dancers. And our honest and heartfelt answer is this.

"The accolades we might achieve from any judge would pale in comparison to the reward inherent in watching beginners becoming comfortable on the dance floor."

The smiles are what we strive for and so far we have been blessed beyond our wildest dreams. So you can bank on this promise, I will always work my hardest, and Suzy will always endeavor, to make any learning experience from us something to enjoy, treasure and remember.

NOW you have it!

YAY!

Respectfully submitted by: HONDO!