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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNomination Form SubmissionQ1: Your Name Rebecca Ballotta Q2: Your Email Address rebecca.ballotta@gmail.com Q3: Phone Number Skipped Q4: Name of Nominee (Property, Project, Group, or Individual) Ballroom Dance Bozeman Q5: Address/Location (if applicable) Skipped Q6: Award Category Cultural Heritage Q7: Statement of Merit - Why do you believe this nominee deserves a Historic Preservation Award? The roots of the nonprofit organization Ballroom Dance Bozeman can be traced back to at least 1945 (if not earlier), when they began holding exclusive monthly formal dinner-dances in the grand ballroom at the old Elks lodge on the corner of Black and Babcock (see uploaded Bozeman Daily Chronicle article dated December 29, 2005). They called themselves Formal Dance Club, later evolved into Bozeman Formal Dance Club, and eventually changed their name to Ballroom Dance Bozeman to be more inclusive. See the uploaded Bozeman Magazine article dated February 1, 2021 and the uploaded Bozeman City Lifestyle Magazine article dated August 2022 for even more details. Ballroom Dance Bozeman has continued to diligently preserve and advance this extraordinary 80-year-old legacy without interruption—until Covid, when everything got shut up tightly. However, the board of directors continued to meet regularly and even planned a tentative 2020-21 dance season, to be ready in case things opened up in time. Obviously, things didn’t open up until the middle of 2021, but Ballroom Dance Bozeman jumped right back in with a 2021-22 season and continues on to this day. However, if it wasn’t for Ballroom Dance Bozeman’s current board president, Rebecca Ballotta, this historical gem would not still be here. See the narrative in the separate Historic Preservation Award nomination for Rebecca Ballotta for more information about what happened in 2021 that was almost the demise of this organization, and placed the entire weight of its survival squarely on Rebecca’s shoulders. Ballroom Dance Bozeman deserves a Historic Preservation Award because it’s been serving a unique and rich cultural benefit to Bozeman even longer than the Bozeman Symphony and the Opera Association, yet has remained somewhat of a “best-kept secret.” Let’s put a spotlight on this treasure! Q8: If a Project: Briefly describe the type of work completed. Please include relevant history of the structure (year built, original purpose, etc.) Skipped Q9: If an Individual or Organization : Provide a summary of contributions to local history and how they promote cultural heritage. Contributions to Local History: The existence and practice of ballroom dancing provide a tangible record of past social activities and cultural expressions that might otherwise be lost. Ballroom Dance Bozeman contributes to local history by acting as that record of the community's social customs, values, and evolving cultural expressions through the dances themselves and the social events they are a part of. Ballroom dance serves as a medium for passing down cultural knowledge and traditions from one generation to the next, creating a living legacy. Promoting Cultural Heritage: As mentioned in the Statement of Merit, Ballroom Dance Bozeman has been serving and promoting a unique and rich cultural heritage in Bozeman for the past 80 years. From the early days of the Viennese Waltz in Austria to the vibrant Tango of Argentina, ballroom dance itself has always been a reflection of cultural diversity and artistic expression. Ballroom dancing is in fact a colorful mosaic of the world's cultural heritage. Ballroom Dance Bozeman provides a vital space for people to connect, bond, and form relationships, especially important in an increasingly isolated world. Currently, Ballroom Dance Bozeman hosts at least 7 dances every season (September through May) and also provides classes and workshops. All of their dances include smooth and standard dances such as foxtrot, waltz, Viennese waltz, quickstep, and tango; Latin and rhythm dances such as rumba, cha-cha, east coast swing, salsa, and samba; and club dances such as nightclub two-step and west coast swing. Ballroom dancing is an art form that has endured over time, with its popularity testifying to its ability to captivate and inspire. According to a recent interview with Derek Hough of Dancing with the Stars, social ballroom dancing is not only taking the country by storm, it is taking the world by storm! Ballroom Dance Bozeman has been in the flow of that movement for decades and is fully deserving of a Historic Preservation Award. Q10: Upload photos or supporting documents BznDailyChronicle BDB article-Bozeman Formal Dance Club trips the light fantastic New Year's Eve 12.2005.pdf Q11: Upload photos or supporting documents BDB Article in Bozeman Magazine Let's Dance To Remember 02.01.2020.pdf Q12: Upload photos or supporting documents Bozeman City Lifestyle Magazine BDB article Aug 2022.pdf Q13: Upload photos or supporting documents Ballroom Dance Bozeman Gala-75-group crop-resize 16 mb.jpg Q14: Upload photos or supporting documents Ballroom Dance Bozeman Holiday Party Dance.jpg Q15: Photo Use Permissions I grant permission for the City of Bozeman to use submitted photos in print and digital publications Q16: If you are submitting on behalf of someone else or a property owner, are they aware of the nomination? No Q17: If yes, please provide their contact information (email and/or phone number) Skipped Q18: Are there other people or organizations affiliated with this nomination that you would like to acknowledge? No Q19: If yes, please provide their contact information. Skipped