Young Adults--1st Place Winners--Randy and Tiara
WRITTEN BY MARCIA DIANE FOSTER
Randy Portis and Tiara McCoy
Randy, Tiara, and Brad with the Trophy
Front row, l-r, Tia (Randy's primary partner), Randy, Tiara, Brad, and Alexis (Randy's mom). Back row, l-r, Mary (Tiara's mom) and Marie (Tia's grandmother.)
Congratulations to "ALL" of the
Youth/Young Adults
that participated at the 2009 U.S. Open!
I would like to follow-up this article with one about the entire youth/young adult hand dance group; however, I will need to coordinate, arrange, and schedule timeframe's with their mentor, Lawrence Bradford.
I am writing this story about Randy and Tiara because I think they challenged themselves by entering the Junior Strictly Swing category and was shocked when they won 1st place.  When I was at the U.S. Open in 2002, it was the best image that I could have ever locked into my mind.  Those West Coast Swing Dancers truly put on a show.
It was a rainy, snowy Saturday morning in January 2009 and the advanced hand dance class was in session at the Eclipse.  Lawrence "Brad"  Bradford was instructing the students and JoJo Nelson was handling the door.  I made an appointment to interview Randy and Tiara (with their moms) in the card room at 11:00 am.  Randy was the only one on time.  He approached me like a gentleman and introduced himself.  My perception of him is that he is a take charge type young man.  He, immediately, called the other interviewees to inform them that we were going to start.  Then he and I had an interesting conversation.

RANDY PORTIS:   Randy is 16 years old, born December 19 (Sagittarius), very humanitarian.  He is in the 11th grade and goes to Lab School in Washington, D.C.  He plans to go to college and major in engineering and minor in teaching.  His back-up plan includes being a firefighter in the Air Force.  After he has accomplished his career and acquires his personal possessions, then he will start his family life.  Randy started dancing when he was nine (9) years old.  He said he will never stop dancing!  Tia Quandra is his primary partner.  Randy stated that the DC/MD/VA youth/young adult Hand Dance group, under the direction of Brad, is a family and they dance with one another all of the time.  I got the impression that he really likes it.  Randy was one of the six (6) youth/young adults to receive a NHDA financial sponsorship which consisted of funds from the hand dance community and others. The sponsorship paid for the majority of his expenses to California and the U.S. Open.  All of the interested youth/young adults had to compete in a hand dance competition to win a financial sponsorship.  They called the competition a "dance off".  We all agreed that it could have been better organized and we all agreed that Brad should have been involved.  
TIARA MCCOY:   Tiara came in later.  She is 18 years old, born July 15 (Cancerian).  She was dressed beautifully coordinated.  Her primary dance partner is Justin Spencer.  She volunteered in Registration at the TriState Connection, SLYDE, competition this past September.  We can't hide the fact that Tiara had to deal with a little controversy for the last couple of months before the U.S. Open.  She also competed in the "dance off" (Part 1).  However, she had an appointment to compete in the Miss D.C. Teen Pageant, at the same time, a mandatory dance "heat" category of the "dance off" (Part 2) was scheduled.  Tiara made a decision to compete in the Pageant.  So she did not receive any NHDA financial sponsorship.  There was controversy around this issue because her mother, Mary Howard, insist that there was a communications problem between her daughter and the NHDA.  The President of the NHDA, Beverly Lindsey-Johnson, stated that all of the contestants were aware of the rules and regulations surrounding the "dance off".  Additionally, the NHDA had to adhere to the rules and regulations written for the "dance off".  Tiara is considered a young adult in the hand dance community, however, legally since she is 18 years of age and considered a woman--responsible and accountable for her decisions.  Never the less, she received funding from the hand dance community.   I asked her how did she handled the adversity.  Her emotions were in tact and she spoke very mature.  When she responded to me, she looked directly at me and kept her concentration until she finished what she had to say.  The gist of what she said was that the situation made her feel sad but she couldn't dwell on it because her health is too important.  Then she went to California to the U.S. Open and won 1st place in a "swing" contest with Randy.  Now, tell me that's not God's power! 
THE DANCE:   First off, I wanted to know about those splits that were so cool, awesome, and unique.  I wanted to know if Randy had planned them.  Using his jovial personality, he said, "no, I didn't plan it, I needed to do something quick.  They told me that the category was suppose to be
a--heat--but it was change at the last minutes to a--solo".   They said they were a little nervous because now they had to dance on the floor by themselves.  They were very articulate about explaining those precious moments.  After the performance, Randy said he went to sit next to Brad.  The master of ceremonies announced the winners of the Junior Strictly Swing category--Tiara McCoy and Randy Portis--1st place.  Randy said that Brad and him reared back and looked at each other in amazement.  Brad is their leader, instructor, friend, supporter, and he is affectionately called "The Grandfather of Hand Dance".  Those youth/young adults grew up with Brad and they respect, love, and admire him.  Randy mentioned that Brad prepped him and the rest of the dancers for the U.S. Open.
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO RANDY'S MOM, ALEXIS WRIGHT-PORTIS AND TIARA'S MOM, MARY HOWARD FOR BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE PARENTS AND LETTING THEIR CHILDREN PARTICIPANT IN THIS LEGACY. 
MAY YOU ALWAYS BE BLESSED!  NOW, HAVE A SMOOTHIE ON ME......
LAWRENCE "BRAD" BRADFORD:   I asked Brad to comment on the experience and this is what he said:  "This is a team effort.  One of the indications that really demonstrated that it was a team effort was the fact that Randy and Tiara are not each other's primary partner.  It goes to show you that they work very closely together as a group.  We have been doing that for a while and we intend to continue.  Actually, to me this was more than I was anticipating.  My expectations of  going out there had to do with accumulating a certain amount of experience, exposure, and an indication and awareness of things that take place at high-level competitions.  My major objective was achieved.  To put icing on the cake, with the efforts of the young folks,  I frankly think, that had it not been for some misses that occurred in everyone of our young peoples' routine, we would have faired quite well.  Those misses were expected because it was the first time out.  So now we realize how much work has to be done.   I don't think anyone of them are under the illusion that they can rest on this because they know that their competitors are working, already.  I got up on Sunday morning and was walking down the hall and the person who won 1st place in the young adults category was evaluating his routine-and-getting ready for his next competition and that was the morning after.  That gives you some idea how serious they take this.  We learned a lot and gained a lot and I think the trip and experience was an overwhelming success."
NATIONAL HAND DANCE ASSOCIATION (NHDA):   I asked Beverly to give a comment, also, and this is what she said: "The National Hand Dance Association (NHDA) sponsored six youths who competed in the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championship through the organization's Youth Sponsorship Project.  Two of the six youth mentioned in this article, Randy Portis and his primary partner, Tia Quander were recipients of the sponsorship.  NHDA was proud of all of the youth, young adults and adults who journeyed to compete in the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships, as they danced with their hearts, bodies and souls."  A special thank you goes out to the NHDA Board of Directors, Officers, Members, and support team!  You are a new day and looking good!

On a personal note , I know  I have just experienced a rare love.  A hand dance community came together and financially supported and prepared more than six youth/young adults to go to the U.S. Open in California to keep hand dance alive.  And that they did.  I am truly impressed.  All of us need to hug ourselves for this one because the entire process was beautiful and successful.  I would like to commend Beverly Lindsey-Johnson for her persistence, determination, special contacts, patience, and for obtaining the finances for making this special dream come true.  I would like to commend Lawrence Bradford for being the hardest working person in hand dance but always having the time for the youth and young adults.   I know he spent many, many hours prepping them for the US Open.  I didn't see them perform there but I saw them perform at the graduation and I was amazed at how professional they are becoming.  I would like to remind the youth and young adults that being "appreciative" is an admirable quality.  Love, Marcia