Special Awards for some of the original Balboa dancers still alive.

Left to right---Natalie Esparza--Hal Takier--Ed Thompson--Maxie Dorf--Bart Bartolo--Inez Thompson.

NOTE: Hal Takier was one of the "Big Four" (along with Maxie, Lolly Wise and Gil Fernandez. Hal was the Runner-up in the "Swingeroo" --- if you don't understand this, you haven't looked at Maxie's photos from the Thirties and Forties

Here is a photo of Maxie dancing with Hal Takier

Maxie says: " Whenever you see me dancing with a 'guy' I'm always following."

Maxie says:" This is from a 1975 Balboa exhibition. I'm following Bart Bartolo."

You DC dancers will recognize Sylvia Sykes from the wonderful lessons that she and her partner Jonathan gave at the Avalon Studio this summer.

This is a truly great photo! Left to right, we have Shirley Fietsam, Maxie Dorf, Jean Veloz and Ray Phelps. Ray is Jean's brother. You can read all about Shirley and her twin sister Sharen in Maxie's photos on The Twins. Our beloved Jean Veloz needs no introduction here in DC, but other readers might like to check out our Interview with Jean Veloz. Jean's brother Ray is distinguished in his own right, and a great picture of him in the 1940s may be found in Maxie' photos from the Thirties and Forties.

This is a photo of Maxie Dorf receiving the Kenny Wetzel Award.

Maxie says: "The San Francisco Bay Swingers honored me with a plaque at their convention. That is Louise Del Carlos next to me."

Mario Robau and Sylvia Sykes lead the Shim Sham

Maxie says: "Shim Sham and Big Apple came West."

We hope you enjoyed this fascinating look at the Living Legends of Swing. Check out these other photo spreads supplied by Maxie Dorf

• The Thirties and Forties
• Mary and Maxie
• The Twins
• Maxie in Action