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Henry is a native Californian, born in Saratoga, CA. He has spent most of life in Fremont, CA., having graduated from Mission San Jose High School and from Ohlone College with a degree of Associate In Arts Natural Science with Honors. Presently, He works as a Physical Therapy Aide at the Kaiser Permanente in Hayward, CA. Henry's career objective is Physical Rehabilitation and he plans to specialize in Pediatric Rehabilitation.  Henry has always been interested in Country and Western dancing. He says both his parents and grandparents danced Country and Western and it was their influence that got him started in it. Henry began taking dance lessons when his best friend Christine, thought he was studying too hard with his studies and felt that he deserved to have some fun too. So she showed him an advertisement for lessons at the Swiss Park in Newark, California. On August 6, 1997 Henry attended his first line dance class learning "Traveling Four Corners" and "Diamonds Are Forever" from legendary line dance choreographers and instructors Charlotte Skeeters and Neil Hale and has been hooked ever since. Henry said, "I was very fortunate and lucky to have learned from two of the best ever in Neil Hale and Charlotte Skeeters. They were a big influence in my dancing career and have both been positive role models to me".   (top left) You Know I Love You Step Description, (top center) Dance Lesson Flyer, (top right) Swiss Park Dance Schedule, (bottom left) Country Hustlers Newsletter - July 1998, (bottom center) Dixie Chicks I Can Love You Better CD Single, (bottom left) The Roundup Mar. 1998 Vol. 8 Iss. 3 - Boots & Buckles Newsletter With the influence of his instructors and his heart's desire, Henry choreographed his first dance ever to a Dixie Chicks song. Henry heard the wonderful vocals and music of this up and coming group and thinking they would be country music next big act choreographed his first dance "You Know I Love You" on Dec. 19, 1997 only months after his first dance lesson. It became a big hit with dancer's and was taught by Henry at various locations which included: Connie Silva's dance classes in Hayward, CA., Swiss Park in Newark, CA., Country Hustler's Dance Club in Danville, CA., Cowboy Country Club in Pleasanton, CA., The dance was one of the first to have a message in sign language "I Love You" included with the steps.  Henry enter's his first dance competiton in September of 1998 winning 1st Place Free Style - Novice and 2nd Place Overall - Level III. The event was held at the Radisson Hotel in Union City, CA.  In May of 1999, He premiered his official web site Hopping Mad! Henry Costa's Line Dance Page. Henry also has created the Written/Visual Step Description, which was first seen at the premiere of "Hopping Mad!" on May 5, 1999 at Swiss Park. The purpose of creating this was to make step descriptions easier to read and to learn from, for the beginner dancer, as well as all level dancers.  Henry's dance Velvet Virgin was used at the CWDI'S Mataatua Whipcrackers 1999 in Kawerau, New Zealand as a competition dance. Henry premiered "Velvet Virgin" at Swiss Park located in Newark, CA. on his birthday Feb. 8th. Henry also taught it at the 6th Annual Motherlode Line Dance Festival in Sonora, CA. Henry's best year was in the year 2000 because of all the wonderful dancers all over the world who have taught his many dances not only here in the United States but also in England, Netherlands, Canada, Austria, Finland, Germany, Australia, China, Japan, and New Zealand. Henry started the year by attending the 7th Annual Mother Lode Line Dance Festival in Sonora,CA. where he premiered his newest dance Love Struck Kid which the dancers loved. Also weeks after the event Henry went on a 6 city/5 day dance tour of Southern California between the dates of March 19-24th. Henry taught four of his popular dances: "Hopping Mad!", "Inferno", "Freedom", and "Love Struck Kid". The tour consisted of the following cities, Tujunga, San Dimas, Costa Mesa, Torrance, Monrovia, and Burbank. Henry stated, "The tour was lots of fun and the dancers of Southern California where wonderful to me, giving warm welcomes in every city I attended".  After Henry returned from his very successful Southern California Tour he was asked by Stephen Young, manager for Country singer J.W Houston to choreograph some official dances for J.W.'s upcoming album "Sidewinder" to be released sometime in the summer of 2000. Henry put together two dances "Cowgirl Mansion" and "I'm Onto You" for the upcoming project. On June 3, 2000 Henry premiered the two new dances from J.W. Houston's new album "Sidewinder" at the 4th Annual Boots "N" Buckles Workshop & Dance. This would be the first time that dancers here the Western United States would hear J.W.'s music. The dancers loved J.W. Houston's music and the two new dances Henry choreographed for the album.  In July, Dance4U Magazine in the U.K. published Henry's hit dance "Cowgirl Mansion". Also in July, Henry became the line dance instructor at Two Left Feet located in Danville, CA. On August 19 & 20, Dance Teacher Magazine presented "Teach Healthy Dance Smart" Summer Conference at the Long Beach Hilton in Long Beach, CA. which Henry attended. In November Linedancer Magazine announced nominations for it's Annual Crystal Boot Awards. Henry was nominated for 4 awards including Dance Personality of the Year, International Instructor of the Year, International Choreographer of the Year, and Dance of the Year for "Cowgirl Mansion". Henry was very honored that it was the members of the dancing community, which made the nominations. In May 2001, Dance Teacher Magazine's Dance Wire featured Henry in the article Line Dancer's Boom Year. MAY 2001 DANCE TEACHER MAGAZINE - DANCE WIRE ARTICLE Line Dancer's Boon Year Line dancer Henry Costa is counting his blessings. While his line dances are being taught all over the United States, England, Netherlands, Canada, Austria, Finland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, Costa was nominated this year for four Crystal Boot Awards from Linedance Magazine in the United Kingdom. Although he didn't win, he was honored to be included in the awards and to have the respect of members of the dance community all over the world. During the last twelve months, Costa premiered his newest dance. Love Struck Kid, at the Seventh Annual Mother Lode Line Dance Festival in Sonora, California. He put together two new official dances for J.W. Houston's upcoming album and premiered these dances at the Fourth Annual Boots 'N' Buckles Dance Workshop. And, he adds, he attended Dance Teacher's Teach Healthy Dance Smart summer conference in Long Beach, California. |
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