Established in 1995, the USA Grand National Dance Championship was created by the legends, Charlie Womble and Jackie McGee. They wanted to create an opportunity for others to become champions and to witness two dance communities come together as friends and lovers of dance, regardless of style. They were event directors for 16 amazing years.  In 2011, Charlie and Jackie passed the torch to Michael and LeAnn Norris.

 

Michael and LeAnn have been dance partners in the Carolina Shag for 25 years, winning for the first time in the Junior I Division of the National Shag Dance Championships in 1994. They are 9 time National Shag Dance Champions and 4 time Overall Champions. They are the first Junior Couple to ever win the Overall Champion title.

 

In 1995, they were the first junior couple to win the USA Grand National Dance Championship Junior Shag Division. They went on to win 2 titles in the Junior Shag Division, 8 titles in the Carolina Classic Division, and 7 Team Division titles at the USA Grand Nationals. Michael is also an accomplished professional "Swing" dancer, winning the US Open in 1999 with partner Ginger Pickerel and 2007 with Kellese Key. Michael and Kellese also won the 2007 Classic Division at the USA Grand Nationals and subsequently named, "Impact Couple of the Year." In 2009, Michael and LeAnn won the Shag Division at the US Open Swing Dance Championships for the 7th time and are 2-time TEAM Swing Challenge Champions.