Dancing on Top of the World!

....Or at least as geographically close to the top of the world as I will probably get!

Welcome to one of my best dance adventures yet! The new job I started back in June requires that I travel around the country to train clients. Well, I haven't done much traveling until recently when our client up in Anchorage Alaska of all places needed some refresher training. I decided to use the opportunity to see what kind of dancing happens in other parts of the country. I'm hoping to be able to do this in most areas of the country I travel to... but this one was especially important... come on it's ALASKA!!!

I started trying to contact the Fred Astaire in Anchorage a few weeks before I left... sadly they didn't return my calls, but I can be rather persistent when it comes to things that are important to me... such as dancing. I also looked about for any Salsa that might be had... I may have found one club, but my work schedule wouldn't permit me to do something like that (reporting to work at 7:30 am when your body has NO IDEA what time it is limits one's social opportunities). Alaska is 3 hours behind Chicago time so it makes the whole figuring out business hours when calling a little math intensive, so I decided to try and call the Fred Astaire once I actually arrived in Anchorage.

What luck! I got a very nice gentleman on the phone Monday night... my original goal was to try and have a pick up lesson of sorts with one of their instructors. I didn't even think that they would have a party of any sort as I was only in town from Monday night to Friday morning. When I spoke with him he stated that they only had the one teacher right now, and that a lesson wouldn't be possible. He then asked me to call back when the manager was available (in about an hour) so I did. I spoke to a lovely sounding gal who let me know the particulars. She confirmed that I wouldn't be able to have a lesson, but that they were having a practice party from 8-9pm on that Thursday night. She too sounded a bit anxious about my attending the party. I knew exactly how to solve that problem!

"I know, I dance at Fred Astaire Chicago North... Top Studio and all that, but seriously I'm not one of their competitive students or anything... I can prove it.. I dance ballroom in jazz shoes. My whole goal with dancing is self improvement and to get on as many dance floors as I can!"

I was advised that most of the students would be newer and hadn't been taking lessons as long as I have... which I was actually excited about.

"No worries," I tell her "Newbies are my specialty! I'd love to attend!"

Instantly all the apprehension was gone from her voice and I got all the particulars for the party. YEA!!! Something to look forward to, which actually ended up being perfect because my work week was one of the most stressful I've ever had.

Thursday night rolled around and it was my most stressful work day yet... 10 hours, no lunch, late back to the hotel... just enough time to grab a quick snack and change. I arrived at the studio a bit early, in time to catch the tail end of a beginner group class of about 12 people, all couples from what I could tell, and they were learning Night Club Two Step. They were so adorable! I personally didn't know this dance so I was watching to see if I'd be able to follow it ok... it seemed pretty straight forward. It got me to thinking though... if this studio was doing Night Club Two Step...what other social dances were they learning that I didn't even know!

I took a moment to absorb my surroundings... the studio had a very classroom feel to it. The dance floor was about the same size as my home studio, they had one mirror, and another that appeared to be set up for picture taking, rather than the wood floor that I'm more accustomed to they had a tile floor that was the same type you'd find in a grade school... I quickly tested the friction with my shoes, this wasn't going to go well at all if I was going to be sticking for the whole party! Not that I even expected to dance much, I know how this works... new person to an established social group, I'd be lucky to get one or two dances in. Still I was glad to be in a dance studio I instantly felt less stressed than I was earlier that day.

I had run to the washroom and then to chat with the gentleman I had spoken to on the phone while class was wrapping up. Upon my return the class was writing what they had learned into their dance binders. (Another new observation for me, as my instructors are the only two that have ever written in my binder). I was in the process of moving my belongings from being in a student's way when the instructor/manager stopped me.

"No don't run away now!" She stated excitedly!

"No... I wasn't... I just....I wanted to move my... (she hangs on to my arm)..ok I'm not going anywhere then." I was a little embarrassed that she was making an example out of me in front of everyone... I really didn't know what to expect!

"Everyone, this is Kat." She announces "She dances at a Fred Astaire in Chicago, so see when you all travel you can look to see if there is a Fred Astaire in the area and call to see if you can dance there. Now she's been taking lessons for a while..but don't be afraid to ask her to dance." This gal is still hanging on to my arm and I realize that the whole class is suddenly very keyed into what I have to say.

So I follow up with "Hi everyone! Yes, I've been dancing for a while, but I have to be honest...I've never done that two-step ya'll were learning...so I'm excited to see if I can follow that!"

Oh dear oh dear! Where I was hoping I could blend into the crowd, I was instead made an example of... here we go... not only am I representing myself, but I'm now representing my studio... and in fact helping everyone here develop an opinion about ballroom dancers from Chicago too! No pressure...

The instructor then turned on the party lights, which was dimmed lighting and a disco ball... cool! Our studio doesn't have a disco ball! The gentleman from behind the desk had put on some dance shoes and turns out he's one of the more advanced students! He picked me up first for a Fox Trot... ok.. that's pretty much the same everywhere you go so we did that... I think he was maybe used to leading the gals that knew a certain pattern because I missed some of his leads, and they don't do the same types of steps I had learned...maybe Fred Astaire has a separate syllabus for studios that do social dancing exclusively. I didn't know... I was just happy to dance.

Then there was Waltz...that was VERY different... where I'm used to the basic box getting us around the floor, here they primarily keep in place and use a specific step, that I've never been very good at, to travel around the floor... it took me a second, but I got the hang of it!

And then we hit the scary part of the evening... Night Club Two-Step... I was shown and thankfully could follow...I even managed to pick up timing on the turns without any help! RT and Largo would have been proud. I don't usually pick up on stuff that fast, but I guess when I'm forced to be left up to my own learning devices I'm not such a slow learner for the basic stuff!

Following Night Club Two-step was Country Two-Step...which I had done before, but it's been more than a year, so I tried to pick up on that... basic went ok... turns were a little harder...they have to be QUICK! And the more advanced student who was kind enough to walk me through this stuff was pulling some more advanced, but followable stuff... I would get almost to the end of the sequence and even I was almost convinced I had it right...and THEN I would screw it all up. But it was so much fun!

They also played some East Coast Swing... here's where I became the knowledgeable one... I can swing with just about anyone and back lead into two or three steps that really make the newer leaders feel pretty good about their dancing. I loved that! I had one leader in particular that was very interested in what he was supposed to do during all of my back leading, so I told him "Just keep your triple step and your rock step going, I only know how to back lead the steps where I do all the work!" He found that very amusing.

Third new to me dance was Polka... uh oh... I remember MSU telling me it was easy a long time ago... just triple step, no rock step...but I'd never actually done it before! Thankfully MSU was right...and Polka is easy, I'm really glad I can say that I know how to do it now!

I tried to get pictures of folks dancing, I did... I must have picked up my camera half a dozen times trying to get some shots of the students doing their thing, and as soon as I'd have it turned on another gentleman would ask me for a dance. WAY too much fun!! Not to mention EXACTLY what I needed, without that I would have had no stress relief from my week before my long flight home!

After the party I was talking with some of the students and explained my personal reasons for dancing, and why I thought it so important to look them up so I could try and see about other studios and the more variety to my dancing the better I get! Not to mention that the happiest people I've ever met are on a dance floor!

Thank you Fred Astaire Anchorage for a lovely time! If you're ever in my neck of the woods be sure to let me know!

Lessons before the Holiday...

Well it feels like forever since my last set of lessons! This was the second week of December. I had two lessons scheduled because I would be out for work the following week (which I will explain later).

First lesson up that week was with Largo... We worked on Cha Cha, Rumba, and a lot of Salsa. It was perfect.

I was accused of spinning on my heels... when I was trying to get a spin done on time in Cha Cha.
I did the spin and Largo watched...
"Ah ha! I know why... you spin on your heel."
I immediately retort "I do NOT spin on my heels! I have never spun on my heels ever!"

"You do.. I just SAW IT!"

"I don't care what you think you saw... I do not spin on my heels!"

(What I like about arguing with Largo is he gets in my face as much as I get into his....makes for some fun)

So after I am so passionately denying the spinning on my heels... Largo backs down and more calmly states.. "Ok...well maybe your whole foot."

"Ok..that's better, I will admit to spinning on my whole foot." We're both back to normal calm tones now.

Then Largo says "Don't... Spin on [the] front part of your foot...not whole."

Which immediately brings to my mind all the many many hours I've spent trying not to pop up on my toes to spin... and now I'm being told to spin on the ball of my foot... UGH! Rather than start a whole other argument of which I'm sure I'll lose.. I just make a mental note to try and spin on the balls of my feet without actually popping up. I tried it... and what do you know? Largo was right it is easier to finish that spin on time when I keep my weight more forward. Grrr... I hate it when my teachers are right... well more accurately I hate it when I'm so blatantly wrong.

Later in the lesson when we were working on Salsa, Largo leads me into swivels... I still hate swivels... my mid-section still feels too much like a bowl full of jelly during swivels... I tell Largo that I don't like them.
He stops me and just gives me that "you've got to be kidding" look and says "You hate everything."

I respond... "No not everything... I only really hate the spinnie Cha Cha move and Swivels in any dance...the rest of it I can live with...hey I do them anyway don't I? Sure it comes with a dirty look and some comments...but I still do them!"

Fast forward to my next Salsa with him and it's almost ALL swivels! I'm still following... and I've shut up...but I'm certainly not smiling...and Largo is getting way to big a kick out of my dirty looks...and then we dance right past RT who is practicing something with another pro. He watches...I see him smiling (he above all knows how much I can't stand swivels) I shout over my shoulder right before a fast spin... "I'm being tortured with swivels today!!" I spin and we've stopped because RT wants to give Largo a high five.

Then Largo comes right back to me and I state so both instructors can hear. "Oh good, my instructors are conspiring against me!!"

To which Largo gets a concerned look on his face and says "No! It's not true!"

I certainly didn't expect that response...so I put my hands on Largo's shoulders... "Look, at some point you're going to have to remember that only half of what I say is supposed to be real." For which his response is a smile... and more Salsa.

It was a good lesson... we had fun, poked some fun at each other... and I'm learning how to speed up my dancing, from my instructor that can move his feet faster than the human eye can see. I figure that's a good source.

Second Lesson... RT and his Sombrero

So my last lesson that week with RT was interesting... the staff had been doing themed days all week... on this particular day I see RT with a Sombrero, two pairs of shorts, mismatched socks in patent leather smooth shoes, two or three shirts of varying styles and a tie that didn't match anything else on his body. Hmmm... ok.. so I ask... "What's today's theme?"

"Mismatch" RT tells me...

I give him the once over...just to be sure I've seen it all... "Good job." I tell him.

We started my lesson with a very fast Rumba to a very Mexican Restaurant style song... it's only appropriate with him in the Sombrero and all... I'm looking at him, trying desperately not to totally laugh.

"Ok seriously the hat has to go." I tell him.

"No, I've had it on all day... for all of my lessons." He says.

Alright no losing the hat... this is going to be very distracting.... Largo is also on the floor for one of his lessons...he decides he doesn't like the song that's on, and starts laughing that RT and I are attempting to Rumba to it. Largo puts on a very techno sounding Hustle, I shout a "Thank you." over my shoulder when the music changes and RT and I start a very quick Hustle. Let me tell you... trying to accomplish any of the steps that have my arm anywhere near his head was proving to be difficult, but he had that Sombrero tied on so tight it wasn't going anywhere!

After the Hustle we moved into an actual Rumba... well a slow one anyway... which then suddenly became one of my first lessons in Bolero in a LONG time. Surprisingly, while I know my Bolero looks like trash, I am having a pretty easy time following. I've learned Bolero two different ways... one involves pushing the unweighted foot forwards or backwards rather than actually stepping, the second is actually stepping forwards or back. (Bolero is the same pattern as International Rumba, but I believe it's done slower.) RT likes Bolero a lot... which is why he every so often likes to teach me some of it. This time he was leading the stepping version because he knows I have an easier time with it.

My main issue with Bolero is that it's very hard on the knees... and I still pop up too fast after these grand sweeping steps we're taking. Which I was able to correct a little.... two things I don't like about dancing... staying low on my knees and taking my feet out from under me...both of which basically define Bolero. But we worked on it... and I think my arm styling was pretty reasonable...considering I don't tend to do a lot of that anyway... I admit that it felt like my most graceful Bolero ever. After Bolero ended and RT was reasonably pleased with my progress we moved on to Salsa...

We moved on to Salsa because of the Sombrero... RT was very keen on keeping the theme... which I thought was hysterical. So we did some Salsa, which I'm always more than happy to do... we worked on the "Miami Special"... again. This is one of the steps from the new FADS Salsa syllabus, we've worked on it a lot...and I have practiced it on my own..but there is something about doing it with a partner..when our arms are connected and I'm trying to keep in time with the music..that nearly always screws me up. I can do it just fine slow...but as soon as we speed it up I get all kinds of sloppy. Per usual after working on it again... I did improve some... but we'll see if I can maintain it.

Then it became Cha Cha time... RT has now decided that I should learn the "Social Bronze" portion of the syllabus that was implemented long after I passed that stage. They are short relatively easy to remember, but hard to just plain follow steps. In my opinion anyway... we covered three of four of them and I asked him why we were covering this.

"Because when we get your routine you will need to know these elements." He states.

Oh! right... I almost forgot! Well I didn't forget, but I haven't even thought about the routine I am getting... mainly because I haven't decided on a choreographer yet. It's nice to know that RT hasn't forgotten though. It will be a Cha Cha, which is why I'm learning Cha Cha Social Bronze. RT then suggested a Choreographer, that I totally shot down because I was not impressed with the group class he taught last time he was in. Sorry...this is my one and only routine... it has to be as perfect as it can be...and I didn't have much faith in the Choreographer that was suggested.

I'll have to work on that Social Bronze stuff some more.... I can see how it would look pretty cool... but whatever I was learning is just not followable... which is ok for a Choreographed piece... just not for regular dancing. I'll get back to the drawing board on that for my next lesson.

All in all it was one of my better RT lessons... learning and fun... just the way I like it. (Plus Largo was trying to peek and make faces at me around RT's sombrero which was too funny for words.)

Happy Holidays

To all my readers everywhere, I am wishing you a holiday season full of peace, love, and dancing!



No matter what you celebrate or how, remember it's the taking time out to be with the ones you care about that counts the most.

Snow Day!

Hi all! I'm back into the swing of things for my normal posting... for a while anyway... I hope this post finds you all doing well.

So let's back up a bit to the studio's Winter Festival Snow day! We ventured out to Alder Park for some Sledding, a Bags tournament, Karaoke, and some good food. It was a great time to just hang with studio folks outside of a dance event. Fun was had by all!

RT inflating sleds in preparation for the fun!

We were lucky to have this much snow this early in December!

Practicing for the Bags Tourney!

More Practicing... two of the more competitive people I know at the Studio... Largo, and Jem!

Winter activities sure can make you hungry!


Jesse and TSD checking out the prize catalog... 1st place for the Tournament is a gift certificate to Omaha Steaks! Jesse couldn't keep his nose out of the catalog! LOL!!

KIT treating us to a holiday song (this girl has one heck of a set of lungs on her, she's great!)

STP and TSD performing their best rendition of Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby"

Update Pending

Hi gang... I know you all look to me for an update about once a week at least... I just wanted to let you know I haven't forgotten!!! I have a lot to do this week that can't include writing... I have to update you on Snow Day with the studio and a lesson with both Largo and RT... as well as a party or two that haven't even happened yet! I'll get to it I promise! Just be patient while I get through the next few days... Thanks! ~ Kat

My Inspiration... A Few Notes From My Readers...

I can't help it... Winter is an emotional time for me... I often get off track and start putting weight back on like I'm a bear preparing for hibernation... However, while dancing itself, RT and even my new instructor Largo are my main sources for my drive to improve... another source has been a constant... My readers. You guys are truly AWESOME and completely INSPIRING to me! I have reached a point where I can't not share... I can't not share the highlights from some of my favorite e-mails. Per the rules... all identifying information has been removed or changed.

Please join me in celebrating and thanking these ladies for being strong beautiful role models in their own rights!!

"Wow - you are so inspirational to me! I've been taking dance lessons for about three years now, and I wish I could say that I've lost weight - but I'm going in the opposite direction and dancing is becoming harder and harder for me. Part of the problem is that I tend to hold my breath - still when you're dragging around [all this weight], it's no surprise that I can't breathe!

Right now I'm struggling with the spiral turn - as you mentioned, at the end of some cuban walks. I can't seem to make it all the way around - but I'm trying to practice here at home.

Have you succeeded?

Well, you probably wrote about the spiral turn a while back and are no doubt an expert at it now. I just wanted to say that I was excited to find your blog, and I'm saving it as a favorite so I can live vicariously through your weight loss and dancing success."

"I have to say that I've been thinking a lot lately about what you've accomplished. Last night I went to an informational meeting at the local hospital on gastric bypass surgery. It's not for me - that's for sure - but I've never gotten this desperate before - never to the point where I've even considered it. Pretty scary to be in a room with all of those people who've reached the ends of their ropes - I haven't yet - and I think the reason for that is knowing what you did and how far you've come. I need to continue to read your blog and take that as inspiration. It was really a stroke of good fortune that I happened upon it - because even though I haven't made the right changes in my life yet - you did it, and I hope that means I can do it, too.

What about you? Did you get a lot of positive feedback on the magazine article? I took it to my dance studio, and they have it posted on the bulletin board. Everyone is so impressed - and it's just very cool!"

"I just wanted to let you know how much I like your blog.

When I was fourteen, I did one dancing class, and absolutely hated it. I was too clumsy, too tall, too slow, too……. Whatever.

From that time, I have always avoided to do any ballroom dancing, until very recently. Now I am 41, an absolute beginner, but I love love love ballroom dancing, and fully understand why you said that it has changed your life. I can feel the changes creeping into my life already – after only six lessons.

Here in Germany they teach some different dances, for instance now East Coast/West Coast dances, but there are also many similarities. Last night we learned the basic rumba steps, and that went surprisingly well, so today is a good day ;-))

Your blog is in my favourites folder, and I regularly come back to see how you are doing, and learning a lot from your experiences/words.

Thank you."

"I have started to incorporate eating healthy. My
kids are mostly fine with it, my husband is the one who is having most
problem with it but he is adjusting. I'm trying to think of lots of
activities that involve my whole family. I live in Las Vegas NV so we
have been doing alot of hiking on trails in Mt. Charleston and Red Rock
Canyon. My five year old loves it. My two year old loves it also but
she is kind of prone to falling down so she does have a few scrapes.
She does have fun though. You are truly an inspiration to me!
Thank you."

"I found your blog a couple of weeks ago while looking desperately online to find someone I could relate to as I started my journey to become a ballroom dancer! I just started dancing a few months ago here in Nashville.

I too, am starting this journey with a LOT of weight to lose. I'm down 40 pounds from a high last year. I've been heavy my whole life and am just starting to realize that I've always dreamed of being a dancer - but had NEVER allowed myself to even remotely entertain the thought that it was possible. I started out lessons with my husband, thinking it would be nice for us to do together - he cooperated, but it wasn't his thing...but I fell in LOVE. I've been taking individual lessons with my teacher now since mid-September.

Thank you SO much for putting yourself out there online - it has helped me tremendously to see that this can absolutely be a road to a healthier and happier me - because you are doing it so well!"

"I am inspired by your courage to take lessons where the focus is on the body--dancing. I love ice dancing and ballroom dancing, but don't have a sense of musicality, so two or three left feet, plus the body image is in the way.

I always imagine that someday I will take lessons and dance, but am too intimidated to do that with my size.

Thanks for writing your blog."

"Girl, you are an inspiration!

I found your blog yesterday by accident, after having a particularly rough day at my ballroom lesson (he's teaching me new steps & I feel like a bumbling dinosaur), and prior to the lesson having passed on to me the unasked for opinion of a former ballroom dancer who is totally sour on the entire industry.

I was actually thinking of stopping, but your blog made me remember why I started doing this (in May) & how far I've come, on the outside and the inside. Made me more determined to keep negative people out of my life - isn't there always someone ready to rain on a good parade?

Keep dancing, Miss Kitty, and keep on blogging.

P.S.: Your pictures - are gorgeous. You absolutely glow."

I read these, and others like them a lot (all 1,477 of them so far)... and they make me laugh, sometimes shed the occasional tear... and absolutely know that I have to continue... this journey not only means the world to me... but it seems I'm bringing a few folks with me! Hey the more the merrier!

From the bottom of my heart, with the greatest of sincerity... if I could reach through the internet and hug you all I would... THANK YOU!!! You have no idea how inspirational you each have become to me... Always let me know how you're doing... I respond to all e-mails...keep reading... together we can improve ourselves... and above all... HAPPY DANCING and HAPPY LIFE!!!

With Much Appreciation and Love,
Kat

Winter Festival Studio 54 Party... RT and I Come Out on Top!!

So at least once a year Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove has a festival... typically in winter...thus Winter Festival. It's kind of an inexpensive way to add some more dance and social experience with everyone at the studio. I love these! This year's Winter Festival includes two special parties, a dance camp taught by Jesse DeSoto and Jackie Josephs, and a social activity that will be sledding and karaoke.

The first party was this past Friday, it's theme was Studio 54/I Love New York... loosely translated means Disco & Pizza. :-) Well I didn't have to think hard about what I was wearing... about 6 months ago I was shopping online and going through some serious clearance websites... I found what I think is a totally crazy out there top that has an asymmetrical neckline...to the point where there just isn't a sleeve on one side... and it's ALL black sequins! I had toyed with the idea of wearing to a few different places but didn't get the nerve, but with Disco as a theme... it was my only option. So I paired it with my black flare leg slacks... because that was the closest thing I had to bell bottoms.

So I dressed the best I could, did makeup like I had seen on my mom in pictures from the early 1970's. I was trying to channel one of my favorite 1970's icons Gilda Radner. So I finished and headed out to the party.

The party was nice... everyone from the staff was decked out... Pizza and baked goods were provided for us to snack on, along with the famous champagne punch. There were a LOT of people! I actually danced more than I anticipated... I also caught up with a lot of folks. All of that was a ton of fun and I would have been happy with that... but turns out my name was selected to be part of the evening's group activity.

The group activity for the evening was a little Hustle competition... long and short of how to participate was that we would put our name on a list under one of our instructor's names then one of those names would be drawn so that each instructor had a student to dance with. My name was selected to compete with RT. Winner would be decided by studio applause.

So RT, in his fro wig and Elton John style sunglasses and I were on the floor with 8 other couples... they played a nice solid 70's Hustle... I can't remember which one, my memory doesn't work the same when I'm trying to perform. Anyway, TSD and his student partner were pulling out a lot of show stoppers... TSD was blindfolded (but I'm pretty sure he could still see a little) and he had his student lay on the ground so he could scoot over her. RT and I spent the first part of the dance laughing at them... then it was time to focus and just try to follow.

Hmmm... what do I remember about the dance... well I remember at the beginning that I wasn't very nervous...but RT was trying his best to keep me calm... I was more concerned about a blindfolded TSD... the dance itself... I remember a lot of spins... a LOT of them! Then towards the end of it, RT lead me into 4 consecutive spins and I didn't spot them very well, but I did finish them... right after that I heard a few women calling my name... which spurs RT on to lead me into more spins... Thankfully they were the kind of fast independent spins that I'm really comfortable doing. Then I remember my heart rate getting a little too high... combo dance and champagne punch... So I tried to bring it down through breathing... I must have become a heavier follow because I started hearing "Come on Kat..." from RT... which I chose to ignore... now was not the time for me to start an argument with him. Once the dance was over RT escorted me to my seat so we could watch the amateur couples compete in their "heat".

After cheering for my favorite couple... it really dawned on me... this was going to be a popularity contest... "Winner by applause" always is right? I never usually win in these types of situations... but after a quick look at the audience.... knowing that I had a lot of friends and blog readers present.. I thought I could maybe have a shot... I don't EVER do these kinds of things... so I think RT and I could at least land in the top 3 based on what I thought the popularity level of the other students was.

As we were called to line up competition style, RT says to me "9th place...that's us."

I couldn't believe he said that 9th would have put us in the bottom! I just turned and said "Ummm... I think I'm a little more popular than that!" Then I was struck by the sheer cockiness of my statement... I NEVER say stuff like that! I don't even believe stuff like that! Great, I probably just jinxed us.

Jesse was master of ceremony, he raised his hand above each couple and they were met by moderate applause... TSD and his partner were just behind us and when Jesse's hand went above them the crowd got noticeably louder.... Oh great...they just won it. I thought... Then I looked up as Jesse's hand was just above my head... and the applause level was about the same!

Immediately the four of us were pushed forward for a final determination... I heard cries from the crowd for a dance off.. but they didn't have time for that... So TSD and his partner were called for another round of applause and TSD whisks his partner up in his arms, and spins her around the floor... That's it...they got it... I don't want to pull a stunt like that. I think, at the exact moment RT is rapidly tapping me on the shoulder...

"Do me, you lift me!" he whispers excitedly....

As my head is screaming NO! I feel my head nodding yes... DANG!

So RT and I are called forward... there was applause... but it wasn't loud enough... I had my left arm around RT's back... I stuck my right arm out... if I'm lifting him...he's jumping for it... he did... and there I was carrying my dance instructor... I wasn't thinking..well not really.. I'm told all that followed was really quick...but I can only see in my mind what I saw during that "lift" as I'm standing there... I think I was smiling... but looking at the floor... it dawns on me... I could spin... I could spin and he wouldn't fall. So I did like two really quick spins and then I suddenly really didn't like the idea that I was carrying my dance instructor... so I dropped his feet rather unceremoniously... but the cheers were louder! RT and I were declared the Winners!!! YAY!!! RT lead me into a traditional spin then bow for thanks to the crowd. My prize was a coffee mug that says "Dancer" on it, which I tried to accept with all the drama of being handed an Oscar... unfortunately that drama was really just stuck between Jesse and I... but I figured... heck I just lifted my dance instructor to win... I'm entitled to get a little over dramatic.

Do I particularly enjoy the fact that I can haul my instructor around?? No, we all know I don't like to overplay the fact that I'm strong... but I will admit to doing that exclusively so we could win...

What I love is that without the final "stunt" we would have came in second on merit alone... That I really like... :-)

The rest of the party went on as usual... I got a few comical dances in with Largo and CWS but the fact that I actually won something really didn't dawn on me until later... and then I smiled... a lot. :-D

After the party I was sure to get a "victory photo" with my disco RT... Enjoy!

Lesson this Week... Everything I Like To Do

Oh my goodness, first, I hope all my US readers had a very nice Thanksgiving! I can't believe the holiday season is upon us already!!

My holiday was good, but I was really looking forward to my lesson this week... I hadn't danced with either instructor last week and by the time my lesson had been rescheduled with Largo I was DYING for dancing! I had warned him earlier in the week that I wanted to DANCE during my lesson... I did NOT want a lesson full of technique. I don't get to just DANCE that often with my instructors, and it's one of my favorite things in this life to do... so after a few technique and theory filled lessons... I start demanding it.

I gotta say... Largo is really good to me... he remembered about my wanting to dance... we opened with some really fun Hustle... then worked on Rumba...where we did work on a few things...but it was mostly within the dancing, and that's my preferred way to learn anyway. Once we were relatively pleased with my Rumba and had the discussion about why I don't always have my feet turned out... (for me there is NOTHING natural about having my feet turned out) we moved on.

East Coast Swing... we worked on tweaking a few steps... we were doing a lot of single spins... which I love...and I think I'm pretty close to trying an independent double... There is one spin at the end of what is commonly referred to as the "back to back" step...that I usually just let rip with no control and it usually means that I kind of stumble my way through the last triple step at the end... Largo kept laughing at me, and telling me how to improve it. Then I ignored what he told me and just really whipped around... I bobbled and Largo got a scared look on his face as he reached out to stop me.
"Don't worry, I do that all the time, I never fall." I say with a huge smile on my face.

"Don't say you never fall, never say that." Largo responds

"Ok I gotcha...then I haven't fallen YET." He's being serious...but I'm still smiling over his trying to catch me.

"Ok...that's better." He states.

So then I decide to focus a little more and tell him "I can do it... I'm not taking control of that spin...lets do it again."

So we did... and I controlled the spin... and what do you know, I completed the step with out nearly falling!

"Ahh...good!!" Largo exclaims.

"Yeah, well I told you I could do it." I was just letting the spin rip before....because I like to do that... but I do have the ability to control it.

Largo just laughs... which I enjoy, it's pretty easy to make him laugh... Largo is a hard core competitor... he doesn't like it when dancing isn't at it's best... but then he's got me as a student... so I hope I'm reminding him of the lighter side of dancing...

Then we started doing Salsa... I was surprised... it's pretty rare that Largo leads me into Salsa during a lesson... which is too bad... because I really enjoy his Salsa. So we were having fun with a little Salsa...nothing too fancy... he walked me through this move where I have to duck under his arm then get spun one way followed immediately by spinning the other way. Hmmm... well I'm not a fan of the ducking under the arm thing...but I do like the spinning... and changing direction that fast is something I definitely need to work on!

We then went to the music machine and he asked me what I wanted to work on... we only had a few minutes left in the lesson...

"Well... lets see...to make it a perfect lesson... let's work on Cha Cha." I tell him.

"It's not a perfect lesson." Largo responds...

"No no...I'm not talking about my actual dancing! Silly, but we worked on all my other favorites... Cha Cha would make it perfect."

So he puts a Cha Cha on... and my following wasn't as good as it could have been but we went over some older steps.. and polished a few of the newer ones. I thought I got that spin at the end of a step we're constantly working on... then I was told it was "actually a little slow" Ack... so we did it again... and I am getting better at going straight back rather than landing that spin in a 5th position. So I was pleased.

We ended the lesson with a big hug and some laughing about my getting ready for the party later that night... Largo had me working so hard I had to wash my hair again! (the first place I show signs of sweating is under my hair)

That lesson was my perfect balance of learning/practicing and dancing!

Lesson Last Week....TNT Helps Me With Technique

Last week found the majority of the staff off at the Ohio Star Ball. So I was left with a couple of options. 1- no lesson or 2- have a technique lesson with one of the girls. The latter of which being the preferable option. So, after careful consideration I chose to schedule with TNT. I’ve worked with her briefly in the past, and I recall that she is very good at explaining things so that I understand them almost right away. That way most of my lesson could be focusing on actually putting these things into practice.

We opened with a little hustle… and then TNT asked “Do you need more warm up than that?”

“Ummm…for a technique lesson? No…” I responded as we headed over to the music machine.

We then talked about what I wanted to work on. I mentioned the backwards Rumba walks from my last lesson with RT, and how much it frustrated me that I wasn't really able to get them. TNT was very excited to show me her technique for this... Something she swore to me would make backwards Rumba walks almost easier than forward walks. This I'd have to see to believe... after selecting some background music we set to work. I was already starting my deep breathing relaxing techniques to keep me from being frustrated with TNT.

You know what? turns out I didn't even need to keep my frustration in check... I don’t know if my processing all the words RT used to try and describe this concept to me helped…but as soon as TNT said “Ok…don’t let your knee pass your straight leg when you step back.” It was like a light bulb moment. Honestly… in the span of oh…maybe…five minutes TNT was saying that my backwards Rumba walks were looking fine! This was very reminiscent for me of the whole "leg crawl" issue I had with RT a while back... if he would have just SAID for me to not let the one knee pass the other I wouldn't have burned nearly an entire lesson trying to get this all right! Something I'll have to point out to him next time I work with him. (I'm not upset with him mind you...I just want to let him know that it was much easier for me to process this way... maybe help him to explain it in a more concise manner.)

See…told you I picked her for a reason.

So once I had a really good idea of how to practice these Rumba Walks we moved on. I asked her “Did you happen to ask [RT] or [Largo] about what we should work on?”

“No…I didn’t get the chance…I’m sorry”

“That’s ok… I know exactly what we’ve been trying to work on.”

So we worked on cross over breaks, some fine tuning from my last lesson with Largo, and then I remembered about the tweaking RT and I were working on in my East Coast Swing. All of which went really well. I even received a compliment on the finer points of my East Coast Swing rock step…which I quickly accredited to her work out class. (We spend a really good portion of the work out class on East Coast Swing/Jive type movements). TNT really got a kick out of my getting technique pointers from her work out class. (I wouldn’t have told her if it wasn’t true!)

The hardest part of all that we reviewed is the cross over breaks… I have a really hard time balancing if I have to hold that position for longer than a second. Now I just have to practice… practice…and even more practice…thankfully all of these are things I can practice within the confines of my small abode.

I’m really glad I signed up for a lesson with TNT… now I can’t wait for my instructors to get back so I can put this into practice!

Sometimes I Forget....

....And then a friend posts old pictures on FaceBook!

Ok so it looks like I ate a watermelon or something!!! That shirt was tight too!!

These pics are from a dear friend's wedding in July of 2006. Literally 4 weeks into my dancing... I remember distinctly raving about this new dance thing, and telling a friend about how I'd already lost 12 pounds! (Why does it look like I was so big my friend had to climb on me to look like he was next to me!!)

I see current pics of me and I HATE them! Then I saw these pics on FaceBook tonight. I just blurted out "Oh...My...God!!!!"

I forget... I forget what I was before...and I focus only on what is now... and all the things that need to be improved on... This pic is staying right here on the blog... so I WON'T forget...

....Wow... I have a lot further to go.... But look how far I've come!!!

Look! I've always tucked my chin in in pictures... I HATE that...but LOOK!! This was October 2008. Same Chin position... MUCH LESS CHIN!!! :-) So much less everything else too... that dress is 8 sizes smaller than the shirt above... and that dress probably could have been a tad smaller. :-)

It's all because I wanted to be better at dancing...and losing weight was my most direct path to getting there... Now it's losing weight, and practicing that's going to get me there! Oh I'm really glad my friend put these pictures up.... what a wake up call!!!

Ohio Star Ball... Had Better Watch Out!

Starting on Monday November 17th and continuing through November 23rd the nation's largest Ballroom competition in Columbus Ohio.. it is the Ohio Star Ball! You may know this competition because it's the location for America's Ballroom Challenge on PBS that will be airing in February.

This year there are several students going to compete for which the whole studio is very proud. Four of our professional couples are also going to compete.... Ohio Star Ball had better look out because we're sending some of the best!


HFC and STP - Rumba


FAF and TSD - Waltz


TNT and Largo - Mambo


DWH and CWS - Bolero

Good luck to all of you!!! I know you'll do us proud!

Lesson This Week... RT... Rumba in Reverse

This week' s lesson was with RT, I had no idea what he had planned, nor did I really have anything in mind to work on. We opened with a little Rumba...

"Hey how long has it been since our last lesson?" RT asks...

"Week before last, like always because I work with [Largo] now..." (I work with each teacher every other week, because it's hard to keep payments on two lessons a week up.)

"Really? Huh... feels like it's been three weeks."

"Nope... same amount as always." I respond as if it were normal... but I desperately wish I could dance with both instructors every week... and since RT never seems to mind the schedule I keep I was really curious why he as asking... but I didn't want to pry. So we just continued with our Rumba...

Maybe two steps after our mini conversation we broke and RT started pointing out some technique. My immediate thought was that we'd get through the technique and then get to some dancing.

WRONG... Oh I was so wrong!!

RT started working with me on my Rumba walks... we immediately settled on the fact that my forward Rumba walks were ok... just some minor tweaking on my footwork. Which is GREAT! Then we started working on Rumba walks backwards... which apparently I do all wrong.

"Ok take a step back with your right foot..." RT instructs "...ok..now bring your left hip back."

My mind went blank... totally blank... you could have asked me my name and I wouldn't have been able to answer.

"Wait..." I say completely puzzled "You want me to do what?"

"Your left hip...back." He states.

I couldn't even imagine how that would work... if my right foot is back, how in the WORLD am I going to get my left hip back there too?? I just kind of stood there with a puzzled look on my face trying to get my left hip back, but only my right hip would comply.

"No... you can't settle into your other hip yet... the left one has to go back first." He says followed by taking my hands and leading me backwards slowly, trying to push me into the right position. It wasn't working... not in the least. I kept taking the step back and immediately settling into the same hip I was stepping back on.

We kept working... and RT even had me working up against the counter to create my own resistance... I was growing more and more frustrated, and I tried desperately not to show it. The words simply weren't translating into something that made sense to my body! RT could have told me what to do in a foreign language and it would have made the same amount of nonsense to me. At one point he was trying to explain for the MILLIONTH time what I was supposed to be doing and feeling while trying to step back and push the opposite hip back... I fired off a few of my one liners... whenever I'm trying to mask actual emotion... is when I get funny. RT keeps telling me it's the same as forward Rumba walks... but it's SO NOT!

"Clearly I must have never ever done this right before EVER or I would have some point of reference in my head for what to tell my body to do!" I tell him...

Suddenly my brain just snapped... being funny wasn't going to get anything done... So I stopped, ran a frustrated hand through my hair and stated...
"Look, I know...I'm trying to be funny... but I'm FRUSTRATED... the angry kind of frustrated!!"

RT looked at me with a little bit of surprise and responded "Awww... (he hugs me) you haven't been frustrated with me in a while."

"I know... but it's not you this time...it's the stupid step... *sigh* ok... lets try it again..." I say as I look at the clock and realize my lesson is almost up... I then take that look and give it to RT... who is apparently not phased by the fact that all but 10 minutes of my lesson have been devoted to this Rumba backwards stuff!

After a few more minutes I did start to get it ok... we tried with my forward walks...then immediately switched to backwards...that seemed to help a little. Then I was just about done... I was ready to walk off the floor and just chalk this up to I need to practice... I didn't say anything...but I think RT realized the state I would be in if we didn't get any dancing in.

CWS was also on the floor teaching one of his students and had put on an East Coast Swing. RT decided it was time to start leading me in that... with a sigh of relief we were off...
Then in typical RT style... during a Really Technical lesson... the technique wasn't done yet! RT starts to remind me to bring my foot in before I do my rock step which improves either the hips or some other technique focused part of the dance.... In the meantime CWS keeps shouting at me

"Hey Kat... It's your favorite dance!"

"Hey Kat... Are you enjoying your East Coast?"

I shouted back some smart alic response. CWS likes to rub in East Coast being my favorite dance because that magazine article that was written about me states that it is.

RT is confused by all of this because he's not listening...

"What's he saying?" RT asks mid dance of course... :-)

"Nothing, don't worry about it... [CWS] won't let it go that the article says East Coast is my favorite dance, even though I keep telling him I'm more of a Salsa/Cha Cha girl now." The last bit I kind of shout over my shoulder so CWS can hear it...

So CWS chimes in.. "Nope, East Coast...it's in print..it's your favorite dance!"

"Yes, because everything you read is true right?" I retort.

RT and I finish our swing and I actually get, understand, and can perform the adjustment to my rock step for my East Coast Swing.

This lesson was frustrating... one of the MOST frustrating ever...but it was also a break through... because most of the time when I have a lesson like this I walk out of the studio feeling like I never should have started dancing... THIS time I didn't have ANY of those feelings... it was simply... Ok...something new for me to work on... I don't have any idea if I'll ever get it... but I've got to practice.

Friday Party... Fall Colors

Last Friday there was another party at FADS BG. Per usual Jem and I were in attendance with about 38 other students. This party was the most fun I've had at a party in a LONG time! It was a slightly different crowd than the Halloween party. This crowd was all about the dancing... I danced more with more people than I have in a long time! It was FANTASTIC! Which is perfect because I'm just coming off a kind of rough period.
I have a student lead that seems to like to grab me for a Fox Trot... which is great! I'll dance the basic around the floor (plus anything else he learns) with him anytime! So we did that a couple of times, and I loved it.

I have to say that the highlights of the evening came in four dances... THREE...count them THREE Salsas! Woo hoo!!! The fourth was a mixed swing with RT. But Salsas first.... First salsa came on and I was certain I'd be sitting it out... which just breaks my heart... not because I'm so excellent at salsa...but because I love dancing it so much! Just as I thought I was going to be dancing in the corner by myself STP grabbed me and danced a fun salsa.... he somehow remembered about a step that I've worked on so hard with RT... I was shocked... then he moved into more Mambo kind of steps... it was the best Salsa I've danced with him. However, I've not been over a lot of the Mambo steps.... so I was just kind of trusting my fallowing skills. I thanked him at the end of the dance... hmmmm... maybe the picture a few posts ago isn't accurate... maybe I CAN trust him with my Salsa :-).

Next Salsa up was with Largo.... I haven't danced salsa with him in a LONG time... but I know through the rumor mills that he likes to go out salsa dancing... and I know that he knows about my love of Salsa from RT. It was so much fun! ALMOST...but not quite... as much fun as dancing with RT. I was just really going...and he was really having fun with it... which I've got to tell you is a HUGE part of dancing... I feed off the energy from my partner... and if they are having fun with it... than so am I! I'll have to start asking for Salsa as a part of my lessons with him.

Final Salsa of the evening was with RT. Wow he really had me going... we traveled around the floor more than I have in a long time... we did the step I've been working on... and I got a nod of approval.. even though I know it wasn't perfect. RT also had me spinning a TON... which I'm sorry even when I go too strong into it and nearly topple over at the end is just SO MUCH FUN! I actually realized what I like so much about spinning... it's one of the things I do best if I honestly clear my mind... anytime I've had the impressive spins my mind has been completely clear... which for a mind like mine, that typically races a million miles a minute...is a REAL treat!

The fourth dance that I had a BLAST with was a mixed swing with RT... it was actually before the Salsa...but it's mixed because RT for whatever reason likes to start and East Coast Swing and then will suddenly start a sugar push of a West Coast Swing and maybe after some West Coast will flip right back into East Coast. He's one of the only instructors I've ever known to do that. He involved a lot of leverage and as much spinning as the space would allow. I had a blast!

There were SO many other dances... I'd love to be able to tell you about them all but that would make this more of a novel... I can tell you that I've never laughed so hard during a Rumba as I did with CWS... and that my Waltz with TSD wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been.

Yep... that's a party done right... I hope everyone there had as much fun as I did!!

Lesson This Week... Largo & I get to Dance!

Hi!! I've been on my once a week lessons for a few weeks now.. and I've felt disjointed. I work on one thing with one instructor..and another with the other... Partly because I haven't had as much time to practice in between I haven't felt like I've moved forward in any way. Which, I've got to tell you is a terrible feeling!

I started my lesson hoping desperately for something like what they call "rounds". Rounds are typically saved for competitive students. It's when you just drill several of the dances and steps that you know right before a comp. RT and I have done them on a few lessons...and sometimes it's just what I need. Just to have the opportunity to dance.... to actually DANCE with your professional. There is nothing like it in the world! Well we didn't start that way... but I was ready to ask for them.

We started with the typical "How are you?" kind of questions... I was honest with Largo... it was the night before I had some big personal business to attend to, and I wasn't feeling very optimistic... I told him... "Well, darling, to be honest I'm miserable."
"Oh, I'm sorry, *laughs* 'darling'... thank you!" Largo responds.
We opened with a Hustle...as we usually do... Considering I didn't even feel like dancing much (I had seriously considered canceling my lesson.) I followed pretty well... then Largo tried a new move... don't know what it was, but it involved some spins... and we kept trying it... but Largo kept knocking me in the head! We kept laughing... I kept telling him this shouldn't be an issue... then he had us stand next to each other... Now I always thought he was aprox my height... At least I never feel like I have to look down to him... However once actually paying attention to our height... I'm about 2.5 inches taller than him!! Oh well... The long and the short of it is... Not to long into my lesson I was VERY glad I had not decided to cancel! We joked and worked on Rumba, East Coast Swing, and Cha Cha... As close to "Rounds" as I could have asked for.



At one point I did become frustrated... we were working on a particular Cha Cha step that was giving me issues... and I was complaining about not being good enough. (I typically complain about not being good enough when I'm frustrated about not getting a step.) Largo was very sweet... We were working on a spin... and I was whining... (even I hate it when I whine.)

Largo simply stated "But you can spin."
"Yeah but I can't control it." I responded, frustrated.
"Yes, but you can spin... so many others can't." Largo stated.
"Okay...so I should be happy that I can.. and just work on controlling it." I said.

Largo didn't say anything after that... but I did finish the next step on time. :-)

That made me feel better, I'm not going to lie. Someone with as much experience as Largo telling me that I can do something.... that's worth it's weight in gold.

I may have walked into that lesson feeling like crap... and the very idea of dancing felt like a foreign concept.... but by the time I walked out... I was on top of the world... I had the opportunity to dance, to spin, to work with a partner in a team effort, which is a real bright spot in a life that is very much a solo experience... THAT is priceless and THAT is another reason why I consistently show up for lessons.

I love dancing!

Halloween Party @ FADS Buffalo Grove

Hi All! I've got to tell you about the Halloween Party! It was really fun this year! Staff Theme for costumes was Classic Cartoon Characters... We had characters from Scooby Doo, The Flintstones, and The Jetsons! I went as a Leopard... I always play up my name on Halloween and attend as some kind of cat. :-)

My dancing was mostly pretty terrible... I don't know if I was distracted by all the costumes, the black light or what. I did get a Rumba and a Foxtrot in with Largo (Bam Bam). RT (Freddie from Scooby Doo) picked me up for a Salsa, (which I screwed up on a step we've been working on FOREVER!!) and a really fun Cha Cha where he was just goofing off...but in a fun cute to follow way. CWS (Barney Rubble) grabbed me for a Rumba and remembered that I had the same costume last year...which is impressive...I however remembered that last year during Halloween was the first time I'd met him and we danced an East Coast Swing...which I guess impressed him.

I was also picked up by STP (Fred Flintstone) for a Hustle, FAF (Betty Rubble) got me for another Hustle (and insisted I pull off like 5 spins in a row!) Michael & Bonnie (of Bonnie's Belle Gowns) were there, Michael was kind enough to lead me through a Rumba and a Cha Cha. I got a Tango in with a new student lead (he was the Pilot) which was fine...and for once not a comedy routine! RT was passing us on the floor and commented on my hand placement... hey at least I had something right! The Hippie in the Military (hey...that's what he told me he was dressed as) got me for the strangest Meringue I've ever heard and then a fun East Coast Swing. I even got a Salsa in with TNT (Pebbles) which was very cute and fun.

As much as my Cha Cha with RT was one of my better dances for the evening... I have to say that my Foxtrot with TSD (Scooby Doo) was the highlight of my dancing.... First I was following really well...or he was leading pretty well...anyway... it was going good. TSD's sense of humor was cranked up full blast... he was growling and joking with just about everyone! We weren't really paying attention to Line of Dance, so we grapevined and snaked our way around the floor... then we got to the seating area near where Jem was sitting... TSD started to bend over me, so then I bent backwards... he kept going...making funny faces at Jem... so I kept bending... I'm relatively flexible and I felt pretty safe and on my own two feet for a second. Then I was bent over to the point where one of my feet was about to come off the floor... I had a really quick thought process...as we keep bending/dipping... whatever you want to call it. Do I tap him?...Do I just tell him that I can't bend any further?Uh oh! If I go any further....*scream!* I screamed! I don't scream... it was even a girly shrieking kind of scream! TSD just totally started laughing and straightened us up again and we continued our Fox Trot... I was so surprised that I screamed! I do generally have a fear of falling... I'm always afraid that if I fall (because history tells me I'm not so graceful at it) I'll hurt myself or whomever I'm taking down with me! Oh well, must not have been that terrifying because I finished the rest of the dance just fine. Jem did have good fun pointing it out to me later though :-)



So it was a fun night...and for as crowded as it was I got the most dancing in I've done in a while... so that was good!

I also brought my Camera... so I can share some general pics with you... Enjoy!






When you own a Leopard Print dress...it isn't tough to use it as a costume!










And as part of the show for the evening... Largo & TNT did a fun swing to the theme from The Flintstones!

Alphabet Soup....

Ok... so it's even getting a little out of control for me! The whole initialization of things started when I began this blog. One of the people I planned to regularly write about from the beginning asked. "You're not going to use my name are you??"
Well until the question was asked...yeah I was.

So I got by for a while not using anyone's name... then it just became too difficult.

NOW... more than a year and 13000 hits later, the blog has exploded into something I never realized. I've helped 54 people across the globe start dancing because they found something I put here inspiring... I've got people I've never met e-mailing me for advice... I've got close to 10,000 subscribers and who knows what else!

Back to what I was saying.... I was asked basically not to use someone's name way back before any of this happened... so I didn't... and that grew...if I wasn't going to use one person's name... then why use another's? Therefore those that have crossed my path in the dancing world with regularity have been coined an initialization. Some are more creative than others... ALL have been created by me (so you know who to come to if you don't like yours). It's somewhat a running joke amongst my dance world as to what I'm going to call someone on my blog. Some that were named no longer appear, and others that do were named so long ago no one remembers what it means... so here for you now are all the little characters to my story... most are existing, some are new (blue).

The dance men in my life:

RT = Really Technical (give a girl a break it was the first nickname I ever created, I had wanted to use his initials..but that didn't quite work out.)= Works out of Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, and he's my primary dance instructor for 2.5 years now(or as I prefer to think of it 130lbs lost) . Competes in American Rhythm with a pro from Fred Astaire Michigan Avenue who as of yet, does not have a nickname.

Largo = (ask directly if you want to know what it means, and why he gets a "word" instead of letters) =Instructor for Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, and my secondary dance instructor for about three months now. Competes in American Rhythm with TNT.

TNG= The New Guy.... he isn't so new anymore!! He is now an instructor at Fred Astaire Tinley Park, and is working his way through the novice ranks to reach Professional Competitor Status.

MSU = Makes Steps Up... he's never been afraid to try and throw something new at me to see if I can follow it! He's an instructor out of Fred Astaire South Barrington, competes with HBF I think they're going to do Cabaret at some point in the mean time I think they may do American Rhythm.

TSD = Tall Smooth Dancer = Instructor at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, competes in American Smooth with FAF.

STP = Smooth Talking Pro = Instructor at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, competes in American Rhythm with HFC.

CWS = Competes With Spouse... because he does, and I think that's cool. = Instructor at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, competes in American Rhythm and Smooth, they just graduated to official professional status :-) with DWH.

Buddy = called such because he was my "buddy" teacher within the Fred Astaire teaching methodology... is no longer with Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove.

The Ladies in my Dancing World:

Captain= One of my closest dance friends.

Jem = Another of my closest dance friends.

HBF= Hairdresser's Best Friend ...every time I see her, her hair is a different kind of cool! = Instructor at Fred Astaire South Barrington, competes with MSU.

RTS = Rhythm to Smooth, she changed competition dance styles this year. Used to work out of South Barrington, but can now be found teaching at Fred Astaire Michigan Avenue.

TNT= Is the only nickname w/o corresponding words... but with all the energy she has bound up in her petite frame there was no other option... she is an Instructor at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, and competes in American Rhythm with Largo.

KIT = Keeps It Together, this gal runs a tight ship from behind the desk at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove she does it with a smile and professional manner that is unmatched in the region! (seriously I want one of her in every studio I go to.)

FAF = Floats Across the Floor, because if you've ever seen her dance you'll swear her feet never touch hardwood, and she has the gentle demeanor to go along with it. Instructor at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove. She competes with TSD in American Smooth.

HFC = Honest Fire Cracker. Honesty is her best policy, she'll give it to you straight...and it won't even hurt! When you watch her dance you'll see smoke coming from her heels, this girl is sharp! She is an instructor at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, and competes in American Rhythm with STP.

DWH = Dances With Husband, cuz she does...and I think that's cool! She's KIT's right hand woman if she ever needs assistance, an Instructor at Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove, and is competing in American Rhythm and Smooth with CWS.

Somehow I thought there were more... there probably are and they just haven't moved out of my head onto this blog yet. Anyway... there you go... the official Ballroom Dancing: Changing My Life One Step at a Time Alphabet Soup. It's not so important what the nicknames mean... more so that you all can follow what I write... and I can protect the guilty parties. From here on out...anyone that wants a nickname of their own is going to have to go through a rigorous application process. :-)

(Any actual first and/or last names used have only been placed after permission has been received from the owner, or if said owner is already a public figure I am not required to protect their level of innocence or guilt.)

The 2008 Results Are In....

This past weekend was the last Fred Astaire National Competition for 2008. It was held in Orlando Florida. Now, typically I don't post about competitions I don't actually witness... Lets face it, I can't even manage to write about all the dance stuff I do witness...there has to be a line somewhere! HOWEVER... When the folks that did go to NDC came back ...they brought some really exciting news with them!!!

Fred Astaire Buffalo Grove came home with Top Studio for the year. Honestly that's not surprising, they've held top studio for a while now... but still a big congratulations is due... I know there are some studios hot on BG's tail and they work hard to keep that title in house.

Most exciting of all are the awards for top instructors! I don't know all the ins and outs of it all but I know it involves having the most number of entries throughout the year... Buffalo Grove instructors hold THREE of the top ten spots out of ALL the Fred Astaire Instructors across the country!!!

Coming in First...I honestly don't think the guy is ever off the dance floor... the man I don't quite trust with my Salsa :-) .... he's one Smooth Talking Professional dancer (he can talk his way into or out of just about anything)... STP!





Second place goes to the Tallest Smooth Dancer in nearly every ballroom he enters...I've seen him dance full competition weekends with injuries and family on his mind, and still he pulls out no stops on the dance floor.... TSD!





Rounding out the three is the one that started this whole journey with me and has CLEARLY been on a ballroom journey with so many others... With a work ethic that just knows no bounds...a Really Technical approach that is unmatched... and a sense of humor that can keep me from pulling out my hair while I'm learning that Technique... Taking home a 6th place ranking for the year 2008... he's so modest I had to read about it first.... RT!


Seriously...with talent like this at the studio I'm at... It's REALLY hard to think of learning how to dance anyplace else.

For more information on what the FADS Buffalo Grove Studio did at the National Comp...go HERE.

PROUD OF YOU!