Musings and information on how I'm doing the Swing to burn calories, meeting new people through Mambo and learning to Waltz my way into a better life.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Are you Ready for 2010?
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Happy Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!
I am fully aware that not everyone celebrates Christmas. However the spirit of Christmas, of giving of yourself to help others and wishing everyone good tidings is appropriate for everyone, regardless if you actually celebrate or not... So that is what I would like to do here...
I hope this finds you all well and with loved ones, and that you want for nothing.
To quote my favorite Christmas story Twas the Night Before Christmas
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Last Dances with RT.... Farewell to a True Professional
I am very pleased to tell you that the auditions paid off, and they will now be dance partners! This is something I have wanted to see for my pro for a long time! There is another bit to the news though... In order for this partnership to work, and for RT to be able to grow in his professional career the way he's always wanted, he is going to move to be with her in a brand new studio in Minnesota, NOT here in Illinois as a lot of us had hoped. More surprising still, was that his last day with the studio we've always danced at would be Friday. That's not much time to prepare a proper farewell, let me tell you!
Upon receiving the initial news, I was in a bit of shock... unfortunately I was probably not as warm and excited for RT as he was hoping, but then I always go into a bit of an emotional shut down when I receive big news. I assured him that I was happy for him and that it was going to take a second for the news to sink in. Shortly after the news had sunk in, and I was able to regain composure, I remembered about the one lesson I had saved for a rainy day... I immediately called KIT to have it scheduled. There was NO WAY RT was gonna get out of the studio with out one more lesson with me!
That Lesson was Wednesday, I had thought about trying to schedule the lesson to be on Friday...trying to be the last lesson he would teach on that dance floor...but it didn't seem fitting. A Wednesday lesson was better, we started dancing on a Wednesday 3.5 years ago... it was only fitting that we end on that day of the week as well.
I walked in for my lesson, I had Holiday baked goods for the whole studio...and Holiday cards for RT and Largo, all of which I set out and changed into my practice skirt, new ballroom shoes, and a t-shirt of my own design. My mission was to have this lesson be fun, and a little memerable... I had heard of other students crying, and while I did cry a LOT for how much I would miss RT, I was determined to not be one of the students he sent off in tears, he didn't need that.. he needed his students to be happy for his decision... and I was gonna be just that! RT picked me up for my lesson, and thankfully... I didn't feel like crying! :-) RT wanted, perhaps needed, this to be a happy occasion...and so I'm glad I was able to oblige.
"Hi Kat, let's go." RT said as he picked me up and pulled me to the dance floor.
"Hi, I want to do every dance you've ever taught me all in this lesson!" I replied.
"Ok, then that's the plan," he listened to the music playing "lets start with your favorite." We took up frame to Waltz.
Most of the smooth dances were spent talking or what have you, we chatted about this blog, about my future plans for it, about whether or not I'd be staying at the studio. It was kinda nice to just dance and chat... two of my favorite things to do with RT.
Each time at the music machine was my turn for questions, what's his plan for teaching, what's his plan for competing, and anything else I could think of asking about regarding his move and future.
We roared through all the dances he's ever taught me... see, what most people don't realize or remember is that for the VAST majority of my 3.5 years of dancing... probably at least 2 solid years if you put the time together... it was just me and RT... I didn't have another pro as the Fred Astaire teaching method suggests... it just never worked out that way until Largo hit the scene just over a year ago. So RT has actually been the one to teach me the foundations in ALL the dances. It was a busy lesson!!!
Here is what I call the fast forward version.... cuz while we did them all, Waltz, Fox Trot, Tango, Cha Cha, Rumba, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Hustle, Bolero, SALSA... (not in that order) there were really only a few that are worth noting.
Cha Cha - started out as a normal Cha, then suddenly I was being lead through my routine... which I think neither of us were on point enough to remember, but it was fun that we tried.
Rumba - We did two, one where some finer points were brought up for my wrist (I bend it or "break it" at in opportune times, so I'm working on keeping it straight) and the second was quite connected almost really good.
West Coast Swing - Again, the dance I do about 4 times a year... I was asked if I do a particular step, I said I'd only done it if he'd lead me through it. He asked if I danced it with Largo ever, I told him no, and probably wouldn't for a while, because RT has a particular lead that I quite enjoy for that dance...and no one I've tried to dance it with yet quite measures up. RT said he was flattered. :-)
East Coast Swing - Only notable because we almost made it through without it, and RT suggested dancing it at the party (Friday), where I responded that our LAST and FINAL dance had to be a Salsa. I was met with RT trying to tell me that he knows Friday won't be the last time we ever dance. Which I found adorable, but only time will tell.
Bolero- This was actually at RT's request... I don't consider Bolero a dance I know, I've just been lucky enough to follow it a few times, but hey if he wanted to Bolero with me... I'm not gonna say no. What ended up happening was kind of a mix of Bolero and International Rumba... and it probably looked a little messy because I don't know either very well...BUT... this had to be one of the most connected dances I've ever danced with him! Oh YAY! That's exactly what I wanted out of this lesson... at least one or two moments of DANCING!!! We danced the whole song, and while I made a few mistakes, was able to recover and it was GOOD. I'm pretty sure he was on the same page as me with the connection and performance side of things... I could have danced that Bolero forever.
Salsa - We did three, all pretty good, and exactly what Salsa is supposed to be... fun flirty and all that... the first, unfortunately I stepped squarely on his toe with my heel...something I've NEVER done before! (I had wanted RT to remember me, but not for that!!!) Thankfully he ended up being ok... One Salsa was pretty connected, I think it was the one after the Bolero, which is nice... I was put through and failed again on the "Miami Special" I will now have the words "You have more time than you think" running through my head should I ever do that move again. Also, RT lead me into a few steps he considers his "trademark" when out dancing. Very nice, he'd never actually lead me in at least one of them before.
After the lesson, KIT came over to take a few quick snaps of us. I was proud of myself for not showing too much emotion other than being happy for RT. I hugged him, told him I'd see him on Friday, and got to my car... and cried the whole way home. (I'm such a wuss!)
Between Wednesday and Friday I prepared the picture from our last lesson in a frame, wrote a nice card and letter expressing my pride and gratitude, and presented it to RT before Friday. I figured Friday was going to be an emotional day, and I didn't want to get caught up in it. RT knows I am happy for him and proud of him and I didn't need to make a big public display about it.
Friday came around and there was the studio party... RT was dancing with EVERYONE... it was the last party of the year too, so that made the party special in it's own right. I was completely Zen the whole night, didn't cry during the party...didn't cry during the Cha Cha or Hustle that I got in with my pro (although the lingering thought of why we didn't Salsa remains). Actually the Cha Cha had it's moments of both being rough and being connected... so that wasn't too bad. The Hustle was at the end of the party and it was just a Hustle between two people that have danced together a while. KIT had put together a photo album for RT filled with pictures of all the various parties and events, it was very sweet. I was given the opportunity to see it and I am so honored that she thought to put a page with pics of he and I... simply labeled "RT."
Once the party was over, I calmly waited for most to have their emotional goodbyes... I still didn't want to cry... I wanted to be the one student he didn't send away in tears..that could express nothing but happiness for his new adventure, because that is honestly what I was feeling. I asked him for one last hug, and told him I wanted to hear good things in the future... then just kind of misted up for a second, and my feet took me off in a non-sensical direction. Well, that wasn't exactly what I wanted...but I said what I needed, I made sure to acknowledge that Friday was the end.
Then when wishing KIT a Happy Holiday a moment later... we both started totally crying. Sadly RT did see that, I was hoping to make it through without him ever having seen me cry... better in the last seconds then any other time at all.
So, I would like you as my readers to join me in wishing RT all the best as he ventures forth on this new journey of professional dancing in Minnesota. I for one am nothing but proud and happy to have worked with him for so long.. and he knows it. I'll see him on the competition floor with his new partner in the future... and I'll be sure to keep you updated on how he's doing when I do.
One Chapter has ended, and now.. it's time to find out how this new Chapter begins....
To RT:
I have nothing but fond memories of the journey we've shared, and pride and hope for your bright future! Thank you for teaching me to dance, supporting me in weight loss, and inspiring me to be a better person.
You said it best last week "It's all about the dancing," we'll both continue on our paths I'm sure, and hope that they cross again in the future.
Happy Dancing!
Kat
Monday, December 14, 2009
Video of the Week... Tony Dovolani!
You'll be hard pressed to find any pair of ballroom dancers that move better than these two! In my experience Tony always has constructive things to say and can make you seriously WORK... without feeling bad about getting stuff wrong... Someday... SOMEDAY I'll be able to get a coaching with him again!
Enjoy!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Lesson with RT... Working my Way Out of Oblivion
Shortly after my last post about my gym now being steps away from the dance studio.... I will admit to having gone to the gym without actually going to the dance studio... the shame of where I could have possibly let my self go to was too great... Two days after that post I received a call from RT... (who never ordinarily calls). The phone rang out, and I saw the number to the studio...I decided at the last second to answer it instead of letting it go to voice mail. The end result was a scheduled lesson!
Between phone call and lesson time I did think of rescheduling a few times... I didn't want anyone to notice how truly bad I was, or for RT to notice how out of shape I'd allowed myself to become! Of course the logical train of thought is that if I didn't go back in for my lesson to see exactly where I was at then how would I even know how bad I've become... of course... I didn't have THAT thought... depression isn't exactly something that allows for logical thinking... my thought was ok.. if fate is gonna lead me here... then I'm going to go.
I've written this lesson out twice now.. and it turned into nothing short of a novel. So, in an effort to keep things at a readable length I'll do this a third time. :-)
I ended up being late, sad I know, and probably only the second or third time in my dancing life I'd ever been behind. Again, depression is a bad bedfellow. I apologized and we commenced our lesson.... Blissfully not as technique filled as I was dreading.
We opened with swing, West Coast (of all things) and East Coast... thankfully I remember both... especially West Coast, as I'm sure you all have noticed.. I dance it about 4 times a year... and still to this day, can only follow RT in it. East Coast fared a bit better... while my feet absolutely know where they're going.. I feel, sadly, that a lot of my technical finer points have left me. As have ankle strength in my right side, and any semblance of arm styling.
We moved on to Salsa (I was waiting for it to show up!) which was better, but not great... despite RT's "Wow" comment to a lead I followed that I have in fact missed in the past. Salsa will always and forever be "my" dance with RT... can't have a better time at it with any other lead.
Then came Rumba... I can't tell you how surprised I was at how much I missed it... actually (and if RT hears this he'll be more shocked than you'd imagine) the technique of it all....getting the hip to settle at the right moment, staying on the inside edges... dang it all... I think I might be a dancer for wanting all that! Not that I actually did it all okay mind you. I need to come back a bit more and stronger before I actually have it back... but I do miss it!
The second Rumba we did was worth noting...not because I did exceptionally well at it.. but because of the song that RT chose... it was actually a Bachata. One I've heard several times... and yes you can Rumba to a Bachata... the funniest part is... The song just made me smile... like a real smile, I don't find myself doing that often these days... Only I'm not sure if it's because I have history with this song, or because I know the artist...could possibly be both, within the first two measures... I was smiling, before we even took the floor to dance to it. Sadly the song didn't last long, but it did prompt a brief break down of one of the later Rumba steps I had learned WAAAAAY back when I was actually taking lessons regularly.
At first.. the idea of breaking something down and learning it again had my devastated... I do believe my hands went over my face and I muttered something like "Oh dear Lord no..not today." which was then promptly discarded as a plausible response to RT's teaching... and we moved forward to learning it.
Thankfully after the two swing styles that left me feeling completely fat and like the worst student to ever have graced the floor with RT, the Salsa and Rumba portions were quite nice. I did have the opportunity to inform RT of my new gym membership and the fact that I was feeling really bad lately.... which was just taken and accepted, and we moved on... which is exactly what I needed. There was nothing he could have said to make me any better... just the dancing was enough.
At the very end of the lesson, RT tried to schedule me for one more... I have one more solitary lonely lesson. It has to be with Largo of course....but I wasn't ready to schedule it just yet. So I declined scheduling... and told RT I had to immediately go to the gym. As if on Que HFC walked up (this is amusing) and asked if I was going to stay for her technique class. As I was calmly stating to her "No, but thank you I have to go to the gym." RT, completely out of character for him, snaps at HFC, boldly and simply stating that I had someplace else to be. Clearly my going through another round of cardio is more important to both of us, although perhaps in that moment, a bit more important to him than me. :-)
We left my final reserved lesson unscheduled and I went off to the gym, thinking the whole time about how uncanny timing can be, and how I still need work to come back to where I was, but I don't think I completely embarrassed myself in that lesson.... Also, the thought of my liking Rumba technique and how still after all this time and lessons how I want desperately to be considered a good dancer kept running around in my brain (which then made me work harder on the cardio equipment), life is just crazy, and fate... is my friend.
This whole gym being right by dance studio thing could really work out as soon as I have my schedule set for the winter, and I have GOT to, simply GOT to make it into the dance studio more often.
Friday, December 4, 2009
New Fall and Winter Dietary Suggestion... Tea!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
What to Buy the Ballroom Dancer in Your Life?
.... A novelty item or shirt that professes their love of the sport..obviously! :-)
Video of the Week, Standard vs Smooth
Which style do you like better?
For comparison I have included the American Smooth style of this same dance the Viennese Waltz... As the style name suggests...it seems just us Americans use it...so if dancing around the world is what you are aiming for... stick with Standard. You'll notice the differences almost immediately I'm sure. Actually, the couple featured below are currently rising through the professional ranks as we speak and are certainly a couple to keep an eye on in the coming year.
All Signs Point to Dance...
Monday, November 23, 2009
Captain's Wedding!
At lunch we met up with the groom and his best man where we dined on some of what the Gulf Coast has to offer for seafood including my first peel and eat shrimp experience. Notable only because I was teased for my lack of skill at peeling shrimp. I could tell already that it was going to be a good weekend. The weather was perfect, about 75 (24 Celsius), sunny with a slight breeze, and is there any better smell than fresh ocean air? I do regret that I was a bit of a wreck when I traveled that day, I had come home from the trunk show and didn't make it to bed until about 3am, only to wake up twenty minutes before my dad and sister came to pick me up to go to the airport at 7am. Ooops!
The Day at Fred Astaire Burr Ridge
Most of the afternoon Bonnie and I watched the goings on, one of the pros was being tested in his knowledge of one or two of the Fred Astaire Syllabus that was cool to see, I didn't know how they did that. As a major bonus one of my favorite regional coaches and judges was in, he's known for his straight forward honesty and fair judging (He's scored me in tests and at Mini Match, someday maybe I'll get a coaching with him) Other's were teaching, either students or each other. It was a very cool fly on the wall experience. We did chat with one of the studio owners, a very lovely, energetic, actively involved, woman who used to be a professional dancer in her own right.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Trunk Show Follow Up!
It was a lot of fun! I always do love to observe studios in action. This studio has five professional instructors, all very clearly garnering the love and respect of their students. The studio itself is also a very nice space to be in.
I did take pictures, and I will write more about it in detail AFTER the weekend is over... I promise!!!
For right now I am about 5 hours away from being picked up to go catch my flight to Florida for Captain's wedding!!!!! YAY!
I will catch you all on the flip side... I have to report for bridesmaid duty!
Video of the Week!
Way to go!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Bonnie's Belle Gowns Trunk Show... Thursday November 5th!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Video of the Week - Same Sex Ballroom Dancing!
I'm actually very interested in this genre... I have found that there are quite a few competitions that feature SSBR and it is an event in the World Out Games too. Although... it is important to mention that just because it is Same Sex Ballroom, that doesn't necessarily mean it's a "Gay Only" kind of activity. Conversely regular "Male/Female" ballroom isn't necessarily a "Straight Only" kind of activity. I've always thought of dancing... no matter the style as a "people" activity... anyone can do it.. with anyone else... and regardless of gender or gender preference I love watching a good performance.
Now mostly when you look up "Same Sex Ballroom Dancing" in YouTube or some other kind of video hosting site...you will find mostly Men dancing with each other, however there is also a plethora of videos out there that showcase Women dancing with each other as well.
So.. that brings me to why I am fascinated by SSBR... well it's simple.. in the Latin in particular the dancers switch following and leading roles... which I find really cool and definitely adds a complexity to the choreography. For the Standard dancing I have found... it actually is easier for me to focus on the technique of the dancers..when in most cases they are dressed alike...
The two videos I am choosing to showcase this week are examples of these two styles... both happen to feature Male couples... I'll showcase the Female couples in another Video of the Week segment some time in the future...
Final Round Men's Standard Foxtrtot, World Same-Sex Dance Championship, Budapest, 21 0ctober 2006. In addition to the couples that are dressed alike.. I must admit that I LOVE the orange Tail suit with the float...way to think outside the box! (It even has stoning!)
Willem DeVries and Jacob Jason dance their victory dance, a Samba after winning the Gold Medal for USA at The World Out Games in Montreal. This is actually the couple that auditioned on So You Think You Can Dance Season 5 and made the judges a tad uncomfortable :-)
Speaking of... if the World Out Games has Ballroom as an event... why can't the Olympics???
Enjoy!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Finding The Way Again....
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Video of the Week
Besides, I think all of us ladies have danced with a guy that ACTUALLY dances like Frankenstein have we not? :-p
E-mail links to your dance video to me at StageKat@Gmail.com!!!
Happy Halloween Dancing!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Dancing the Day Away
Always a Bridesmaid....
I'm very fortunate that Captain is sensitive to the idea that different dresses look better for different body types. She picked about five dresses from a designer, and let us pick the ones that would suit us best. So at least that was something I didn't have to worry so much about. However, I've done this bridesmaid thing before... in 2005 at my "pre dance" weight.. and it was a nightmare! I had the consultant make comments about my size, I had arguments with the seamstress once it came in, it all nearly ended in a discrimination lawsuit. It was just not a good experience.
This time around I at least knew that I fall within the parameters of what designers consider an "acceptable" plus size girl... so I knew I could get the dress in my size... it was just a matter of how much. See the wedding industry has the world over a barrel, and they know it. I went in to order my dress, thankfully a different store than in 2005... I actually have no issues with the store this time... just the wedding industry as a whole. So.. I went in to order my dress... had my measurements taken...then was shown the size chart.
Here's where it gets funny... the consultant, who was very nice, had to show me where my measurements fell in the size chart... she then had to have me initial that she showed me. THEN as part of the process...tells me that the dress that fits my measurements will cost $65 extra... but if I wanted to save the money I could order the highest size in the "non-plus size" range... ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! That "non-plus size" dress is like 4 sizes too small...why on earth would I want to order that?!?! The Consultant said she had to recommend that just in case I was extremely uncomfortable with the size that fit my measurements... uh..no the size is just a number, and very often varies.. I know this.... I would prefer to have a dress that suits me rather than one I can't zip up and has a little tag in it that says a smaller number. It was bizarre... once I confirmed that I will actually be ordering a dress that fits... I had to initial that I selected that size. You'd think I was signing a mortgage agreement with the number of times I had to initial my choices.
So that part is settled, I tell her when I need the dress by... this was about a month ago. She tells me that there isn't enough time, and that it takes FOUR MONTHS to get a bridesmaid dress. Well heck, I'm not even sure if I knew I was even in this wedding four months ago! Sheesh! So in order to get the dress here in time to allow for alterations they have to put a "super rush" on it... to the tune of an additional $55. *sigh*
Ok fine... I can't really help those things... I have to pay it in order to get it.. I knew the plus size dress was going to cost more...but seriously... it's the same amount of work..it's just a little bit more material. The shipping charge just seemed extravagant to me too. But we're not done there folks... it was then suggested that because I am over 5'8'' tall that I have extra length added to the tune of another $65. Ok...so you charge me because I'm overweight, you charge me because I don't have 1/3 of a year to get the dress... both are actually controllable variables... but NOW you want to charge me because God and my genes made me tall? Uh no... not getting extra length... it's a cocktail length dress anyway it should fall around my knees and be just fine.
That was frustrating... but you know there is more.... Oh, and I did have to initial that I wasn't getting the extra length too.... then when the dress comes in there are alterations to make sure it fits perfectly.. I am told that these typically run $65-$85 in addition to the rest. HA! I've got them trumped there!!! I told the consultant that I have my own designer who will be handling the alterations for me.... (Of COURSE I'm taking this dress to Bonnie's Belle Gowns to be altered!)
*sigh* Grand total... $290. (Considering most of my most popular, compliment receiving, dresses were found on clearance racks for about $40...that's a LOT for me to spend on one item of clothing) My only salvation is that once this dress is finished (it's currently with Bonnie now) I will be able to wear it again... it's quite tasteful, and in a lovely royal blue color. Don't be surprised if you see me running out to every semi-formal event in the spring wearing this dress.
We have about three weeks until Captain's wedding... I'm VERY excited to see her and her hubby again! I'll be sure to get pictures up when I get back!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Harvest Moon 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Working Out and Making Good Choices
This past week has been important for my kicking the choices I make with my food intake into gear. It doesn't matter how much I work out... if I can't make good food choices then there is no point. Losing weight is about one thing... burning more calories than you are taking in pure and simple.... which is a ton easier to type than it is to practice.
So I'm back in the game... and to add to it I have to watch what types of calories I'm eating because I have the classic problem of carrying the majority of my weight around my middle. As I'm sure you have seen on the news, or in any number of magazines, or if you also carry middle weight your physician would have told you. Belly fat is the one type of weight that is the leading cause of bad health conditions as people age. I'm not sure why.. but the numbers don't lie. Also for me, my last big hurdle in really looking my best and as fit as I can be is to trim down my midsection...
The issue is that working out alone doesn't get rid of that midsection...barely even touches it actually. I've lost mass amounts of weight everywhere else except my tummy... so it's all about the food choices. I have to put good fuel into my body to make sure that it's going to burn the proper stored fat and trim me down. What kills me is how simple it sounds. What kills me even more is that some of my support system doesn't get it either... "Well, just do it then." It's just not that simple... It takes active thought nearly every moment of the day.
My food style is pretty much as quick as it can be. I have a big tendency to forget to eat. I know it sounds crazy... but it's true... there are some days when I can make it until 4pm without eating a thing. So then I become so hungry so fast that I'll eat anything that's quick and easy, because once I get hungry... getting dizzy or a headache isn't far behind. So what I've done this week is make a conscious decision to eat shortly after I wake... even if it's just something small, because that will get my metabolism going and get me to eat at regular intervals. Not only that, but it's about WHAT I'm choosing... so that I can kick this belly fat out... so it's lots of LEAN protein (*Sniff*... I love red meat), lots of veggies with little to no dip or dressing (actually something I've become accustomed to and it's really good), and if I do any carbohydrates it will be whole grains and fruit but only early in the day. Also, and this is a big one for me... no beer or wine.... that just goes straight to the gut.
So that's what I'm doing.. I've written it before but it's been hard to maintain..and I'm back on the wagon... this is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE... and I do it all because I know it all will make me a better person...and what I LOVE is that it will make me a better dancer.
I'm working it all out... I'm almost back to the studio for some group classes... I've learned that I can live without ballroom... but it's just not the same quality of life.