Video of the Week - Same Sex Ballroom Dancing!

Hi gang! Well, I have to admit.. I'm a little saddened that I have yet to receive any ballroom video's for my new Video of the week segment. So SEND THEM! We want to see you dance! I will however take this opportunity to introduce to you another aspect of ballroom that really isn't explored too much in my ballroom world. It has appeared recently in audition episodes of So You Think You Can Dance though... Same Sex Ballroom Dancing. (SSBR)

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!

Finding The Way Again....

This past week has had it's typical ups and downs, but with the help of a few things and a few people, I'm finding my way again.

My biggest issue when I get off track is the food thing. I have the HARDEST time making good choices ALL the time. I honestly don't know how people do it, and I'm constantly finding new and unusual ways to keep my choices on the healthy side, and keeping in my extreme budget too. Conversely I slip into the old ways very easily.... However....I've now got a kitchen full of good food, and no need to run out and grab anything that will have me hating myself later. Isn't it totally crazy how something like eating the food that the commercials and such make look so good... can have you absolutely hating yourself after your last bite? I KNOW I'm not alone in that... and you know what? It's really hard... I know.. I'm not a planner when it comes to food... food is one of the last things I think about in a day... so I'll forget to eat.. and then I'll get HUNGRY... so hungry that ANYTHING will do... and that's what all those fast food and freezer sections in the grocery store are banking on. Then I eat..and I immediately feel terrible about what I've decided to eat. Then I end up eating because I'm upset... it's a never ending cycle... well no.. it's not never ending... because I'm ENDING IT!!!! I've got my latest secret weapon... Apples! They're handy, transportable, and mostly don't make a big mess when you eat them on the go... (and who doesn't have the antibacterial stuff with them anyway right?) Apples are not my favorite fruit.. but it's fall.. they're in season.. and they're on sale. :-) Not to mention that I am working on training my pallet (yeah that's right, you can train your tongue) to like the good natural foods again. I have some other foods that I've learned to keep around. I'll have to plan a post all about that.

In other news.... I'm still going to the gym, and I'm still hating it.. I will ALWAYS hate it. However, the few times I've been dancing... I have never felt stronger! My knees haven't hurt in a really long time now... my ankles, that have been a problem for the last year, still aren't super strong, but don't ache or swell anymore. All of this tells me... it's working.. whatever I'm doing.. it's working. Now all I have to do is get those numbers on the scale to head in a down like direction and I think I may just be so happy I'll pass out. I also have to remember that it's working when I hit that 30 minute mark in my cardio workout and my head tells me "The experts say 30 minutes a day is all you need, you could get off the machine now and not feel guilty about it." I have to remember that the last time I danced I was the most grounded and balanced I've felt in a long time... I was elated about that! Anyone want to follow me around and remind me of that every 15 minutes... all day?

I'm very excited about all of this... I finally found a balance of doing this day by day again! That's it..it's a single 24 hour period at a time... it's kind of a slow way do think about things... and we all know I'm a big fan of instant gratification... if I can maintain it a day at a time... and on the bad days take it hour by hour....I think I might just be ok. :-)

Don't forget to send in your videos for video of the week! You all have seen me dance (even when I didn't like the way it looked) it's your turn!

Video of the Week

Hi gang... I've decided to implement a new feature here... video of the week! What I'd really like is for you all to send me links to your dance vids (doesn't have to be ballroom) for me to post here... show the world what you're all about! To kick things off.. this being Halloween month and all.. I thought I'd start with a little theatrical ballroom.




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!

Dancing the Day Away

I am VERY pleased to report that my workouts at the gym have been paying off... over the last two weeks I have had a few pick up lessons with one of my favorite city pros. I've known this pro for about two years now... I almost always go to his studio parties, and love any time I get to have a lesson with him.

He owns a very small but very reputable studio that primarily deals with my all time favorite in the whole world SALSA! I just couldn't go another day without dancing with a partner... and this professional is very cool and easy for me to follow. So examined my budget and found that I could swing a single lesson, dropped him an e-mail and I was booked.

Oh to dance again!!! I missed it so! We worked primarily on Salsa (he's been teaching for over 18 years... he knows all the tricks) and had a blast. I was so excited that I wasn't out of breath and I felt like I was following ok, I was picking up on new steps quickly. It was validation for all the days I've gone to the gym and bored myself to death with a work out. YES!!! My mission to at least stay on the same level while I'm not in regular lessons with RT and Largo is working!

This professional also happens to like my Waltz... I know.. crazy right? I had taken group classes of his in American Smooth and Rhythm (DVIDA Syllabus) last year and for whatever reason he's always liked my Waltz while I always feel like my following is being tested. But, I got through all of the Bronze DVIDA steps...even the natural turns...which I have to tell you.. are anything but natural.

In addition to that we also covered DVIDA Cha Cha, and Rumba. Can't have a lesson without a Rumba... RT taught me that! It was a blast!!!!

I was then blessed to have another opportunity to work with this professional... this time with a practice partner. I have a great practice partner... unfortunately since I'm out of the Fred Astaire studio we don't get to practice much anymore... but on this occasion he humored me and came out for a couple of lessons. We wanted to work on Salsa (of course!!!) and boy did we. We both learned a TON about music, timing, leading, following and some new steps too! When that was over... my practice partner bid the professional and I a good day and had to head home... but there was still some time left in our lesson, so the professional asked me for a waltz.... too funny! Waltz we did... all around the floor to three songs in a row... I really felt like my following was being challenged, but I think I did ok!

Then it was my choice... and I broke all protocol and said "Well if you really want to see me suck at something let's work on Tango..."

I have never asked to work on Tango... I don't know what I was thinking... but actually it went a lot better than I thought... I can basic, corte, that was all the same... then we got into some steps I've never done before... like the Ochos... there are two things people think of when they think of Tango as far as what it looks like... one is the Corte where the lady extends her leg back and looks over her left shoulder... that's typically in photographs of Tango a lot. Then there are the Ochos which is the step where the lady flicks her heals as she kind of swivels in front of her lead. (first Tango Image is Corte, second is Ochos). I actually had a TON and I mean a TON of fun with this Tango...

Every time I would be lead into something I'd never done before if I finished it and was still standing I got a funny surprised look on my face (you know.. my Tango always comes with comic relief) and every now and again the professional would look over and see my face and start to chuckle. I enjoyed that... I really like that he has such a great sense of humor. Oh I also did a throw out step that was different than the others I had done before... and the greatest part was...we just danced... for five songs... and if I didn't get something.. there wasn't any correcting..there was just a basic step...and then we'd try it again. I was being left up to my own devices as to how I was going to learn it best for me. LOVED THAT!!!

After FIVE Tangos... my knees were fine, my hips were cool, my feet were showing minimal signs of stress... my shoulders however were NOT... which tells me two things.. I need to do this more often.. and if my shoulders are hurting I'm not holding my frame right... so I have to work on that too. Although...maybe I don't suck at Tango....

Last song of our long stretch of lesson... my choice again... I thought about it.... and since I didn't know when I'd be coming back to get a good quality Salsa in... I picked that... I was a little tired I'll admit.. but in much better shape than I thought I'd be... my legs and ankles in particular are MUCH stronger than they were a month ago. I had SOOOO much fun! I'll have to absolutely continue visiting this studio regardless of what happens with my "home" studio.... I just wish I were employed again so I could visit both and I wish I didn't live nearly an hour drive from this one.

Always a Bridesmaid....

Well, maybe not always... but I am right now. As I've mentioned before I am a bridesmaid in Captain's upcoming wedding. I am VERY excited about this... but with the excitement comes trepidation. Not over getting to Florida where the wedding is held, or weather I'll have to maybe prepare a speech. Nope, my severe trepidation comes over the dress.

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!

Harvest Moon 2009

I told you all... I might not be dancing... but I'd still be around! Actually Harvest Moon is the last independent Competition I get to see in the year, so I usually try to attend. Many people have asked me how, on unemployment, I still go to ballroom events... they aren't cheap (typically around $50 to walk in the ballroom). Well, I tell you what, it's not easy... I usually have to beg, borrow, and plead with my checking account weeks and sometimes months in advance just to make sure I have the money to get in.. then I have to figure for parking, and make sure that I don't run myself into the hole... I don't have a credit card... I'm a cash and carry girl... so I'm not running myself into debt about it either. So then why...why do I put myself through all that added financial stress just so I can see the professional dancers I know compete?

It's simple... throughout the time I've been dancing and changing my life... and learning to love my life again... these dance professionals have been there... they've danced with me, taught me, INSPIRED ME, made me laugh when I needed it... and gave a hug when I've cried. How can I not attend these competitions and be part of their cheering section?? It's the only way I know that I can return the support they've shown me. It's important to me to do it.

Now, Harvest Moon.. is a very small competition in comparison to some others, but it is a Chicago Ballroom institution... I believe this was the 46th year.

I also had a sneaking suspicion that all "my" pros would do well. The last few competitions have seen some of them skyrocket to new heights. So I was very excited! I even managed to budget for both nights as the Rising Star (newer professionals) and Open (seasoned professionals) events were spread across two nights, and Fred Astaire Chicago region had pros I support in both categories.

Friday night was the Rising Star events, this was the night I thought would be good. From FADS Buffalo Grove, we had Largo/TNT, HFC/STP, FAF/TSD, and from FADS Michigan Avenue we had RTS with her partner. Also, Theatre Arts was Friday so the couple that's been soaring through the ranks to world class would be there too.

As anticipated it was a smaller competition... but it did draw out some fair competitors. The evening was nice, I got to say hi to all the professionals from both studios and watched with great anticipation.

I can't even get into the details of the evening, I must get straight to results as they were PHENOMENAL...

Rising Star Smooth (Waltz, Tango, Fox Trot, Viennese Waltz) FAF and TSD WON!!!

Rising Star Rhythm (Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo) Largo and TNT WON!!! First title ever! So proud of my pro! HFC and STP placed SECOND!

The couple from Michigan Avenue WON Theatre Arts! This is I

believe their 7th title this year alone!

After results like that, no way Saturday could be any better right? WRONG... Saturday's Open events were just as exciting!

Open Smooth - FAF and TSD WIN AGAIN!!!! Their FIRST Open Title! I am SOOOO glad I was there to see it!

Open Rhythm - Largo and TNT place SECOND... simply amazing!

HFC and STP rounded out the tops for us with FOURTH!

RTS and her partner definitely deserve honorable mention here, as they have once again improved since I saw them at Windy City... in fact while they didn't seem to make it out of the Semi Finals there were at least two couples that did in their smooth events that in my humble, professional spectating, opinion did not dance NEARLY as well! Congratulations to you two as well... for a job well done.

And that's the thing about Ballroom, sometimes the judges see the same things you do, and sometimes they don't.. it's kind of the wild card in this whole thing. You never know if the judges are on the same page.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL "MY" PROS... I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!!

Working Out and Making Good Choices

Well I'm still going to the gym.... I'm starting to get really bored by it, but it's important that I do this. I've started to go once a day for a longer period of time rather than twice a day for shorter bursts. I have altered my cardio by going in 20-30 minute segments, going to work on some weights, or some core elements, then going to another machine for another 20-30 min. Back to the cardio equipment for a 20 minute stroll on a treadmill. It takes a long time to get this style of work out done.. but it works for me while I've got the time.

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.

Working Out at the Gym.... Week one...

Well week one is over at the gym. Let me tell you, working out at the gym.. I don't care WHAT kind of cardio you do.. is NO replacement for ballroom dancing! I can handle 40 to 70 minutes on the elliptical machine (the kind that has your arms moving too) with resistance and hill, and still not feel the same complete work out that ballroom dancing provides in 30-40 minutes. There is no wonder why Ballroom gets the reputation it does as such a complete workout.

I started this week with my personal training session. My trainer was very nice, she's actually a professional kick boxer too, and that's something I can respect. I don't know what it is that people think of me when they see me, in all honesty I don't normally care.. but my trainer really underestimated my level of physical fitness. We started with a 5 minute cardio warm up on the treadmill... and then went right for conditioning exercises. I did wall push ups against a yoga ball... good tip because that helps you engage your core for balance... but it doesn't really feel very safe. We then did some weights, they were kind of light for me... the trainer made the comment that I wasn't sweating enough...and increased my weights... all done while balanced on a yoga ball to make sure my core was engaged.. which is exactly what I needed.. and told her as much during my warm up. After weights we went to the free range of motion machine....well.. one of them.. they are kind of like resistance bands...only put into a machine with weights. Here I did some leg extensions where the trainer was impressed that I could keep my knee at such a high level. :-)

Finally, we went to the floor and worked on some non-sit-up ab work... which was interesting... and hard. It involved a lot of balancing on my knees..which my knees didn't care for much...at all. But I stuck it out and didn't complain.. unless it really hurt...which it did a couple of times! My favorite part of the whole ordeal was the assisted stretching at the end. It was very reminiscent of an episode I'd seen of "No Reservations", where Anthony Bourdain goes to Uzbekistan and gets a crazy "massage".... I survived! It was a 40 minute work out...with 20 minutes carved out to sit in one of those offices and talk about a possible plan.. hmmm.. that sounds a lot like a first lesson in a ballroom studio! ;-) Well I did tell the trainer that a "plan" was not an option... and I was very firm about it. I did however listen to her prices and plan idea...and she in turn listened to my feedback on my experience. I did like working with her.. and I told her in the end that if I'm around when she decides to fight next I'd like to see it... a kickboxing match might be a fun experience.

Once we parted ways I decided that my workout was good...the stretching was nice..but I needed cardio.... the only way to lose weight is to burn calories...a lot of them.. so I jumped on the elliptical for an additional 30 minutes.

While I did hurt the next day...a lot... I still showed up to the gym and pounded out some more cardio and for the most part have been doing just that twice a day... plus some of the core work the trainer showed me. I hope to keep this up until I have gainful employment, and who knows... I may consider joining a gym (one of my own choosing, not this particular one) once I do have a job to help in addition to my dancing.

Next challenge... get the eating under control.. but more about that later...