Now As Seen In.... First Magazine!

Hi Everyone!

I'm pleased to inform you that the results of the photo shoot back in December are now about to be published! I have received an advanced copy of the First Magazine that will be on newsstands Monday February 25, 2008 (Issue date March 17, 2008). I'll be able to put an image of the cover up here on that date so you all know what to look for. This is a national publication and can be found in any store that sells periodical magazines (including the check out isle of your local grocery store)

A little review for you on how this all happened...
Back in August 2007 the magazine contacted be because they really liked what I was writing about here in this blog. After some communication back and forth, it was thought that I would be part of an ensemble of women who had begun to loose weight and improve their lives through dancing. It wasn't until much later that I was informed that their Editor in Chief found my story to be the most inspiring of any other, and instead of being part of an ensemble... this issue would contain a feature article with me as the subject! For which I am truly honored!

I have had my advance copy for a few days and I have to tell you its truly unbelievable! The article with my story is two pages, it contains one fairly large picture of me alone, one smaller picture of RT and I, and a smaller (thankfully) picture of me "before." I was fortunate enough to get a copy to RT so he could see it, (it's only right, he's mentioned in the article too). He seemed to really like it, which is important.

I have to tell you, I've probably read the article 100 times, and it still amazes me to see my "story" written in someone else’s hand. I also keep looking at the picture thinking "Yeah she looks like someone that resembles me." I'm pretty proud of it, and yet I don't think it's really sunk in yet... probably won't until I start seeing that green cover with Sara Evans on it in the grocery store next week!

Thanks to the team at First Magazine, and to Eric Klein the photographer, for making this all possible!

So I Think I Can Teach?

About two weeks ago, a friend and fellow dancer contacted me and asked if I might be interested in teaching a one-time-only beginner ballroom class as part of a charity event. At first I was immediately on board, then she mentioned that it was the same Saturday as the Salsa Congress. I'll admit I was torn, I really wanted to make the absolute most of the Congress, but the desire to see if I could actually teach ended up winning out. We agreed on a time, and I forwarded a list of dances I would want to cover, a little something from each aspect of Ballroom and Latin.

Immediately a challenge presented itself... who would lead? If I couldn't lead some basics then was I skilled enough in both dance and persuasion to get a gentleman to allow me to back lead them? Would that work? The answer is no, the only way I could REALLY teach is if I could understand the parts of follow AND lead. So all thoughts of what I was going to practice for my upcoming lessons were abandoned and I set forth on teaching myself how to lead some basic steps. I could very well have asked RT to help in my lesson, but I wanted to do this on my own. So first I practiced all the basics from a lead's perspective, it really didn't take long for me to get through the basic steps in a lot of the dances I know, but I needed a few steps in each dance to make the students feel really good about what they were doing.

My friend and I practiced for about an hour a few days before Saturday, and turns out because she's such a good dancer and follow I was able to lead in everything I wanted to teach! This was going to be great! I later found out that there was a possibility of 50 people arriving for this charity event, THAT made me a little nervous. I was not going to be able to pay individual attention to anyone if I had THAT many students! Oh dear! oh dear!... but on I practiced.

Class time came and I arrived fresh off of the Salsa Congress, so tired I could barelysee straight. A little caffeine and some good old ibuprofen took care of that! We practiced some more before my prospective students arrived, there really weren't that many about 14-16. I guess a lot of people had purchased tickets to support the cause, but didn't want to attend the dance. The organizers of the event had a DJ with a lot of music we could use. My friend had brought some music of her own and so we gave that to him as well. When class time began they handed me a microphone so I could introduce myself.... it went something like this:

"Hi everyone, thanks so much for coming! My name is Kat, and I have been taking ballroom dance lessons for over a year and a half, I am by no means an instructor... my personal claim to fame is that I've lost 110lbs by dancing. I'd like to share some of what I know with you...(friend leaning over my shoulder) Oh! this is [friend's name] a fellow dance student of mine, and she's agreed to be my assistant. Now everybody up! We're going to do a little Swing, a little Cha Cha, and some Fox Trot... we'll have you gliding across the floor in no time!"

I know...can it get much worse than that? I wasn't expecting to have to formally introduce myself! I had thought of a few words to say beforehand, but in the moment... that's what came out. It did however get everyone on their feet, so I must have said something right!


Everyone in the class was so receptive to what I was teaching! We would review the basic for the leads, the basic for the follows, my friend and I would dance along with the class slowly...then because we always had the appropriate music for whatever dance we were doing going we'd bring it up to time. Then we'd work on a turn, my friend and I would show it, and then we would go around to each couple individually and help them get through it. It was SOOOO MUCH FUN!

There was one husband/wife couple that really picked up on stuff fast! I was impressed. There was another married couple that really wanted to get it, but were having typical brand new dancer issues... after I lead the Mrs. and then showed the Mr. how to lead a little they really got it together, especially when we got to Fox Trot!

There were a few sets of ladies where one would lead, and I made sure they were up to speed on their particular roles as well. Everyone was so receptive to what I was showing them!

My favorite though was a boy about age 10-12 who was dancing with his mom. He was so cute! I helped them out on the single time Swing, and got them through a turn, then I asked him if I could dance with him. He didn't say anything, just looked up at me and nodded shyly. We got through some basic and then I asked "How about if we do a turn?" again he nodded with excitement in his eyes... so I back led myself while talking him through the turn. That planted the biggest smile on his face. THAT made it all worth it. He had the same excitement for the Cha Cha... I think that must have been his favorite. His mom was great too, she really wanted to learn! I was so happy to see people that were really interested in dancing!

I actually started laughing at myself towards the end because I had to say out loud to myself "Ok, I'm being the boy now." or "I'm the girl now" it was the only way I could get my feet to start the correct way (somehow the top part of the frame wasn't enough indication for me), and which ever student I was dancing with got a kick out of it too... :-)

I completely lost track of time, I think my friend and I actually taught for about an hour. Then socialized some, before it was time for me to get back to Salsa Congress. It's amazing how doing something you love can take the exhaustion and pain away. I couldn't feel my blisters, I wasn't tired, I could have shown that group of folks how to dance for days! Once in my car and trekking back to Congress reality set in, and I had to stop at the drug store for blister treatment and more caffeine...

A very special thanks to all my "students" from the UMC in Deerfield... you made that experience truly unforgettable for me, I look forward to seeing you all cutting rugs of your own very soon!

Salsa Weekend!

THE FOLLOWING IS A LONG POST!

This past Friday Saturday and Sunday my friend Capitan and I attended the Chicago International Salsa Congress at the Westin O'Hare. We made a blast of a weekend out of it! I'm going to try and break it down by day. Unfortunately there is WAY too much for me to tell you all about, so I'll hit my favorite class from each day, and then tell you about the evenings.

Friday:
Met up with Capitan, she and I headed out for Intermediate La Rueda, fun stuff! It was my favorite kind of class, the kind that covers a lot of what I know, but is just a tad beyond my own skill level so I really have to stretch to learn. I thought it very interesting that the instructor was from St. Louis MO, I just never pictured St. Louis as being a hot spot for La Rueda. We learned a few new steps including one called (in English) "Fished" where there is a spin and then at one point the lead takes their foot and hooks it around the follow's leg and I think there was another spin. I was just trying to not be scared by a lead possibly taking me out by hooking my knee! All turned out well though. We finished the hour by doing some fast paced actual Rueda. Which was very fun!

Ok so that was my favorite Friday class, but really I was just wanting to get to the evening already! The nice part about the Congress schedule is that there is a nice long break between daytime and evening activities, from about 4pm until about 8pm is time to unwind, and recharge for the night. At about 8pm we headed down for the evening showcase which is about an hour and a half of Salsa related dancing from couples up to groups of 10-16 dancers. I always enjoy seeing the true global nature of it all!

As Capitan and I sat down a man asked if the seat next to me was open, it was, and he sat down. He was striking up conversation with the people in front of us. At some point somebody had a question that I could answer about Congress, so I took the opportunity to jump into the conversation. I found out that this man came all the way from Vancouver BC Canada just to attend the Congress in Chicago! That's very brave and impressive! We chatted before the show started, Turns out we've been dancing for about the same amount of time but, while I have worked on several types of dances, he had exclusively worked on Salsa (and On1 too... my kind of lead!)

The show started and we enjoyed each and every dance, there was a couple from South Korea, a couple from Puerto Rico, and others from all over the US. There was a brief award ceremony for those that have made a strong impression in the salsa scene and in Latin Culture, followed by more routines. I really like to see how each groups choreography and costuming works with the music and theme they are going for. After the show, Capitan and I adjourned back to our room to prepare for the dancing.

At 11pm we descended into the lobby to find a buffet set up for those that needed sustenance, past that they had set up two bars for those that wanted libation, then walked into the Grand Ballroom which had been converted to a large dance floor (aprox 3,000 square feet) the stage that previously held dancers was now bursting with the sounds of Grupo Gale with Jerry Galante. There is just something about live music, and being able to dance to it. It's hard not to bop and sway when there are tunes like that filling the air. It was only a song or two before Capitan and I were both out on the floor with our respective leads. What I always manage to forget is the length of these songs... In ballroom we dance for maybe 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes... in a club or concert like setting the songs last sometimes up to 5 or 6 minutes, so when someone asks you to dance, you're really committed!

Our Canadian friend from the show asked me to dance, he said something about being curious about Salsa from a ballroom perspective, and I just reminded him that I'm an On1 kind of girl an we were off! It's funny, it seems these social Salseros have a set pattern of moves that they like, and they will lead their follows through the same set in different order (or in some cases sadly, the same order over and over) This guy had a few moves he clearly liked, but he was a really good lead. He then asked Capitan to dance and off they went! After that dance us girls had to run up and change our shoes, I sadly had already begun to develop some nasty blisters from one of my newer pairs of shoes, and Capitan had a feeling she wasn't going to last much longer in her official ballroom shoes. Back down we went for more dancing... a Cha Cha came on and my face lit up... then in turned out that our Canadian friend actually didn't know how to Cha Cha, so I took the opportunity to show him the basic, open breaks and chase turns... he was really excited to learn it, I was excited to teach it! After that I took a break (My senses very often get over loaded in club atmospheres like this, so I have to run out to re-group sometimes) I partook in a little wine (it's just like me to go for the alcohol when I should be grabbing for the water) went back in... got in a few more dances with some leads from classes earlier in the day... by about 1:15am we decided to call it a day and we crashed... It was the kind of sleep you only really get after a good day and night of fun!

Saturday:
Don't ask me why... I'll never be able to tell you... I woke up at 7:00am... thinking that I really wanted to be ready for the day I didn't allow myself to go back to sleep, instead I jumped in the shower and dressed all while Capitan was playing the snooze button game with her alarm. I headed downstairs to see how the rest of the Congress was fairing. Upon my return I confirmed with Capitan what our plan was and we were off for our first class at 9:30am.

Saturday actually had two really good classes for me of the 4 that were attended. The 9:30 class that was Turn Patterns On1. I still don't know how I feel about working on turn patterns so early in the day, but there I was. I liked this class a lot for a few reasons, first no shortage on leads, for rotation. Second, I ended up with a lead that was either very new to leading in turn patterns, or just had a slow learning curve. Which is fine with me, only I know as a follow I'm really not supposed to help my lead... but this guy really kind of needed it, so I tried as subtlety as I could to help him. Until another student, very clearly more advanced than both of us noticed our situation and spent a good majority of the lesson providing private instruction for this turn pattern. For which I was very thankful, even though this guy that was helping made sure to call me out for having bad follow habits, he was nice about it. Just something new for me to work on. However I can't deny that it was a good solid hour of instruction for me to value.

The other class that I really liked was titled "Wild and Crazy Turn Patterns On2" which really wasn't turn patterns so much as really crazy arm looping and then a couple of spins after the crazy arm looping. Trust me this arm looping was nuts, and the leads in this class were so good about it. We would get to a point where it was time to learn something new, and we'd all kind of freeze where we were at, with arms looped over heads, across bodies, behind backs...whatever. The leads were afraid of losing their spots, so they wouldn't let us go, but at the same time got really funny. One guy said he felt sorry we hadn't gone out for drinks first as he had his arm across my chest and I had one of mine around his neck. (Too bad, cuz he was really adorable!)

There was another move where the leads needed to switch hands, and to do so had to cock their heads to the side over the follow's hand, similar to the action when you cradle a phone between your ear and your shoulder. One guy would have a conversation with my hand "Hello? No, I can't make it, I'm a little tied up right now." every time he had to switch. That just made me laugh out loud! This class made me very happy that as a dancer I get to follow, I didn't really have to remember a whole lot, I just had to remember to let the lead take my arms where he wanted and when there was a whole lot of arm stuff, the basic is really just kind of marched in place. Again another solid hour of dancing! Although at this point the blisters of yesterday were turning into the pretty major problems of the day... and so began my regiment of ibuprofen... nothing was going to keep me down!

Classes over at 4:30 Capitan and I decided to take a small break from the Congress to take care of some things, I had a prior engagement that I will write about later... I arrived back at the hotel in enough time to freshen up for the dancing. My favorite band of Congress Sammy Garcia & Sabor de Puerto Rico! While on my break I did stop at a drug store to stock up on more ibuprofen and a few blister type treatment aids, oh and we must not forget the over load of caffeine! If it wasn't for that I wouldn't have made it much past 7:30 that night!
Another student friend of ours made it out on Saturday for some workshops and she joined us for the evening as well, I was so glad she was able to make it!

We walked in to a dance floor already buzzing, the room was already very warm from all the dancing people... I was tired and the pills hadn't kicked in yet... but the music was great! Unfortunately the band would always speak in Spanish between songs (great for the atmosphere, bad if you don't speak Spanish, which I don't) so I have no idea what the songs were called or anything. I made it through about 4 songs or so, before the combination of everything was getting to me, sensory overload was kicking in and I strolled out with my friends for a glass of wine.

Sadly the caffeine wasn't really helping, but I went back in, at some point I misplaced my friends, but I got a few dances in anyway. I ran into a couple of people that I don't see out and about much, we chatted for a minute... I found my girls ran upstairs with them (I was the keeper of the room key) to say goodnight to them...and to see if a quick freshen up would allow me to last any longer on the dance floor, ran back down... made it past the thresh hold of the door to the ballroom... I did a quick sweep for anyone I recognized... and it was at that very moment, when I thought I could maybe get one more dance in... that my legs and feet screamed at me in unison as if to say "What the hell are you thinking?" So back upstairs I went, once I had finally given in to the exhaustion... I was out the instant my head hit the pillow. I think it was close to 2am...

SUNDAY:
Oh the PAIN! That's what I woke up to on Sunday... aching all over, sharp pain in my feet...stupid shoes! This time I woke up at 7am but decided to make myself stay there for another hour or so... I also looked at the schedule and decided I HAD to make it to at least ONE class... although who knew if my legs were going to cooperate.

I just couldn't move fast enough for a 9:30 class so I opted for a 10:45 Cha Cha Cha skill level beginner/intermediate... hey I didn't have the brain power to actually try anything TOTALLY new... ok... so this class wasn't anything new for me... but I was still dancing in spite of it all... so I get credit for that. We went over basics, open break, and pivot turns... I could have done this in my sleep...which is good cuz I think I may have been... the first lead I got was fairly good, I think he was taking this class for the same reasons I was and I would have been happy to stay with him for the hour and just dance... the second lead I got, was I swear to you, impossible to follow! Ok, now he explained he'd never done Cha Cha before, so my patience was in place... but when he tried to put a "cha cha cha" into a pivot turn I disregarded all the advice about not helping my lead from yesterday... and suggested we try to do it another way...well he didn't like that at all, and stopped one of the instructors to ask how it should be done... Well what do you know? The way I was suggesting was actually the way they were teaching it!

Third lead, most entertaining of all... we did the "Turkish towel" step... this guy was obviously very Salsa proficient... pretty quick study on Cha Cha too... accept when they put the music on for us to practice the two of us would do the step and then he would throw some random Salsa shines into the mix... well ok then... he did actually get them to move with the beat fairly well... so I would basic, maybe throw in a turn...whatever... I was however very surprised that for as good at Salsa as he appeared to be, he had NEVER learned Cha Cha before! How do people live on just the one dance! Class over, and me cursing myself for not stretching before hand (is it possible to actually feel each and every chord of muscle as it decides to scream in protest?).... it was time for me to meet up with Capitan to plan the rest of our day.

Capitan wanted to go to an advanced class, with an instructor she liked from earlier in Congress, I was in no shape to be trying an advanced class, so I decided to come and watch... it was very good! The instructor really had his stuff together and had the partners rotating very regularly. I spent most of the class stretching which made a HUGE difference. After class we decided that there wasn't really any other classes we felt we HAD to attend so we officially called it a Congress and went our separate ways to prepare for our upcoming week.

Saddest part of all, by about 5pm that afternoon I wanted to go dancing... I didn't want to Salsa, but I would have done any one of the other dances I know... pain or no pain... You'd think that after dancing so much in such a concentrated amount of time I'd be ready for a break... but no... all it did was feed the addiction!

And so I close with the same line I had when I was finished with last year's Congress... Salsa? Sure! But only if it comes with chips!





(No worries, I'll be back to Salsa in no time at all, I just need a little break)

Last Week's Lesson, Rhythm all around.

Hi Everyone! Ok So much has happened since the last time I wrote, but things have to go in order... so I'll begin with a quick note about last week's lesson.

Last week, for the first time in a while RT and I were in the same kind of upbeat mood... This makes for really easy learning. I was once again sporting my newer style shoe, which is a jazz sandal of sorts (I don't dance in ballroom shoes ever, the way I distribute the weight on my feet makes it nearly impossible for me to dance in heels of any kind) to this point I've been in standard issue jazz shoes that are completely flat, these Jazz Sandals have a little 3/4" Cuban heel and let me tell you it makes a difference! It feels like I have to re-learn some of the basic stuff all over again. RT is calling these shoes my "Latin shoes" so we worked on Latin dances!

We opened with some Hustle, and then moved into Salsa, where RT is still trying to get me to learn about the Clave... it's getting better, but it still seems to be a little over my head. Then we moved to trying to get me to dance On2, which means in this case same Salsa basic, starting on the 2nd beat of the measure instead of on the first (On1). I didn't do too terribly. I was actually quite pleased with that.

Then we moved to Cha Cha, and the two of us were in such good moods, which means we were talking and I was joking, so we had a couple of "false starts" where we would begin, and then by the end of the first measure RT would say "Ok wait we're off time." and I would reply in my usual smart ass way "Hey, it's your fault, it's my job to follow." and we would immediately start again. It happens sometimes, no big deal... only takes a second to make the correction and move on.

We did in fact have a little Rumba time... only this time I actually got complimented by RT on my basic w/ Cuban motion! Holy Cow! It went something like "Hey that was really good, but now you should work on making and infinity sign with your lat muscles." I wanted to just tell him to stop and let me relish the fact that I got a compliment on my Rumba before we worked on the NEXT thing I'm going to be practicing forever, but I decided against it. Instead, I just made a mental note of the compliment, and asked details about exactly what type of figure eight/infinity sign I was supposed to be trying. I then told RT that he can't make me do anymore, I don't have any more sections of my body that can or will make an infinity sign for this dance.

Then it was on to a little more On2 Salsa (some people call that Mambo), and we finished up with a little of my East Coast Swing...

Salsa Congress is Coming!

Hi all! The week as arrived! Chicago International Salsa Congress kicks off on Thursday, with workshops beginning on Friday, continuing through Saturday, and finishing up on Sunday. The Capitan and I will be making a girls weekend out of it and have been looking forward to it for weeks!

Oh! I do believe I forgot to tell you, the same band I saw on Saturday of last year Sammy Garcia & Sabor de Puerto Rico will be playing again this year! I can't wait to test what I've learned on that dance floor!

I know of a few readers that will be stopping by… If you’re one of these people drop me an e-mail! StageKat@gmail.com We can exchange phone numbers and meet up for some of the workshops or even an early dinner before the evening dancing begins!

If you’re coming I suggest printing the schedule here and bring it with you.

Also, when you check in there will be a bit to do, so allow for time before that first workshop you want to attend.

Hope to see you there!

New Dimension to Dance: The Clave (Clah-VAY)

So as I mentioned earlier, this week's lesson began with my official introduction to the Clave. Which subsequently has sent me on a search for a greater understanding of this instrument and rhythm. Clave is Spanish, and in translation means "key". It is generally characterized in Afro-Cuban and music especially Son and Salsa and is heard by the use of Claves...which are small stick-like percussion instruments, that when struck produce a high pitched "click". The presence of the Clave can have varying patterns within a given type of music.

With strong ties to Havana beginning in the late seventeenth century, it is said that the instrument and rhythms were developed by the Cuban Creole culture as a way to enhance their music. While the Clave is predominantly Cuban for sure, some version of a Clave can also be found in traditional music of Spain, China, Japan, Africa, Indochina, Siam, Mexico, and the Polynesian Islands.

Below is the only decent video I could find, turns out this guy is a Cuban musician showing some different Clave rhythms.





While the Clave is an extremely important aspect of Cuban and Latin music, as a dancer you wouldn't want to dance ON the Clave beat exactly. That would put you out of time in the music, the dance would appear to be very disjointed and appear to be working against the song. There is a catch too, the Clave beat does not have to be (though generally is) represented by the Clave instrument. It can be represented through nearly any instrument in the band, but I'm told that once you know what to listen for in rhythm, the sound making it is less important. The Clave beat will determine for you when to act within the music as a dancer and that one should rely on it to keep time.

Clave patterns vary by dance, each Latin dance has Clave patterns...for the purpose of my research I'm attempting to focus on Salsa (although it appears On2/Mambo is more widely used in description.) Thus far I have read several articles from all over the globe, put out on the web to share opinions and facts intertwined, they all have lots of diagrams on what a Clave pattern looks like on paper, but that doesn't give me a real clear explanation of how to listen for it. What I will have to do is study a few of the .wav files I've found, and then sit back and listen to some Salsa in order to start picking up on it. Wish me luck!

Last Week's Lesson: My Official Introduction to The Clave

Last week's lesson was a little unusual, this time I was absolutely in the mood for a good ol' time. RT had more technical pursuits in mind. We started with a little Salsa, after a few measures RT asked me to clap on the 1st and 4th beats while maintaining the steps in Salsa, well this proved to be a bit of a stretch for me. See in Salsa, you move on the 1st thru 3rd beats, pause on 4, then start again with 1. Or, sometimes you'll see Salsa counted as 1, 2, 3, (pause 4) 5, 6, 7, (pause 8). So to actually write it out it looks like 1, 2, 3, ..., 5, 6, 7, ... Attempting to clap on the 1st beat, fine... ask me to again clap on the 4th when I'm paused is a bit like asking me to pat my head and rub my stomach at the same time. I simply can't do it without practice and a lot of thought. I nearly instantly became frustrated by my lack of ability to do this, and kept asking why he wanted me to attempt this seemingly silly practice. I was hoping that the "why" of it all would help me understand how to do it.

"Look it's the Clave, [as you learn Salsa], it's important that you know this." stated a mildly exasperated RT.

"Oh, ok... I've read about that." I replied... but unfortunately the brief period of study I had with the Clave (said Clah-VAY) was bit over my head at the time so I just filed the information away to be referenced later.

This will prompt a writing of what I understand the Clave to be in a later post, but for now... on with the lesson.

What I do know is that the Clave is a particular stick-like instrument used to accent particular beats in Afro-Cuban music. I never spent any time listening for it, or paying much attention to it at all... until this lesson. RT and I continued with my attempting to clap/step, clap/pause on the appropriate beats, to no avail. I was having a terrible time with it! Which is so tragic, considering the amount of time I've spent with music in my life. It was so bad at one point two of the studio employees that had been watching from the office behind me made their presence known by randomly clapping to either distract RT and I or worse. I turned... looked at them, turned to RT and simply stated "Oh no... now that we have an audience, game over, I'm not going to keep doing this." I then told myself that this week's homework was going to be studying the Clave, so even if I couldn't clap and step, or not step, at least I should be able to pick out the Clave rhythm next time RT and I meet.

Thankful that RT knows the difference between when I complain for the sake of complaining and when I really put my foot down about doing something, we moved to fine tune some of my positioning in cross body leads, something I picked up on much faster I think. Then we worked on my pivot turns, surprise of all surprises I anticipate those too...so we worked on that as well. In spite of the failed Clave bit, I was still happy to get my Salsa worked on. First part of the lesson complete we moved onto our next dance.

I have no idea how much advance planning goes into my lessons, whether RT decides as we work through our warm up dance what we're going to do next or it just dawns on him when we run to the music machine to pick out tunes. Either way I was all too pleased when, while at the music machine, RT suggested West Coast Swing.

Ah, West Coast, I know the way I currently know it is pretty much studio specific... I've seen WCS at other places and I barely recognize it. Someday I'll learn that too... For the time being I'm happy with the one I've got... now we just have to get my coaster step to the point where RT is happy with it too... and we'll be set. We worked on the coaster a lot, sadly I've worked on the coaster a lot at home too... and it hasn't translated to lessons yet. Ok, so that's two bits of homework... Figure out the Clave, and polish that coaster step.... Check.

I think we took a Rumba break, even if I don't mention it here, I'm pretty sure Rumba makes an appearance in EVERY lesson... This time I was pleased to get some Cuban motion in to see if I could maintain it with a new style of shoe I'm now attempting to sport around the studio. Ok... moving on...

East Coast Swing! Yippee Skippy! It wasn't long after we started the triple step, that I noticed RT watching the one way mirror by the office that had previously held the clappers that distracted us. You know... It's pretty rare that I pay attention to what's going around the studio during my lesson, unless RT is paying attention to something... I can tell the difference between his using the mirror to inspect steps and lines, and when he's watching someone inevitably watching back, in the span of a microsecond. A sign of us working together for too long I think.... Well I don't care who's paying attention to my ECS, I have way too much fun doing it to care if I screw up, and of course I did... on one of my favorite steps too... oh well... I asked that we do it again and it was a little better.
Also, I ALWAYS misread the lead for that sequence that opens with 4 steps back then a few taps/kicks/points..whatever they've evolved into... oh well... at least we make it back to the triple on time. I love that dance.

With that lesson was over, and I cruised out of there homework in head... how am I going to pull learning the Clave??

Last Week's Lesson: Cha Cha, Smooth Education, and Samba

Hi Everyone! I walked into last week's lesson, not really knowing which direction it was going to be taken. Unfortunately my attitude was off, and thus I didn't take as much from this lesson, dance wise, as I do from most. RT, as always, was very attentive to the difference in my mood, and after making sure I was ok, we began this week with a Cha Cha. I'm really pleased with the way my Cha Cha is beginning to shape up, it's sad that after a year and a half I only now feel like I'm starting to develop in some of these dances. It feels like I'm finally on the verge of being able to insert my own personality into them, rather than exclusively, rather desperately, trying to follow. I don't know if it's the fact that, as much as I would love to, I can't devote every moment to working on this craft, or that I've spread my limited available time over so many dances that I'm just not where I want to be in most of them...but Cha Cha, with the exception of a couple of steps, is really starting to move into the level of comfort that I have for East Coast Swing.

RT and I did work on the one step I never feel like I have, I commonly refer to it as the "spinnie" move, even when I'm told it's been done ok... it never feels right. Sometimes it just feels slightly better than horrific. I just have to hold on to the fact that I WILL get there, I will become comfortable with everything I pushed off because I wasn't confident enough to actually go for it. After many many tries, we gave Cha Cha a rest and moved onto some of the smooth we've been working on.

RT must be on a smooth kick, because in the last two weeks I've worked on Tango, Fox Trot and even Waltz, more than I have in ages! My confidence in smooth is rock bottom terrible. Smooth dances have always held this kind of elite status in my mind, not better than the Rhythm, but I envision the smooth dances as possessing all the qualities I don't have. Smooth is classy, graceful, elegant, proper, and strong. Strong, is really the only thing on THAT list that I feel I possess. I forever feel like the proverbial "bull in the china shop" when I'm dancing a smooth dance. Tango, being the most aggressive of the three smooth dances I know, is the one that I think I could excel at if I allow myself to get there. We worked on the two open fan steps, and RT even showed me the closed fan step, which is supposed to be nearly all action in the foot and the top line doesn't really move much. That's going to take some work. Oh, we worked on my version of the corte as well... hips forward, shoulders back, extended leg all the way back and I better keep that extended heel in, and not let it rotate out. Actually, I'm pretty sure I can do all that. We T-A-N-G-Oed around the floor a few times and it was time for our next dance...

We brushed over Fox Trot real quick, and I was informed that I shouldn't think of Fox Trot with all those adjectives I used above, no.. instead it's supposed to be the sexy dance in the smooth collection. Huh... well THAT'S different! I guess I'll have to let that sink in before I can actually approach Fox Trot with a saucy, sexy kind of attitude.

Next up... SAMBA... oh lordy! I was not in the right frame of mind for this on this night..but forward we move... around through the basic... RT must be determined to get me though this, I've never felt so much like a beginner dancer as I do when I try this! This lesson's detail was making sure I've got my hip brought up when I step forward, similar to that in the whip on West Coast Swing. SHEESH! I do think the forward and back basic is sinking in, we'll see... I'm not going to say anything, after all I didn't this time, and I bet RT has me work on it again next week.
We ended the lesson with the Samba, and with that, my mood had been lifted, as dance always does. More practice... I wonder if it's possible to wear through the linoleum floor in my kitchen? Time to put it to the test!

A Shine Filled La Rueda, and a Lesson in Leading

Sunday brought more dancing! The Capitan and I decided to try our hand at another La Rueda lesson at Dance Connection. (For more detail on La Rueda, read about our first lesson.) I have the sneaking suspicion that she and I may be making some fairly regular appearance at this studio. We arrived and our instructor let us know that the couple that accompanied us for the last lesson would be arriving about half way through the hour. While we waited he asked if it would be ok to show us some Shines for Salsa, which we agreed would be fine.

Shines are steps that can be done in Salsa when your partner and you decide that you want to show off a little. They are done independently of the frame and some of them are quite complicated. The Capitan and I are not really at a point in our Salsa dancing where we feel comfortable in a Shine situation, but it's good to know because the two of us will get there someday. So we worked on some Shines, which I can pick up on... not as quick as I'd like, but then I never quite seem to be able to do much as quickly or as nicely as I want. I have worked on some Shines in RT's group class and at least one of the Shines we were shown on Sunday was VERY close to one I had done before and I kept doing a combination of both. There was a battle going on in my head, I was standing in the Dance Connection Studio, but the imagery in my head was that of RT's group class. Eventually all of me did show up to the same studio and then I started feeling pretty comfortable with the Shines we were working on. One is even going to begin making an appearance in my cubical at work. (I often practice small dance steps in my cube when work is slow.)

Our fellow La Rueda classmates arrived and we reviewed some of the basics and were learning a few new terms and steps. I asked our instructor where we could go out and actually do this fun social dance style, and the answer was basically Florida! Too bad there aren't any La Rueda clubs around. Well if I'm ever back in Florida I know what I'm looking up for evening activity. We did our best at a real La Rueda circle, but the numbers were one off... Three gals, two gents...which is ok... the odd woman out can practice the basic and still participate in the "group" calls. About 15 minutes before the end a guy in his 20's/30's showed up, apparently early for his lesson. Our instructor invited him to join our Rueda circle and we were off with a complete set! Our Rueda lesson ended and the instructor presented The Capitan and I with a great opportunity!

I guess this young man's dance partner was unable to make it to his lesson, so we were asked if we would like the play the part of his follow for his lesson. Heck The Capitan and I usually just grab a late lunch after La Rueda, so sure! I asked The Capitan if she wanted to dance, and she agreed. I was very interested in this lesson, it was the first time I had ever seen what it's like to teach someone how to lead. This guy really wasn't bad! He said he'd been taking lessons for about three months, and I was impressed with his library of turn patterns. He was also a fairly quick study with some new steps. So impressed was I that when the instructor asked me if I wanted a turn to be the follow I actually declined. I would have jumped in there if The Capitan wanted a break, but she was following so wonderfully and this was after all this young man's lesson, not ours... I was afraid that if I jumped in I would have required too much instruction myself and I didn't want to take away from a lesson that I wasn't paying for. I was honestly happy to watch the technique used to show someone how to lead. Someday I hope to learn how to lead myself, but I figure I'll get good at the traditional gender role of following first.

In two hours The Capitan and I learned three Shines, participated in some fun La Rueda, and helped a nice guy progress in his own dance education. That additional lesson was a great surprise! Also, The Capitan and I decided that if there is one single guy taking lessons at this studio...there are likely more... so we just may have to pick up Dr. Jem and hit a social party at Dance Connection. We are after all, always on a mission for guys who

Saturday Night Dance Party with the Girls

On Saturday night I ventured out with my two dance girlfriends, (names are always replaced to protect the guilty) The Capitan and Dr. Jem. We went to one of my favorite studios to party at...Latin Rhythms. This is the studio I was introduced to at the October competition, they specialize in "club/street style" Latin dancing. The space is fantastic and the gals that run this studio are some of the best! They put on a fantastic dance social, three hours, $12 for non-students, professional DJ spinning some really fun Latin music, and they have an in-house cafe that serves beverages and snacks to their patrons. Dancing consists mostly of Salsa/Mambo, but they also do Cha Cha, Merengue, Bachata, and Cumbia. This is one of the few places I've been where the dance floor actually gets more crowded during a Bachata, rather than clearing out because the crowd isn't familiar with the dance.

"Club style" Latin is really quite different from the more formal Ballroom style of Latin. For example, the basic Salsa step in this more casual style does not require your feet to come together, instead the step is more progressive actually causing the dancers to move forward and back to some degree, rather than staying in one spot like in the Ballroom style. Also, I noticed that the Cha Cha step is really more of a "scoot" during "Cha Cha" instead of the comparatively blatant side-together-side (as an example) in Ballroom. Unfortunately I wasn't asked to dance, nor did I have the confidence to pull a leader to the floor, to see if I could follow this more relaxed style. The Capitan and Dr. Jem were each asked for a dance a few times, and I loved to watch them follow. Both are EXCELLENT dancers, The Capitan is very familiar with dancing in this more relaxed setting, and blends almost seamlessly with her lead. Dr. Jem was following wonderfully, as you would expect from a nationally ranked amateur dancer, although even when she follows a club style lead, her form is very definitely Ballroom.

Even though I didn't get to actually dance, I still had fun... an evening out with my girls is always fun, even when we don't head out to anything dance related. We are all in agreement that more parties at Latin Rhythms will be attended. Keep an eye out for more dancing adventures with Dr. Jem, The Capitan and I!

The War with Food Continues...

I’d love to tell you that it’s easy, that I found the secret to making weight loss and getting in shape easy. I can tell you that what I’ve found has made it easier… but definitely not easy. So far I’ve managed to drop 110lbs using dancing as my inspiration and my drive. If you look at the numbers I’m over the midway point heading into the “home stretch”. However, the closer I get to my target weight, the harder it is to get there. Am I discouraged? A little… Am I disappointed in myself? Absolutely!

Rather than being on the down hill slide of all this, it appears I’m facing a rather hard up hill battle. My body it seams is quite pleased with itself at my current weight, and the last few times I’ve dropped any pounds they’ve come right back. It’s quite depressing! I’m not sure where to go from here. Nearly everything I’ve been doing so far has become habit for which I am pleased. I still have an argument with myself every morning, afternoon and evening about working out... Some days I win, some I loose. I just can’t allow that to hold me back. I knew it was going to get harder, I just didn’t expect the true challenges to happen until I got to the last 40lbs or so. So for the time being I’m in limbo maintaining my current path of trying to reach that ever elusive goal.

Sometimes I really wish I could be one of those people with that fantastic metabolism that just takes care of everything they eat, or that I was gifted enough to maintain a job in the fine arts world that would have me moving around and performing all the time (can you imagine how many calories per day your average dance instructor burns?) I guess all that will have to wait for the next life to start at an earlier age. I just have to deal with the fact that during this life, if I want to be healthy, I will be in a constant battle with food. I may not win each and every battle, but I'm fairly certain I will win the war.

Thursday Lesson: Journaling Comes to Lessons and Samba Strikes a Chord

Thursday night's lesson was a bit of a take off in style from my usual lessons. RT and I did do rounds, and we did open with Rumba. The difference was subtle at first, but then it became apparently clear to me that RT was dictating what he wanted to teach me by referencing what I had written about some of my previous lessons here in this journal. Now, I know that RT has made the odd stop to my journal since it's inception but, I did not know he was actually paying attention to what I write! While working on Rumba, RT had remembered to mention "Settle" when that last rollover to the next hip is supposed to happen, which did in fact continue to help. Ordinarily the appearance of a detail THAT small in a second lesson is rare unless I mention that I need it. This time it was automatic, and it completely surprised me! So, yes with a little assistance I absolutely had a Rumba that was nearly as good as Monday's lesson... so now my goal is to work that out to the point where I don't need the help.

I know that when I write things here, I'm not just writing for myself. I write to inform others, educate them about what being a dance student is like, and as it happens I have also inspired a few. I have regular readers and to some extent "fans" if you will, that really seem to enjoy much of what I'm doing. All of which is awe inspiring and humbling to me. I have been approached at the studio by others that have wanted to discuss my journey and that is welcomed and encouraged. However, my journal has never actually made a direct impact on my lessons, generally it's my lessons that impact my journal. Just wait, as the lesson progressed RT took the opportunity to really get into some of my writings and bring them back to the dance floor....

Pleased with Rumba we turned to some smooth dances and began to work on some Fox Trot, which I hadn't actually done in several weeks if not a month, my main problem when I get out of practice in smooth dances is my terrible tendency to back lead, and rush which is just awful and I know it. Sometimes this can be remedied if RT and I are actually talking about stuff while dancing, that takes my mind off what I'm doing and I generally begin to follow again. I don't recall the topic of conversation, but it must have been good, because before we knew it RT was not leading me in Fox Trot, we were going with the music playing and it happened to be Waltz! The conversation was abruptly ended by RT saying "Are we doing Waltz because I just can't do Fox Trot to Waltz music." Which I still, days later, find exceptionally funny. Seeing the window of opportunity we did in fact work on a little Waltz, but we picked up with Fox Trot again shortly thereafter and I think I did stop the back leading and rushing by the end of it.

RT also remembered that I had referred to the Tango fan steps as difficult so that was our next venture. I can't say I was terribly successful at it... I still use a lot of feeling when I dance instead of counting. So if I'm told to step on the 3, or hold on the 7 I can do it...but it requires me to take the feeling out of the dance and go down to the basic counting which isn't a smooth transition in thought. I prefer to just remind RT that I don't count when I dance. So, after what felt like many many drills on just a few fan type steps I may be able to follow that lead if asked to, but I'm not making any promises. Onward we went to our next dance...

Here's where I get flipped out a little, the thing about having had two instructors of differing styles is that one instructor generally doesn't know what the other instructor has shown you, unless they discuss it amongst themselves, the student mentions it in the lesson, OR the student writes about it in her journal. RT said "So, [Buddy] was working on Samba with you, lets to that." I almost shot back with "How do you know that?" but quickly knew better.... and just said "Well, yeah but it was really just the basic, and it's been several weeks I really don't have it down at all yet."
The thing about Samba for me is that it is extraordinarily intimidating, and RT was really good about it, in the past he started with the technical stuff, which I never took to very well... This time he tried to work it the same way Buddy had, just kind of shoving me through it. It worked, not as well as I'd hoped, but there is a ton of underlying stuff about Samba that I have issue with anyway. I told RT "Oh, no this is different, it's not right...something is off." I knew exactly what it was... it was me. We tried it again, I did the head down concentrate on the feeling of the steps thing that I do, and that did help me get back on track a bit. My issues with Samba are two fold, one.. I know what's coming with the hip motion and I am terrified of trying to do that, it's one of those things that I can't see myself ever being comfortable with the way I LOOK doing that. (Yeah not even 110lbs lost can get me to shake all of my insecurities) Two... Samba is one of RT's favorite dances, and I know how I am with my favorite dances... to not be able to get a decent one done is an awful feeling... and I don't like that I'm positively terrible at one of my instructors favorite dances. The Samba beat I've got, the feeling of the basic makes sense...but my brain is like Teflon when it comes to actually remembering what my feet are supposed to be doing...I could stand in my practice area not an hour after working on Samba, get the bounce going and the side steps, but that dang front and back basic has been wiped from my brain. I expressed my frustration in knowing that the hip motion drills were coming up, if work on Samba continues and he said "So, it's like some wall in front of you that you can't get over?" First I was surprised because RT doesn't normally speak in metaphors and second surprised that he was understanding my frustration to a point. I know he finds it ridiculous, I know he'll help me get through it... but he also knows when enough frustration is enough for me, time for another dance.

With about five minutes left to the lesson he said "You were working on Cha Cha too right?"
"Yes, [Buddy] and I worked on Cha Cha a LOT." I responded, thinking but you already know that because you just read my journal!

So Cha Cha we did, it was quick but fun I felt like I hadn't done a decent Cha Cha with RT in forever, he remembered to shorten up one of the moves that I never really got down well, and I was feeling pretty pleased with my following until the double open breaks which is a normal open break held for longer with some weight shifting and some hip stuff... I think I got it on the second or third try. Then something strange happened, I was lead into a pivot turn and then two spins right after (don't ask me why I can remember this move exactly and Samba basic escapes me, I have no idea either.) Here's the thing... I did it... and it was on time...but as soon as it was over I said "What was that?" and RT told me what it was (again, never could get the names of these things down) and I told him I'd never done that before... ever, to which I got the moderately surprised response of "But you followed it." I guess I did...and I even think I could do it again... so now, I suddenly have the ability to maybe follow turning combinations in Cha Cha? If so, that's a totally new and exciting development... I can't wait to see what happens at my next lesson!

Monday Lesson, Finally Settled In! (and a ton of other dances too!)

Yippie! Hi gang! I had a lesson tonight, with RT of course... I was fully prepared for an overly technical lesson, bracing for it actually. Technical lessons tend to happen if I haven't danced with RT in over a week... but hey this girl has been wrong before... wait 'til you read about the dancing bliss that was tonight's lesson!

Happily we warmed up with a really fast Hustle. There's something about a good fast Hustle... in about two minutes I start to feel like I've worked out for about twenty. I noticed TNG watching from the corner of my eye... I was going to wave, but this Hustle was FAST...and RT was trying desperately for me to expand my repertoire of arm styling. I think I got at least one good styling in there. Song over, and sufficiently short on breath RT and I moved on to the next dance.

Salsa... excellent! There isn't much I don't like about Salsa, love the music, the beat, the timing, it all just makes sense to me and it's SOOOOO much fun! I live for the leverage of a cross body lead...and adore the spinning. (I'll adore it more when I'm better at it!) Now, we are working on my prepping through the first beat and actually whipping around for the second. Huh... that's going to take some more thought before it's automatic. My WHOLE world starts on the first beat... It's difficult for me to start counting and not acknowledge that first beat without moving. However, prepping for a turn is acknowledging that first beat, there is a little movement in prepping so I think I'll get spinning on the second sooner rather than later. Then there was a spin that RT was leading me into... and every time before this I've come out of this set up spinning one way, only this time he takes my arm and in a lead that doesn't push me, but instead "strongly suggests" I turn the other way... it takes my brain a second to adjust to changing like that, we had to do that a couple of times before I really felt like I could do what I think of as an opposite rotation. I could have worked on that for the rest of the lesson, but RT had other plans.

Salsa music over, RT suggested the unthinkable....
"How about Waltz?"
"Are you serious? My Waltz is TERRIBLE!" I retort.
RT comes back with "You've lost so much weight since the last time we tried Waltz, lets try it again."
Eyes rolling "My weight wasn't really the issue behind Waltz. It's my head, I can't wrap my brain around it. But I mean if you really want to... sure we can give it a go."
So after lining up some songs for us at the music machine... off we Waltzed... I've gotta be honest it didn't feel as bad as I remember... my balance must have improved a little. We didn't do anything over complicated but we made it 'round the floor once or twice. Huh...Maybe I'll
have to try Waltz again... but I still like Fox Trot better.

It's Rumba time! (When is it not Rumba time?) We worked on Rumba...again... and I made a real effort to try and make it feel the same way it does in my kitchen at home. If you all saw the attitude I've got when dancing in my kitchen... I could totally be a rock star! I just have to work on bringing that to the places where people actually dance... like the studio. We worked on open breaks and Cuban walks and a little arm styling. What I call the "11 o'clock/1 o'clock move"... I'll find out what it actually is... Then we just kinda started dancing Rumba... and then sometime between RT asking me to actually look at him, and my telling him the floor is actually very pretty to look at (I did end up looking at him)... with RT's help of saying "Settle" when I'm supposed to.. I did it ya'll! I actually shifted and THEN settled into my next hip! WELL IT'S ABOUT DAMN TIME!
The song we were listening to was really perfect for it, I just can't now for the life of me remember which one it was... maybe if I keep working to that song where I can really pick out the timing I can get good enough to do it all the time. It wasn't perfect, but for once it actually felt like a Rumba in the studio, instead of just in my kitchen.


Goodness what else did we work on! Oh gosh we did a little West Coast... and a little East Coast... I still don't know what it is... but I think for the rest of my life RT will be my all time favorite leader for all things swing related... don't get me wrong...he's currently my favorite for all the dances I know... but I can't imagine having anymore fun with anyone during a swing (EC or WC) as I do with him... For as much as I love Salsa, I think the swings match my personality more... they're a little more relaxed, cool, and they totally have a sense of humor about them... just like me! So I'll never pass up a swing...but you have read me say that before. Then to wrap up this blast of a lesson... another surprise... RT suggests Tango! I don't know if he was trying to test me tonight or what, but I guess after the success with Rumba he was going to try and push that through to Tango.

So Tango we did, a little... it was mainly correcting my impression of Corte and a couple of the dramatic fan combos. Which I'll get someday I'm sure... Then it was time for the lesson to end... which was ok.. because much more of that and the high of my rocking out on Rumba would have faded to the frustration that Tango can bring.

Whew! That's the kind of lesson I live for... Dancing and learning and finally breaking through that dang settling thing that's been plaguing me since the beginning!!!!
Practice for the next few days, counting the hours until I'm back on the floor.

Chicago Salsa Congress is Almost Here!

Ok, so a lot of you have taken my advise and already booked your tickets for the Chicago International Salsa Congress! (Feb 14-17 2008) I'm so pleased! Now, for those of you on the fence about it...here is my final pitch to bring you over to the Salsa side... I present the following videos from our friends at You Tube to give you an example of what you can expect:




The video quality is poor, but I was actually at this workshop last year... I was even pulled on that little carpeted stage for some examples. :) I was TERRIFIED of falling off, and while they make sure to have hardwood dance floors for the students, I am not a big fan of dancing on carpet, way too much traction I can't move very well, (as I side note I'm pretty sure he called me "Baby" the whole time I was up there...grrr...) I think this instructor is Jorge, he's a cat with some personality for sure... I'll be looking for him again this year.




This is a better example of what a workshop looks like in one of the larger rooms, the instructor is Juan Calderon. This workshop is a beginner/intermediate. Most of the video is example, but they do a great job of walking everyone through each step.




Ok, now for those of you only interested in the evening's entertainment and dancing the above is one of the MANY groups that performed at the showcase they are local and they call themselves Los Jovenes Del Swing.




Even better, now this is actually from the 2006 Congress... but... it is the BEST example of what the main dance floor and music is like... from about :57 sec to 2:25 it's a GREAT example of what to expect.


Hope to see you all there!
Don't forget, you can always e-mail me with questions!

Practice Practice Practice... Introducing TNG

Hi again! Ok, so you've likely heard that Buddy is no longer with the studio I dance at.

Can I just take a moment and stress again how much he'll be missed? He will...

Well, on the evening I found out I was actually scheduled for a lesson with him, and didn't find out about his departure until about 15 minutes before lesson time. Now in the past, when my lessons have been rearranged without my prior knowledge, RT has stepped up and filled the void... On this particular occasion he was not available. So...what is a girl to do? There I was, at the studio ready to go and for a brief moment I thought there would be no dancing. (That would have been VERY upsetting!) It was at that point when an interesting suggestion presented itself.
"You could dance with [TNG], students do that sometimes when there is a schedule conflict to help The New Guy practice, and [you still get to dance]."

Well I'm familiar with TNG, I've danced with him at a few parties, he's young, cute, super tall, and for a newbie... not a bad dancer at all! He was a little nervous, but hiding it well... this could be fun... ;-)

He picked me up for my lesson and as we walked arm in arm to the music machine I asked "So teach what are we going to be working on today?"

With all the seriousness of a teacher with much more experience TNG states "Well I'm told we need to work on your footwork, hips, and arm styling."

It was all I could do to hold it together, you all know that my skills aren't great, but TNG is THE NEW GUY... not just new to the studio, but new to this style of dancing too... So while desperately trying to hold back from just busting up laughing I ask "What, did you just call [RT] and ask him what all my problems are?"

We started with some Rumba... and once again for the millionth time I wasn't thinking and was picking up my feet... grrr... bonus points to TNG for noticing and telling me to stop though. We put a song on, and another instructor would change it... so then we worked on Rumba to whatever beat TNG had in his head. (Being a musician though, he's really good at picking up and maintaining a beat without the music, or in this case against the music) We tried to pick another song, and it to0 was taken out... poor TNG, can't catch a break. It wasn't long before my upper back was getting weary from holding frame so much higher than I'm now used to. (I mentioned TNG is tall right? about 6'4"or 5" if I had to guess.) It forced me to stand up absolutely straight no matter what.

We then switched to Cha Cha and that was good, TNG suggested that I work my basic Cha Cha step into different lengths which actually could make the Cuban motion of it all easier. Another thing for me to work out on my kitchen floor. Then we worked on some Push pull Hustle, always a favorite... especially with the new ones, as it's generally one of the first things everyone picks up on. Lets see, we did some East Coast, some West Coast basic, I explained that there was more leverage needed for that to work really well... we also did some Salsa, and even a little Fox Trot.

It was definitely a good work out, and we kept the conversation light... at one point... I believe it was during a Cha Cha... TNG asked me "Do you like working with [RT]?"

Umm... huh...well which one of the million ways could I answer this... Clearly young TNG had never read this journal. I chose to respond with "Absolutely, he's my original instructor. I really appreciate his technical approach, and I like that he's as hard on me as I am on myself, we're very different, but it works."

"Yes" would have sufficed, I know that... but TNG is new, and needs to know how students relate to their instructors. I know he's excited about having his first lesson with a brand new student later this week. One can only hope that it works as well as mine did with RT.

All in all it was fun... and I did actually end up learning a few new things to work on my basics. TNG has the framework to make a good instructor... I can't wait to see how he develops.

Last Week's Lessons.... A True Sample of Rhythm

Ok...so let's see... Last week I had four lessons scheduled Monday with RT, Tuesday with Buddy, Thursday a double lesson, one with each instructor. Whew! It was great! Fortunately I can tell you what I did with each instructor, but not which lesson they all happened in.

Buddy was all about the steps, and let our brains rest from technique (even though I was trying to fine tune stuff the whole way... I guess RT and I aren't THAT different) we worked on Samba, and how it's not to dissimilar from the Viennese Waltz... THAT was a blast and a connection I never made before! (I'd never really done the V. Waltz before, so that was definitely worth it!) I could have done that for hours. I attempted to follow my way through the regular basic, the side basic, then a traveling basic and a few turns... We also worked on Rumba...(Seems I'm always working on my Rumba) I learned a new sequence of steps for Salsa... (that I now can't remember) and our favorite to work on Cha Cha... I know I think at least two steps that RT doesn't even know I know yet! That was WAY too much fun!

RT was a pleasant combination of both steps and technique, which is my all time favorite way to learn. I like to learn the steps and kind of start fine tuning them as we go so I don't fall into any (more) additional bad habits before we continue. Interestingly this time when there was Bolero music on... I actually got to learn the Bolero! I'd never done this dance before... it feels like it's the Waltz of the Latin dances, slow, graceful, very controlled. LOTS of knee work... I think I actually like it! Bolero to a Bolero beat makes much more sense than Rumba to a Bolero beat... surprisingly, I don't think RT and I drilled on my Rumba box last week... hmmm... I'll have to continue practicing my weight shift, hip settle thing at home.

Oh! and we did West Coast! Almost an entire lesson of West Coast! Man I tell ya, if my Coaster step and the end of my Sugar push isn't improved by now I'm really hopeless... I really worked on that one at home this week too... What I do is pace myself about a good long step and a half from the wall, then take my two steps forward, check my right foot all the way behind my left, push off the wall for another long step back and then do the Coaster (kind of a triple step) I can't really do it just right at home as normally there's a lot of leverage at the end of that, but it's fair for practice. We worked on Salsa too... my mission is to be able to spin two or three times...but I'm not nearly there yet... but I am much more familiar with the "Coca Cola" turn.

Man I wish I could do that many lessons every week...but then again too much of a good thing...just makes that thing too much, so I'll be back to my one or two lesson weeks shortly. But hey the good thing about that is it's easier to keep you all updated!

New Dimension to Dance... Salsa La Rueda

Today a friend and I ventured to the Dance Connection Studio for a group class in Salsa La Rueda. We went because my companion had experience in La Rueda where she used to live, and she wanted to introduce me to it before Chicago Salsa Congress (where rumor has it there will be at least one Rueda workshop) being that I generally love all things Salsa and am looking to broaden my Latin dance experience I was more than happy to go.

La Rueda (translation "the wheel") is what I term the "Latin version of Square Dancing" in this case the dance choice was Salsa. In La Rueda, there is a circle of men and women paired off and they dance Salsa in sync with a caller who calls the steps (in Spanish, and with signs) everyone should do. This takes some of the pressure off the leads as they don't have to think up the step, just know the word or sign to lead the follow. It's nice if the follows know the words and signs as well, but mainly it's important that they can follow.

As we arrived, the space was long and narrow the floor well worn from dancing, great natural light and the instructor was conducting a private lesson for one of his couples. There weren't many others around, but being a Sunday I would have found it odd if the space had any more people in it. As we commenced my friend and I appeared to be the only ones in attendance. Well hmmm... it was going to be tough to have a group class in La Rueda with just the two of us. Our instructor informed us that there may be another couple joining us in a bit, until then we would go over the basics... The basic Salsa step is a tad different, but thanks to RT's group classes I was fairly comfortable starting on my left foot moving forward. We went over some basics, and what they are termed for La Rueda, as my friend is much more advanced than myself it took me one or two more tries to get some of the terms to steps right, once he started using some of the signs it was much easier for me to associate those with the steps.

About half way into the lesson the other couple showed up, they were actually quite excited to have us so we could actually do our best tries at some real circle Rueda. It was SO MUCH FUN! I mean going out dancing is social enough, but La Rueda is the definition of social dancing! Partner switches and all the laughing at silly mistakes. I really liked that, and generally I am NOT a fan of any group class format, but this was different. I think my friends and I may have to pop in and take a few more of these Salsa La Rueda classes.

A big part of the enjoyment is because of the instructor, his name is Alex Aldape, turns out he also owns the studio. He was so kind! It's tough to put into words, but when you're learning something like dancing... you can just tell within the first few measures of a song and instruction if your instructor has a good heart and you can work with them or not. It was about 10 minutes into the lesson when I had personally confirmed I may just have to come back to work with Alex on my Salsa at least if not look into what other Latin dances he teaches.

Alex was good at taking care of his follow, which I generally need... for example I was having trouble remembering the call for what I would call "5th position breaks"... it just didn't click... Alex was very in tune to that and when he called it, if I was dancing with him he'd whisper "5th position" so I wouldn't screw up and make one of my classic "I'm hopeless" faces.... it's THAT kind of attention to detail in helping me drive home some of the little things I have trouble remembering that really made him stand out as an instructor... it's the same kind of thing that RT and Buddy do for me too.

At one point Alex noticed my friend's Latin shoes and asked where we take lessons... we said "Fred Astaire" and he said "Oh...do you know [RT]?" NO WAY... I was taken aback... the Fred Astaire chain is well known, and some of their instructors are too... RT is fairly well known in some circles on the Latin Circuit but I never imagined that I'd ever run into someone else that knew him... So I made sure to clarify a few things to make SURE Alex was talking about MY RT... and then followed up with "Yeah, I know him... he's my instructor." SMALL FREAK'N WORLD! I was blown a way... and Alex had such nice things to say about RT... I guess RT had spent quite a bit of time at Dance Connection a few years ago. Figures that I would take a liking to someone that RT has worked with... one thing the two of us have in common is our ability to "sense" when someone is cool or not. The fact that RT spent time there only confirmed for me that my instinct is correct... Taking some instruction from Alex would absolutely be worth my time.


So, if you're interested in La Rueda, check out Dance Connection Chicago...or check out what other classes they have... most of it isn't stuff you'll find at your local Fred Astaire and the more people you dance with...the better dancer you become!

As My 28th Year Comes to a Close...

This post is not dancing related, and not weight loss related...directly... so you may be asking why I'm writing... This topic is life related, and as my non-working life is made up primarily of dance and weight loss related activities... I give you the following:

Well, it's about that time of year when I get to turn my own personal odometer over to the next number, and if you know me... you know that I'm fierce about celebrating my birthday! I'm fully aware that this comes off as cocky, self absorbed, and down right irritating to some, if not most of those closest to me. What they don't know is why I become so seemingly insane when it comes down to marking each year of my life. If you've asked me why it's important, the response is generally the same... I live my life for other people, I like to make them happy, my day is one that I don't have to worry if those around me are happy(although I generally do on that day more than most)... a birthday is a special time, I think EVERYONE should get to celebrate the way they want to... Even if someone chooses NOT to celebrate, I may not understand it, but I respect it...

All I really want for my birthday is to not be forgotten...

There are lots of things I write here about my dancing and my weight loss... things I don't discuss with RT and Buddy, and I know of quite a few fellow students and staff alike that like to keep up on my little posts here... some are likely surprised about exactly what I'm feeling or what I'm taking away from each lesson or experience. I gather that this will likely raise a few eyebrows as well...

I am positively insistent on recognizing my birthday because it wasn't so terribly long ago that I didn't think I'd make it this far. That by now I would have been long forgotten either dead or under a bridge somewhere... I don't know if it was where I was in my life, or what I was doing...but the very idea of reaching any age past 25 seemed impossible... when I would think about the future it just kind of stopped at some point before now.

I was half way through my 27th year when I crossed the fated threshold of that dance studio. I no longer thought about the whole tragic way of things as I had before, but I did find out as I was exploring this new found direction that I was on my way to one heck of an early departure... 180lbs overweight is not the way to try and extend my stay here in the land of the living.

Now, after all I have seen, done, and worked for... the very thought that I'll be 29 years old in a week... I am absolutely the healthiest I've EVER been as an adult, and that trend is only going to continue... BLOWS MY MIND to the point where I almost want to give birthday gifts on my birthday to everyone that has supported me throughout it all...

So, my birthday is a time to celebrate, one..that I'm still alive and kicking (preferably while dancing) two...that I LOVE life...and it's just getting lovelier.... and three... that I vow to rock this 29th year even more than 28, and I'll be around to do it all again for years to come!

and once again... ya'll know who you are.... Thank you.

This Week's Lessons... Thursday... Rumba

Alright! My kind of short week... two lessons back to back! Tonight's instructor is RT... who immediately suggests Rumba. Uh oh, I know what that means... It's going to be a technical lesson. Mainly because, he likes the whole break down of everything, and my Rumba technically SUCKS! :)

We open with some basic, and my being lectured for anticipating and not settling into my hips right... which he is COMPLETELY right to do, I don't fault him one bit. My problem is that for as badly as I want to do it right...that requires (for me anyway) to let go of nearly all my self consciousness and simply work on the step or motion at hand. This I find nearly impossible to do, it's one of those things from my old self that is hanging on and not allowing me to just let go and DANCE!

Anyway... all of this my being uncomfortable and everything makes me VERY defiant as a defense mechanism, but RT is used to this by now... I've told him before "You know, it's ok to tell me to shut up." Being the consummate professional he is, he NEVER takes advantage of that, instead he just kind of brushes past my protests and pushes on with the lesson. Tonight I called him on it... I said "You know I 'love' your version of 'Shut up Kat'." Well that went over like a lead balloon...but the lesson pressed on.

The first part of the lesson was really all about arm styling, ugh! I have to work on it more so it feels natural, sometimes it feels natural, then my mind tries to grasp at that tiny straw and bring myself into the dance... only problem is RT is just as excited as I am when I've shown improvement and breaks my concentration with a "That's right!" or "Yeah!"... which I appreciate, but I'm trying to convince myself that I can actually DO this... and my concentration is very easy to break at this point.

We ended the arm styling portion of the lesson, and RT started to lead me through something I didn't recognize. I said "Wait, I don't know this!" to which he replies "Yes you do, you did it yesterday with [Buddy]." ... Figures, I noticed RT didn't have a lesson, I failed to notice he was watching mine.... grrrr... I know how RT watches things, he rarely misses anything... and I can assure you that I wasn't hitting any of my finer points right on last night's lesson. ACK! Ok... so we go through the "Rumba grapevine" kind of step from last night... and my mind did end up remembering part of it... we go to the open break kind of thing and then come face to face and our hands meet... then we do it again...and RT's hand isn't there for mine to meet... ummm... ok... it doesn't ever take much... I'm lost again... he says "Put your hand on my chest." I was thinking I don't remember doing that yesterday... but I just said "Oh, ok so if your hand is not there then I put my hand on your chest... ok... OH WAIT! This is where I shoved [Buddy] yesterday! I remember now!" RT found the idea that I shoved Buddy when he wanted me to put my hand on his chest all Rumba like (aka "sexy like") endlessly funny. What I found funny is that once I knew where my hand was supposed to go, suddenly his hand never showed up there for mine to meet... so hand on the chest it was... it was tough to resist grabbing his tie and tugging... but he was being all serious teacher RT, so I refrained... I'd been giving him enough trouble with the mouthing back tonight anyway.

OK... as if the above wasn't "fun" enough... turns out my Cuban motion is ALL off... I don't wait before I settle into my next hip... what a surprise... RT says "I like Rumba to Bolero music for you, gives you lots of time to move." UGH! Again... No no no... slower music.... (as if a Rumba wasn't slow enough) Bolero is super slow... which means I need to slow my head down and REALLY focus on movements draw everything out... this requires MUCH more muscle control. And allows us to focus on the aspects of my figure and movements that I'm NOT comfortable with... I suppose though if anyone is going to get me through it it's RT... He's seen me through 108lbs and some crazy personal stuff... so away we go... Rumba to a Bolero beat...

Thankfully that didn't last long... it did however help RT figure out EXACTLY what I'm not doing right with my settling, and he commenced with my LEAST favorite part of the technical lesson... the drilling, it's not the drilling so much as the room full of people when I'm doing it. Tonight it was drilling on shifting weight on my feet FIRST, and not settling into the hip on that side... this is done by pushing off with the weighted foot, onto the other and not moving my hips AT ALL... until the shift is complete and THEN I get to kind of roll into my next hip. Now I'm all for drilling at home, and for all the seeming complaints that I do during my lesson I'm glad RT takes the time to put up with all of it and show me these. That however does NOT make it any easier to move my nonexistent hips, although...once I realized it was mostly ankles to start...and primarily knees after that... I think I'll get this thing.

Someday I'll be able to suck it all up and just put all the insecure BS aside and get it done in my lesson. (I can do it with so many other things, why not this?) As it stands right now I can do it there...but only if I put my head down and kind of move my mind to a different place... I have to see it happen in my head before I can get it to happen in real life. This weight shift, hip settle thing is TOUGH for me to see... I'm also trying to get the feeling down, I don't want to rely on mirrors to tell me if I've got something right. Oh well, looking forward to practicing that in my kitchen for the next several years. :)

The lesson ended with a brief discussion on my year's goals for dancing and the next 70 lbs, it was really more of a debate over what I can and will expect from myself... Sometimes it's tough to talk to someone who's never had to lose a pound about what actually has to happen for me to drop the next 70... But... it CAN be done! I just haven't finalized the plan.

There's going to be some tough roads ahead in all aspects of my life... but I think it's going to be a GREAT 2008!

This Week's Lessons... Wednesday ... Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba...

Hi All! I hope you all had a happy and safe new year's celebration! I had no lessons to report last week as the studio took a well deserved holiday break... longest week of my life if you ask me, but all deserved the week off. :)

Tuesday I picked right up for a lesson with Buddy. We started with some Cha Cha, we've been working a lot on that, I'm trying to get some newer steps, and some older spins down. I'm fairly confident that I can hold my own on the club floor... but I'm convinced my Cha Cha will NEVER be competition ready. There's something about it that just doesn't click yet. I'll have to practice practice practice... I really like this dance so I want it to be something I continue to work on regularly.

Then, after some discussion about our recent holiday adventures Buddy asked "Isn't there another dance you want to learn?" To which I reply "I want to learn all kinds of things!" and he came back at me with "How about Samba?"... uh oh... the internal battle begins... the desire to want to learn Samba, fights with the self conscious side of me that does not like the idea of what I look like doing all that hip motion. Buddy started by pacing me through the basic, it felt really bouncy...which I know isn't right. I quickly figured out how to control the bounce a little, and then we did some turns... I like the timing on those, it seems to make sense. I had been through some hip motion with RT before it's a figure "8" and an "infinity" sign at the same time but I think if I figure out the knees right, that seems to be easier for improving my overall hip motion. It certainly wasn't long before my calves started to feel Samba, and my core felt a lot more engaged. My top line on the other hand, was ALL over the place... I even ran right into Buddy because I couldn't feel the lead. All in all I think it was a pretty good solid introduction to the Samba, I soon hope it makes a regular appearance in my lessons.

We also worked on some Rumba steps, not so much on Cuban motion, but actually a new step... referred to as the Rumba version of the grapevine, one of my favorite steps in Foxtrot, at one point the step comes to a close and the follow is supposed to put her hand on her leader's chest... well, be being the mildly defiant student that I am decide to push on Buddy, ask me to do one thing, and if I'm in the right frame of mind... I'll do the opposite. So we went back to my hand meeting his. I have no muscle memory of this step, but hey... it could be fun!

The lesson was coming to a close and we had about 3 minutes left, and I asked "Can we get a little East Coast in?" Just like that we started our triple steps, YEA! If you've read anything about my lessons before, you know I love my East Coast Swing! Sure we were keeping to the time in Buddy's head, because the song on the player was a Bolero, but that's ok... still a ton of fun!

All in all an EXCELLENT lesson... I'm really excited about a lot of what I learned!