Get On The Floor Debuts at Sterba's Holiday Showcase 2013!

Hey Everyone!
What an exciting weekend! Saturday had me all in a tizzy over my finals. Since I left Ballroom I have enrolled in college (affectionately referred to as "College...Round 2") online. I'm majoring in Medical Office Management, and this semester was rough! I had to finish by Saturday at 5:30 so I could be in the car to start work at 6:30. Well I spent HOURS laboring over Anatomy and Physiology II and Algebra I finals. I was exhausted by the time I got to work! I also tried to keep in touch with the excitement brewing at Get On The Floor because Sunday would be their debut at the 14th Annual Christmas Showcase hosted by Sterba's DanceSport. Work finished around 12:30am (ah Holiday Retail) and I rushed home to finish up some contact stuff before trying to sleep hard and fast to get to this new event, in a new to me location.

Steve and Franny our Get On The Floor Pros!

Most of you know me as a Ballroom Competition "Professional Spectator." A quick count has me attending over 50 ballroom competitions between local chain regionals and larger national stages like St. Louis Star Ball, Wisconsin State Dancesport Championship and even one trip out to Ohio Star Ball. Not to even mention the smaller independent competitions in the more immediate area like Indiana Dance Challenge, Chicago Harvest Moon, Windy City Open  and Chicago Crystal Ball just to name a few! Whew! This from a girl who has never set foot on the dance floor in a competition! I am a ballroom competition fan like some people are fans of sports teams. I love them because they remind me of Elizabethan Theater on crack... (excuse the term) Back in the day of Shakespeare people went to theater to see and to be seen and that is exactly what ballroom competitions are like.

Now I had NEVER been to a Showcase before! I had heard about them, and I certainly know what a showcase dance is. It's a routine performed by any combination of pro/am/student pairing or group. Generally much more theatrical in nature than a competition or DanceSport routine. They can involve props and be choreographed to music and they are largely a lot of fun! This was an event that was entirely comprised of Showcase routines, no competition, no judges, and as I would find out... very little whooping and hollering.

Prior to my arrival I made sure I was prepared as if I were going to an all day competition... I brought my snacks, a first aid kit, my make-up, safety pins, a change of clothes for the semi-formal evening, and my dance shoes of course! (There is always general dancing at some point). I know Get On The Floor had done some Showcase events in the past, but I never really talked to anyone about what to expect or what they did there.. so... I planned as best I could for every scenario.

I arrived at the destination a little late because my brain was wrecked from finals and work, but thankfully I didn't miss any of my new studio's routines. That would have made me feel really bad. Bonus of having a tall teacher, as long as he's standing... I can probably find him in just about any room! As I rushed to the table in my daytime outfit (competitions are generally casual during the day) I noticed that I was surrounded by folks already dressed in their semi-formal attire! Whoops.... oh well, I'll keep that in mind for next time.

Steve made quick introductions at our table and I sat for a few minutes trying to get the lay of the land. Our table was nicely located right next to the spot on the floor where all the couples were entering. That happens to be my favorite spot, because you get to see everyone as the come on and off the floor, and we were also close to the bar for later (my other favorite spot in the ballroom). There were a LOT of people there!!! I've seen competitions that had fewer attendees for sure! I spoke to Franny (Manager/Instructor of Get On The Floor) and we decided to head out to the changing room to work on some makeup. We had a bunch of time before anyone at our table was up.

While in the changing room, which was an actual room, with tables, coat racks, a mirror and water bottles and everything...(this event was top notch) and Franny and are discussing some things I hear one of the girls say "Everyone wants a Brittney Bump, no one can do a hair bump like Brittney." I knew immediately who they were talking about.... I look around and behind me is TNT!!! (aka Brittney Bartler) I chimed in, "Well there's only one Brittney I know that's known for her bump, hey Brittney!" We chatted for a quick second and we then both went back to our tasks...  Somehow that made everything feel more normal... I've had several discussions with pros while everyone is in various states of hair and makeup.

Back in the ballroom I find two of my friends that can only be described as members of my original (and still existing) dance family. I stopped by to say hi, they both dance with Brittney and were with her group for the day. I then went back to the Get On The Floor table because I'm in the process of establishing my relationship with them. For the longest time I was known as the student from Buffalo Grove, even if people didn't know my name wherever I went...they were likely to remember the studio I was aligned with... I now need to change that part of my reputation.

Steve and Franny put together a class act let me tell you. They had photo holiday cards, with favors for each participant at the table and Steve set up his tablet to display some of the photos and adverts he's been using to promote the studio. The event organizers also had favors for each guest. I was ridiculously impressed! Both my new studio and the event organizers know how to make each person feel valued for their attendance and participation. The Get On The Floor staff also provided some "cheer supplies" in black and white pom poms that I'm sure you'll see every time we're out now. It was tough to know when to use them though because the room was really very quiet. Of course one wouldn't really cheer during a Showcase as one would during a comp, but even in between dances it was tough to know if we were being the most enthusiastic or if we were dangerously close to the obnoxious line. Being that we are all helping to make a name for Get On The Floor we picked and chose our times to use them. I little later in the day the Owner of Sterba's (who was also dancing with students) noticed and encouraged us to use them... way to go folks! That's just the kind of noticing we want to go on!

I must practice dancing again, and I must practice 

taking photos of dancers too.

Our more seasoned amateur couple was first up for our group, they performed a really fun Rumba/Cha Cha, they have been dancing with Steve as their instructor since before he started this studio, in fact they had started out as a wedding couple (learning a dance for their wedding reception) and just kept it going. Which I think is AWESOME and they are dang good! As I got to talking to them it seems we have a lot in common with our general dance industry experience. I look forward to chatting with them more, and I definitely look forward to seeing them dance again!

Next up for our group was Steve with another of his more established students. They did a Viennese Waltz and it was lovely! This particular student has arm styling I really envy, and she moves very well, Viennese Waltz is not easy at all and they did a great job and making it look like it should... effortless. She clearly enjoyed herself and it will be fun to see where she takes her dancing!

This picture does not do this dance justice!

Our final amateur couple, was probably one of my favorites. They're newer and I LOVE new to ballroom people! They did a routine with both Steve and Franny where they started out pro/am the gentleman with Franny and the lady with Steve in what started out as a Fox Trot, but then as the couples switched partners the gentleman and lady together alongside Steve and Franny it became a sweet East Coast Swing. I loved it! I loved even more that THEY loved it! I had the opportunity to speak with the very kind lady a little later in the day and I was so pleased to hear she and her husband enjoyed themselves. I look forward to sharing the floor with them in the future as well!

The happy Fox Trotting East Coast Swingers!

Somewhere about Act 9 one of my original ballroom family had an Argentine Tango routine with Brittney, and boy did they smoke it! I can tell you that I have been dancing with and sharing the dance floor with this friend for quite a while and in the last year or so he has become a really good dancer and as I learned as he asked me to dance both a Bachata/Rumba and a little East Coast Swing a really fun lead!! I'm so proud of him! He's also the friend I flaked out on when we went line dancing, so happy to know my piss poor Hustle didn't keep him from asking me to dance again! (I unfortunately forgot to take pictures...I was too busy watching)

In between our studio's numbers were several other numbers... 11 acts of 10 or so dances each. Here is what is truly remarkable about the organizers. Over 100 of those entries were added in the last week before show date. This happens a lot in competitions and from a spectator stand point you're on your own as far as food and beverage goes, and it's kind of rough, which is why I always bring sacks and a couple bucks for water if I need it. Not with this Holiday Showcase! The organizer went above and beyond, in my opinion, to work with the venue to add butler style appetizers a few times throughout the day to make sure the attendees didn't get hungry... and they probably had to open the bar early too (not sure but generally the bar at these things don't open until close to dinner time). Class act through and through both from Get On The Floor and the event host Sterba's. EXACTLY what I'm hoping to continue to find as I re-enter the world of ballroom.

Get On The Floor students and staff (Yes, Steve's hair did change color!)

Towards the end of the day I ran off to change so I could be appropriate for dinner and came back just in time for salad. We all chatted for a bit about the day and how pleased we all were with how it went and it was nice.... I somehow got the spot next to Steve.. (again odd for me as the professionals in the past always sat at different tables from the students, perhaps to avoid playing favorites..but still, it was odd for me). Then Steve spoke a little about his teaching style and it's always nice to hear how an instructor/pro sees his or her job. Then, (I swear I didn't do it, I very rarely talk about this blog outside my original dance family) Steve brought up this blog.... yikes! He said some very lovely things about myself and this little (okay huge) running memoir. Then he turned it over to me, but I was really enjoying hearing what he thought of it... because that never happens in a public setting. I've only talked about this blog with the professionals in private settings and occasionally behind closed doors. So I said a little about why it started and where it went and why it and I are back. Then, as has happened in the past when people find out I write, there were some comments about monitoring what one is to say around me because it will end up in the blog... Have no fear friends, it won't end up here... it will end up in the book.*wink*

As dinner ended it was time for the pro show... I love to watch the professionals dance... (ahem... 50 competitions, all professional) Steve and Franny had some creative participation ideas for their dance from us, which I wasn't too sure about to begin with... but after showing up as such a class act all day I shouldn't be worried... but then there were red glow sticks involved. Hmmm... Then Steve started talking about the lights.... This was a standard event ballroom no different than any other and there were no custom theatrical lights.... but Steve kept talking about dimming the lights. As I was trying to figure out how that might happen I was suddenly tasked with the job of making it happen. I was informed that it was verified with the venue that the lights could be lowered for one routine... so off to the bartender I went to find a venue manager who could educate me on the lights. (Always be kind to your bartenders people!)

Turns out, the ballroom was actually two ballrooms with two massive light switch areas, one on each side that had about 9 dimmer switches each. Huh... okay I was going to need help or we were going to have to scrap it... I ran to find Steve just to verify because I was not about to ask one of the students that danced today to help me, it would mean that they would miss out on a good portion of Steve and Franny's routine... I found Steve, apprised him of the situation and he asked me to make it work... so off I went.

Have I mentioned how awesome my friends are? I quickly checked the program to make sure that my two friends wouldn't miss their pro dance and quietly asked if one of them would help. My twice dance partner for the evening volunteered and we went over with the venue manager how to dim the lights. I gave my friend the cue and we stood in our corners to wait. I can't tell you what the pro routines looked like because I just became the lighting director for "Silent Night/Light 'Em Up". (I'm told there will be a reprise in a couple weeks, I hope I get to see that one!) The Get On The Floor students and some of our table guests all had their glow sticks at the ready and when "Light 'Em Up" started I systematically started lowering each dimmer by about 50% keeping an eye on the other side of the room to ensure that my friend was doing the same. Steve and Franny had some light up accessories they really wanted to pop for this number! It was a fun idea! The students at our table gladly played their part and stood with glow sticks waving! As soon as I assured the video tech the lights would be coming back up at the end of the number it was time to bring them back up to full. One last pro routine number and the night had three more social dances in it before it was over.

I heard some very nice feedback from some of the attendees and I think Get On The Floor made a great first impression at this pretty sizeable event....I look forward to more!

(And thanks for sticking with me on this post... as I get back into writing I promise I'll get more detail in fewer paragraphs) :-)

Gym Time... Fitness Assessment! Dun Dun Dun..... The scary numbers are in... and published!

Hey there everyone! I just had a fabulous Sunday at my first Holiday Showcase! I am going to tell you all about it I promise! I just have a lot of information to process and I never did tell you about my Fitness Assessment which is just as important to this life as getting back on the floor is.....

So for those of you that are new here, a big part of what Ballroom Dancing does for me, and part of what I write about, is that Dancing allows me to put into perspective other things in my life that I generally tend to avoid... like... the gym, or really pushing myself during a workout, or maybe it's a fear of going to the clothing store to try stuff on because I know I'll hate what I look like. Or maybe I'll not approach someone I need to talk to. Since I had started Ballroom Dancing all of that became easier. When I stopped Ballroom Dancing...after a while...it all got harder again.

So back to the gym... I belong to a gym...which I have dutifully been attending 3x a week. It's a very nice gym and as far as gyms go I really like it a lot. As a new member of this facility they offer a free Fitness Assessment that has to be taken within the first 3 months of membership... well my third month just started and I hadn't scheduled my Fitness Assessment yet. Why you ask? Because I didn't want to face the ugly truth of the real numbers!

A Fitness Assessment includes: Height, Weight, BMI, Flexibility, Hip to Waist measurement and ratio, Blood Pressure, Strength, and a Cardiovascular fitness test. Yeah...pffft... I hadn't really been on the scale since I joined the gym and THAT number was enough to keep me going to the gym, and pretend the scales weren't there. I was really close to my pre-dancing weight. I have some people in my life who like to occasionally remind me that they think my heart is going to give out on me at any moment (if you hear something enough you start to believe it) and I've done enough research in diet and nutrition to know that the rest of my numbers are not going to be good. Who wants to face that? DENIAL is oh so much more than a river in Egypt!

The same week I had my lesson with Steve, you know... last week. ;-) I got an e-mail from Z at my gym, he's a Personal Trainer and holds degrees in the things that really fit fitness minded people get when they want to do this type of work for a living. Anyway... he e-mailed to let me know that my time was running out and did I want to schedule. No, I didn't, but since I was back in the ballroom and Steve and I have agreed to get me back on the better path I thought better of it and scheduled.

I met Z at 9:45 in the morning... I... am... not...a...morning....person. And he was a cute little fresh out of college looking guy, this didn't improve my morning persona or my nerves because now... I felt old. My main concern when working with a personal trainer is that I be treated like a human and not like a fat human. Believe you me there is a certain way that overweight people get treated sometimes that would really just blow your mind. Z was very awesome about treating me like a human, who was there for her fitness assessment. :-)

We started with BP... high side of the normal range, but then I was nervous and I did talk through part of it. Then on to waist to hip ratio... I was brave, I told him he could tell me the numbers so I could keep track, I have been measured for things in the past and never once looked at the numbers. Well by default (because most people don't want to see them) he didn't show them to me.

I was really nervous... I kept talking, and then yelling at myself not to talk...and occasionally my inner monologue became my outer monologue (It's never good when that happens). Somehow through the course of it all I found out that his parents made him take Ballroom lessons for 2 years when he was in high school... the world needs more parents like his! :-) 

Next up height and weight... now I've been the same 5'10.25" since I was 16 at least... so I lined up against the wall, I tried to channel my inner dancer person and stand up straight. I was in stocking feet, and I made Z measure me twice.... because he had me logged at a full on 5'11"!!! Grrrrr.... tall girls have it kind of rough, and tall fat girls have it even rougher.... I do NOT want to be taller!! On the up side I'm pretty sure that it was the Ballroom that helped my posture which accounts for the height.

Next up... weight... now I was a little nervous.... although I know I'd lost weight... all of my jeans and pants had been falling off of me for weeks (once literally while I was coming up the outside stairs of my apartment and yes, there were neighbors to witness it!) and over the last month or so, anyone that didn't see me on a daily basis was commenting that I looked like I'd lost some weight. One never does really know if that's politeness or actual observation. So I got on the fancy pants scale and waited...

Here's what I'll tell you (and after having my weight printed in a national magazine once, and before that being on OPRAH with my Mom talking about sex, what I share now isn't quite as big a deal for me as it might be for you to see it) At my highest point this year I was hovering around 360lbs.... yep... well over the size of two people... I'm aware. When I started at the gym I was around 340lbs which is pretty much my start weight in 2006 when I started dancing the first time. I figured (because my pants falling off in public wasn't a big enough clue) that I was about the same, maybe maybe I was 330lbs. I have a terrible time, as do most women, losing weight around my middle... and that also happens to be where I carry most of my weight, so unless I see a big change there, I disregard the fact that my butt has gone completely missing as a sign of weight loss. So anyway... I'm waiting for this number and I'm prepared for anything he has to say... he asked me what my top weight was... I told him... he said (because I couldn't see the screen) "Well you're not there anymore...how does 312 sound?"

I was off that scale and reading that screen faster than lightning... I'm not even sure how I got there... "No way! Are you serious? How accurate is this thing? Am I really two hard weeks away from the 200's? I mean don't get me wrong, that number sucks, but are you serious?"

So apparently I was 15-25lbs lighter than I ever thought (and Z was a little overwhelmed by my reaction).... huh... work and working out must agree with me right now. But I wouldn't be standing in this room with Z if I didn't know weight loss and overall fitness makes me a better dancer. You may think it's a terrible number, that you can't imagine what weighing this much would be like. You may even look at me next time you see me after reading this and not feel the same way towards me because you know this seemingly private thing about me...

It's a freaking number...get over it. A person weighs what they weigh until they decide to change it or it is changed for them via surgery or illness. That's all it is.

Next up in the Fitness Test was flexibility... no worries there I did the Sit and Reach in Junior High just like every body else... meh. I am good at increasing my flexibility. Then we did the strength test, I literally scored off the charts for my category... apparently I have sound reason for worrying about breaking things because I don't know my own strength. (Not really, the test chart has ridiculously low expectations.)

BMI was a good 20 points higher than I would like it to be at least.... but that part I knew already.

Cardiovascular Fitness... Me, a stationary bike, a heart monitor, and Z doing my BP every 2 minutes. The task was to keep my RPM's within a certain range as the resistance on the bike increased... also to tell Z how difficult I thought it was using some arbitrary scale on the wall. This was the easiest cardio fitness test EVER. Well I never got above a 3 in the scale on the wall (it was EASY). Basically my cardiovascular health is really sound (Z had to do the calculations twice because he didn't really believe it.) My VO2 level or rate is 50 (VO2 is a measurement of how efficient your body is at using the oxygen you breath in) he tells me 52 is considered excellent. Woo hoo!

Bottom line... because I asked him to break it down for me. My knees and whatever other joint issues I might have, are the only things keeping me from doing anything I want. And AND... just what every inherently lazy person like myself loves to hear.... "Wow, yeah Kat if you really want to see changes you're going to have to push yourself hard." Meaning... if I don't push myself in my workouts then I won't see much improvement because I'm already in decent shape.

Guess who hasn't been pushing herself in her workouts, and asked her new dance teacher to take it super easy in their first lesson... yeah... that'd be me.

Oy! This is going to HURT... I'm ready... I think... nervous as hell about sustaining an injury... another injury that is... the last one took almost a full year to really properly heal.

We'll see... while I will not be signing up with Z for training sessions... no room in the budget... he did say he was going to start looking for me more often in the gym...

Great... and that extra 3/4" with the bright red hair... yeah..that'll help me blend in for sure. *eye roll* 

This is when the inner monologue really helps... I don't want to go to the gym, but I do want to be better at ballroom, I want to be better at ballroom a whole lot MORE than I don't want to go to the gym... okay... I'm on my way to the gym.

That inner monologue right there is what got me to negotiate myself down 100lbs a few years ago.

Speaking of which.... time for bed for me...because I have to get to the gym... :-)

Next post up as soon as I can... Holiday Showcase 2013 - My Return to the Spectating Arena.

Waltz fix... yeah that's right I said WALTZ!

Everyone Meet Steve and Franny of Get On The Floor Dance Co!

Hi everyone!
I hope this super cold weather isn't keeping you off the floor! This past Monday night I had my FIRST lesson since 2011 with Steve, owner/operator of Get On The Floor Dance Company. As previously mentioned, we had been chatting online and after learning of the super reasonable $75/hr private dance lessons, I couldn't not let him take me for a spin!

Now, I live in the NW burbs of Chicago, about 25 miles from GTF's primary teaching location at 3868 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago. This makes it really tough to just drop by, so Steve and I (mostly I because I have a holiday retail job that has me working odd hours) really had to plan out a time for me to come in. Since I had Monday off, and no plans that couldn't be moved, we decided on a 5pm lesson time. I left my area around 3:30 and the traffic gods were in my favor so I arrived about an hour later, parking was ridiculously easy, even with the snow, and FREE. The studio space is on the second floor so as soon as I crossed the threshold I marched up the stairs. I was hoping to find at least some kind of reception area, but I'd never been to this place before. They have a HUGE reception area! Nice couches, a carpeted path along the edge of the dance floor to an open air hanging space for coats and shoes (which means you never have to take an eye off your stuff). The gal behind the desk asked if she could help me and I said I was there to have a lesson with Steve, she mentioned that she had just seen him, and then as I looked up the unmistakeable lanky tall blond frame of Steve came into view. Woo hoo! This means my lesson is imminent!

We said hello and I was given the grand tour. This place is kind of perfect. Well loved main ballroom floor, welcoming second ballroom/meeting space. Several smaller studios for more private group classes, or choreo sessions, or even a super private 1/1 lesson. (although none but the main ballroom are large enough for smooth dancing, any number of other styles can be comfortable in any of the other spaces) Neutral colors, reasonably friendly lighting, comfortable washrooms and plenty of private changing space. Since it was still very early in the night for a ton of lessons to be going on (there are a few other instructors that rent the space for their students) we sat on a bench along side the main floor and chatted a bit as a couple practiced Tango alone on the floor. To just be IN a ballroom was nice. It's a creative space, I've always seen it as such during lesson times, (it's a social space during parties) and my spirit gets fed in creative spaces. Steve made the point of asking me how I learned, which no one ever really asked.. I usually end up telling. I told him that I learn ballroom best by doing and feeling. Which he agreed for following is the way it goes. About 10 minutes before my lesson we parted ways to change. I in my Bonnie's practice wear, and Steve in Latin pants, a light colored top w/ a vest. (Gone are the days of an instructor in a neck tie, and that's just fine with me!)

As I was about to change my shoes Steve asked if I was nervous.

"If I were working with a brand new to me pro, yeah I would be, but because it's you I'm not. It helps that you even kind of know where I came from with the dancing." I said, but as I tied my laces I was suddenly a bit anxious... which I quelled immediately because it was an unnecessary feeling. 

I tested my ready for retirement jazz shoes (I haven't even worn a 1/2" heel in 2 years I wasn't going to start just then) on the floor and they seemed pretty good. We went over to the music machine and discussed the plan for the lesson. I decided I wanted to take it slow since I didn't know what joints were about to protest, my knees have been a little achy as of late and my ankles have never been ballroom tested since my previous injuries so I wasn't about to wipe out on my first day back.

I did tell Steve that I didn't know what a lesson is like if it doesn't have a Rumba so we opened with that. Taking up frame immediately felt different because Steve is a full head taller than myself (a complete and total perk of the gig for 5'11'' me!) All my regular instructors have been within an inch or two of my height, which is fine, but when "the dream" ideal is to have a partner that is taller, actually finding one that is also personality wise compatible is a huge treat!

So Rumba it was and two steps in I slipped, due to low friction in my shoes and probably my not working into the floor enough, like I can remember a stitch of technique when all my brain can say to me in frame is followfollowfollowfollowfollow! We went over some basics, I was honestly pretty terrible in my own opinion. I was careful, much like I think Steve was being, to not go all out and chastise myself, and Steve was being really cool about the super basics of foot placement and where to transfer weight. Also how to keep my weight off the outsides of my feet. Which as you may have read about years ago, my weight naturally goes to the outsides of my feet due to some corrective inserts I had in my shoes when I was a kid, so to remember to keep my weight centered, or even on the inside edge in Rhythm is going to be a BIG challenge for me again. I'll get there though, I had it before, I'll get it again.

We did some of my least favorite thing in the world, mirror work. *sigh* I still don't own a full length mirror ya'll. The only time I see my whole outfit is when I try it on at the store, and then I pretty much dress from the waist up 99% of the time. BUT I did make a point to not watch Steve's feet for ALL of the intended mirror work, I did also spend brief moments looking at my own foot placement. Pleased to state that during at least two of the 5th position placements my heels and toes were properly aligned from what I could see. I give myself huge props for using the mirror and not making a big stink about it, because as all us body conscious people know... the mirror is not always our friend.  Oh and I completely forgot about using my core and thighs to maintain balance.... like completely.

*facepalm* Oh, the things I have forgotten so severely outnumber the things I remember!!! 

Once we seemed to agree that marked improvement had been made for the moment Steve asked about Fox Trot... I almost responded with "What's that?" Seriously, the idea of doing a Fox Trot got me so momentarily nervous that if you would have asked me what the basic was I couldn't have told you. So I literally relied on every following muscle in my body to get through the first basic until my brain and body went Oh... right.. Fox Trot! That wasn't terrible.. my heel leads were non-existent but so was part of my frame so we worked on that. We worked on how to fill the space in a frame, and create the tension, I don't recall the terms Steve used but it reminded me a lot of lessons of the past. We also worked on the 1/8 turn in Promenade... Steve said 1/8 I looked at my feet and said..."Okay, like 10 o'clock." Which ties back to a long running joke when I taught the overly technical original pro about "10 and 2" which then became a running joke.

Then Steve blows my mind "Oh, you use clock time too? I use that all the time!"

!!!! I wanted to yell at him that he can't think like me! This is going to be way too easy if he keeps teaching in terms I understand! That notable lesson time for me is always used making sure my instructor and I understand each other! But then that would have lead to stories of pros past, and I'm trying to leave that all behind me as I get back into ballroom and look to the future. It might be worth noting that Steve is also one of the first Pros I've tired to work with in earnest that has English as his first language. So I should probably stop being surprised...at some point I'm sure I will.

Back at the music machine.. after my verifying with Steve that I had improved (sometimes I feel like I can't really tell if it's better between tries... perhaps I'm looking for some really huge improvement where as my partner can pick up on the more subtle nuances he's really looking for... I ask "Was that better?" a lot.)

So we moved on to Waltz.. AT MY REQUEST... HA! You'll never believe it! Not in a million, I, ME, WALTZ HATER from day 1, not even my one and only coaching with Tony Dovolani could make me like it better, or the fact that I scored highest in Waltz in all my level tests (well not higher than Salsa). Or that I had been part of a Waltz Showcase back at Dance Connection, that didn't do it either! on this night though? I WANTED TO WALTZ!

Here's a quick re-cap on why I hate Waltz... it's not because it's not beautiful.. it is. It's not because it's easy, it's NOT. It's not even because I don't want to learn it.. I do! It's because I feel like a total and complete clod when dancing it. If I ever want to feel like the elephant in the room, it's Waltz that's going to put me there.. If there is ever a feeling in this world that I try to avoid it's feeling like the clod hopping elephant in the room...so... ergo I avoid Waltz.

Well, I'd been out of ballroom so long that I was even missing Waltz, (a sure sign of the apocalypse I'm positive) Steve says he likes Waltz... so I figure since I seem to pick up on things better when my instructor is also really interested in them... I bit the bullet and we Waltzed... It wasn't terrible, I didn't feel like a clod the ENTIRE time, just part of it... there were under arm turns and twinkles... pretty basic. It was kinda nice!

After our waltz we tied that in with Fox Trot and talked a LOT about balance in Smooth and where to keep chakra's aligned.. and it all made sense... lord almighty it ALL MADE SENSE! Now since knowledge isn't power, but the application of knowledge is... I hope I can remember all this when I try to practice my balance.

Then...a new and improved ballroom lesson experience! Steve did a comprehensive re-cap of everything we went over! That in itself is PRICELESS! I solid re-cap of technique reviewed and reminders on what to work on... Seriously, clearly I have made a good choice! No more will I have to rack my brain for the verbatim blow by blow of my lesson to pick out the parts where technique happened... 

The full 60 minutes came to a close and we were about to wrap up... I didn't want to take anymore of Steve's time, when lessons are a full hour, 20 minutes longer than before, and just about less than half the cost I was not about to try and get more than what was agreed upon...but there was a matter of a little Salsa.

Lessons, no matter how stressful always contain a Salsa for me... call it a rule of Kat, but if I don't get a Salsa for at least 60 seconds when I'm in a lesson all is not right in my world. So I asked if we could do a quick in time but slower in pace Salsa... Steve was kind enough to oblige... turns out Salsa is one of his specialties. :-D

"Hips Don't Lie" came on... which is just about as easy a pace as a Salsa can get... and away we went... the whole thing was so much better than anything we'd danced to that point... and since I'm used to conversing mid dance I pointed out "Clearly I've spent the most time on this..."

"Yeah you do kinda come more alive."

I can even still execute two consecutive spins fairly well... used to be four..but I'm happy with the two...

True to my current stamina I didn't make it all the way through the song...and I knew I was getting to be a heavy follow before I finally said I had to stop...but oh I got to Salsa! We even joked about swivels and #9 from the chain studio syllabus... See... every lesson should end on such a high!

I am telling you folks... I have had over five years lesson experience with some pretty awesome instructors across chain and independent studios... I've taken group classes with "uber" pros and famous Dancing With The Stars cast members..... loved them all, but I really think that for a social dancer such as myself, looking to get a really solid education in dance and motivation to improve.... Steve wrapped it all up in one really nice package! I was WICKED impressed! I can not wait to get on the floor again!

See... I knew back in 2009 when I attended a little impromptu group class of Steve's and after chatting with him some at a few of the ballroom competitions he used to compete at, that I could work with him... I love it when I'm right. :-)

Anyone out there have a dance that makes you feel like "the elephant in the room?" What about a dance that just makes you feel like a clutz? What's YOUR way of dealing with it?? Leave a comment, drop an e-mail, let me know!!

So... you mean I get to dance again? Introducing: Get On The Floor Dance Company!

Oh dear readers!!! How I've missed you! Welcome back to Ballroom Dancing: Changing My Life One Step at a Time!

This blog, a journey that started waaaay back in August of 2007 has been through ups and downs for sure, and your dear writer has gone up and down with it. I had closed the blog two years ago because I had to leave the Ballroom world behind. Financially and emotionally I just couldn't do it anymore. (Anyone who has spent significant time in a chain ballroom studio will pretty much come to the same conclusion I assure you.) I left the blog published because it has done a lot of good for a lot of people, no one who has ever lost confidence or had to face something they are unsure of EVER feels like they are "with" anyone else in their feelings. For me Ballroom was the big challenge, it embodies so much of what I LOVE about the theater world, and especially with my former studio a lot of what I HATE about corporate BS. So once I said goodbye to the old studio I said a BIG GOOD-BYE to Ballroom.

How could I walk into a ballroom competition and not take part in the social dances, not have a pro to cheer for? How could I go out dancing with my friends, all of which are still dancing at various independent studios, and not feel like a failure when my skills aren't up to par? (If you think this sounds a lot like the "pre-dancing Kat" you'd be dead on right).

Then one night a few months ago I said to myself "enough is enough" and accepted an invitation to go line dancing with some friends... line dancing I'm not huge on, two-step I like, but with ballroom people every dance floor becomes a ballroom dance floor anyway. :-) So I went, I sat and watched the line dancing... you know they have a line dance for EVERY SONG EVER right?!? It's crazy! One of my friends did ask me to dance a Rumba early on and I declined....because I'm a big dummy who didn't want to feel like she was making a fool of herself. As the evening progressed my chest began to get heavy...not in a dangerous health way (although, with the way my health had been progressing...) no, in a very melancholy way, hindsight tells me now that my heart may have been breaking a little at not getting out there to dance.

Later in the evening I finally accepted an offer to Hustle with the same friend I'd declined earlier.. Hustle is easy right? Well... not when you're out of shape, wearing street sneakers, and trying to dance to the latest Will.I.Am/Brittney Spears release. I made it maybe two minutes before I was just dying for air. I thanked my partner and went back to our table. I couldn't tell which was worse, that I'd gone out and tried...did okay but couldn't last or that I possibly just made it so said friend never asks me to dance again.

What's a Ballroom Studio without a little sense of humor?!? :-)

While there, I spoke to two ladies (friends of friends) who were looking for more opportunities to dance all over the area. I do still keep my eye on any independent studios that pop up (because you know, 2-5 years from now I might be able to dance again.) and one came to mind immediately... Get On The Floor Dance Company (GTF) was started about 2 years ago by a pro dancer I'd known off and on because he used to dance with my original pro's girlfriend, and I'd seen them dance in St. Louis, and all over Chicago back in 2009/2010 ish. He had always struck me as a good soul and a great teacher, so I took the opportunity to mention this to the ladies. I know they found GTF on Facebook (Get On The Floor Dance Company on Facebook) as we were sitting there. The night ended, my heart broken over my lack of dancing, but I did resolve to work out more (which I have been doing in earnest for a bit now).

A week later, I was out for drinks with some dance friends and I was lamenting about how my heart just ached because I wasn't dancing anymore. While they tell you it's not healthy to rely on things outside yourself... I don't care, Ballroom Dancing had been the grain of inspiration for every thing I'd ever done on the floor or off since June 2006. Without it I'm often times lost for inspiration, and I lack motivation. Despite not liking the chain studios anymore (feel free to ask me why) I love to help other people discover ballroom!

I decided I would reach out to Steve, the owner of GTF and just let him know that if two ladies said some red haired chick told them to check GTF out, it was me. I didn't even think he'd remember who the heck I was, and I didn't intend for it to be more than just letting him know where his business leads might be coming from. (If these two ladies ever went, I don't know and sadly I can't remember their names). I seriously never even envisioned setting foot in a ballroom before fall 2014 at the earliest. So Facebook message sent, I went back to my ho-hum life.

Cut to some of the most prolific and expansive Facebook e-mailing I have ever done with anyone outside my normal crew. (It wasn't that expansive, slightly prolific on my part because I tend to over share, but I come from the chain studio land of "A Student must never communicate with his/her professional instructor outside studio property" so it struck me as unusual) This went on for a couple of weeks, just a few things about what GTF is offering like Beginning Ballroom classes on Sunday nights, a Holiday Showcase coming up on Dec 15th, Private lessons that are a full 60 minutes for $75 (ahem, yeah, you read that right!) First studio in Chicago to warmly welcome same-sex dance partners and how they are offering a position called "Student Ambassador" (read: Referral Program) to certain individuals...and then Steve asked....

dun dun dun...

Why I wasn't dancing anymore.

Which just made my stupid heart hurt more because my reason, aside from financial, is really mostly pretty lame (said the girl with a gazillion excuses). While we were becoming efficient online communicators, we were also trying to see when the heck I could make it into the city to see his space, meet his business partner and just figure out a way to get me back on the floor. Which was AWESOME... not since Largo/Aleks (RT not withstanding of course), but seriously, not since Aleks first went independent at a time I couldn't afford anything, had any professional in the ballroom world really taken what seemed to be a genuine for-the-love-of-dance interest in bringing my rear-end to the dance floor! Gotta tell ya, when small potatoes social dancers like myself get the attention of a pro with 10 years dance experience and then said pro says actually wants to teach you... like seriously teach, lessons, in ballroom, and SALSA...you go... well first you become speechless, and then you GO! You ignore all the negative voices in your head and you make an appointment to meet him on that dance floor as fast as your schedules allow, that's what you do, and that's what I did!... aside from that first dance lesson I ever took ever, and maybe getting involved in all this blog business... BEST BALLROOM DANCE DECISION EVER MADE - PERIOD. 

Who's with me?? Anyone else want to "Get On The Floor" too??

thump thump "Testing...1...2... Testing... Is this thing on?!?"

Let me hear from you! Who's still dancing? Who needs to get back on the floor? Who wants to meet me at GTF's home location? My e-mail is still the same: StageKat@Gmail.com and you can always comment below!

Happy Dancing!!

Coming up... What it's like to have a ballroom lesson for the first time in two years...

Salsa is my Favorite and other new adventures!

Damn Straight it doesn't!

But then we knew that right? :-) Hi Everyone! *wave* I am so excited about a couple of things right now! First and foremost, while I'm not taking lessons, a group of us have decided to go out dancing with some regularity and YAY we've been Salsa dancing three times in the last several weeks (twice this past weekend!).

I love Salsa! Like seriously L-O-V-E Salsa! As with most things I do, while I love it, there's also a level of grrrr  frustration that causes massive internal battles to wage. It's getting to the point now where even I laugh at some of my internal monologues and conversations (even out loud a few times!). These angel/devil Salsa conversations have been less humorous in nature, but in some cases may end up being absurd anyway. Before I get to what is sure to be a lot of continued insight into my head let's first take a gander at why I love Salsa.

First of all it's easy, the basic of Salsa is probably the most simple basic of any dance I've learned. Second- once you get the basic down if you know how to get back into it then no matter what happens you'll end up back where you started. Third- Salsa music is nearly impossible to not dance to. Fourth- have you seen some of those good salsa dancers out there? They are wicked cool and totally amazing! Fifth- and finally I think is that I was taught Salsa originally by someone who loved it too, so that made it a lot of fun to pick up and work on.

So I had a ton of fun doing that.... but always in my head there's the running commentary Ok need to get to the gym. There was a time when I was good at this. What the heck was that? Oh I want to dance like her! Tomorrow I am going to start going to the gym. OMG is this song over yet so I can catch my breath?!?

One of my favorite mantras of late! 

I have this general opinion of my Salsa... it's very proficient. Almost like it came out of the Eastern Block or something. I dance with very few flourishes, little arm styling, and I have maybe three shines in my back pocket that I can pull out when my partner wants to show off. I would love to have all of that in my dancing but usually when I try that stuff I lose the timing, can't follow as well, whack somebody, or some other tragic in the moment activity. I am very pleased that I seem to still be able to follow, thank goodness cuz that is SO IMPORTANT, but everything is just slower and heavier than it was.

Well I am maintaining that you can't keep a good girl down, and there are too many good things going in my life to stress too much about it. Also, I am almost just as happy to see my friends get out there and have a good time. I'm sure that will change as soon as a 3-5 minute fast paced Salsa doesn't make my body try to make deals with my brain about how to get out of the possible pain.

I hope to be back to the floor soon, but who knows. That saying that "When you make plans...God laughs" seems to be very accurate of late.

I wish everyone, as always, Happy Dancing!

Until We Dance Again

I have to rather unceremoniously close this blog. I will leave everything up for anyone to read as I whole heartedly believe in EVERY WORD WRITTEN and know that the stories within still so serve their purpose. It's not that I don't love you, love dance, or anything in between. I just need my life to not be focused on Ballroom 100% of the time. If I wrote about anything other than my dancing and the way I was feeling with it I felt as though I would be betraying the path I had set out with this blog.

I do have a new writing adventure that I hope you all will join me for. This one is, yet another blog, it is my preferred form of expression. THIS blog however is about everything, no topic off limits, no opinion or factoid unshared.

I welcome you to join me for This Single Serving Life

It's not the end my friends, it is simply the evolution to the next step. I am so proud of what I had created with you... I do hope you'll come along for the next great adventures.

Much love, respect and happiness to you all and whatever dance floor you grace.

Miss Kitty

Dancing and Deliberating

Have you ever sat at your personal computer after work and just went ..... ? That was me last week. Not only did I go ..... but I didn't even get to sit at my computer once I got home from the office. The very thought of turning it on was dreadful. I just needed a break from technology. My job, I am a remote corporate trainer, consists of my sitting at a computer all day, I actually have to work in and plan opportunities to leave my cube, and some weeks it's very intense and busy and mentally makes me hate the technology that allows me to do it. So that's where I was.


In re-cap it wasn't such a bad week. Last Friday I went to the studio party, the highlight of which was Rocky performing a Mambo with HFC. I will tell you that I love the choreography for it, and given that it was a BRAND new routine for both dancers the performance was solid too!

Monday brought on a nice lesson where some goals were set. I have a test to the next level of the syllabus in June, or so I was informed, so Rocky and I have some work to do to get me ready. I'm excited about this goal because it gives us a good solid target to aim for that we both understand. Time to dust off my majors and hurry up and learn the last couple of steps in each dance. Perhaps I'll even change a major. That is to be determined. On a personal side I also plan on being back in my actual ballroom shoes before the test. I've been dancing in my Jazz shoes to help me put confidence back in my ankle. I hope to be back in ballroom shoes at least the week before the test so I can prep appropriately for the actual event.

This of course has me also planning and deliberating for my other goals, the weight loss goal being the most prevalent. I simply can not be the best I can be at my current weight. Since I've moved in I have made sure I have not filled my home with bad food. That trend has maintained itself for the last few weeks. I just have to make sure that I carry that over into what I bring for lunch at work, instead of having food delivered.

The rest of the week built in stress as I tried to meet my work goals to the near exclusion of everything else. Those actions made me seriously consider the whole work/life balance that I try so desperately to hang on to. If I work too much I become bitter, jaded, and infinitely frustrated. If I maintain my personal life it makes me appear to be a slacker in comparison to my co-workers who are very admirably living to work these days. I must find a balance.

Friday I had requested off some weeks ago in order to just have a three day weekend. Work is building and the summer is going to be quite hectic so I just wanted to have a three day weekend to appreciate what I have now that I'm back home and plan for the weeks to come. I decided last minute that I would attend a ballroom comp where Largo was competing with a couple of his students as well. That was just what I needed. This particular ballroom comp is the most prestigious in the area, and one I do enjoy from the venue to the competitors it's superb.

It was so nice to see Largo again, even if just for a few moments. He's still between professional partners at the moment so no competitions for him in that regard, but he has reconnected with some former students that he competes at a very high level pro/am with and that was quite the treat. Only Largo can hit the floor for the first time as an independent instructor and have each student he brings win their events straight out.

The rest of the weekend was quiet and I avoided technology with the best of my abilities as I continued to settle into my home. This week in an effort to push forward, I have two lessons. TWO! One with Rocky to prepare for my test, and one with a visiting instructor that may or may not decide to stay. Both lessons should be quite the challenge for very different reasons.

I will also tell you I have increased my between lesson practice and dancing with some dance based workouts, I'm just getting in the groove, but I'm about to let the reigns go and dive into this full blast. My stamina sucks right now and the only way I know to really get it back is to push... like really PUSH. Get my butt out of bed every morning and haul my butt into some kind of workout that is going to push me to the point of pain.. eventually beyond... and then after a while it won't hurt anymore and then it will be time to change up the game.

Hope you're with me! I'd love to hear what you do to deliberate and plan for your day to day, even more I'd love to hear how you execute it!

Home...

Hi Kids! I haven't abandoned you! I moved back into my apartment on April 1st! I cannot tell you what it feels like to have a home. I don't think you really know what it's like until you don't have one. It's wonderful! I'm nearly organized, and doing a very good job at maintaining it. The kittens are happy as clams. The drama is ALMOST over! I'll get to that in a second...

First let me tell you about my move... I probably had the most number of people involved of any really small move ever. I had prepared as well as I could on Thursday night for my move, I didn't sleep one wink! I worked all through the night trying to make sure I had my meager belongings collected. At 11am on Friday three very dear friends came over to help with the balance, including two pieces of the hotel furniture I have to purchase because some furbabies left scratch marks on the vinyl, no use getting worked up about it. It took us a tad bit longer to vacate the hotel room than planned, mostly due to my own lack of organization and exhaustion. Instead of hitting my parent's house for the things I had there first, we ended up meeting my Landlord at my apartment. In all the drama all she wanted was the check, and then she was polite about it even! I swear she's bipolar.

All at once my bedroom set arrived from the cleaners (btw if you have fire or flood damage and need a local referral let me know..these guys were amazing), and then my new mattress. Dad and I worked on a different lay out for my bedroom set, I didn't want it to be the same as before... too many memories of passing by my bedroom door seeing my previous cats lounging on my dresser. We came up with an AWESOME alternative! I actually like it much better than it was before! Unfortunately the few things I did have cleaned in addition to my bedroom set, still carry the smell of the fire. So I will not be able to use them. Also, because my bedroom set has unfinished interiors on the drawers, it too has a slight stench. I am saving that though by sealing the wood. The set is beautiful solid oak, in a rustic California country style by Blackhawk Furniture, I've loved it since I picked it out when I was 18.

As soon as the move was finished I asked my friends to join me at a local Mexican restaurant so I could treat them to lunch as a thank you for doing all the real manual labor for me. These helpers definitely deserved more than the customary Pizza and Beer payment for a move.  It was raining and they had to put up with a very tired and somewhat indecisive me. :-)

We parted ways at around 4pm, with plans to meet up for one of their b-day parties in the city that evening. I met another friend who was kind enough to donate a full service of 12 dishes, flatware, and glasses at my apartment and gave her the grand tour. Have I mentioned that I know the best people on the planet?? Once she headed on her way all I knew was that I needed a nap, and a nap I took... I don't think I have been that tired ever in my whole life. I had PLANNED to be up around 7:30 or 8 to get ready for this party, instead I woke up to text messages at 10pm asking if I was coming.
OH NO!

I scrambled around, getting myself together, which I have to say takes worlds longer when your stuff is still in boxes. and made it to celebrate at around 11:30. Had another great time with friends, and then made it back to my apartment by 3am. Ahhh but it does feel good to walk in my own place.

The next day I was up and out getting some things I didn't consider needing immediately, like a shower rod, and real vacuum cleaner, I had to be back by a pretty early time to make sure I didn't miss the cable guy, I need my real TV!

In addition to that my whole family came over and helped me unpack, (thanks family!) my mom, forever the professional mommy put homemade food in my fridge and made sure I had the starter pots and pans for when I start my own cooking again, and my dad hooked me up with some starter tools, and ran a home improvement errand for me. Oh, he also vacuumed after putting my vacuum cleaner together ;-).

Once my family left it was off to meet some of the girls to watch NCAA basketball. I'm not a huge fan, in fact I forgot to watch the final, but I can get into a game if it's put in front of me. I was still so tired though! I was home nice and early and got in some TV time with my new TV, I also needed to make a plan for Internet. The cable company raised their fee on the modem they provide, so I just decided to go out and get my own. (That's what took so long for me to post, I had to find the right deal on a modem).

Now that I'm settled in, I'm still a bit unsettled. I can't seem to shake the feeling that it's not over. I mean it's technically over, but I can't seem to accept it. I guess that once you've gone through a turbulent life event it takes more than 4 days to get over it. I suppose that will come with time. The other part is that I have my lease renewal hanging over my head. My lease is up in June and I have heard from 2 completely separate entities that my Landlord has stated I'm going to be out once my lease is up. She has no grounds to evict me, nor does she have any idea what my financial situation is. So I have no idea why she thinks this is so. I have made attempts to contact her to see why it is she seems to believe this and the response I get is that she is responsible for several leases and hasn't had the opportunity to look at mine. Which, given her previous statements to me about my rent increasing because my apt is new, and telling others that I won't be here for long, gives me a very uneasy feeling regarding her levels of honesty. All I want is as it was before, a quiet existence where we don't talk to each other as long as I'm paying my rent. In any case, I'm out there researching my rights as a lease abiding tenant, and in the meantime I have a place to lay my head and get on with life right? I'm doing my best.

Speaking of getting back to life, and more importantly getting back to increasing the dance in my life (I'm also considering foregoing a kitchen table so I have more kitchen practice space) did you know that your Cable's "On Command/Demand" service has some great workouts for FREE?? I found one 10 minute dance based workout that's great for when I wake up too late to get in a full work out that has Salsa, Samba, Cha Cha, and even some Paso Doble elements!

I'll have to investigate that some more!

Well the internet is back up at home so you'll be hearing more from me!!

Dancing....Need More Dancing

I do... you do too. Music too while we're at it thank you.

Monday was pretty ok as far as days go, I got all my daily goals accomplished and then a few more. So that was good, I was still very tired from the weekend so I had to head to bed early.

Tuesday was all about focusing on having my dance lesson. I made it through work, and got up to the studio as fast as I could! Unfortunately my current favorite jazz shoes had been left behind. My dance shoes usually live in the car so I never forget them no matter where I'm going. These shoes had been brought up from the rest of my weekend attire and never made it back into the car. Thankfully my car also contains several other pairs of other shoes, none are quite perfect, and I thought about putting on my rhythm shoes, but I could feel my ankles starting to swell from the idea so I picked from my current selection of Jazz shoes and made do.

The lesson opened and I warned Rocky about my shoes.

"I forgot my usual pair, so I'm in some back ups.. they're a little slick so I may slide into you at some point.. fair warning."

"It's ok..." He responds and we head over to the music machine so Rocky can pick up some Salsa.

Actually the slick shoes worked in my favor for a bit, and Rocky had tried some different moves from last week. At one point I got the age old "Just follow me." VERY reminiscent of a previous instructor, and just as frustrating. Instead of responding the way I always used to I kept quiet and focused more on following. It was actually really fun! I think at one point towards the end we switched to On2 Mambo, but I'm not sure... it felt that way though. Then we were in frame dancing and I think we both heard the Cha Cha song that was playing. Without skipping much of a beat we switched to Cha Cha. Neat!

It wasn't long before I managed to lose the beat so we stopped for a second to pick up my book. We're still working on the first parts of the syllabus, which has been a great refresher for me. Although I keep wondering if I'm getting all the technical points, sometimes I catch myself and sometimes I let it go. I'm hoping that my practice is helping me improve.

The highlight of the Cha Cha for me anyway, aside from the good following, is that I had a centrifugal force issue during one of my spins. Maybe it's happened to you before... I was lead into a spin, I don't recall if it was single or double and the force of going around actually makes my nose run. So I finish the move hand up to nose (Rocky and I are getting along so far, but I'm not up to dancing with him when there's snot on my face just yet) and I run over to take care of it. Once I returned (and used the antibacterial stuff) we joked about how that happens to a lot of dancers. Man.... a spin pulled snot right out of my nose... I must be getting better again! ;-)

We kept working, and it was good... I'm definitely keeping up more than I was a few weeks ago! Then we started doing a couple of lesser used steps and I followed. Rocky and I both were surprised a little. We worked on it again and I questioned "Are you testing my following?"

"No, testing my leading!" He replied mid cha.

"Oh, ok.. hope it's going well!"

Once we were finished with Cha Cha we glanced at my book, we discussed learning the last couple of steps in the Bronze Syllabus, I should have tested into Silver level several months back, but I still have to learn a few of the steps I'll be tested on. Once that was discussed, we decided to tackle the X some more.

The X is of course Waltz. I have to admit the more we work on it the more I'm not remembering why I ever hated it to begin with. I dare say my attitude about waltz has evolved. We worked on a new to me step mostly. I don't remember what it's called, and as I sit here I can't remember exactly how it goes, but it does have some backward lock steps for me in two directions. I don't recall ever having done this step before so I needed a lot of review, questions, and mistakes.

I hate staying on one step for too long, but I wanted to get this one! I also got very chatty for some reason. I think I was getting anxious and trying to divert attention away from not getting this step. Then I had a question...

"Ok so on the little tandem twirl thing we do here, I don't have to do heel leads for all that right? No, that would be stupid."

Rocky walked himself through the step as a follow, and then I watched when he got to the point where my question was...

"Oh, ok so it's heel, toe, toe..got it." Thanks!

"Yes it's heel toe toe.. I go through all this and she goes 'it's heel toe toe'!" He rolls his eyes.

"Well it is, so now you know if anyone ever asks how to do that again you can tell them it's heel toe toe so there." I respond taking up frame.

Away we went working on this silly sequence again.... I wasn't feeling very graceful. Which leads me to cause more distraction.

"Ok so when I'm doing this I feel like I'm going to step on your feet." Trying to explain why I kept stopping us at one point.

I got a look... I thought the look meant - what do you mean stepping on my feet, that's preposterous! So I rattled through a made up back and forth that I would normally have in my head only I said it all out loud.

"What do you mean step on my feet Kat, I'm a professional dancer this is what I do, it is my job to make sure my feet are out of the way of yours. (as me) Oh really? Ok I'll stop worrying about it then."

Rocky's head was spinning... "Whaaa?"

"Nothing never mind I was having a conversation with myself pretending you were answering, that stuff usually happens in my head, this time I just said it out loud."

"Ok wait, " He shakes his head, "...too fast!"

Sometimes I talk too fast, I am aware of this and I try and not but..esp when I'm just dialoging an inner monologue I don't see what speed matters.

So I repeated the mock conversation I had with myself about not worrying over tripping. We take up dance frame.. Rocky still a little overwhelmed.

"Are you ok?" He quietly asks me, he was serious..oh no!.

"Yep fine, well I'm about this far (finger and thumb pinched close together) from the men in the white jackets coming, but yeah I'm fine." I state with a big smile. "Ok I'll be quiet now."

"Banana." Rocky responds, dead pan.

"HAHAHA!" Is that our new code word for "shut up Kat?" too funny ok come on lets go."  

We start again and I trip up...

"Ok so you see what the problem here is, I'm supposed to feel graceful here and I feel like an elephant cold hopping across the floor again." Stated to fast for Rocky.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm supposed to feel all graceful and floaty on the floor and I don't I feel like I'm clumsy and it's just not right."

"Yes well it can feel like that, the goal is to make it LOOK smooth and graceful."

"It's supposed to feel that way? Blech. Ok lets go try it again." So we did..

I got it.

"Ooooo.. ok again." I state as if Rocky has no choice. I like to drill stuff and get it right a few more times before I call it learned.

We did it again and I messed up. *sigh*

We manage to check the clock simultaneously and in unison say "One more time." (I take little things like that as a sign that working with Rocky could continue to be good)

One more time, it was one of the better times through the step.... nice to end on a high note!

High five and some scheduling later I was on my way home.

Unfortunately I didn't stretch after this lesson.. .and boy oh boy was I feelin' it today! Baby steps baby steps... and I must stretch more. 

I need more dancing... as soon as I get settled into my home again I'm going to work out a plan for dancing in particular to be part of EVERY DAY.

Regional Comp Weekend, and Preparing for a Move...

Hi all!
This weekend was very hectic, but mostly fun which is nice. It was one of those weekends where you get to Monday and you think Good Lord, I need a weekend to recover from my weekend! First up was Saturday's Fred Astiare Regional Competition at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare. I was running so late! I didn't arrive until around 11:30am, the Pro/Am portion of the day had begun at 10. (Here's the thing about waking up late, as I get back into working out, that will be much harder to do as I will naturally have more energy!) I immediately found my gang and began the socializing and spectating for the day. I think the reason I love ballroom comps so much is that they remind me of Theatre back in Shakespeare's day (Shakespeare is a personal hero of mine, and an awesome writer). It's a place to see and be seen and cheer for what's being presented on the floor, which is exactly what Theatre was like back in the day.

This competition was much smaller than previous spring regional I had attended, not since I started back in 2006 had I seen a comp as small. I have more than a sneaking suspicion that it's because everyone that usually saves up for one or two competitions every year is waiting for the June Inter-Regional comp which promises to have more than the standard set of competitors we're used to seeing. Somehow competition isn't quite as fun when you're on the floor with everyone you know and have competed against before, or so I have been told by many competitors.

So I saw, and I was seen, and I laughed and joked and cheered my way to the end, with Jem, Savvy, and more. Once the day session ended, a group of friends and I headed over to a local restaurant to have a nice relaxing meal and watch college hoops on the big screen. The team we were rooting for won! It was a nail biter too, I suppose if I went to a college with a sports team I'd be into that full time, but instead I only get involved when it's put in front of me, and I have friends around me that are whole heartily invested.

Once over, the few of us that were going back for the evening show headed back to the hotel with plenty of time to change for the Disco themed evening. Dressing up for these themed events aren't nearly as fun when I don't have the wardrobe I once had to pull from. Every time a theme comes up I mentally sift through the closet I used to have to find what I would have worn. A futile process I assure you. I had worn a T-shirt for the day session that was very 70's themed, but the evenings require more than a t-shirt. So I settled on a sequined tank I had recently picked up, jeans, and a short sleeve cardigan. I touched up my make up and I was ready to go.

The evening event opened with a lot of general dancing, which is great!! It used to be that these events had alot of awards, speakers, hired professional shows, and a smattering of general dances in between. Not this time! This time we were treated to a lot of 70's era music that included a lot of Hustle, Cha Cha and Swing. They even managed to get a few waltz's in there as well. All the pros were decked out in what seemed like a cross between 60's flower child and 70's bad plaid most wearing the traditional Fro wigs. (Some of whom actually really made them work!). I had planted myself amungst Bonnie and Michael for the night, and I was pleased for the company. Shortly after the dancing started, and I decided it might be worth it to change into my jazz shoes, Rocky came by for a pretty fast East Coast swing. About two measures in I realized two things: 1- my shoes were getting way too much traction so I'd have to work harder to execute my steps, and 2- drinking while dancing (I had had beer with dinner and wine since I entered the show) only makes me very heavy in my feet so everything takes that much more of a supreme effort. I MAY just have to consider my competition drinking habits if this continues.

After Rocky, I was asked to dance by one of my Studio's newest pros, he is new to teaching but has a very solid International background. I've danced with him a few times before. The dance he chose me for was Waltz. I heard a very quick American Waltz, he heard a Viennese Waltz so we ended up doing kind of a combo of the two. It was a lot of fun despite the poor floor craft of all those around us. Fill a floor with amateur and that's pretty much what you get. I do find this new pro to be a pretty good lead, and he's very cute in the way he approaches things. I thanked him for the dance and then took my place next to Bonnie for a second.

A few awards were announced and due to the small size of this comp and the rather small turn out from my studio in particular (again, waiting for June!) Fred Astaire Mokena took top prize as did two of their pro's for top teachers. Congratulations Mokena, I know the competitive students and staff at Chicago North thrive on a challenge so let's see who gets top prize next time around!



General dancing resumed and none other than Himself -Jesse DeSoto tapped me on the shoulder for a Hustle. Jesse is one of those pros that can make his follow feel like they can dance with him effortlessly. His brother STP actually can do the same thing, when he wants to, and speaking of it wasn't but a minute after Jesse had lead me to the edge of the dance floor when STP picked me up to catch the very tail end of another song. This was turning into quite the red letter evening for me!

A beat after that and I sought out one of the more shy or reserved would be a better word, students for another Hustle. Not quite sure why he's so reserved, he's actually not a bad lead the couple of times I've danced with him. I figured I was having a good night so it was ok to go around asking for dances. I came back to the table where my stuff was stashed and sat a few dances out, all the while watching the gentleman next to me, who is normally so quiet, come completely out of his shell with the help of some liquid encouragement. That was more funny than anything. His behavior combined with his thematic dress reminded me of Steve Martin in the 70's stand up he used to do..."I'm a wild and cra-zy guy!"



Ah, Steve Martin in the 70's... funniest guy of the decade!

As I was bearing witness to the character next to me another fellow student asked me for a Cha Cha and off we went. Woo hoo! I think this is the most I've danced at a social event in a really long time!

Very shortly after my Cha Cha I took my seat and I saw STP passing by in his regular dance clothes, he was previously dressed ala John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. I stopped him, "You're not all Saturday Night Fever anymore?"

"No, I have to dance..." He replies as if talking to a child.

I immediately remember that not all the correct words came out in my question. Duh.. of course he had to dance he was wearing a Latin shirt... what I meant was "Why are you dressed like that if you have to do the region staff number in a few minutes?" But that of course isn't what came out. So I laughed to myself pretty much hysterically because I have a knack of always sounding like I've had one drink too many with STP something that started because I did say funny stuff to him once when I actually had consumed 2 or 3 drinks too many in 2008.... I'll never live it down. Ah well there are worse things.. at least I'm a happy fake boozer.

The show began with the afore mentioned Regional staff number. The first time the whole region's staff had gotten together to do a number. We actually got to see it twice! About 4 or so measures in, the music just stopped... there was a beat or two of silence and then the staff almost in unison just picked right up where they left off and performed the piece A Capella, which actually worked out really well. Once finished and applause with ovation ensued they began again with music the whole way through. It was very cute and I liked how quickly they recovered! What professionals! KIT and DWH had actually choreographed it.

The rest of the show was nice too, albeit had a very "Talent Show" quality to it. Different couples or studio staff formations took the floor. It was nice for me to see because I usually like to keep an eye on what's going on staff wise in the region, just a little habit I picked up from when I used to visit multiple studios for parties and such. This allowed me to see a good number of the new faces perform and see their style. There are a few new staff members out there that look like they'd be a lot of fun to dance with. Two of the newer male pros in particular just danced like they take really good care of their followers, and danced very well.

The show ended as most do when the region staff performs with the staff at my studio showing off their skills FAF and TSD with a super fast Tango, HFC and STP with a swing, and then the whole Staff put in an ensemble formation with KIT singing, the girl has a powerful set of pipes!

I closed the evening saying goodnight to everyone I could find, and chatted with HFC for a second and then made my exit.

The rest of the weekend was VERY busy. I had a lot of work to do for my personal and professional lives. Professionally we're gearing up for a new product release and personally I am moving back into my apartment on Friday! I can not WAIT to have a home again! What's striking me as amazing though is that it doesn't seem to matter how much or how little one owns... moving is ALWAYS a hassle.

Stepping Outside Myself to Help Others...

Hi All!

With everything that's been happening personally I feel that I have not payed due attention to the Global Community.

No doubt you all have heard about the Earthquake/Tsunami tragedy in Japan, and now Burma and Thailand.

This is just the latest in a string of man made and natural disasters that are pummeling the globe. In an effort to help those less fortunate than ourselves. I am donating all proceeds made at my online shop Ballroom Is Life to the American Red Cross to help with Global Disaster Relief.

So please, stop by shop a bit, and help those in need in the process! The world needs those that have, to help those that have nothing. I may be in a rough spot, but I'm surrounded and possess untold riches in comparison to those that have just suffered through these events.

Just Like That... It's a Million Times Better!

Whew... one major hurdle covered! Today I was able to finalize my move in date and ensure that I am in the hotel until my move in date.... so for the time being I can rest easy. Oh goodness do I feel a million times better! I was very tired today though, the not sleeping took it's toll for sure. However I had a lesson to get to tonight, and there was no way I was going to miss it. Dancing has proven time and again in the past to make me feel on top of the world even when I'm at my lowest. So it was imperative that I show up.

Sadly I was running late which puts me on edge, luckily the formation class preparing for this weekend's regional competition was finishing up their rehearsal on the main floor.... whew! Enough time to change shoes and not feel like my pro is waiting for me.

A very tan Rocky waved me over to the floor once it had cleared. He was tan as you'd expect for a dancer competing this coming weekend. There is a regional Fred Astaire competition this coming weekend. There was a hustle playing and other lessons on the floor starting with Hustle, so I figured ok I'll do Hustle...this time. ;-)

Shows me for anticipating, Rocky started a Salsa with a little "ah.. see? I remembered." nod of his head and grin. I responded of course with a big smile!
"So is your week better?" Rocky asks.
"Well if I was in here yesterday (under arm turn) I would have been a crying sniveling mess, (open break) but today is better!" I responded.
I went over the fast forward version of what this week was as we danced a little. Soon the warm up was over and Rocky resisted going to get my book... I wasn't going to fight him this time anyway.

"Ok so remind me of your dances again?" He inquired hand over brow thinking.
"Well it doesn't really matter I want to work on smooth this time." I respond.
"Ok so smooth dances..."
"I don't have any smooth dances as my majors so it doesn't matter, I want to work on smooth."

Rocky paused for a second and went over for my book again...probably to refresh his memory on what I may have learned in the past. I actually helped him look for it this time. Once aquired we set about looking at it... there is a big X over the Waltz section..

I point to it "See, this is wrong now, I think I could like Waltz, and I know it's going to make my ankles stronger... that X is 4 years old! A lot has changed."

"Ok..ok.. so then lets just see..." Rocky goes to take up frame... and off we went.

Holy smokes this kid has an awesome smooth frame and lead! If I didn't actually know how much a really do suck at smooth he almost makes it seem easy! Unreal! We danced around the floor for a bit mainly so he could figure out what I knew and probably to figure out how I follow. There were a few under arm turns and possibly twinkles that made me almost believe I was actually Waltzing! This was just too cool.

We stopped a few times to go over a couple of different sequences, and a few times he would just make a comment like "Oh, sure you don't know this." ... dripping with sarcasm.

"Well I've done it before, I didn't say I hadn't done the step before. I just never spent any real time on it in comparison to Rhythm."

Then there was the Chasse issue. There's a sequence in the syllabus that has a couple of chasse (step together, step together quickly basically). Well he wanted my feet together and I must have been passing so I made the comment that as soon as I get more advanced they'll change it to passing my feet anyway.

WRONG

In fact Rocky found this very amusing. I guess growing up a dancer it's very funny to think that a Chasse would be any different than what it is, at any level of dancing. Well I certainly won't make that mistake again! At least I was getting laughs. I'm fine with being wrong in cases such as these because I didn't grow up being a dancer. So kids.. listen up.. A Chasse.. will ALWAYS be a Chasse!

There was another directional change could be almost like a promenade and every time it's lead I think my lead is checking his watch... well first off Rocky doesn't wear a watch... but I mention it.

"Ok, that feels like you're checking your watch." I said it very calmly... I didn't also realize we were facing the studio clock at the time, and I believe poor Rocky thought I was accusing him of being a clock watcher.

"What?!? I'm not even wearing a watch on this hand!" he retorts.

I immediately realize what I just did and try to make amends "Oh no, no... that's not what I mean I'm just saying that when you do that it feels to me like you're trying to check your watch without breaking frame... I didn't mean to say you were watching the clock!" Whoops.

Well we picked right up where we left off after that little open mouth, insert foot moment. I can't believe how much fun I was having with Waltz! Not only that but I wanted to learn it! We'd work on a step and I'd keep wanting to drill it until

At one point we were rounding the floor and stopped in the corner and we were laughing about some Samba music that was being played.... I was just really happy to be laughing!

"Ok do you want to hear a joke?" Rocky asked, "It's ok if you don't laugh it's not that funny." He chuckles.

"Yeah ok I want to hear it!"

"What's Beethoven's favorite fruit?" He asks through quiet chuckles.
I think, and I know it's going to be lame..but I can't think that I've ever heard that before "I have no idea, what?"
(and I write this knowing it's not going to translate well in just text)

"Ba-na-na-na!"Rocky chants just like the opening of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" It's quite possibly the funniest thing I've ever heard! I couldn't stop laughing! Then Rocky started laughing because I was laughing... Oh I'm so telling that joke to everyone I know!

"Ok so the Chasse step..." Rocky says as we have to focus again...
"Yep ok, great go.."I stopped laughing and focused back on the dance across the floor.. only to tell the lesson that was going on at the other end, KIT and STP were not quite as amused.. I still think it's funny!

A little bit more Waltz and compliments going everywhere! Rocky at one point even liked my rise and fall!!! No one has ever complimented me on my rise and fall!!! I mean it's never been insulted before but Rocky seemed genuinely surprised and/or impressed in some of what it seemed I was capable of! YESSSS!

See the idea of impressing or surprising a seasoned professional dancer is like the greatest accomplishment I could ever do in this, my rebuilding and restarting. I hope to keep it up.

Last ten minutes or so I could sense a shift in the dance we were working on.
"Ok what are we working on now?" I ask.
"Tango. I can't believe you have never worked on it." Rocky states.

"Only for the first Mini Match year before last..." Which then prompted me to explain how I got involved in Mini Match and why I ended up doing it. (You'll have to read the post, if you missed it.. there's video and everything!)

Once the explanation was over "Ok.." I say as I adjust my frame accordingly "How does this go again? And if you spell it I'm gonna smack you." I finish with a giggle... The last time I asked Largo "How does this go?" he spelled it for me T-A-N-G-O... which is a teaching method, but Largo had just spelled it, not like in the rhythm of the dance or anything.

Not realizing this Rocky must have thought I just didn't care for the teaching method.. so he went "Slow, slow, slow, quick, slow." As we started stepping.

Oh yeah.. Tango is on my list of things to learn... for sure. Mostly because this is the first pro I've had to teach it to me with such interest and passion about the dance. I would be a complete and total fool to not take advantage of the pro I have and his strengths. Besides.. I can still learn the tail end of my majors for the Silver test I'm going to have to go through when I'm back in my ballroom shoes... but this is like a 100% new perspective on American Smooth and I'm excited about it!

We worked on improving my promenade (the new way is awesome!) and a couple of new to me Tango steps.. one has an arm behind the back hand change, which we switched to an over the head hand change... it's just too awkward to do the behind the back move while I am still this round, that in itself is enough to keep my butt doing the workouts I don't like so that we can do that move as it's supposed to be.

The lesson ended on Tango.. and I think both Rocky and I were pleased and impressed with the way the lesson went!

Dancing is powerful enough to make my outlook on everything change... I LOVE IT!

Not only that.. but with the exception of a few clunky feeling heel leads... I actually felt graceful tonight! ME! GRACEFUL!!! YAY!


Which leads me to this question for you... my silent readers... if you are a dancer...what is that feeling you strive for on the floor??

Resisting the Cave

Well I can't say that today was any better than yesterday.  In fact in many ways it was unfortunately worse. I'm in near full panic mode... or I was at least for a good portion of the day. I even had a meeting with my manager, where I actually started crying. Yep, me, who tries to not cry at all if I can help it and definately not in public boo hooed in a meeting at my place of work.

It was mid afternoon as I attempted to continue to focus on my work and use it as a distraction from my personal hell, I realized what I was fighting... I have felt like I've been fighting since last week, some invisible foe that I just couldn't beat. Then I figured it out! It's my cave! My cave want's me back and I don't want to have anything to do with it!!

So what is my "cave" you ask? Well you know that unexplained reason I'd stop writing to the blog and then come back all gun-ho and ready to live life again? That was my cave that made me dissapear. I suppose you could call it depression in conventional terms. I prefer the term "cave".  My cave has a lovely couch and cable and it's temperature regulated, there are even some stalagmites that support the sofa. :-) I however REFUSE absolutely REFUSE to go back in... I'm resisting, and in some moments it's taking every fiber of my mental strength to do it.

Even my status on Facebook stated that all I wanted to do is crawl under the covers and wait for the world to go away. I'm generally reasonably optimistic on Facebook, even in the darkest of times.

I just can't believe I'm faced with these feelings again, the feeling of being lost, and so out of control. I even called my MOM... I hate to call my parents when I, a full grown adult capable of anything I need to be had to call my mom.

I just didn't know what to do, where to go, what to plan for. Mom assured me that no matter what I always have family. Which did actually make me feel a little better.

I then went about my evening making sure my daily goals were being met... I made the Rumba practice, with some really good feeling Cuban motion, trying diligently to get my hips and knees to work that infinity motion, I think I might have done it right all of twice, and not even consecutively. I'll take it though!  I made it through a short cardio work out at the hotel gym. Not long enough but better than nothing, the endorphins are making me feel a little better which I still am reminding myself about starting. 

Eating today was pretty much the same as yesterday, not a drop of anything hit my stomach until 2pm, I was too busy, and sad to eat today, which is really really bad, and probably my biggest problem. I don't eat frequently enough which then shuts down my metabolism and just helps me pack on the weight. So I guess I'm going to have to make a goal of eating more frequently... I am fully aware of how strange that sounds AND I know I'm not the only one that eats that way! (That doesn't make it proper, I know.)

I'm feeling better, and as much as I want to crawl into bed and wish the world away, I can't actually sleep... the lights go off and my mind sets to racing. Something has to be done about that, really soon!

Tomorrow is another day, and it's a day with a dance lesson! I bet that will help...

I have a question though... when you get stressed what's your "cave" like?

Small Triumphs, Big Frustrations

So today was a bit of a mix... Work went reasonably well even though it was wicked busy, in the middle of the busy I found out that even my insurance company thinks my landlord is a piece of work, seriously that's what my rep said "Wow, I thought you were exaggerating about her, she is a piece of work!"

Here's the kicker... The whole reason all of this started? Simply because I wanted to make sure that all the people who had to make the final determination on when I'm moving back were on the same page. I've decided that my landlord is simply not human and thinks of her tenants as nothing more than cattle with big dollar signs on our foreheads. So, truly wonderful neighbors or not, I'm pretty sure I can't possibly work with someone like this. All I want is my home back, and I've dotted every "i" crossed every "t" that's been asked of me and it's still not enough? Maybe owning my own place but being broke is better than renting from a tyrant and having a savings account.

I came back to my hotel after work, got the work out in that I said I would! Made me feel a million times better! Then set to work about getting everything together, because now I once again don't know if I'm moving Friday or next Friday. Which puts a big pressure over my whole life.

In other news... I made more progress in the healthy eating... I ate well.. for the one meal I had a chance to eat... *sigh*

Ah well... tomorrow is another day and I'm going to bed early so that I can tackle the day as it should be tackled.

OH! I added a goal for this week... I must practice one technique element a day for at least 10 minutes straight, I think this will mostly be accomplished through Rumba technique, but it has to be done. It's probably going to be a while before I can get into the studio for more than just my one lesson.


I'll take a day with small triumphs over none at all any day in hindsight.... on to the next day and work on improvements on what I started today.