INSPIRATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU THRIVE ON YOUR DANCE JOURNEY
About the Girl
Practical guidance and inspiring stories about the world of ballroom dance – from the student perspective
Hi! I’m Katie and I’m also known as the Girl with the Tree Tattoo.
Since starting the Girl with the Tree Tattoo blog in 2015, I have welcomed thousands of visitors who value my openness and willingness to share the good, the bad, and the awkward of my journey while shedding light on the rarely addressed mental and emotional aspects of being an adult pro-am ballroom dancer.
I am passionate and committed to helping my fellow dancers boost their confidence while discovering the dancer within by providing inspiration from my own journey with a healthy dose of practicality.
I don’t pretend like I have all of the answers, and I could never replace your dance teacher or coach. That being said…
If you’re feeling stuck, frustrated or doubtful about your progress as a dancer,
If you LOVE ballroom, but secretly wonder if you really belong,
If you want straight-up honest stories from someone who always keeps it real and KNOWS what you’re going through because she’s in it with you,
Then I am your Girl.
When they connect with that dancer inside them, the people I work with feel more confident, joyful and free on the dance floor. Ballroom dancing is about connection. Connection with the music, ourselves, our partners, and those watching. When that connection is authentic and honest, that is when the magic happens.
In addition to writing on this blog, I have been honored to share the story and message of The Girl with the Tree Tattoo on the following media outlets.
Hey there! I’m doing a project where I’m following ten exciting, fresh, and interesting bloggers each day for the month of March 2015, and you’re today’s #2! Feel free to come visit me when you can at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com, and follow if you like what you read. Have a good one!
No problem. Fellow ballroom dancer here; competed for the first time last November and even got a ribbon in Newcomer Samba. I signed up for a competition at the end of the month in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but alas, I cannot find a follow (bronze/newcomer int’l Latin, newcomer int’l Standard) and I don’t really want to go TBA because it’s a 3-hour drive, and I don’t want to get there and find out I can’t compete 😦
Oh cool! Yeah, I understand the hesitation. That’s a lot of time and money to spend if you dont have a guarantee you’ll have a partner to dance with. I didn’t realize there were ballroom comps where you could show up without a partner! I’m going to guess it’s through one of the franchises? Well if you decide to go, I hope you get to dance!! If not, there are always others!
Most of the collegiate comps here in the Midwest including ours have TBA options, you don’t know who you’ll be dancing with until you show up. The Iowa Dancesport Classic is the only one nearby that fits into my schedule this semester. I called over last week and spoke to the head of Iowa’s team, and she said she’d get back to me by the end of the week with any info, but if I don’t hear back from her by Thursday, I’m going to call Friday and ask for a refund. Sad, but 6 hours round trip is a little too much if there are no guarantees. Maybe if it was one of the closer comps, like in Illinois or Indiana, I could deal, but I don’t want to spend a whole weekend in Iowa just watching people dance! If only you were around…
I have found that as people get into ballroom, they end up favoring either competitions or show dancing, or just stick with social dancing. But there is always a place for everyone. 🙂
In ballroom, I think that’s pretty much it 🙂 There are people that take ballroom dance for health reasons too, but I would say they would be grouped in with the social or show dancers. 🙂
I’ve enjoyed our ballroom conversations over the past few months, so I’ve decided to nominate you for the Liebster Award, a somewhat silly and spammy thing (though maybe good PR?). The details are here, if you are interested: https://natalieschriefer.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/liebster/ 🙂
I absolutely love reading about your adventures in the ballroom world! As someone just starting out in her professional journey, you are someone that I really look up to. Thank you for sharing everything that you do! I look forward to continually following your journey.
Megan, thank you so much for reading and commenting so I know you’re there! 🙂 I’m honored and humbled by your words. Good luck on your journey and don’t be a stranger!
The Girl with the Tree Tattoo 
Hey there! I’m doing a project where I’m following ten exciting, fresh, and interesting bloggers each day for the month of March 2015, and you’re today’s #2! Feel free to come visit me when you can at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com, and follow if you like what you read. Have a good one!
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Thanks for the follow, Jacob! Right back at ya! Happy to read you found my blog exciting, fresh AND interesting! 🙂
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No problem. Fellow ballroom dancer here; competed for the first time last November and even got a ribbon in Newcomer Samba. I signed up for a competition at the end of the month in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but alas, I cannot find a follow (bronze/newcomer int’l Latin, newcomer int’l Standard) and I don’t really want to go TBA because it’s a 3-hour drive, and I don’t want to get there and find out I can’t compete 😦
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Oh cool! Yeah, I understand the hesitation. That’s a lot of time and money to spend if you dont have a guarantee you’ll have a partner to dance with. I didn’t realize there were ballroom comps where you could show up without a partner! I’m going to guess it’s through one of the franchises? Well if you decide to go, I hope you get to dance!! If not, there are always others!
LikeLike
Most of the collegiate comps here in the Midwest including ours have TBA options, you don’t know who you’ll be dancing with until you show up. The Iowa Dancesport Classic is the only one nearby that fits into my schedule this semester. I called over last week and spoke to the head of Iowa’s team, and she said she’d get back to me by the end of the week with any info, but if I don’t hear back from her by Thursday, I’m going to call Friday and ask for a refund. Sad, but 6 hours round trip is a little too much if there are no guarantees. Maybe if it was one of the closer comps, like in Illinois or Indiana, I could deal, but I don’t want to spend a whole weekend in Iowa just watching people dance! If only you were around…
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Ah ok, almost like a jack and Jill event for west coast swing! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
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Greetings fellow dancer … We enjoy it, but don’t compete because it’s not what we want to do … but competing is fine for those who want to.
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I have found that as people get into ballroom, they end up favoring either competitions or show dancing, or just stick with social dancing. But there is always a place for everyone. 🙂
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Now I’m wondering, … are there other options than the 3 you mentioned?
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In ballroom, I think that’s pretty much it 🙂 There are people that take ballroom dance for health reasons too, but I would say they would be grouped in with the social or show dancers. 🙂
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I’ve enjoyed our ballroom conversations over the past few months, so I’ve decided to nominate you for the Liebster Award, a somewhat silly and spammy thing (though maybe good PR?). The details are here, if you are interested: https://natalieschriefer.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/liebster/ 🙂
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Natalie, thank you!! I’ll be checking it while I drink my morning tea. 😆
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I absolutely love reading about your adventures in the ballroom world! As someone just starting out in her professional journey, you are someone that I really look up to. Thank you for sharing everything that you do! I look forward to continually following your journey.
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Megan, thank you so much for reading and commenting so I know you’re there! 🙂 I’m honored and humbled by your words. Good luck on your journey and don’t be a stranger!
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