Performing for the Fun

November 17, 2024Leave a comment

This piece is for all the dancers out there who love working hard on their dancing and are constantly pushing themselves to their limits and beyond. Some of you love the dance journey so much that you made dance your career. Others, like me, followed your passion aside of your career, but still took on the greater challenges that dance had to offer. Dance makes us come alive like nothing else, in between the sweat, tears, sore muscles, and literal blood.

Of course, all work and no play makes for a dull dancer, and dance at its core is joy and fun! We don’t always get to focus on that aspect when we are seriously training for a stage performance or a competition. Drilling choreography or technique for hours doesn’t scream fun and entertainment. All of that hard work feels worth it though, when you start to feel the changes in your dancing.

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Since We Last Spoke – Life and Dance Updates

September 22, 20242 Comments

Hello dancers! I know it’s been awhile. While I’ve been living a full life in the physical world, to be honest, I’ve been more than happy to not be bothered with the digital world and its insatiable appetite for new content. However, I first connected with many of my readers and dance friends on this blog, so for those of you who want to know what I’ve been up to, keep reading! If you’re just coming across this website, this post will be far less relevant to you, but I invite you to keep reading anyway, if you like.

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All the Things You Learn From Dance, Aside from How to Dance

March 3, 20241 Comment

I was overwhelmed during my first rehearsal for the ballet Coppelia, but as they progressed through the month of February, I realized that despite my minimal ballet experience, I brought a lot to the table as a dancer. My skills and experience from dancing styles like ballroom, salsa, swing and even Zumba, proved to be extremely valuable as I learned and rehearsed a ballet routine.

In the corporate world, they would be called transferable skills. In this case, I guess they would be transferable dance skills. I guarantee you have some of these skills as well, even if you’ve only been dancing a short time. So read on to be reminded of how many skills you’ve amassed as a dancer!

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Dance as a Vehicle for Personal Growth (and Fun!)

February 11, 2024Leave a comment

Over the next two months, I’m embarking on a new dance adventure, something I’ve never done before as an adult dancer. Even though it’s a new experience for me, that very fact makes it fit naturally into my lifelong dance journey.

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My Last Performance

December 6, 2015May 20, 20215 Comments

For awhile at least!

The Dancers United for Saving Lives event was a success! There was a LOT of last minute and last second changes and cancellations to the performance line-up, and the organizer worked her butt off to keep the show running smoothly.

In the end, it was a successful event and I think everyone that came had a great time. And my waltz? Well, that’s what I really want to write about.

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Dancers United for Saving Lives Event

December 5, 2015May 20, 2021Leave a comment

I have a new answer for “what’s next for you”!

I’m performing a waltz demonstration with Teacher at an event this evening! Latin club dancers and ballroom dancers are coming together to dance and support two charities: the Pet Adoption Center of Orange County and the CBZ Foundation. If you’re in the area, you should check it out:

https://www.facebook.com/events/509351932572990/

The event includes workshops, social dancing and performances. Originally, a couple months ago, Teacher and I were talking about doing a choreographed showcase dance. But then Life happened, and I didn’t have the money to pay for a new choreographed number. One more performance passing me by.

Then Teacher mentioned last week that he was thinking about asking the organizer if she wanted/needed additional numbers for the show. He thought we could just dance our waltz routine that we use for competition. It sounded great to me! But then I didn’t hear anything more all week. So I asked about it on Wednesday, and we confirmed that yes, the organizer would love to have us do a waltz demonstration!

It’s not going to be anything flashy or fancy. I’m not even wearing a costume, just my practice skirt. Which is actually kind of nice. We’re just going to dance.

I’m a little nervous, of course, but mostly I’m just happy to have the chance to perform with Teacher. Who knows how long it will be before I’ll have another chance?

Stay tuned to hear how it goes!

Travels of the Girl with the Tree Tattoo

November 5, 2015May 20, 2021Leave a comment

This week I was lucky to be welcomed into not one, but two online homes of other dancers!

Ballroom Bombshell honored me with a “spotlight” post and even dubbed me her ballroom “big sister!” I cannot wait to read how her first competition goes in December!

https://ballroombombshell.wordpress.com/2015/11/03/spotlight-the-girl-with-the-tree-tattoo/

Stance on Dance allowed me to share my experiences in learning ballroom with her wider dance audience. I love the opportunity to share ballroom with the broader dance world.

Hello. My Name is Katie, and I’m Addicted to Ballroom

I don’t think it comes as a surprise that I love connecting with other dancers/writers! Sometimes that means I travel away from my “home” blog for the chance of reaching a different group of people.

I want to show my gratitude for others welcoming me into their “homes” by opening up my own! If you have a story about your passion that you would like to share here, please let me know!

The Dance For Life Ball – Another Dance Adventure!

August 10, 2015May 20, 20212 Comments

This weekend included another dance adventure for Roomie and me! We volunteered at the Dance for Life Ball, put on by the CBZ Foundation. The CBZ Foundation is “a not-for-profit organization formed with the vision of helping youth dancers and those with disabilities pursue their education and competitive Dancesport goals.” It was formed in honor of Connor Bishop Zion, who was a latin and ballroom competitive dancer until he passed away at the young age of 21.

The Dance for Life Ball was a charity event for the Foundation, and I believe it was the first they had hosted. For 150 tax-deductible dollars, you got dinner, dancing, performances, and special appearances by ballroom celebrities. AND you got to be greeted by myself and Roomie since we were the ones checking people in and handing out programs. Pretty awesome, right? I’ll let the poster do the name dropping for me.

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I Line Danced My Heel Off. Literally!

July 25, 2015May 20, 2021Leave a comment

In honor of National Dance Day, a quick post about another dance adventure Roomie and I went on last weekend! This time, it was a country music festival held at a restaurant/bar. You wouldn’t guess it from the outside, but the place has a big stage and dancefloor in the middle of it. Now, I am not a fan of country music. And line dancing is…ok. Just not really my thing. Roomie is more the hard core fan. Despite those facts, I had fun! I mean, it’s hard to not have fun when you’re surrounded by live music and positive energy and people dancing. Just my opinion.

She was country and I was more rock ‘n roll.

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Dance Adventure!

June 15, 2015May 20, 20217 Comments

The Thespian would be proud! I went on a dance adventure this weekend! My roommate and I ventured north into Los Angeles County for an event put on by Ballroom by the Bay. The event was held in “the Valley” and so was dubbed the Valley Edition of Ballroom by the Bay. Cute. Roomie’s friend was teaching the tango class that started the party, which is how we found out about it.