I don’t know what to write this week, so we’re just going to start writing and see what comes out. Usually I have an idea by midweek, but this week – nada. My brain’s been a bit scattered and preoccupied, and with three months left in the year, I have this weird sense of “I’ve still got plenty of time” and “I’m running out of time.”
How about some dance-related stuff?
Confession time: I don’t always know what I’m going to work on in my solo practice.
Yes, the person who wrote THE Solo Practice Guide for Ballroom Dancing still gets stumped.
More than a week has gone by since I won my World Champion title. I’m still smiling about it, but I have come back down to Earth from Cloud Nine. The grass looks greener on this side. As eager as I am to get going on the next chapter of my dance journey, I’m forced to wait. Teacher had to cancel my lesson this past week and then he left for Nationals. Hopefully, nothing will get in the way of my lesson this coming week, especially since I only have one per week now.
Continue readingThe question of how to balance different aspects of life, such as building a business while working a full-time day job or training and competing as a dancer on the side of a non-dance career, has come up in multiple circles this past week. So I thought I’d throw in my two cents.
Multiple articles, written by myself and guests, have been published on this blog about finding a balance between these things. Now that I’m older and wiser, I think we were all wrong.
Stress management has become a hot topic in our modern society. Despite all of our technological advances and instant gratification conveniences, our overall stress level seems to have only increased. We can’t ignore this trend because stress can have powerful, negative effects over our minds and bodies. My last two lessons are a prime example of how stress can turn a competent dancer into a dope in heels.
Paige Taylor is a copywriter from Columbus, Ohio who is in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. As getting clean drastically changed her life, she’s now dedicated to helping others struggling with addiction to find their path to recovery.
She reached out to me after reading some of the other stories on this blog of others who have healed through the power of dance. I was more than happy to share her story too. Hers is another great example of how dance, even in the form of a fitness class, can have a beautiful and positive effect on a person’s life.
The Guide started as a personal quest. Embassy Ball 2017 dealt a huge blow to my ego, and after I sulked for a bit, I was determined to take more control and ownership of my dancing so I wouldn’t have to face that disappointment again with the knowledge I could have done more to avoid it. I couldn’t afford more than the two lessons per week I already took. The only other area I could control was my solo practice, so that’s where I focused.
Hi dancers!
So I spent the last week fighting the flu or something equally wretched. I’m finally feeling better today, so I decided to make a video for everyone. I also have an announcement (well, two really) about the Solo Practice Guide!
Watch:
Hi dancers!
If you saw my last post, you know I was honored to be interviewed on the talk show, Out of the Comfort Zone, on ThinkTech Hawaii. It aired live on June 5, 2018 at 4pm PST, and the replay has just come available. Enjoy!
Confession time: I panic a little when Teacher starts coaching me at the next level, as opposed to the level where I’m currently hanging.
What I mean by that is if I was in my senior year of high school, he’s acting like I’m already in college.
The Girl with the Tree Tattoo 