Reexamining The Cost of Being a Ballroom Dancer

September 12, 2021October 23, 202219 Comments

I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow ballroom dancer for the first time in person this past week. She is one of several Maine dancers who proved me wrong when I thought I was moving to a place where I didn’t know anyone. I also learned that she has been following the blog from the beginning!

We had a lovely chat on a picnic table over tea, which of course primarily focused on our ballroom journeys. She voiced her appreciation for my willingness to openly discuss the financial aspect of ballroom. It can have a great impact on someone’s dance journey, but so often, the cost of being a ballroom dancer is swept under the rug or hidden in the shadows behind the bright lights and sparkling rhinestones. Don’t look over there, look here on the dance floor where everything is shiny and colorful and everyone is smiling.

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Interview with Starter Story: How Writing About My Passion Turned Into A Successful Business

July 23, 2019May 20, 2021Leave a comment

Between Desert Classic and last week’s trip to the Bay Area for a meeting with my business group, the last two weeks have been a whirlwind! While I let the dust settle in my brain, I’m pushing back this week’s blog post.

Don’t worry, I still have a story for you! Right before I left for Desert Classic, I managed to find the time to do an interview with Starterstory.com. Check it out to get a behind-the-scenes look at how I’ve built my business and brand:

Financing My Dancing Dreams

May 26, 2019May 20, 20214 Comments

This past week, I posted on social media about finally having my “oh shit” moment about competing at Desert Classic. Six weeks and four days to go! Teacher said we needed to make sure we had a game plan and pick a go/no-go date. He believed we’d be ready, but with me only taking one lesson per week, I had to be on point with my solo practices.

Then of course, as we went through Waltz, everything I wasn’t solid on yet came to light and it all congealed into this icky coat of self-doubt. Shit.

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Happy Anniversary!

January 20, 2019May 20, 2021Leave a comment

On January 22, 2018, I emailed the 108 people on the Solo Practice Guide mailing list about a special offer. I was ready to complete the Solo Practice Guide for Ballroom Dancing, but before I released it to the world, I wanted to test it. So I created a beta group and opened it to 10 people to help me review the Guide chapter by chapter. The result was awesomeness, and I’m so grateful to those 10 people for helping me make this dream a reality. Now that we’re reaching the one-year anniversary of that fateful day, I want to celebrate!

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2018 Reflections

December 30, 2018May 20, 2021Leave a comment

Another year coming to a close. It’s cliche to say, but each one really seems to fly by quicker than the one before. Maybe I’m just getting old.

2018 was witness to some incredible accomplishments in my life:

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You’re Making More Progress Than You Think

December 18, 2018May 20, 2021Leave a comment

Do you ever feel like you’re going nowhere fast? Like you’re stuck in a hamster wheel or walking the wrong way on one of those moving walkways in the airport?

That’s how I feel on the tougher days. Those days when I feel like it doesn’t matter how hard I work, I just can’t seem to make any progress. My to-do pile at the day job is growing faster than my done pile. I practiced over and over, but I still can’t seem to get that move right in my dance lesson. I’m doing “all the things” to grow my business, but the return still feels small.

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Dance/Life/Work Balance Doesn’t Exist

August 4, 2018May 20, 2021Leave a comment

The 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.

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Why Did I Create the Solo Practice Guide?

July 11, 2018May 20, 20214 Comments

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.

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A Video Message

July 7, 2018May 20, 2021Leave a comment

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:

Get a Sneak Peek at the Solo Practice Guide for Ballroom Dancing!

January 31, 2018May 20, 20212 Comments

Hey dancers!

I get a little impatient when it comes to something I’m excited about. I want it all to happen NOW! If I could just beam the Solo Practice Guide directly from my head to yours, I would. Just so you could get it faster.

Until technology catches up with me, I thought I would give you another taste of what’s coming. Maybe the idea of the Solo Practice Guide sounds good to you, but you’re still not sure it’s something that would be useful for you in particular.

So I thought I’d show you what’s in the Guide by giving you the chapter outline. Then you can see exactly what topic(s) will be covered. While I was at it, I figured heck, I’ll give you a list of some of the concerns I’m making sure to address AND an excerpt from Chapter 1. Cool?

Click here to get a sneak peek at the Solo Practice Guide.

Oh, one more thing! I wanted to make sure you saw the Facebook livestream I did yesterday with a special guest – Teacher! I had shared on social media that I get super self-conscious when I do my solo practice at the studio and other dancers are around. A bunch of people commented that they felt the same way, especially when their own teacher was in the studio. So I asked Teacher if he would offer some insight and advice to everyone on how to deal with that. What he gave was awesome and super valuable!

So if you didn’t catch it already, check out our livestream video for tips on practicing in front of other dancers.

Ok, I feel like I’m giving you a lot right now. Not too much at once I hope! Don’t worry, if/when you join the beta group, we’ll be going through the Guide together one chapter at a time.

Heads up, there are only 3 spots left, and filled or not, the beta group is closing this Saturday, February 3 at 11:59pm.

EDIT: The beta group sold out a day early, I couldn’t believe it! But don’t worry, if you’d still like to have the chance to get early access to the Solo Practice Guide, let me know by putting your name in for the launch team.