Even though I prefer to celebrate 50% Off Chocolate Day (February 15), when FloDance asked me to write another article for their website, in honor of Valentine’s Day, I decided to compose a love letter to ballroom.
Read it here, and happy Valentine’s Day!
More than once in the past week, the issue of labels has come up. Labels like “student” and “teacher”, or “amateur” and “professional.” Seeing as I’m making new efforts in 2018 to own who I am, I thought I’d prattle on about this for a bit.
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.
And those were the words that came. I think I was only staring for about 15 minutes.
My creative juices are running dry a bit this weekend, but I still wanted to check in with you. We’re coming up on the end of January, and it’s hard to believe how much has been put into motion in just four weeks.
Hello dancers!
I have been PRODUCTIVE the last two days and it’s feeling really good. First, I had a double lesson (meaning 1.5 hours instead of 45 minutes) on Friday after work. It wasn’t extra; Teacher had asked if we could reschedule our usual Wednesday lesson. I like having a double lesson once in awhile because sometimes 45 minutes is just not enough time. You start getting deep into something and just as you feel you’re making some real progress, time’s up!
A new year brings a new ballroom competition season with it. “Season” is a bit of a misnomer because there is always a competition happening somewhere, but in my corner of the ballroom world, people seem to take some time off after the Holiday Dance Classic at the beginning of December and then come back with new goals in January.
2018 is coming up fast, and like every other blogger on the world wide web, I’m reflecting on the past year and sharing my thoughts with you. Hope you don’t mind!
It may be the day before Christmas, but it’s also Sunday. As you know, Sunday is my main practice day, so even though it would have been easy to skip, I still went to the studio to practice. I didn’t want to skip anyway. Friday was my last dance lesson of 2017 (unless Teacher decides he wants to teach next week) and I didn’t want to stop dancing! Apparently I wasn’t the only one. There was a LOT of people at the studio! More than I’ve ever seen on a Sunday morning. I’m guessing we all had the same thought, that we’d have the studio to ourselves!
The release of my interview with FloDance on Saturday got me thinking about my journey so far in ballroom and as the Girl with the Tree Tattoo. It’s incredible to look back and see how much I’ve changed. A couple years ago, I would have been privately excited and proud of an interview like this, but outwardly I would have hid that excitement and felt embarrassed and almost guilty for “bragging” by sharing the video. Bragging in my head is a bad thing, something to be ashamed of, and calling attention to myself feels like a form of bragging. I still get squirmy about having attention on me, but the cool thing that’s happened is I’m realizing that it’s not really about me. It’s about the message I’m trying to convey to the world.
Hi everyone!
Just popping in real quick to share some exciting news. While I was at Embassy Ball at the end of August, I was interviewed by FloDance. They’re part of the FloSports network, kind of like an online ESPN. FloDance focuses mainly on ballroom dancing.
They used part of my interview in the video The True Cost of Being a Dancer, but today, they released the video just about The Girl with the Tree Tattoo!
Check it out here: https://www.flodance.com/video/6057295-the-girl-with-the-tree-tattoo
Of course, I’m thrilled (after I got over my initial “Eeeeek! There’s a video about me! No one look!”) as well as incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share my story with another audience. Every day on this ballroom journey, I strive to stay true to myself, overcome my fears and doubts, and release the dancer inside me. I share that journey, with all of its ups and downs, in hopes that you’ll be inspired and encouraged to continue on your own journey.
So be confident, be joyful, and DANCE!
The Girl with the Tree Tattoo 