I have just completed my first year of dancing on the UCWDC circuit and it has been a tough year! The first part of the year I was dancing on an old tendon injury in my foot and the second half of the year I was battling Cipro poisoning that effected my entire body. Nonetheless, I placed ninth out of twenty three dancers from around the world. Most importantly I danced my own personal best at the competition.

For those of you that have never competed, but think that they might like to give it a shot I would suggest attending a UCWDC event and watching the competitions. I competed in eight dances: Triple Tow Step, Polka, Night Club 2 Step, Cha Cha, Waltz, Country Two Step, East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing. Competing  is a great way to improve your dancing. It inspires you to work hard from one competition to the next. It gives you a bench mark of where you have begun and tracks your progress, or decline if you do not practice!  I have found that meeting other competitors can be both pleasant and unpleasant. I have found that I agree and disagree with the judging. I have found that every dance instructor has their own opinion and I have found that I still love dancing!

I never would have imagined that I would have danced in front of anyone, let alone be judged as I am very shy; but I can say that with each competition the nerves have declined and the confidence has increased. It has been an up and down roller coaster but well worth the E ticket!

When I first started dancing I never even realized that someone like myself would ever have the opportunity or the interest in dance competitions. Of course I had seen very high level ballroom dance competitions on TV, so I knew that they existed, but I never knew how easily you could become involved in that world.
I have NEVER been a competitive person and certainly NEVER would have dreamed that I would allow anyone to watch me dance, but I have found that competing in the dance world is challenging and fulfilling on a personal level.

I am sure that there are many reasons that people compete at any sport and that everyone has there own personal reason but for me, dance is my passion and I started dancing so late in life that I feel as though I have tons of catching up to do! Competing is my way to challenge myself and to record my progress. My goal is to improve my own personal dancing every time I compete. And of course competing really forces me to practice! I like to work hard and strive to do my own personal best.

I compete on the UCWDC circuit which is the “Country” circuit. The eight dances that are judged are the Triple Two Step, East Coast Swing, Night Club 2 Step, Cha Cha, Polka , Waltz, West Coast Swing and Country 2 Step. Anyone can attend a dance event and compete. They are held all around the world and can be found on the USWDC.org website.

Dance conventions not only offer a place to compete, they also offer dance workshops for all levels and social dancing at its best. If you have never competed or been to a dance event, I suggest you find one in your area and check it out. Try to be inspired as opposed to discouraged and realize that every single dancer out on the floor started in the exact same place. The beginning. The best dancers you see are the ones that have worked the hardest.

If you’ve never been to a dance event before, the Los Angeles Dance Premier is a great one to attend. It is a country event with competitions and workshops in Country 2 Step, Night Club 2 Step, Cha Cha, East and West Coast Swing, Polka, Triple 2 Step, Hustle and even Waltz. There will be a Swing room and a Country room.

There will be a great teaching staff:

Ronnie DeBenedetta & Brandi Tobias
Gary McIntyre & Susan Kirklin
Aaron & Tiffany Lorenzen
Mike Eads & Annick Paquet

just to name a few. Joe Tschirhart and I will be teaching a Country 2 Step Lesson as well. If you’re there, look me up for a dance or two!

One of the most difficult things for me about social dancing, and I am talking about “organized club” dancing in my area, is that no matter what type music is played, most (ok, almost ALL) dancers still just dance West Coast Swing. It is so hard for me to just do West Coast Swing when the DJ is playing a Cha Cha or Hustle. Even if you can find a fellow Hustle dancer you will have a difficult time “doing the Hustle” as the West Coast Swing dancers get annoyed if you use too much floor space! UHG! Same applies to Cha Cha……oh, well, I guess some dancers prefer to only dance one dance………..what a shame, because the other dances are equally just as much fun!

Ballroom Dance

If you have yet to stick your toe into a dance shoe, and hit the dance floor, then you will likely be as confused as I was, when I decided that I had waited too long to learn to dance. I had no idea just how many styles of dance there were, and I do not profess to even know now, however I do know that Ballroom, Swing and Salsa are very often, all danced at the same venue.

Tonight I was at our local USA Ballroom Dance. I danced Tango, Foxtrot, Waltz, Hustle, Night Club Two Step, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, Mambo, Salsa and Rhumba. Quite a variety, wouldn’t you agree?

Last night it was a Swing Club Dance. We danced West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Country Two Step, Country Waltz, Night Club Two Step, Hustle, Cha Cha and a Triple Step Progressive.

Swing Dance

I suppose that the easiest way to describe the biggest difference, in my opinion, is that Ballroom Dance is “formal” and Swing Dance and Salsa are more lighthearted and “informal”.

Now here is the part that I find interesting. It is my perception that Swing people often think that Ballroom is a bit too stuffy. Ballroom people often thing that Swing is a bit too lackadaisical and I think that Ballroom and Swing dancers perceive Salsa dancers to be a bit too saucy.

In my opinion, I love them all! As long as there is music playing and someone to dance with, I am up for the challenge. I think that I would become bored if I only danced one style of dance. Maybe I am A.D.D.? But there are many people out there that are a strictly one dance, and one dance only type. My suggestion to those of you who are new to the world of dance is to give them all a fair shake. You may be surprised to find yourself, like me a total crossover to all of the dances. I find that I go in spurts and often have new favorites. I also find that there are many similarities in all of the dances. Besides, the more versatile you are the more opportunities that you have to dance!

I would love to hear what your favorite dances are, mine are currently Cha Cha and Country Two step. Of course, next week that might change!

Happy Dancing,

Ras #1

Bat Girl and Robin

It seems that the only souvenir I brought home from my Halloween Cruise, was laryngitis and bronchitis. I guess that sneaky little sucker “Murphy” managed to find his way on board without me seeing him. The real question is, “Was worth it”? Heck, yeah! A little Robitussen, and the fact that we went to Mexico and were able to buy “drugs”, (antibiotics and inhalers) kept me dancing until the wee hours.

The ship would not have been the same without Bat Girl and Robin to ward off the villians and ghouls of the night…………..we even managed to add Wonder Woman, the Scarecrow and Minnie Mouse to our pack!

The weather was lousy, the sea was rough, but a great time was had by all. We visited the ports of Belize, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Roatan, Honduras. I would say that Roatan was my favorite! It is an absolutely gorgeous island. I visited there twice this summer and am look forward to going again. The rain forest and snorkeling are phenomenal. Belize had to be my second fave. The zip line tour is a MUST!

As usual, however, there was very little “couples” dancing. Fortunately, my friend Jordan, was also on the cruise, so I was able to get in a few West Coast Swing dances. There were also a few Cha Cha and Two Step’s here and there. I have decided that I may just have to start learning the leaders’ part, as well as the followers’, so that I will be able to lead Ras #2 around the dance floor when a great song comes on!

Another remedy to this problem will be our own Dance Cruise. Stay tuned for details…………we hope everyone will join us!

Off, to let the night time “powers of healing” work on my “cruise crud”!!