Thankful for Dance

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, I am sure many of you have been reflecting the blessings in your lives that you are grateful for, as I have been.

I am sincerely thankful for this great nation, our freedom, and the military which shaped my life.  More, I am thankful for all the brave men and women who serve and sacrifice, as I did, to protect American life and liberty.

I am thankful for my precious family, friends, and students.

And, I am thankful for one of the greatest of these many blessings – the gift of dance.

Dance has brought richness to my life.

Dance healed my body after suffering war injuries.

Dance ignited a new passion and purpose within me when I had lost my inspiration.

Dance has brought many wonderful friends, colleagues, and students into my life that I would not otherwise have met.

Dance has paved the way for many travels and adventures.

Dance has stretched my mind with continuous learning.

Dance brought me my beautiful wife and amazing stepchildren.

My Thanksgiving wish for all of you is that dance will bless your lives as richly as it has blessed mine.  May this holiday week bring you and abundance of things to grateful be for.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's All the Same Thing

During the Southwestern Invitational Championships in Dallas, I was privileged to attend the final Latin performance danced by Andre and Natalie Paramonov, World Dance Champions, as they announced their debut as Rhythm dancers showcasing their first performance in this new genre during the upcoming Ohio Star Ball.

Reflecting upon this groundbreaking announcement (as most professionals do not change styles of dance in the midst of successful careers), I recall that when I was first learning dance, Smooth Ballroom dances seemed radically different than Rhythm and Latin dances.  The Smooth style, now my favorite, seemed stiff and structured compared to the fun, free, and sexy Rhythm dances.

What I have come to understand over my years as both an amateur and professional dancer is that all require hard work, possess a unique beauty, and each has its own character.  In fact, during the 2012 Blackpool Congress, Gram Oswick proved this by conducting a grand experiment.  He had two couples, World Champions, perform the same choreography – one couple danced a Standard Foxtrot, while the other danced the same figures in a Latin Paso Doble.  It was amazing to watch! 

This demonstration proved that each style of dance possesses its own creative movement, mechanics, and beauty.  Each style requires an equal amount of technique, training, and control.  Yet, each style of dance is distinguished by its signature character, musicality, and beauty within the basic framework of exactly the same figures.

So, to all of the Pro/Am competitors in the audience, particularly my own, I say work hard and have fun in every style you dance!  Standard, Smooth, Rhythm, and Latin all require your focus, commitment and attention to the detail of the dance.  Personally, I love that the theatrical look and feel of Smooth Ballroom dances are comparable to the beautiful arm styling of Rhythm dances.   Hence, the technique, strength, and control you develop dancing Smooth, will only make you a better Rhythm dancer!

As Gram Oswick said, “It is all about articulation.  Your only friend is the floor.”

So keep dancing!

TEAMWORK

I have long admired one well-respected studio from San Antonio, Texas, whose leadership has done an outstanding job of creating team spirit among its competitive students.  The encouragement and uplifting support the female students provide one another emanates joy and love for the art and sport of Ballroom Dance.  I observed this positive energy and teamwork once again at the recent Southwestern Invitational DanceSport Championships (SWI) in Dallas.

I have also been reflecting on what a joy it was to spend the weekend with the wonderful group of students and their families of my Balance Competitive Ballroom Dance Team who accompanied me to SWI, last weekend.  I think the reason that my group of ladies is so pleasurable to be around is the positivity they each possess, the love of dance they share, and the TEAM spirit we all create together!

Over my many years as a dance instructor and studio owner, I have observed at DanceSport competitions the studios that have the most fun and win the most awards are those that work as a team, creating a network of support.

What a contrast this is to the pettiness that can sometimes accompany competition! This is particularly true when students among a single studio or dancing with the same instructor are competing among themselves.  The negative energy created brings everyone down.

Yes, Ballroom Dance at this level is a sport in which there are clear winners and losers.  The cream rises to top revealing the most skilled, naturally talented, experienced, and well-trained amateurs and professionals.  The best dancers are the winners, and rightfully so!

However, competition can be friendly and good sportsmanship only highlights the joy that dance brings to life!  Let’s face it, dancing is fun!  In the end, we are all winners for just having enlightened our bodies and minds through this beautiful art!

My San Antonio friends have mastered this team spirit!  And I am very proud to say that my newly formed Balance Competitive Ballroom Dance Team has, as well!

MANY CONGRATULATIONS to Kathy, Kelly, Shawna, Chloe, Karla, Dawn, Joe and my wonderful wife, Kellie, for their individual achievements at the Southwestern Invitational Championships.  More, congratulations to all for their combined achievement as a team! 

They are all winners!

Continued Education

I recently returned from DVIDA Professional Ballroom Dance Camp in Las Vegas.  It was a unique 4 day opportunity for me to switch roles – I was once again a student and dancer, not just a teacher.

I very much enjoyed learning new insights into the instruction of Smooth and Standard dances from former Champions, Michael Mead, Toni Redpath, and Jim and Jenell Maranto.  I received intense coaching in the technical skills of Rhythm and Latin dances from Felipe and Carolina Telona.  And, I learned fun, new patterns in Hustle and West Coast Swing with Toby and Harmony Munroe.

The thought which came to mind a number of times throughout this amazing week of classes was, “The last dance lesson looks just like the first.”  I repeat this often to my students. What I mean to convey is that as a dancer, each of us continuously strives to reach the highest level of mastery and in it is an unattainable goal.  We will each continue to grow, to hone our skills, develop better technique, to dance more beautifully than the day before; however, perfection is always just out of reach.  There will always be room to grow.

Like striving to attain enlightenment, I believe the never ending quest is the force which drives us forward – pushing us to the next level, regardless of the number of years of experience.

For 4 days, I was the student – no different from those I teach – reaching for the brass ring and working hard to emulate, reflect, and embody the amazing professionals I called “teachers.”

The Sum of Our Experiences

Often, I have had students walk into my studio frustrated by the belief that they have reached a plateau in their development as dancers.  I have heard statements such as, "I am working hard but, I am just not getting it." Or, "I just don't think I am making progress anymore."
To the students feeling discouraged because they are not meeting their own expectations in dance, my advice is this:

Your body is such an interesting and wise vehicle that it is constantly learning to dance, but your realization of this comes with experience.

This idea was expressed beautifully by one of the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing.  Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a ballroom dance instructor and runner in the race, was injured and required amputation below the left knee.  In a interview, she stated, "Ballroom dancers tend to roll and pivot on the edges of their feet, using a series of muscles and tendons to a achieve a balance and dexterity honed with years of practice.  You can't recreate that in a prosthetic."

She is articulating the way in which our bodies are creating muscle memory, developing strength, advancing through continued practice in dance even when our minds may not be experiencing an earth moving epiphany during a lesson or series of lessons.

Whatever you do, don't stop dancing!  Like the cliche expression, you can't see the forest for the trees, sometimes you don't realize your own growth in dance until you are looking back at this time of frustration from a distance.

As for Adrianne Haslet-Davis, one week after the attacks, she began making plans to get back to teaching the students who have filled her hospital room with flowers.  And, she has already decided to dance the Waltz again.

We are the sum of our experiences, which help to form us and make us who we are today.  Our experiences help us learn, grow, and progress.

Keep dancing!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/23/us/boston-marathon-amputee/index.html?iref=allsearch

I recently returned from the Southern States DanceSport Championships in New Orleans, an extremely well-organized Ballroom Dance competition hosted by Larry and Diane Dean.  I attended the event with three of my competitive Pro-Am dance students.

What an exciting adventure! 

Upon my return, my thoughts have turned to the great rewards my competitive students receive from this experience versus the financial investment each makes in order to participate.

There is no denying that Pro-Am DanceSport, for all styles of dance from Ballroom to Country, is an expensive form of entertainment.  However, I have repeatedly witnessed how the value of competition, the growth it imparts, and the joy it delivers outweighs the price tag it carries.

So, how much does it cost to compete?  Private lessons to prepare for the event will average $70 – 100 per hour, for qualified professional instruction.  Competition gowns range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars; however, many gorgeous gowns can be found on consignment at very competitive retail prices.  Competitors also need to be prepared for the cost of registration and participation in the event, which will depend upon the number of dances an amateur chooses to compete in. The professional instructor escorting the student will charge a per diem for his or her time. And, there are travel expenses if the event is not in your home town or nearby. 

In return for the investment, a student of dance receives immeasurable reward!   As with all great, memorable experiences in life, it is difficult to quantify the value of one’s rapid growth in the art of dance, the life-long friends that are formed by being a part of a like-minded community, the joy experienced through expression in a beautiful art, and the cherished memories formed through travel.

Think of the Pro-Am competition experience in terms of an investment in entertainment, such as a vacation.  The difference here is that when you travel to an exciting Dance destination, instead of money spent on local tours and souvenirs, the Pro-Am dancer purchases the dance experience.

I encourage all students to invest in at least one Pro-Am DanceSport experience!  It is a unique adventure not to be missed!

Some great upcoming competitions are:

Austin Swing Dance Championship, Austin, April 19-20

Texas Classic (Country Western competiton), Houston, May 16-19

Sapphire DanceSport Championship (Ballroom competition), Austin, May 30 - June 2

See you on the dance floor,

-Mark

Reward of the Process

2013 is already proving to be an exciting and full year, as I am training many students for upcoming DanceSport competitions.

I want to share a few thoughts with my courageous, committed students who have risen to the challenge of the competition dance floor.

First, this is difficult!  Ballroom dance and partnering are challenging for ALL dancers! So, if you think you are the only one not “getting it” – get over it because you are not alone!  One of my newest students is an excellent, experienced dancer and dance instructor; however, she teaches a variety of styles other than ballroom.  Even this lovely dancer going through the process of learning how to maintain frame and body connection while in motion, as do all new students of standard ballroom dance. Remember – this art is NOT easy but, it is REALLY worth it!   

Next, learning and teaching ballroom dance is a strategic process, which is designed to provide methodic growth.  This is especially true of closed syllabus routines.  Each set of figures progresses in difficulty.  This is what develops us as dancers.  Nothing takes the place of methodical drills designed to develop the necessary skills to dance well.  Therefore, trust the process!

This idea of growth leads to my next thought and morsel of great advice I once received.  One of my instructors used to say that it is better to dance bronze figures and patterns like a gold dancer than to execute gold figures looking like a bronze dancer. This idea has always stuck with me as an example of how to learn and teach.  I observe in both social and competitive venues examples of people dancing figures outside of their skill level.   You will look better and more confident dancing well at your level than executing advanced moves and patterns poorly!  A dancer’s goal should be to exhibit smooth, elegant, refined, and balanced grace – at any level of the ballroom syllabus.

The key to a successful DanceSport competition is: have fun, don’t give up, and dance well at your level!

Our Wonderful Community

After owning my own dance studio in Oak Hill, I am filled with gratitude for the open arms that have welcomed me and my students at Balance Dance Studios in South Austin.

Owning a studio was a fun adventure that introduced me to many new students, colleagues, and helped me to grow a wonderful “dance family” that I wholeheartedly love. 

What a blessing it has been over the past three months to find myself, my students, and the art of partner dancing fully embraced by the warm, wonderful staff at Balance.

Kathy and Kristin, BDS's sharp and savvy studio owners, have a pioneering spirit, astute business sense, as well as a gift for dance.

Danielle, Shelby, Shawna and Trulie make up Balance’s very supportive and helpful staff.  Each has the heart of a servant leader and a love for dance.

Balance Dance Studios has so much to offer the Austin dance community, incorporating classes in a wide-variety of dance styles, along with fitness that supports every dancer’s body and health.  In fact, the scope of classes at Balance is broad enough to even include families and mothers-to-be. 

Personally, I love being a part of a studio that supports the art of dance in all of its forms.

I encourage every member of the Austin dance community to visit Balance.  I know you will find it to be a warm, welcoming addition to your world of dance.

Keep dancing!

 

Welcome 2013!

As we begin this beautiful New Year, I am filled with thoughts of building a stronger, more united dance community in Austin during 2013.

Dancers, instructors, studios, and dance clubs, alike, share a responsibility to each other in building a strong community in a city as small as Austin. 

We need each other! 

We need a spirit of cooperation, support, and mutual promotion in order to grow together, increasing our population of dancers.

Dance is an enriching gift and fulfilling art! 

What a lovely way to express the fun and joy that one experiences in life!  Who would not want to share in this?

On February 2 – Austin is host to a Free Day of Dance!  

If you love the art of dance, or if have not yet learned to dance but have always wanted to, this is a great opportunity to experience dance lessons!  I will at Balance Dance Studios donating my time during this community-wide effort. 

You don’t want to miss it!

http://freedayofdance.com/

 

Here is a great link to a website that advertises Austin dance studios, clubs, events, and instruction throughout the city http://dance.austin.tx.us/places.html#qs. 

 

James Skowbo, host of this terrific resource, publishes a weekly newsletter that will keep you updated on all dance-related activities throughout the city.  James has been a long-time supporter of dance and is committed to keeping our community together and informed.

 

Thank you, James!  You do a great job and you are sincerely appreciated by all!

I hope to see you all on the dance floor in 2013!

 

 

Happy New Year!

Wishing a very Happy New Year to all who love dance! 

May 2013 find you on the dance floor, loving life, and enjoying the most beautiful artform - Dance!