ON MINDING MY “P’s”

Strive for Progress—not Perfection! This is my new motto.

I’ve never considered my students as clients. For a long time, however, I have over-emphasized trying to produce something very unlikely—perfection. Teaching is its own delicate form of dance, an intimate balancing act of inviting the student to learn while encouraging them to progress.  While I never want to spoon-feed information, stringing students along for more profit,  I recognize that the long-term value of providing what they are capable of absorbing is key to their success.  Like many things in my life, my teaching style is evolving as I experience a paradigm shift in how I interact with my students.

I have refined my instruction so that student dancers can be more genuine with me both in and outside of our student/teacher relationship. This has required me to develop a more relaxed and authentic bond with those taking instruction from me. The results were clearly demonstrated at the recent competition in late September. 

In just the Pro/Am competitions alone,  four of my attending students garnered 1^st place awards in 30 single dance heats between them in a variety of Country, Smooth, Rhythm and Standard dances—a remarkable accomplishment!

I've had the benefit of working for myself as a dance teacher for several years. I love that I’m not just some instructor randomly paired with a new student and instead sought out by students, who place their trust in me to guide them. As they progress towards their dance goals, I honor their trust with great responsibility and take my teaching more seriously than ever before. My job is to train them in developing their skills, while allowing them to simultaneously experience the joy of our common passion—another “p” word I now prefer to “perfection!”

Leadership is helping others succeed through influence! This is my personal mission statement.

Youthful Inspiration

At the end of March, I participated in the Texas Challenge Dancesport Championships with some of my competitive ballroom dance team.  Among the group who competed in the event were two amateur Rhythm dance partners who I have been coaching for about 4 months; they are a great partnership of two young adults.  As I reviewed some of the terrific photographs of their performance, I felt inspired and excited as I realized the great fulfillment I gain from the role of coach.  This feeling is never more true than when I am working with youth, junior, and collegiate level dancers.  Like the young amateur couple that I have been training, young dancers bring an enthusiasm to ballroom dance that is contagious!

Whether I am leading a youth ballroom class in the studio, coaching my competitive youth and junior dancers, or participating as a judge at the Austin Open Ballroom Dance Competition at the University of Texas at Austin, I am thrilled to see a younger generation embrace ballroom dance. 

As I have watched these amazing young dancers grow as artists, I have also watched them gain self-confidence, social grace, knowledge, communication and performance skills that will stay with them throughout their school years and well into their adult career paths.  What an advantage each of these young people will have when they discover all the ways to apply the subtle nuances of this training in real life. 

Dance builds grace in young people on many levels.

Like many of us who find a path to dance in adulthood, I envy the opportunity that early ballroom dance training provides youth.   The younger dancers have physical ability to grasp the technicality of dance in the early stages of training, they possess a limitless creativity that becomes a part of their artistic expression, and their minds are sponges soaking up the language, skills, and many lessons taught through ballroom dance.



What these young dancers will one day learn is that ballroom is gift that can be applied throughout a lifetime!  While most ballerinas enjoy only short-term careers, ballroom dancers have an unlimited potential to find their passion on the dance floor at any age!

Coaching these amazing young people brings me the greatest joy as a teacher.

What I Learned in Church: The Benefit of Dance Lessons

This past Sunday, I was invited to participate in a unique and wonderful ballroom dance experience at my church.  Our Pastor has been presenting a series on love and relationships leading up to Valentine’s Day.  As part of his sermon relating ballroom dance to the dance of life, the dance of marriage partners, and our dance with God, he invited me to perform a short Foxtrot with one of my students (Kathy Dupuy) during the Sunday service.  As a result, he and his wife also came to me for a private ballroom dance lesson.

It was one of the most fun and rewarding performances that I have given!  The dancers on stage, including our Pastor and his wife, inspired the entire congregation to take their own partners into the aisles and dance.

After the service, so many church friends approached me with the comment, “I loved dancing with my wife (or my husband) this morning.  We had so much fun but, we want to learn how to dance the way you do!”

This thought has lingered in my mind since Sunday. 

The truth is there is a vast divide between partners swaying to the music in an embrace and the movement of trained ballroom dancers.  Even the most novice social dancers can greatly benefit from private ballroom dance lessons.

Not every student will become a top competitive ballroom dancer.  But, EVERY student can improve the fun of dancing by learning a few basics:

o   The technique of basic figures in a favorite dance style

o   Foot placement

o   Connection with your partner

o   Lead and follow

o   Rhythm and musicality

Knowledge is power!  A fundamental knowledge and understanding of ballroom dance can open up a whole new world of pleasure and fun, especially for a couple! And, private dance lessons are the fastest, most effective way to reach a higher level of fun – fast!

This Valentine’s Day, give your sweetheart a gift that will last a lifetime – the gift of dance!

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.”