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! 

A FUN Resolution

Many of us begin a New Year with great intentions and resolve to improve ours.  We renew gym memberships, go on diets, quit smoking – steadfast in our pursuit of newly formed healthy habits or resolved to shed ourselves of old bad habits.

As we say goodbye to 2012 and welcome a brand new year, I have been thinking of my own resolutions to help me achieve greater health, happiness, and growth in 2013.   Considering some of life indulgences that I am willing to leave behind, I realize that my favorite luxury in life is one that I never need give up – DANCE!  Dance enhances the body, the mind, and supports every positive improvement one might resolve to achieve.  More, it is FUN!

So, in 2013, I suggest that we all make a resolution to add more FUN to our lives, along with more DANCE!  Whether, your passion is Waltz, Rumba, or a Country Two Step, I wish you all many hours on the dance floor in New Year!  No doubt, this resolution will also find you meeting many other goals.

Wishing everyone the Happiest New Year!

Cheers!

The Gift of Dance

At a recent holiday event, I met an interesting, motivated new Executive of the company I was visiting. Our conversation quickly turned to ballroom dance, as I introduced myself and this gentleman shared that his wife has always wanted to dance! By the end of our lively conversation, he had purchased a gift certificate for a package of dance lessons for his wife as a Christmas gift.

This Executive is an avid skydiver, triathlete, and very successful business leader. However, he shared his fear of the dance floor. I was very proud of him and excited to hear him announce, “I am just going to go for it!” I suppose for him, it is no different than jumping out of a plane in a free fall to the earth. More, what could be more loving than setting aside one’s own trepidation in order to make a wife’s dream come true!

This experience turned my thoughts to the true gift of ballroom dance. Each of us finds a life path leading to the dance floor for a variety of personal reasons. However, once we all arrive, dance bestows upon each of us glorious gifts that enrich our lives.

Ballroom dance teaches us to be better partners, leaders and followers - literally and figuratively. It improves our bodies, challenges our minds, and brings light to our spirits. Ballroom dance is an exciting path to personal growth.

This holiday season, give the gift of dance and watch the ones you love grow!

Contact me to purchase a gift certificate today!  http://www.rhythmicmotion.com/