| Chicago lands first ever regional dancesport | | | | (Back leading is when an instructor or female lead |
| competition! | | | | the male. In ballroom dancing the male is supposed |
| How exciting it was to witness the growth of the | | | | to lead most of the time.) I accidentally knocked |
| dancesport world, before "Dancing with the Stars" | | | | a judge in the nose but he smiled ever so |
| was even popular. | | | | graciously and Joe apologized for us, and we kept |
| My first exposure to ballroom dancing was the | | | | dancing. Tommy, one of the judges Joe had met |
| end of October. I was invited to attend one of | | | | a few times at her dance studio was very |
| the monthly ballroom dances. I wasn't a ballroom | | | | encouraging and made us feel welcome! Even if |
| dancer - I started taking Salsa lessons and then | | | | we were the only amateur out there! |
| West Coast Swing. Then I met, Joe, a "ballroom | | | | As an amateur couple you must depend on one |
| dancer" and my life changed. Between Joe and his | | | | another, there is no back leading from an |
| friends, Dave, Dan and Eric offered to help me | | | | instructor. It is you and your partner who must |
| learn the basic steps of most ballroom dances. At | | | | memorize the routines, the timing, and the |
| least enough that I could do a basic box and a | | | | choreography. While doing all the above |
| tango close. Dave taught me T-A-N-G-O and said | | | | remember arm styling and to smile, you're having |
| that was all there was to it, now you can tango. I | | | | fun. Competition is a lot of work. The practice, |
| believed him. I didn't know any better and it | | | | the practice and the practice all makes you a |
| sounded good. I could count and move. Joe | | | | better dancer. |
| insisted on quick, quick slow verses counting. I had | | | | Some couples have more time to invest than |
| so much fun learning and meeting new people | | | | others. It is the time and commitment that make |
| from all walks of life. Dentists, doctors, | | | | you good. But we all have to start from |
| veterinarians, mortgage closers, and many other | | | | somewhere. We may not all wish to compete to |
| walks of life all enjoy dancing. It is so important | | | | be world-class champions but a local competition is |
| for those of us who have learned to dance to | | | | fun. |
| take the time to dance with someone who is | | | | It happened here, I purchased my first |
| learning. We all needed that someone who shared | | | | competition dress at the Crystal ball to wear for |
| with us when we started so it's our turn now to | | | | the next competition we were registered for the |
| share back. | | | | next month. It would be our second competition |
| Joe took me to the Glendora House holiday dance | | | | as an amateur couple. |
| celebration. I had to leave early to catch a plane | | | | Our second competition was the local amateur |
| for a business trip, but Joe agreed to leave early | | | | ballroom comp. It was our first experiences |
| and get me to the airport. | | | | competing on a really crowded dance floor, with |
| At the holiday dance they were selling used dance | | | | other couples. For us it was a great experience, |
| wear, shoes and dresses. They would also have a | | | | we loved it. I was hooked. We competed the |
| show with some of the really good local dancers, | | | | next spring at an out of state Dancesport |
| the excitement, the razzle, and dazzle of the | | | | Competition. Again we had a great time. You see |
| showcase dancers. Oh how I wished I could | | | | familiar faces, make new friends. |
| dance. That evening I bought my first pair of | | | | We enjoyed the second competition and show in |
| dance shoes - used. I was told this was a good | | | | a fascinating city. What a great time we had. We |
| thing because they were already broken in. I felt | | | | met lots of new people, watched as other |
| special. I proceeded to purchased a few dance | | | | couples competed in higher dance categories. I |
| dresses, not competition dresses, just dance | | | | longed to be more experienced. I learned that to |
| dress. I met a friend there and we had such a | | | | be really good you needed time, practice, |
| good time trying on the dresses and dreaming of | | | | perseverance and money (for lessons). That is |
| dancing in them. She was a new dancer too. We | | | | what makes a successful dancer. |
| had so much fun trying dress after dress, talking | | | | Another year later we competed again in the local |
| about when we would dance someday. We were | | | | Dancesport challenge. We were learning silver (an |
| having a great time. | | | | intermediate level of dance steps) so we thought |
| Then we were seated - glass of wine in hand, the | | | | we would try it out at the comp. Unlike PRO/AM |
| show was about to begin, the showcase dancers! | | | | competitions that offer different levels within the |
| Each couple was different and unique-one better | | | | levels, for example beginner silver, called silver I, |
| than the next. Who could pick a favorite-I loved | | | | intermediate silver II, full silver- all silver steps, |
| them all. Deep down I secretly wished I could be | | | | there is no break in levels, and it was just full |
| one of them. Silently, I thought, "I will be like | | | | blown silver. So for us we were disappointed in |
| them, I will learn to dance and I too will be in a | | | | ourselves, dancing beginner level silver with very |
| showcase." I was in love... with dancing, the | | | | experienced silver dancers was very difficult. We |
| glamor, and yes, Joe too! | | | | are still working on our silver moves and plan on |
| It was Joe's friend, Dave whose constant nagging | | | | competing again soon. We were not able to |
| and insistent badgering that Joe & I tried our | | | | compete this past year due to the timeliness of |
| feet at a local dance competition. We agreed to | | | | the competition. My oldest daughter, Jennie got |
| debut our dance skills at, The Crystal Ball | | | | married in Hawaii and we weren't disappointed to |
| Competition, and then again at another comp. Joe | | | | miss the competition for Hawaii! |
| had competed before with his instructor as Pro | | | | Oh, but alas some dreams do come true. Joe and |
| Am but never as an amateur couple. As for me I | | | | I were asked to do a showcase for the annual |
| never competed. | | | | ballroom holiday dinner dance the year after I the |
| The Crystal Ball was our first competition dancing | | | | one I made the wish at. We did a Rumba routine |
| together as an amateur couple. We were nervous | | | | and I wore my new dress I had purchased at my |
| but I think more excited. | | | | first competition. We were asked again to dance |
| One of our instructors, Becky would be there | | | | in following years and we did for the first time as |
| managing the dancers to enter the dance floor at | | | | Mr. and Mrs. Burke! Many of my dreams came |
| the right time in the correct category. We had | | | | true! |
| hoped for moral support. For our first competition | | | | So like Dave, I am badgering you, take up a |
| we felt we did well. We remembered our routines | | | | sport, maybe ballroom dancing, maybe something |
| and we didn't step on one another. Back lead, not | | | | else but challenge yourself to grow and enjoy life. |
| me - I didn't even know what it was back then. | | | | |