It is more than just technique

I have been dancing with the same instructor for two years now. We have built a great friendship and have developed a lot of trust. I strongly believe that this required in order to grow as a dancer and even more so when you have weight/image issues.


I often have to explain to him that when he is teaching a female student something and he is receiving that *blank* stare she is most likely thinking


"Wow, is that why my thighs look like?"
"He wants me to do what with what?!'
"Yeah, right I can't feel sexy while have these swinging wings under my arms"
"Don't look at yourself in the mirror! Just focus on your feet"

He finds this amazing but after meeting many of his other female students I know that I am right. Girls talk and even more so when we share the same instructor!! It takes a very long time and a lot of work to get past of alot of our self-image issues. Many times it isn't our technical ability that is holding us back but the inability to, using a WW term, reframe our thinking and allow ourselves to see us as capable of performing that step, move, styling or even style of dance.

Here I come Mr. Smooth & Ballroom Blitz

So deeply inspired was I by Jennifer Gray that I have added smooth dances to my competition roster. We will be modifying her American Tango routine to suit me. I even convinced Vanesa to do some smooth dances too. What we have both found is that smooth dances have the ability to make you feel petite and danty; ladies and gents that I a huge accomplishment when you are 100lbs away from your goal weight! Something about being in hold that just transports me to another era. Not that I don't like the one I am in but I wouldn't mind having long dresses and spinning around the dance floor every now and then.

Check out the video and let me know what you think. My favorite move comes right around min 1:19 to the end. It has a lot of Argentine Tango elements as well; that is great because it really suits my instructor and I well.




Oh, as an added bonus here are a few pictures from the November Ballroom Blitz competition that Linda, Vanesa and I attended. All three of the instructors I have had over the past two years were there. I should have taken a picture with them but one was competing with a few students. It was very inspirational for us to watch so many different women and styles.

We were most inspired by an eight-year old dynamite Gabriella Marshall. I want to be here when I grow up. I think I recorded her dancing but I can't find the videos or pics right now. I will keep on searching.

Linda and Vanesa


Instructor Marina (no idea from where but she was quite an inspiration!)


I really liked this dress. I usually like fring more but this one concealed and revealed in just all the right places for a big girl like me.



I LOVE this fringe dress. Look at all that movement!