Be careful if you dance with the devil, you never know how long it'll last.

It is true that had it not been for my ex-boyfriend I would not have discovered my love for latin ballroom. However, we had made the wise decision not to partner together. We would often that get questioned - isn't it weird to watch your boyfriend dance with someone else? To be perfectly honest, it wasn't always easy to do so. But hey, I was pressed up against someone else too - so it was all fair.

Usually after a break-up one never has to see their ex again. Unfortunately, that is not the case here. But now that our relationship has ended, I can truly say that our decision to dance seperately was the best one we could have made for our dance career. I don't have to find a new partner! I am not saying that this is the case for everyone. There are many couples who have been able to have both a successful dance career and relationship together.

However, there are cases of successful partnerships coming to an end due to the relationship factor. If Karina and Slavik had not fallen prey to the breakup curse, they may have very well become world champions. Slavik is once again partnerless (at least for the time being) after his recent break up with Anna. Anna has since partnerered up with her new boyfriend Justinas Duknausko (who recently split up with Ekatrina).

Dancing is hard enough on its own. Furthermore, maintaining a positive relationship with one's dance partner is a challenge in itself without the stresses of being in a romantic relationship. But on the other hand would anyone else really understand my obsessive 5 days a week practice schedule and dancing provocatively with a dance partner? I guess it really depends on the individual. It's all a double-edged sword.

Check out Anna's rumba with her new partner Justinas:

Interesting Quote on Persistence

This quote really resonated with me. I'm sure all of us dancers realize the value of determination and persistence when practicing and preparing for competitions.

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence, Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education alone will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

- Calvin Coolidge, 30th American President

A Dance Machine in the Making

I had a moment in yoga class this weekend. The embarrassing kind. Nearing the end of the class, we were in our lotus sitting position – meditating. For some strange reason, I was crying. And I just couldn’t stop. So now I need to find another studio to go to.

But on a more serious note, I was just incredibly frustrated with my progress and I just wanted to cry. I have another competition coming up in November and based on my performance in LA, I realize that I have a ways to go still. So there’s a plan in place – a desperate attempt to improve vastly in 2 months. The problem at hand is that in-spite of my best laid plans, the mind doesn’t always cooperate. Nothing is more frustrating than being at the studio and not being able to get though that mental hurdle. I want to stop in the middle of the routine, I just can’t lift my legs (or arms for that matter) to do anything and everything is half-assed; so what’s the point. Its like I’ve given up and left the building already (that’s actually something my ballet instructor has said to me).

I need to be a machine. An energizer bunny, with an I-will-persevere attitude. Since my crying episode, I have spent a significant amount of time analyzing the situation at hand. I’m a perfectionist. If its not awesome, why do it... I am sabotaging my own efforts. Nothing will ever be perfect. So today’s a new day, my friends. I will check my perfectionist attitude at the door and instead of doing everything perfectly I will simply strive to do it. Let’s just do this one thing and get through it. Because when I think about all 5 routines and having to do each for 2 minutes multiple times over the evening, I want to slit my wrist. So let’s do this one move, and take everything else as it comes. Let’s see where that gets me.

Fuel for the Body

Don’t they say – you are what you eat. I have always taken that for granted. I try not to eat crap, but my willpower is useless when it comes to chocolate and fries. However, I have realized that I do need to eat better if I would like to get through a hard-core evening of dance practice. My legs are of no use to me if they are trembling. Plus when I’m exhausted the mind doesn’t let the body do anything.

So I started to do some research, and I’m more confused now than when I started. Some people say protein it up, others carb it up and some article even recommended chocolate milk after exercise. Who wrote that article? The Dairy Board? Others say drink Gatorade to keep the electrolytes pumping. I’m extremely fearful of sugary beverages, and Redbull for that matter – so no thank you.

My resolution: Eat all of it in moderation. So I have planned a meal containing carbs, protein (including a protein shake) and some fruit thrown in for good measure. Healthy! It did get me through the night (almost 3 hours of dancing) and I wasn’t all that hungry after. I had a glass of milk and I was off to bed. My findings reveal a healthy well balanced meal prior is all I seem to need. Oh yes, lots of water! Especially during exercise – but no chugging!

In doing some more digging, I found the following article about nutrition for dancers. Hope you guys find it helpful.

http://www.iadms.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=2

Does anyone have any suggestions on what works for them? I’d be very much interested in hearing what works for you.

Run-ins on the Dance Floor

Last night when I was practicing I got elbowed by a fellow dancer (let's call this violent being - X). However, no apology followed. Apparently I deserved it. Well, I didn't back down without a fight. X and I may go way back but do not elbow me! Rude!


All of this was due to the age old debate - do you get out of the way when other dancers are coming in your direction? When competing, there are often 8 to 10 other couples (so multiply that by 2) on the dance floor with you. So more often than not, you're running into each other. What better place to prepare for these potential run-ins than when practicing. I thought I was helping X and his partner but I guess X did not feel that way.


So with almost 20 people on the dance floor going at a gazillion miles an hour (at least that's what it seems like), I am truly petrified of a showdown of some sort. So much could go wrong! I could fall, lose track of where I am in my routine, etc.... I have seen tumbles and dancers not being able to perform portions of their routines.

My solution to this possibility is to prepare myself by littering the dance floor with obstacles. The hope is that if I can get through it at home, then I will be leaping, spinning and ch-cha walking around my competitors. So X, please feel free to stand in my way. Thank you in advance.

I thought I would a link of some of the world's best on the same dance floor. Check out the near run-ins and how they are handled.