A green dress and a special dance coaching

Every two months or so, I schedule a special dance coaching with a professional coach/competition judge.  My favorite coach is John Swick.  John has a long history as a dancer/studio owner/competitor/judge/coach to the professionals and is the most articulate coach I have ever worked with. He was also a trained Opera singer, stage actor and ballet dancer.
When John teaches, he draws a picture with his words that helps the dancer effectively produce the desired movement.  A less articulate coach might say "stay left" (while explaining a particular movement).  John would say "dance your foot and your head to your partner's left elbow while keeping your head over your spine and your chest lifted".  John understands how to clearly express how movement and posture are interdependent and how a particular muscle action will cause a particular motion.  He understands the kinesiology of dance; the mechanics of movement and how to create the greatest aesthetic in dance. To a dancer, this high level of communication skill creates a much clearer picture of what "stay left", or any other particular dance command really means.  As far as coaching goes; I'm infatuated.  John puts me at ease and still demands the best of me.  My dancing has come a long way since my first competition.

Jones New York dress, thrifted.  It matches the leaves on the tree!

The picture below (black dress) was taken at my first competition in 2009.  My posture was terrible.  My neck is "short" instead of being elongated, my shoulders are hunched up and there is no space between my partner and I.  I had a great time at that first comp and fell in love with competing but I had a lot to learn.  I didn't place in any of my dances.  

My ballroom "look" was not yet developed. The dress was just a simple black top and ballroom practice skirt that I embellished a little bit.  My hair was not ballroom professional with the loose bangs and little tendrils on the side of my face.  I have since learned to create a well groomed ballroom appearance, but then, for my first comp, it was all a learning experience.  The "rules" are more relaxed for newcomers.

BAD POSTURE at my first comp in 2009!!!!

Good Posture  :)

This is my 2012 Indiana Challenge photo.  Can you see the difference in my posture?  See the space created between my teacher and me? We are joined at the rib cage, but my chested is lifted off of him without the hunched shoulders.  This space is what gives ballroom dance that beautiful dynamic look.  I worked very hard to create this "top line" and it is my strongest ability.  I cannot tell you how hard it is to grasp this concept, apply it and maintain it.  Marcel, my instructor and John Swick, the coach have helped me to understand how to do this.

This is today's coaching with John.

I'm so pleased with the gains I have made in my dancing.  I feel like a contender.

It's so exciting to learn to dance at a new level of competency

This is me with Marcel, applying John's lesson to a Waltz.  At the end of the lesson, my body felt like I had been through a personal training at a gym.  Dancers make it look so easy to dance gracefully.  Most people are surprised to learn that the fluid, flowing motion in dance requires a great deal of strength and control that is virtually invisible to the viewer.

I love dance.  I love social dance, I love competitive dance.  I am so captivated by dancers at much higher skill levels than I am..and I'm willing to work very hard to achieve something close to their movement.  I have a long way to go...but I have come a long way.

Brighton chain; Da Vinci charm.  

I love the little ruching  detail on the side of this dress.   Ruching is very flattering on curvy figures.

I hope you enjoy my dance posts.  I have more dance posts planned.  I would like to do a post about ballroom dresses and why formal dresses don't work for dancing; and I would to do an educational post on the different styles and dances in ballroom at some point in the future.

Hope you are all gearing up for a great week.  Thank you for reading.