My Ballroom Fantasy.......

I have always loved ballroom dance and as a young girl I dreamed of floating across the dance floor in the arms of my prince wearing a beautiful sweeping gown.  

All of my life I've always been involved with some kind of amateur dance or dance related activity, but other than gymnastics and ballet lessons as a young girl and belly dance lessons as an adult (and later, teaching belly dance) I had no extensive formal training. 

In high school and for several years after, I danced and acted (BUT NO SINGING!) in theater department/group musicals.

I really wanted to study ballroom dance but my parents didn't believe it was practical.   I was a very petite girl and was subject to some antagonization by junior high and high school bullies, so my parents wanted me to study Karate.  I did for two years.  Karate was a big confidence booster and I LOVED it, but it never replaced my love of dance.  

Years of raising children (mostly as a single parent), going to school and becoming a paramedic delayed my pursuit of dance.  I did continue belly dance, which I enjoyed immensely, but it was not the deepest desire of my heart.

Being single also kept me from ballroom dancing; I didn't have a partner, so I thought I was excluded.

I was wrong.

In 2007, I finally begged, cajoled and persuaded my husband to take an introductory ballroom class.  I was so happy, I couldn't wait for Tuesday nights to roll around each week because we were dancing.

My husband was OK with it mainly because he knew at least ONE night a week I would be looking up  at his face and smiling at him.  

Then my husband's job required him to do an intense project that required 21 days on and 1 day off for about 6 months.  I thought I was not going to be able to continue.  

My instructor gave me the joyful news that I didn't need a partner and my passion for dance accelerated.  Oh was I a happy girl.

I haven't looked back since. 

I have since left the high pressure chain studios and moved onto an independent instructor (the highly regarded Marcel, who I mention often.  As you know, I compete regularly on the pro-am circuit with my instructor.  I practice often, study hard and am trying to be the best dancer in my category and level.

The video below is a pretty slideshow that I have made of some of my ballroom pictures and set to music.  I intend to change the music soon, but this is what I have for now.  I'm really proud of this slideshow!

Yesterday....I got the idea to make this ballroom slide show after I had made a slideshow for a friend of mine.  My lifelong friend D has wanted to do a pinup/budoir photo for her husband for some time.  It's out of her budget right now so she asked me to do it for her.
I agreed...what girly fun!
I chose most of her outfits and styled them, did her hair and her makeup and styled the poses.  I edited the pictures and set them to music (Dangerous Mood--a bluesy seduction song) and made a slide show with the same theme as the one above...using her pictures.
D did agree to allow me to share two of the more sedate photos here.......

This is D.  I've known here since we were 13.  

We were going for a retro 40's style.

I'm pretty proud of my work!  It was a fun day....and I'm sure her hubby will be pleased with his anniversary surprise.