A fellow dancer snapped some photos of my first day at the last competition.
Initially, I was only dancing on Saturday, but after the stress of the week leading up to the comp...I decided to dance both days.
This was Friday; I danced International Style that day. Overall I'm pretty pleased with these photos.
They confirm what I felt while I was dancing; that I had done some of my best dancing at this comp although I didn't place as well as I usually do.
Pictures can be the moment of truth; they can capture perfect posture and movement or sloppy posture and movement. Sometimes pictures are more revealing than video...because each moment in time is fleeting....you might miss something in the video. A picture will capture the image, good or bad, for scrutinization.
I remember this moment; I was not just smiling, but I was laughing as Marcel and I completed one of our dances. I had slipped a bit on the floor (dance floors can get very slippery after being danced on all day and night) and spontaneously squealed as I fought to maintain my posture and footing. I maintained, but I was right in front of the judges when the squeal escaped. How embarrassing! The men behind me in the picture are judges. Marcel and I had a good laugh from my slight mishap....
I'm happy with this picture....This is a corte'; its not perfect form, but its pretty good.
Now this is excellent form. Do you see the large space between us and the shaping of my posture? This is what dancers strive for...too bad I can't achieve this 100% of the time!
A very nice posture and pretty photo...marred by my errant thumb sticking straight up! So funny!
This is a good example of the shaping and head position dancer must try and maintain throughout the dance. I can tell by my hand position that this is a Tango. My hand is under his bicep instead of on top of it as it is in all other dances.
Overall, I'm very happy with these pictures.
I'm hoping another friend of mine captured some pics from Saturday; I dance American Smooth and wore my hot pink dress. Hopefully they turned out OK......
Hope the start of the week is excellent for all of you...thank you being such wonderful, supportive and loyal readers.
Hugs,
Lisa
To my uneducated eye, the posture is perfect in all of these photos. Are you supposed to appear relaxed or controlled as you dance?
ReplyDeleteGood question Terri...kind of both. Which do you think I look? You want to look like you aren't strained, like you are having a good time. But you in fact, are controlled. Also the look has a lot to do with the characteristic of each dance.
ReplyDeleteFabulous! I love this dress on you. You look like a pro!! I'm sure future trophies are headed your way:))
ReplyDeleteThanks Joanna...I really love this dress too...and now I'm on a healthy eating plan so that it will look even better!
DeleteI love the "thumb up"! lol.
ReplyDeleteYou do look amazing in these...
Thank you...I'm happy with them...but the thumb is one of those little things that makes me laugh....not an ideal look...but very funny....
DeleteOh wow! I think you're beautiful and perfect! I'm just so impressed!
ReplyDeleteI don't know anyone who dances like you so this is a treat for me!
Thank you! Far from perfect...but striving for perfection (an impossible goal) in my dance. Seriously, dance is what keeps me happy and sane.
DeleteI love these photos! Thanks for sharing your talents!
ReplyDeleteThank you.....I rellly love dance and feel fortunate to be able to do so.
DeleteSTUNNING! Like a butterfly
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteWow! you look amazing in each of these photos! Thanks for the analysis of good posture vs not so good; although i couldn't tell the difference, I thought your posture looked graceful and elegant in each one! :)
ReplyDeleteI *love* the dress too
Thank you Carolyn...there's always room for improvement!
DeleteThanks for the compliment on my dress...I really love wearing it.
I bet you could make some amazing ballroom dresses....
I love the commentary with those photos and the story that we, regular readers know about the heartache behind them. So poignant. And beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's definitely hard work...but work that I enjoy.
DeleteWonderful photos! The chocolate and vanilla looks wonderful. Haha - I laughed at the errant thumb comment - I struggled with an errant thumb in flamenco for years that still rebelliously pops out.
ReplyDeleteThank you.....you know its funny; we work so hard to achieve so much in dance...and everything looks good...but the tension in our body show via something like a little thumb sticking up! Haha....
DeleteYou look so pretty! I love these photo!
ReplyDeleteWould you like to follow each other? :)
http://linde-lo.blogspot.com/
Wow you look so happy that you make all of us happy too! I am in love with the top photo!
ReplyDeleteThank you.....I think thats my favorite because I remember it as such a funny moment!
DeleteYou just look beautiful! Congratulations again on your performance.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sheila...dancing is a joyful experience.
DeleteOh wow, it is so cool to see your competition photos and then to have your explain them! (I know what you mean by how helpful photos can be for studying your form, its the same way in riding, both dressage and jumping, having those photos really can help with your form and seeing the areas for improvement.) You look stunning in all of these photos, that gold dress is drop dead gorgeous on you!
ReplyDeleteHeh, and on a serious note, I really want to say thank you so much for your long and thoughtful note the other day, it really touched me so much that you took the time to write it. I know you've been going through a lot of pain with your mother passing away and it just really speaks to what an amazing person you are to offer so much comfort to someone else. Thank you so much dear!
Thank you Katie, for your compliments and comments. My first love in life was horses. I was obsessed as a girl and hasbhorsesbat my grandparents farm to ride until I was 13.....but then my grandparents didn't allow them anymore ans I
ReplyDeleteWas crushed. Before I started competing ballroom......my Mom and I were going to share a horse and board it nearby.......but them some circumstances beyond her control prevented that from happening. aybe someday I will have my horse...but for noe....dance is a glorious substitute.
That was meant to say. 'Had horses but' Darn typing on an ipad is tricky!
DeleteHi Lisa!!
ReplyDeleteThose competition photos are AMAZING!! You look beautiful and your lines look perfect to me!! Thanks for sharing these!
And so sorry it took so long to reply to you about that floral background in one of my post {and I can't find your email}.
I used photoshop. For the floral background, I downloaded the flowers from fuzzimo. {http://www.fuzzimo.com/20-hi-res-leaves-flower-pictures-textures/} Then I traced around myself and copied it in photoshop. I pasted all the flowers, and kept copying them and moving them around until I liked the placement. Don't know if that makes any sense, but hope it helps!
Hope your week is going well!
xo, sam
Thanks, Samantha. Your instruction makes sense...but I'm really not very technically inclined! Your background looks great though.
DeleteThanks for the compliment.....I really love dancing.
Your dresses from your GIL are so gorgeous.