Ballroom dancing is a gorgeous and challenging art form. In today’s lesson I had fun continuing to practice the Waltz, Tango and Viennese Waltz with my outstanding teacher Fitz. We talked and laughed about “so much happening” in every single moment. Feet, legs, torso, arms, hands, back, neck, head all have their roles and must…

I’ve been taking private ballroom lessons regularly on Wednesday afternoons for the last few months. That hour is the perfect midpoint of my week! My teacher is helping me polish American Smooth Waltz, Tango, Viennese, and Foxtrot bronze level routines. Each style has its own personality, and dancing them brings out different facets of my…

Last week I gave a big presentation for work. My colleague who has seen me give numerous talks over the years commented afterwards that he has never seen me so calm. Usually my heart races then I speak too quickly, rushing to finish and not enjoying the experience. “What was different this time?” he asked.…

[[Note: this post was first written in June 2017, then updated September 2026.]] In 2016 I flew alone to Spain to hike the the last 100km of the oldest pilgrimage in Europe, the Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James. Since that life altering experience, my journey of spiritual growth, self-discovery, and healing has…

A few years ago when I was recently separated and in the depths of despair, my friend and hairdresser Gina, who had been telling me about her ballroom dance hobby for years, encouraged me to take a trial lesson at her studio. “One day can bend your life” is a quote I like from Mitch…

As important as softening is in Standard ballroom dances, strength is important in Latin dances – Cha-Cha, Rumba, Jive, Paso Doble, Samba. Dancing both styles helps balance my yin and yang. Lessons with my teacher Mark remind me to stand tall, make every muscle and movement as strong as possible, and use resistance to its…

In yesterday’s lesson, after joyously spinning around the studio dance floor demonstrating my baseline Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, and Viennese this week, my teacher Ashan worked with me more on footwork and general movement – a humble return to basics, learning to walk again but in heels. He praised how I was stepping with more intention,…

The ballroom dance student’s journey offers many paths, with two major styles and 19 dances. Levels of competition include newcomer, pre-bronze, bronze, silver, gold, and open. In each of these, we master something, gain confidence, move to the next level, then take things apart and return to humble square one. This process reminds me of…

A key to ballroom dancing, relationships, and life is finding a balance between holding on and letting go. We need to be able to dance well and strongly in our own space, to be able to dance well with others. In dance and life, latching onto a partner and being too dependent and passively following will not…

The physics and feelings involved in ballroom dancing are so complex that every lesson reveals gems of wisdom for life. Learning balance in motion is extremely challenging in and of itself, but also required are actively listening and reacting to the music, strongly connecting with your partner, and expressing your individual style  – all simultaneously,…

Ballroom dancing is about growing into the best version of yourself, and bringing joy and inspiration to others by expressing your authentic self. It is about physics and feelings, connections and relationships. It feeds the mind, body, and soul. It is a glamorous antidote to life’s doldrums, which anyone who steps into a colorful competition room will…

Hello and welcome to the “Life Lessons from the Dance Floor” blog! Dancing has been one of my greatest joys and self-care tools for decades.  This art form has helped me cope through challenges and rediscover myself. As a young child, I recreated movie dance numbers and performed in my home basement. In middle school,…