Jeremy Anderson and Yuko Taniguchi perform their beautiful smooth routine at the Gumbo...

Jeremy Anderson and Yuko Taniguchi perform their beautiful smooth routine at the Gumbo DanceSport Championships in Baton

Rouge, LA, earning first place in all of their smooth events! Detailed results inside this issue. Photo by Moon Dance Photography.

2 • • 1 Aug 2015 SHEERDANCE.COM[gEt DANCiNg]

Mainstreet, Hopkins; 8:30 lesson, dance 9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.; $14, $7 students

August 9 • Sunday UTango Open Practica - 1219 University Ave

SE, Mpls; 6 - 7 p.m.; $3Abandonada Tango - Loring Pasta Bar; 327

14th Ave SE, Mpls; 6 - 10 p.m.Patty & The Buttons Live Jazz - 125 Main St

SE, Mpls; 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.; freePractice Party - Costa Rica Ballroom; 816

Mainstreet, Hopkins; 5:00 lesson, dance 6 - 6:30 p.m.

August 10 • Monday Tango Desperados Practica - 2507 E 25th St,

Mpls; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.; $5Rhythm Junction Lindy Hop - Four Seasons;

1637 Hennepin Ave, Mpls; 8 - 11 p.m.Salsa Social - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S,

Mpls; 9:30 – 11 p.m.; $5

August 11 • Tuesday WCS Social - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S,

Mpls; 9 – 11 p.m.; $5Practice Party - Costa Rica Ballroom; 816

Mainstreet, Hopkins; 9 - 9:45 p.m.Tango Party - 3142 1st Ave S, Mpls; 9 - 11:30

p.m.; $5; 21+

August 12 • Wednesday Practice Party - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.

Clair Ave, St. Paul; 8 - 9 p.m.; $6Swing Night - Lee’s Liquor Lounge; 101

Glenwood Ave, Mpls; 8:00 lesson, live music 9 - 11:30 p.m.

WCS Dance Party - Dancers Studio; 415 Pascal St N, St. Paul; 8 p.m.; $5

August 13 • Thursday Late Night Swing - 301 Main St NE, Mpls; 10

p.m. - 1:30 a.m.; $6, $4 studentsPractice Party - Costa Rica Ballroom; 816

Mainstreet, Hopkins; 9 - 9:45 p.m.Variety Dance - Dancers Studio; 415 Pascal St

N, St. Paul; 7:30 p.m.; $5Bachata Social - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave

S, Mpls; 9 - 10 p.m.; $5

August 14 • Friday Variety Dance - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave

S, Mpls; 8 - 9:30 p.m.; $10WCS Dance Club - 2100 Dale St N, Roseville;

7:30 lesson, dance 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m.Milonga Flor de Luna - Four Seasons;

1637 Hennepin Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 p.m.; $7, $4 students

August 15 • Saturday Variety Dance - Phipps Art Center; 109

Locust St, Hudson, WI; 7:00 lesson, dance 8 - 10 p.m.; $12


SE, Mpls; 6 - 7 p.m.; $3Rogue Tango - Loring Pasta Bar; 327 14th Ave

SE, Mpls; 6 - 10 p.m.Patty & The Buttons Live Jazz - 125 Main St


Mainstreet, Hopkins; 5:00 lesson, dance

6 - 6:30 p.m.TC Rebels WCS Social - DanceLife; 6015

Lyndale Ave S, Mpls; 7 - 10:30 p.m.; $11, $7 students

Ballroom Dance Party - Tapestry; 3748 Minnehaha Ave, Mpls; 6:00 lesson, dance 7 - 9:30 p.m.; $10, $7 students




Mpls; 9:30 – 11 p.m.; $5




p.m.; $5; 21+

August 19 • Wednesday Swing Night - Lee’s Liquor Lounge; 101


Practice Party - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St. Clair Ave, St. Paul; 8 - 9 p.m.; $6






S, Mpls; 9 - 10 p.m.; $5

August 21 • Friday Variety Dance - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.

Clair Ave, St. Paul; 7:00 lesson, dance 8 - 11 p.m.; $10

Variety Dance - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls; 8 - 9:30 p.m.; $10

August 22 • Saturday Cafe Bailar - Costa Rica Ballroom; 816

Mainstreet, Hopkins; 7:30 lesson, dance 8:30 - 11:30 p.m.; $10

Milonga: Tango Fusion - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls; 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.; $10, $5 students







Mpls; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.; $5

August 1 • Saturday Milonga en el Alma - Four Seasons; 1637

Hennepin Ave S, Mpls; 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.; $10, $5 students

Variety Dance - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls; 7:00 lesson, dance 8 - 10 p.m.; $10

Swing Dance - 301 Main St NE, Mpls; 7:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m.

WCS Dance Club Picnic - Lyons Shelter; 2540 Lexington Ave N, Roseville; 4 - 9 p.m.; outdoor dancing






TC Rebels WCS Social - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls; 7 - 10:30 p.m.; $11, $7 students

Ballroom Dance Party - Tapestry; 3748 Minnehaha Ave, Mpls; 6:00 lesson, dance 7 - 9:30 p.m.; $10, $7 students




Mpls; 9:30 – 11 p.m.; $5




p.m.; $5; 21+

August 5 • Wednesday WCS Dance Party - Dancers Studio; 415

Pascal St N, St. Paul; 8 p.m.; $5Practice Party - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.



Milonga - Krungthep Thai Cuisine; 2523 Nicollet Ave S, Mpls; $5, free for students





S, Mpls; 9 - 10 p.m.; $5

August 7 • Friday 10th Anniversary Party - Cinema Ballroom;

1560 St. Clair Ave, St. Paul; 7:00 lesson, dance 8 - 11 p.m.; $10

Variety Dance - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls; 8 - 9:30 p.m.; $10

August 8 • Saturday Milonga - Costa Rica Ballroom; 816

twin Cities Dance Events

SHEERDANCE.COM 1 Aug 2015 • • 3[gEt DANCiNg]

Rhythm Junction Lindy Hop - Four Seasons; 1637 Hennepin Ave, Mpls; 8 - 11 p.m.

Salsa Social - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 – 11 p.m.; $5




p.m.; $5; 21+

August 26 • Wednesday Practice Party - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.








S, Mpls; 9 - 10 p.m.; $5

August 28 • Friday Variety Dance - DanceLife; 6015 Lyndale Ave

S, Mpls; 8 - 9:30 p.m.; $10WCS Dance Club - 2100 Dale St N, Roseville;

7:30 lesson, dance 8:30 p.m. - 12 a.m.Salsa Fusion - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.

Clair Ave, St. Paul; 7:00 lesson, dance 8 - 11 p.m.

Mala Yunta Milonga - Four Seasons; 1637 Hennepin Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.; $10, $5 students

August 29 • Saturday Milonga - 170 Virginia St, St Paul; 8:30 p.m.

- 12 a.m.; $10, $8 studentsShannon & Bill’s Sock Hop - 101 Glenwood

Ave, Mpls; 8:30 lesson, live music 9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m.; $7, 21+









Mpls; 9:30 – 11 p.m.; $5

StudiosAmerican Classic Ballroom 952.934.0900

550 Market Street, Chanhassenwww.acballroom.com

Balance Pointe Studios 952.922.86125808R W 36th Street, St. Louis Parkwww.balancepointestudios.com

Ballroom & Latin Dance Club 952.292.0524

1103 W Burnsville Pkwy, Burnsvillewww.ballroom-club.com

Ballroom & Wedding Dance Studio 612.371.0300

2717 42nd Street E, Minneapoliswww.myballroomdancestudio.com

Blue Moon Ballroom 507.288.0556 2030 Highway 14 E, Rochesterwww.BlueMoonBallroom.com

Cinema Ballroom 651.699.5910 1560 St. Clair Ave, St. Paulwww.cinemaballroom.com

Costa Rica Ballroom Dance Studios 952.303.3339

816 Mainstreet, Hopkinswww.costaricaballroom.com

Dahl Dance Center 507.252.1848 4204 North Highway 52, Rochesterwww.dahldance.com

Dance and Entertainment 651.605.5784www.danceandentertainment.com

Dance with Us America 612.564.5483 10 Southdale Center, Edinawww.dancewithusamerica.com

DanceLife Ballroom 612.345.42196015 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapoliswww.dancelifeballroom.com

Dancers Studio 651.641.0777 415 Pascal Street N, St. Paulwww.dancersstudio.com

Four Seasons Dance Studio 612.342.0902 1637 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapoliswww.fourseasonsdance.com

Latin Mambo 612.558.7190 2948 Chicago Ave S #308, Mplswww.latinmambodancestudio.com

Mill City Ballroom 612.562.2733 www.millcityballroom.com

Rendezvous Dance Studio 612.872.1562 711 W Lake Street, Suite B, Minneapoliswww.theplacetodance.com

StudioJeff 320.266.4137 701 St. Germain Street W, Suite 201,

St. Cloudwww.studiojeff.com

instructorsScott Anderson 612.816.4446

[email protected]

Nathan Daniels 763.464.1021Jennelle Donnay 651.357.2060Julie Delene 612.598.5355

[email protected]

Donna Edelstein [email protected]

Jennifer & Robert Foster 952.239.2984Shane Haggerty 612.702.3588

[email protected]

Lindsey Rebecca Hall 612.940.9546Julie Jacobson 651.261.6442Jay Larson 651.387.3886Kristina Lee 715.821.9039Deanne Michael 612.508.9255Monica Mohn 612.874.0747

[email protected]

Mariusz Olszewski [email protected]

Karin Rice 612.242.2188Lisa Vogel 651.208.0818

[email protected]

ClubsAqua Gliders Dance Club 612.869.3062Café Bailar

www.cafebailar.comCotillion Dance Club of Stillwater 651.388.1231

[email protected] Dance Club 651.439.3152

facebook.com/LaDanzaDanceClubLakeside Dance Club 320.763.6432

[email protected]

Linden Hills Dancing Club 651.636.9747www.lindenhillsdancingclub.org

MN West Coast Swing Dance Club 763.442.1618

mnwestcoastswingdanceclub.comREBELS Swing Dance Club 952.941.0906

www.tcrebels.comStardust Dance Club

[email protected] Dance Club 952.894.1412

www.suburbanwinterset.comTango Society of Minnesota 612.224.2905

www.mntango.orgTapestry Folkdance Center 612.722.2914

www.tapestryfolkdance.orgTC Swing 651.558.0562

[email protected]

University of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club

[email protected]

Uptown Swing [email protected]

twin Cities Dance Contacts

4 • • 1 Aug 2015 SHEERDANCE.COM

U Partner Dance, Inc. and:

AdvertisersBallroom Blast, Dance Fest, Grand Jete, Harvest Moon Ball, Rapit Printing

PhotographersErik Anderson, Moon Dance Photography, Edward Rainier Santos, Thomas Stastny

WritersMary Beth Beckman, Elizabeth Dickinson, Alexzandra Enger, Shelby Gilliland,

Kevin Lam, Meredith McKinney, Thomas Stastny, Chelsea Visser

Brought to You By

in this issue

[get Dancing]Twin Cities Dance Events 2

Twin Cities Dance Contacts 3

2015 Competitions 5

2016 Competitions 5

[Participate]Volunteer Openings 6

About Us 6

Contribute 7

[Recurring Columns]Life Through Dance 10

Gaining Perspective 12

Volunteer Report 14

Results from Around the Country 15

[From the Community]Showing Up to Dance 16

Two Weeks Without Dancing 18

The Power of Ballroom 20

Maintaining Dance Relationships 22

Dresses, Jackets, and the Space in Between 24

Blast Is Back! 28

Dancers Studio Showcase 30

Photo from Dancers Studio’s Summer Showcase by Edward Rainier Santos

SHEERDANCE.COM 1 Aug 2015 • • 5

DiscussionThis is a forum where people

are invited to express their true

feelings about issues in the dance

community (while still adhering

to our submission guidelines) and

propose solutions to the prob-

lems we often face. Statements

made in the Discussion section

do not necessarily reflect the

views of Sheer Dance, even when

written by one of our volunteer

staff.

From the CommunityUnlike the other sections,

there is no cohesive theme to

From the Community; it is a

catch-all for the unique gems that

are submitted by people like you.

Here you’ll find contributions

like event recaps, interviews,

tales from a far-off competition,

and photos from a local dance

event.

Recurring ColumnsWe have a handful of generous

writers who contribute regularly.

Each explores a unique, overar-

ching theme of their choice. Each

month, in a volunteer report, one

of our volunteers fills you in on

what they’ve been doing to make

the dance community a better

place.

Special FeaturesSome issues focus on a particu-

lar event or theme, and all content

relevant to that theme belongs to

the Special Features section. E

Events labeled NQE are qualifying events for the USA

Dance National DanceSport Championships.

New England DanceSport Championships - NQE September 25 - 27Waltham, MA; nedancesport.org

Carolina Fall Classic - NQE October 2 - 4Charlotte, NC; carolinafallclassic.com

Chicago DanceSport Challenge - NQE October 30 - November 1Chicago, IL; usadancechicago.org

California State DanceSport Championships NQE November 7San Jose, CA; usadance-norcal.org

National Collegiate DanceSport Championships November 21 - 22Columbus, OH; usadancencc.org

Snow Ball January 8 - 10Minneapolis, MN; thesnowballcomp.com

Manhattan Amateur Classic - NQE January 15 - 17New York, NY; macnyusadance.org

PDX Ballroom Classic - NQE January 30Portland, OR; nwballroomcompetition.org

Mid-Atlantic Championship - NQE February 20 - 21Bethesda, MD; usadancedc.org

Dance Fest March 5 - 6St. Paul, MN; udancefest.com

2016 National DanceSport Championships April 1 - 3Baltimore, MD; usadancenationals.org

Derby City DanceSport Championships - NQE August 5 - 7Louisville, KY; derbycitydancesport.org

Chicago DanceSport Challenge - NQE October 28 - 30Chicago, IL; usadancechicago.org

Sections 2015 Competitions

2016 Competitions

6 • • 1 Aug 2015 SHEERDANCE.COM[PARtiCiPAtE]

About us

Sheer Dance is a monthly inde-

pendent publication that presents

news and information relevant to

the partner-dancing community in

the central United States and the

nation at large. It is intended to be an

accessible outlet for members of the

community to discuss their experi-

ences and opinions in a public forum.

Published monthly, Sheer Dance is run

by a group of skilled volunteers with

extensive experience in creating and

distributing successful partner-dance

publications.

This magazine is meant to serve

the community as a positive and uni-

fying force by addressing the needs

and desires of all groups within the

community. Sheer Dance:

• Provides amateurs with a conve-

nient way to share their dance

experiences, seek advice from

experts, and learn about events,

services, and other opportunities

in the wider ballroom community;

• Provides professionals with direct

access to their target audience,

spreading awareness of their

expertise, events, and services; and

• Provides the entire community

with a forum for discussion, coop-

eration, and problem-solving.

Sheer Dance is made possible by the

generous contributions of members

of the community. If you enjoy read-

ing this publication, please consider

contributing an article or photos,

making a donation, subscribing, or

volunteering your time and skills.

The staff of Sheer Dance can be

reached at [email protected]. We

hope to hear from you! E

Volunteer Openings

Assignment PhotographerIf you love taking photos and exploring the

partner-dancing world, throw in your hat to

become an official Sheer Dance photographer!

This volunteer will be provided topics and

events to cover with action-packed shots.

Assignment WriterLove writing but never sure what to write

about? We supply the topics every month; you

supply the articles. Excited, passionate writers

with a thirst for exploration are encouraged to

consider volunteering for this position.

ColumnistWe’re always looking for more people to

commit to writing an article every month that

addresses a particular idea or theme relevant

to partner dancing. You choose the topic!

Copy EditorWe’re looking for a highly skilled linguist

with an intimate understanding of American

English spelling, punctuation, and grammar

to do the first pass of line editing on all arti-

cles. This is a very involved role that provides

excellent experience for anyone considering a

career in publishing.

Your Contribution HereHave an idea of how you could add value

to Sheer Dance that we haven’t thought of ?

Let us know! E

SHEERDANCE.COM 1 Aug 2015 • • 7[PARtiCiPAtE]

Contribute

Submission guidelinesSubmissions are due to [email protected]

by the 10th of the month prior to publication. Submissions

received after the deadline may be used in the upcoming

issue or may be saved for a later month. You may request

a two-day extension if you include information regard-

ing your topic.

Content is published at the discretion of Sheer Dance

based on the policies outlined below. It is our goal to

publish all of the content submitted to us in the issue for

which it was submitted. Any rejected advertisement or

article will come with communication on how it could

be edited to be appropriate for publication, with a dead-

line extension when possible to allow time to effect the

necessary alterations.

AdvertisementsWe print at 300 dpi and accept PDF, PNG, and JPEG file

types. When buying a larger advertising package, you may

swap in a different ad for each month at no additional

fee. The chart below features our introductory rates,

which are subject to change as the publication grows.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

Layout Dimensions (width × height)

Price Per Ad Price for 12 Consecutive Months

Full .5” x 10” $120 $1200

Half Page 7.5” x 4.75” $75 $750

Quarter Page 3.5” x 4.75” $50 $500

Business Card 3.5” x 2” $15 $150

PhotosWhen selecting photos to include in the magazine,

we try to feature different dancers in each picture, when

possible. We look for photos with good lighting, a clear

focus, and smiling dancers who are actively dancing.

ArticlesAll articles must be clearly relevant to partner danc-

ing. There are no length requirements or limits, but

Sheer Dance may break up longer articles across multiple

issues when appropriate. While articles may promote

specific events, that cannot be their primary func-

tion; they must have a broader applicability to

enlightening the dance community. Articles must

be respectful and productive. Harassment of any

kind will not be published, nor will articles that

fall below Contradiction on the scale of productive

argumentation.

Refuting the Central Point

Refutation

Counterargument

Contradiction

Responding to Tone

Ad Hominem

Name-calling

Explicitly refutes the central point

Finds the mistake and explains why it’s

mistaken using quotes

Contradicts and then backs it up with

reasoning and/or supporting evidence

States the opposing case with little or

no supporting evidence

Criticizes the tone of the writing

without addressing the substance of

the argument

Attacks the characteristics or authority

of the writer without addressing the

substance of the argument

Discourse like “The writer is

an imbecile”

Editing PolicyContent submitted to Sheer Dance will be edited

for spelling, grammar, sentence structure, style, and

appropriateness of content.

Any kind of bigotry, inappropriate religious or

political statements, name-calling, verifiably untrue

statements, unreasonable and unverifiable claims,

and unpaid content that only serves to advertise

goods or services are all subject to removal. Content

that serves no appropriate purpose will not be

published.

If you are dissatisfied with any edits made by

Sheer Dance, you are welcome and encouraged to

compose a Letter to the Editor, which, so long as it

meets the submission guidelines, will be posted in

the Discussion section of the subsequent issue with

a response from Sheer Dance. Sheer Dance retains the

right to discontinue public editorial discussions

when they no longer add value for the dance com-

munity at large, though private exchanges may

still be relevant. E

8 • • 1 Aug 2015 SHEERDANCE.COM[VOluNtEER tEAM]

Mary Beth BeckmanEXECUTIVE EDITOR

Mary Beth Beckman is the fearless leader of the Sheer Dance team, guiding the

vision and scope of the magazine as well as editing the content to ensure its

consistency with Sheer Dance’s official style. She has been volunteering in the

partner-dancing community for over five years and prides herself on being an

excellent communicator and organizer of tiny scraps of data. Mary Beth can

typically be found drinking buckets of coffee, engaging in fandom, improving her

physical fitness, or watching sci-fi. She welcomes your questions and feedback at

[email protected].

Patrick SeverinEVENTS EDITOR

Patrick Severin tried ballroom once, and it quickly became their favorite hobby.

As Events Editor, they ensure dancers in the Twin Cities can always make it out

to a social dance, because nothing makes Patrick smile like a floor full of happy

dancers. When the dancing shoes are off, Patrick is developing software for hospi-

tals and nonprofits, paddling a kayak in Lake Monona, commuting by bicycle, or

hammering out letters on their Remington typewriter. They do freelance software

consulting and enjoy philosophical chats; if either of those things interest you, feel

free to email them at [email protected].

Chelsea VisserPROOF EDITOR

Chelsea Visser is an English and journalism student at the University of Minnesota

and enjoys competing with the ballroom dance team as well as dancing socially

around the Twin Cities. As Sheer Dance’s Proof Editor, Chelsea reads each issue

cover to cover to ensure all the finer details are exactly as they should be. Questions,

comments, and concerns can be sent to [email protected].

Alexzandra EngerACQUISITIONS EDITOR

Alexzandra Enger is treasurer of the University of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club

and a member of the competition team. When she’s not busy dancing, volunteer-

ing, or studying, Alex will likely be found—coffee in hand—spending time with

her friends, conquering video games, discovering new music, and whipping up

delicious meals and desserts. She wants to travel the world, dance as often as she

can, and be happy. As Acquisitions Editor of Sheer Dance, Alex is responsible for

gathering all content for the magazine. If you’ve got articles or photos to share,

send them to Alexzandra at [email protected].

SHEERDANCE.COM 1 Aug 2015 • • 9[VOluNtEER tEAM]

Nicholas WestlakeCREATIVE DIRECTOR

Nicholas Westlake crafts the look and feel of Sheer Dance. He oversees our design

and publishing teams, building impactful visuals while ensuring each aspect

of the publication complements the image and style you know and love. In the

wild, he’s also a passionate ballroom competitor, an avid dance instructor, and a

no-nonsense system designer.

Julie JohnstonDESIGNER

Julie Johnston is, by day, a senior digital production specialist in the field of edu-

cational ebooks for iPads, etc. She has spent her entire career in print publications

from catalogs to textbooks and is responsible for the layout of Sheer Dance. Julie

has participated in Israeli dance and is in the beginning stages of learning the joys

of partner dancing.

Hannah AlyeaADVERTISING EDITOR

Hannah Alyea is rarely seen without a smile on her face and loves to spread the

good news of ballroom dance. Originally form South Dakota, she has recently

become the vice president of the University of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club

and is a member of the competitive ballroom team. Her favorite styles of dance

are American rhythm and smooth and international standard. As Advertising

Editor, Hannah is responsible for ensuring that Sheer Dance readers can connect

with the vendors, products, and events of interest to them. If you’re interested in

advertising with Sheer Dance, email Hannah at [email protected].

theresa KimlerSUBSCRIPTION & MAILING COORDINATOR

Theresa Kimler has been an active member of the dance community for over twenty

years. A seven-time USA Dance open smooth champion, nine-time rhythm cham-

pion, and four-time nine-dance champion, Theresa is an undisputed, long-standing

champion of dance. Mechanical engineer by education, black-belt project manager,

owner of Total Project Consulting, and lover of quadrupeds, Theresa graciously

lends her expertise to Sheer Dance for the betterment of the dance community as

our Subscription & Mailing Coordinator. Subscribe today to receive a gorgeous

magazine in your mailbox every month, courtesy of Theresa’s work.

10 • • 1 Aug 2015 SHEERDANCE.COM[RECuRRiNg COluMNS]

Elizabeth Dickinson is a life/executive coach

and amateur ballroom dancer. If you enjoy

her writing and would like to receive her

weekly emailed coaching newsletter, visit

www.pursueyourpath.com and sign up.

life through DanceMuscling Your Way through lifeBY ELIZABETH DICKINSON

LIFE DOESN’T ALWAYS GIVE YOU AN

“A” for effort.

At a recent women’s group I

attend, a participant shared some of

her job search frustrations. She was

doing everything right—sending out

resumes, networking, being creative in

her approaches. But she wasn’t getting

interviews. She was discouraged.

She’s a very physical person, prac-

tices Bikram yoga, rock-climbs on

weekends, etc. I could sense how her

physical approach to life translated

into her attitude towards finding a new

job. I relate to it.

In ballroom dancing and in life,

if something isn’t working, I tend to

throw more energy and effort into it.

This isn’t necessarily bad in itself. I was

brought up to have a really good work

ethic. It wasn’t anything my parents

specifically said; it was just the way

they approached life.

If I don’t understand something in

dance, I usually take a deep breath,

metaphorically gird my loins, and just

throw myself at it. It’s as if sheer deter-

mination will win the day. Turns can

be especially troublesome. It doesn’t

work to throw enormous amounts of

energy into them. It’s like using blunt

force when subtlety is needed. Michelle

Hudson once said in a group class that

you should use the least amount of

energy possible to turn.

While I tend to be a kinesthetic

learner, for quite a while I’ve had to

use my head to learn the complicated

counts in my choreography. So iron-

ically, my teacher has asked me to be

more kinesthetic in my approach, to

feel what his lead is asking me to do.

Muscling your way through life is

often counterproductive. Sometimes

you’ve just got to relax, to accept

you’re doing everything you can, and

to use less deliberate effort to be truly

successful.

May we pursue our paths, trusting

in our efforts and feeling our way. E

Photo from Dance Fest by Erik Anderson

brought to you by theTwin Cities professionaldance community and:

returns!

Dancers Studio415 Pascal Street NSt. Paul MN 55104

5-6 March 2016(Saturday & Sunday)udancefest.com

Ballroom Dance Club


Kevin Lam is a student at the University of

Northern Iowa. He has been dancing for four

years with both the UNI Ballroom/Swing

club and the Luther College Ballroom/Swing

club. He currently serves as Co-President of

Education with UNI Ballroom/Swing and can

always be found either running meetings or

getting ready for lessons. Kevin is honored

to have the opportunity to write for Sheer

Dance. If you’d like to nerd out about inter-

sectional feminism with Kevin, feel free to

email him at [email protected].

While Joel Torgeson is enjoying anthropo-

logical adventures in Kenya, Kevin Lam has

been kind enough to write a guest article for

“Gaining Perspective.”

THIS PAST WEEKEND, I went on a

trip to visit my ballroom friends and

do some planning for the next year. I

got to see friends that I haven’t seen

for a couple months, and we went out

dancing at a dance thrown by our local

USA Dance chapter. There were a lot

of people there, and they were doing

a good job of asking others to dance.

Men asked women; women asked men.

Overall, my friends and others tried to

dance with as many different people as

possible. It was a great time! However,

it was during this dance that I was

reminded again of how straight ball-

room is. And by straight, what I mean is

that partner dancing fits neatly within

a heteronormative culture.

When Joel Torgeson wrote his arti-

cle about sexism in ballroom, he spoke

about heteronormativity, but here’s a

refresher for those who may not know

what it means: heteronormativity is

the idea that we live in a heterosexu-

al-oriented society; within that society,

heterosexuality is the only normal way

of sexual expression, and all other

ways are deviant. In a heteronormative

society, there are two distinct genders,

and both genders must abide by their

culturally constructed gender roles. We

see this in partner dance in one major

way: when dancing, men are leaders

and women are followers. Leaders are

dominant and followers are passive. If

you’re straight, great; this should make

some sense. Just realize that you are

coming from a place of privilege.

The thing about privilege is that

when you have it, you aren’t aware of

the things that you have that people in

less privileged positions do not. This is

because for those with privilege, these

things are just a part of normal life and

there isn’t any point in questioning it.

For example, for straight people, part-

ner dancing can be a way to meet and

regularly interact in a fairly intimate

way with people they are attracted

to. While there doesn’t need to be

anything inherently romantic about

partner dancing, for a lot of people,

there is. This can be as simple as liking

to dance because you get to be close

to and move with someone you find

attractive, up to finding a significant

other through a dance club. When you

are straight, the little things are easy.

Do you want to dance with that cute

person? The structure of dance makes

it so the two of you are able to comfort-

ably fit within the prescribed roles.

This isn’t to say that people attracted

to the same gender can’t dance with

each other or can’t form romantic

relationships with people they meet in

dance. It just isn’t as easy. Nor would

both members be able to remain in the

heteronormative structure of partner

dancing. One would have to take the

prescribed role of another gender.

Does partner dancing have to be het-

eronormative? I don’t think so. There

isn’t any real reason why men have to

lead and women have to follow, nor

is there any reason why partnerships

must consist of a man and a woman.

gaining PerspectiveHeteronormativity in Partner DancingBY KEVIN LAM

SHEERDANCE.COM 1 Aug 2015 • • 13[RECuRRiNg COluMNS]

We only teach beginners one role

based solely on their gender presenta-

tion. The main reason we maintain this

system is because this is the way it’s

always been. That doesn’t seem like a

good enough answer to me.

Has it always been this way? Are

there places where it isn’t? When I was

a freshman in college, I took a class

called Music as Culture, and there was

a unit about tango music in Argentina.

My professor then told us one of the

common tales of the creation of tango.

In the early 20th century, there was a

shortage of immigrant women, so the

only way for men to practice dancing

was with each other. They would prac-

tice moves in order to please a woman

once they actually got to dance with

her. In this practice, tango was born.

When tango was imported to Europe,

the original same-gender form of the

dance was lost and forbidden at public

milongas.

While I’m not quick to believe many

dance creation myths and that story is

still pretty straight, it has brought out

something interesting. The interna-

tional queer tango movement is built

on this story. Also known as open-role

tango, the queer tango movement

revives the idea that men and women

don’t have to only ever dance one role.

They can fit in the traditional roles if

they choose, but that isn’t the only

option. Anyone can dance with anyone

and can choose whichever role they

want or even switch mid-song.

Argentine tango isn’t the only dance

to loosen its gender roles in recent his-

tory. West coast swing circles are mov-

ing towards non-gendered roles and

switching. Even competitive ballroom

is opening up more with same-gender

competitions.

While this is good progress, I

don’t think this is enough. It is rare

to see a same-gender partnership at

a competition. Roles are more often

than not described as men’s parts and

women’s parts. People are not taught

both roles when they start dancing, so

beginners are forced to dance in dif-

ferent-gender partnerships. Even with

more more opportunities for same-gen-

der dancing, the standard is for differ-

ent-gender partnerships. The problem

is that if I ever wanted to follow, I could

only do it with close friends for fear

that I might cause gay panic in men

and confuse women.

We need to create a culture that

allows everyone to dance with whom-

ever they want in whatever role with-

out fear. I think everyone should learn

every part (it will make you a better

dancer in your preferred role anyway).

I know that it is difficult to change atti-

tudes and cultures, but I believe that it

is necessary if we want to make dance

something that all people can enjoy.

What do you think? E


Photo from Dancers Studio’s Summer

Showcase by Edward Rainier Santos


Volunteer ReportPracticing Self-CareBY MARY BETH BECKMAN

Mary Beth Beckman is a long-term volunteer

committed to serving the dance community

and is the Executive Editor of Sheer Dance.

To solicit her editing services, ask questions

about Sheer Dance, or submit content, email

her at [email protected].

THIS MONTH’S “VOLUNTEER REPORT”

is going to be short and sweet. I had

considered writing a long, thoughtful

article about the importance of rec-

ognizing your own limits, but then I

realized that would be a bit counter-

productive. The volunteers I work with

regularly have all been hard at work on

various initiatives in addition to filling

their summers with fun. So while I’d

love to regale you with another long

meta analysis of volunteering, I think

I’m going to call it a night instead and

enjoy a drink with a couple of my dear-

est volunteer friends.

This issue of Sheer Dance has been

edited. Registration for Ballroom Blast

has been posted. I feel good about

what I’ve contributed, and so do the

others. We’ll leave it at that for this

month. After all, summer is fleeting in

Minnesota! We should all give ourselves

permission and space to enjoy it. E

Photos from Ballroom Blast by Erik Anderson

SHEERDANCE.COM 1 Aug 2015 • • 15[RECuRRiNg COluMNS]

Here you’ll find the results of Minnesota amateurs, profession-

als, and pro/am couples from events around the country. We’re

proud of how skilled and dedicated the Minnesota dance com-

munity is, and we’d like to share their successes with you.

Congratulations to those who competed at the Twin Cities Open! Next month we will feature results from the event.

Millennium DanceSport ChampionshipsBalance Pointe StudiosMary Cederberg with Jeff Nehrbass

3rd (of 8) - L-C Bronze Closed American Rhythm 3-Dance Championship

5th (of 7) - L-C Bronze Closed American Rhythm 2-Dance Championship

4th (of 9) - L-C Bronze Closed American Smooth 2-Dance Championship

3rd (of 4) - L-B1 Rising Star Full Bronze Rhythm Cha Cha

3rd (of 4) - L-B1 Rising Star Full Bronze Rhythm Rumba

Elizabeth Dickinson with Jeff Nehrbass

2nd (of 2) - L-B1 Open Intermediate Gold Smooth Waltz

2nd (of 2) - L-B1 Open Intermediate Gold Smooth Tango

2nd (of 3) - L-B1 Open Intermediate Gold Smooth Foxtrot

1st (of 1) - L-B1 Open Intermediate Gold Smooth Viennese Waltz

3rd (of 3) - L-B1 Open Full Gold Smooth Waltz

Therese Meszaros with Jeff Nehrbass

1st (of 1) - L-C2 Rising Star Open Full Bronze Rhythm Cha Cha

1st (of 1) - L-C2 Rising Star Open Full Bronze Rhythm Rumba

1st (of 1) - L-C2 Rising Star Open Full Bronze Rhythm Swing

1st (of 1) - L-C2 Rising Star Open Full Bronze Rhythm Bolero

1st (of 1) - L-C2 Rising Star Open Full Bronze Rhythm Mambo

Colorado Star BallDahl Dance StudioDarcy Adamczyk with Gary Dahl

2nd (of 11) - L “GLOBAL” Closed Silver American Smooth Scholarship

2nd (of 6) - L-A Pro/Am Closed Silver American Smooth Scholarship

2nd (of 5) - L-B Closed DSS Silver American Smooth Championship

2nd (of 11) - L-B Closed Silver American Smooth Scholarship

3rd (of 7) - L-B Closed Silver International Ballroom Scholarship

gumbo DanceSport ChampionshipRussel Alliev and Jordan Lanasa

2nd (of 3) - Amateur Adult Bronze Latin

4th (of 4) - Amateur Adult Silver Latin

4th (of 7) - Amateur Adult Bronze Standard

6th (of 7) - Amateur Adult Silver Standard

4th (of 4) - Amateur Adult Silver International Tango

Jeremy Anderson and Yuko Taniguchi

1st (of 2) - Amateur Adult Novice Smooth

1st (of 2) - Amateur Adult Pre-Champ Smooth

1st (of 3) - Amateur Senior I Novice Smooth

1st (of 1) - Amateur Senior I Pre-Champ Smooth

1st (of 7) - Amateur Adult Silver Standard

2nd (of 3) - Amateur Adult Gold Standard

1st (of 8) - Amateur Senior I Silver Standard

2nd (of 7) - Amateur Senior I Gold Standard

C.J. Hurst and Lorie Hurst

1st (of 2) - Amateur Adult Gold Smooth

1st (of 5) - Amateur Senior I Gold Smooth

1st (of 3) - Amateur Adult Master of Syllabus Standard

1st (of 3) - Amateur Adult Gold Standard

1st (of 7) - Amateur Senior I Gold Standard

Edward Soltis and Bonnie Burton

5th (of 9) - Amateur Senior III Gold Smooth

3rd (of 5) - Amateur Senior III Novice Smooth

4th (of 15) - Amateur Senior II Silver Standard

5th (of 19) - Amateur Senior III Silver Standard

Greg Warner and Jill Smith

8th (of 16) - Amateur Senior III Silver Rhythm

9th (of 21) - Amateur Senior III Silver Smooth

2nd (of 8) - Amateur Senior III Bronze Standard

Leland Whitney and Leslie Whitney

3rd (of 8) - Amateur Senior III Pre-Champ Rhythm

3rd (of 6) - Amateur Senior III Championship Rhythm

3rd (of 12) - Amateur Senior III Pre-Champ Smooth

4th (of 11) - Amateur Senior III Championship Smooth

uSA Dance National Senior iV ChampionshipsGreg Warner and Jill Smith

5th (of 8) - Amateur Senior IV Silver Rhythm

1st (of 9) - Amateur Senior IV Silver Smooth

1st (of 2) - Amateur Senior IV Bronze Standard

Leland Whitney and Leslie Whitney

1st (of 2) - Amateur Senior IV Championship Rhythm

1st (of 5) - Amateur Senior IV Championship Smooth

1st (of 2) - Amateur Senior IV Pre-Champ Rhythm E

Results from Around the Country

16 • • 1 Aug 2015 SHEERDANCE.COM[FROM tHE COMMuNitY]

Showing up to DanceBY THOMAS STASTNY

THERE ARE PLENTY OF CLICHÉS out there telling us to be proactive in our

lives; nothing will happen if we don’t

make it happen. However, that isn’t

always the case. One of my professors

ended the semester with this piece of

advice: “Ninety percent of life is just

showing up.” Be there and see what

happens. I had never heard that senti-

ment before, and the weekend of July

4th provided an unexpected demon-

stration of it.

Whether competitive or social, I

always enjoy an opportunity to dance.

During that holiday weekend, however,

dancing was the furthest thing from

my mind. On July 4th I went down to

the Stone Arch Bridge to watch the

fireworks. While walking across the

bridge, I ran into Seth, Hannah, and

Alex, fellow members of the University

of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club

competition team. We continued cross-

ing the bridge together and headed

over to the music stage, which featured

a live band performing for a sizable

crowd.

In that moment, we picked an

open spot right next to the stage and

decided to dance to each song, switch-

ing partners in between. This was not a

competitive dance floor; it was uneven

grass and dirt, and we danced barefoot

or in tennis shoes. But it didn’t matter.

We were caught up in the moment as

we danced rumba, mambo, and hustle.

That brief encounter was one of

the highlights of the entire weekend.

It was the first time I thought deeply

about my professor’s advice, which has

since become part of my own outlook.

Looking back, I realize I’ve missed

several other opportunities. I’ve been

dancing competitively for two years

and have social danced at a few studios

in the Twin Cities area, but there were

many more instances, whether visiting

family at home or a friend’s house,

when I could have danced but didn’t.

This wasn’t necessarily because I didn’t

want to but because I didn’t even

consider the possibility. But now, with

my professor in mind, I know there

is always an opportunity to dance;

I just have to be there. Like he said,

anything can happen. E

Photo by Erik AndersonPhoto by Thomas Stastny

BALLROOM DANCING CRITIQUED ALL DAY.SOCIAL DANCING, GAMES, AND MUSIC ALL EVENING.

BEGINNERS WELCOME (AND PREFERRED)

24 OCTOBER 2015

MORE INFORMATION AT MNBALLROOMBLAST.COM

Dance your heart out.Get critiqued by pros.Have a blast.

DANCERS

North Star BallroomSaint Paul Student Center2017 Buford AveSaint Paul MN 55108

WHERE

SPECTATORSSee some great dancing.Enjoy the games.Rock out.Admission is $5 per session.

Day Session: 9 AM to 5 PM• Critiqued dancingEvening Session: 6 PM to 10 PM• Dance performances• Social dancing & games

WHEN

MINNESOTABALLROOMBLAST


two Weeks Without DancingBY ALEXZANDRA ENGER

THERE’S NEVER BEEN A TIME in

my life when I’ve gone longer than a

week without engaging in some form

of dance. My first steps literally took

place in soft, pink, leather ballet shoes,

and three years after that, a pair of

toddler-sized tap shoes arrived in the

mail, special delivery. As the daughter

of a professional ballet instructor, I

was never really given the opportunity

to not dance. I was a dancer, born and

bred; it was in my blood. I’d had cer-

tain expectations when I moved away

from home to the Twin Cities, one of

which was to be dancing significantly

less. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Ballroom dance quickly consumed all

my free time, so when I went to South

Dakota to visit some family for two

weeks, I was in for an unusually dance-

void time.

When I can’t practice with my part-

ner, team, or the club, I seek out social

dances. My first three options were sev-

eral hundred miles away from me, so

in this city that my immediate family

once called home, I resorted to looking

for studios, community centers, and

local clubs that hosted ballroom social

dances. My cursory internet investiga-

tion proved fruitless and disappoint-

ing, and a secondary search through

the newspapers yielded similarly dull

results. It seemed that my two weeks

would be spent in a ballroom purga-

tory. There were dance studios there,

of course. In younger years, I would

spend summers studying ballet and

taking exams to earn my certifications.

If tap, modern, or jazz are things that

tickle your fancy, you’d be in luck as

well, but not if your preferred method

of musical motion was of a slightly

more systematic, partnership-based

variety.

It seemed that I would be forced into

using solo practice as my only physical

connection to ballroom until it was

time for me to return to my home in

Saint Paul. Days passed slowly, hastened

only by the brief periods of time when I

could steal away and practice a few long

walls. After fourteen days, or an eter-

nity in time without dance, I boarded

a plane to come home. My mother,

the aforementioned ballet instructor,

listened to my lamenting about a lack

of ballroom during my stay. I heard her

say something I wished had reached

my ears when I had first gotten off the

plane, not right before I was about to

board my return flight: an old friend of

hers had a small, not widely advertised

ballroom studio just off Main Street.

There was a twinge of disappointment

in the back of my mind as I thought

about all the missed opportunities, but

as I was about to return to my own per-

sonal mini Mecca of ballroom, I knew

that it wouldn’t do me much good to

think too long or hard about it.

The plane ride went well; you may

remember from my last musing on

these pages that my first-ever flight was

less than a month prior to this one,

which was my fourth. I must admit, the

takeoff and landing are still my favorite

parts. I boarded the light rail after a

quick jaunt across the terminal to the

train platform, suitcase in tow, to head

back to Saint Paul.

My first stop wasn’t home; I had a

much better place to be. You might

be able to guess where I was headed:

a social dance. E

Photo by Erik Anderson


I RECENTLY READ A BOOK called

The Power of Habit. It emphasizes

how modifying one routine in

your life can have a ripple effect,

realigning all of your other hab-

its. I would say that my ballroom

dancing habit has done that for

me in terms of realigning my

social experience.

I have always loved dance. I

started out (after gymnastics)

doing Irish dance, later got some

exposure to jazz technique, and

in college took two semesters of

Congolese dance and one semes-

ter of modern dance. Finally, my

senior year of college, I discov-

ered ballroom dance. Looking

back, I realize that, as wonderful

as Irish dance was for me in terms

of giving me an intense form of

exercise and a skill to develop, it

did not seem to help me much

socially. For one thing, it fell

outside the mainstream, and it

wasn’t good for parties. But even

when practicing at the studio, I

found myself inside my head a

lot, focusing on my steps or how

tired I was, rather than chatting

with other dancers. Except when

I was younger, between eight

to ten or so, I don’t think I ever

really got close to any of the girls

at my dance school.

Ballroom dance, on the other

hand, has developed me socially.

I still tend to take the same atti-

tude towards it as I did with Irish

dance: that it is not enjoyable

unless I am constantly improv-

ing. But ballroom has allowed

me many more opportunities to

meet and interact with people.

In fact, without it, I would have

had a pretty poor social life

in law school (the law school

friends I do have might as well

be hermits). Through ballroom

the Power of BallroomMaking Social StridesBY MEREDITH MCKINNEY

SHEERDANCE.COM 1 Aug 2015 • • 21[FROM tHE COMMuNitY]

(and those friends who give me

rides), I have been able to expand

my social sphere beyond the

university through competitions,

variety dances, salsa dancing, and

even random ballroom dancing

at non-ballroom events.

The combination of knowing

how to dance and being part of a

local dance community has facil-

itated serendipity. Last Friday, I

went out with a ballroom friend

and his friends. By chance, we

met some people who told us

about a Michael Jackson dance

party. There, I ran into one of my

old dance partners. I think we

were both happy to dance hustle

and west coast swing, and one

girl even said, “I love you guys.”

Another time, I realized that

one of my dance partners also

knew Irish social dancing, so we

teamed up to teach a group of

fellow ballroom dancers at our

end-of-semester party. They were

a perfect sample of willing vic-

tims, because they already loved

to dance.

If it had not been for ballroom

connections and being more

social, I would not have met my

current boyfriend. And the ball-

room social norm of approach-

ing strangers and asking them

to dance has made it easier to

approach new people in general.

I once went out to a bar with two

ballroom friends after a dance

lesson and managed to break

the ice with a cute German guy

because I noticed him watching

my friends dancing.

For someone voted quietest

in high school, I think I’ve come

a long way. E


Maintaining Dance RelationshipsApplying Carnegie’s techniques to Your PartnershipBY SHELBY GILLILAND

IN THE BALLROOM DANCING universe,

one of the most important relation-

ships a person can have is that between

themselves and their dance partner. A

dance partner is someone who shares

the same goals as you, and together

you are working to improve your per-

formance. You end up spending a lot of

time together, and I mean a lot of time.

So in order to make sure that you’re

still having fun while dancing, it’s

important to make sure your partner

likes you. Dale Carnegie wrote a book

called How to Win Friends and Influence

People, and in this book, there are quite

a few bits of advice on how to make

sure that the two of you get along.

The very first point of the book

is, “Don’t criticize, condemn, or

complain.” Carnegie brings up the

point that when someone is criticized,

they become defensive and are less

likely to learn from their mistakes.

Complaining will only serve to create

a negative atmosphere. I’ve found that

it is vitally important to create a pos-

itive and understanding atmosphere

while practicing because when neither

partner feels like they are being judged

or critiqued, both are more willing to

accept advice and provide suggestions

on how to improve things.

Another point that I found very help-

ful was, “Become genuinely interested

in other people.” Like I said before,

you and your partner end up spending

a lot of time together, and unless you

have some genuine interest in each

other, your conversations are going to

be pretty boring. I feel that learning

who your partner is and the things that

inspire them will help to improve your

connection on the dance floor.

The last point I want to talk about is,

“Make the other person feel important,

and do it sincerely.” I feel that this,

along with point number two, is crucial

to making a successful ballroom part-

nership. This doesn’t mean that you

have to say that they’re the only person

you’ll ever dance with; that would be

a bit ridiculous. However, letting them

know that you enjoy dancing with

them and appreciate the work they are

putting in to every practice would be a

good way to let them know that they

are important.

Dance relationships are tricky, but

depending on the amount of effort

you put into them, they can turn into

lasting ones. Dale Carnegie has even

more beneficial advice in his book How

to Win Friends and Influence People, but

these three things are some of the most

influential points for me. E



Dresses, Jackets, and the Space in Betweengender Expression in BallroomBY CHELSEA VISSER

I’VE NEVER CONSIDERED MYSELF a

particularly girly person. I think I had

my nose stuck in a book during the

time period when all the other girls I

knew learned how to put on eyeliner.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve fallen

into a love affair with floral dresses, but

on the whole, I’ve never really spent

much time thinking about where I fall

on the sliding scale of feminine to mas-

culine. Then I joined ballroom and was

blindsided by the gender binary.

This isn’t exactly the forum to talk

about how gender is a spectrum, not

a binary (although feel free to email

me if you’d like to discuss; it’s a topic

I’m passionate about). However, this is

definitely the place to talk about how

rigid expressions of gender tend to be

in ballroom dance.

If gender is a spectrum, ballroom

dance has characteristics on both ends.

You have the feminine figure, with

elaborate hair and makeup and beauti-

ful dresses. On the other end, you have

the masculine figure, which exudes

charisma and power and an unerring

ability to lead the girl on his arm. This

is the ballroom you see in competi-

tions, and this is the way it’s been for

as long as anyone can remember. The

result is a group of dancers forced into

rigid roles that allow for little variation.

The truth is, not everybody is the

embodiment of femininity or mas-

culinity—honestly, hardly anyone is.

Learning how to portray those roles can

be nearly as difficult as getting some

particularly tricky footwork right. Take

me, for example.

A week or so before my first dance

competition, one of the older girls on

the team sat down all us new kids and

showed us how to make ourselves up in

comp makeup. I was fascinated as she

pulled tubes and cases and packages

out of her bag, explaining everything

as she went. I had spent an entire

afternoon dragging my dance partner

around town trying to find something

to wear for my rhythm events, and

three days before Ballroom Blast, I

found myself at Target staring blankly

at the rows and rows of makeup. My


entire first year on the competitive

team was spent experimenting with

eyeshadow and hairspray, and I’ve

still not entirely figured out how to

get your eyeliner just right without

blinding yourself.

I’ve heard plenty of people say that

ballroom is a visual sport, and it wasn’t

until the first time I saw myself in my

smooth dress that I really understood.

It can be unsettling, catching a glimpse

of yourself in full competition costume

and not immediately recognizing your-

self. When you’re on the floor, you’re

acting: even if you aren’t that ideal

masculine or feminine figure, that’s

who you’re supposed to be. Reconciling

that image with who you actually are

can be a challenge.

I’ve accepted that I’ll never quite fit

the ideal image of a girl in ballroom.

I keep my hair short, my makeup is

never all that pronounced, and I occa-

sionally have a tendency to back-lead.

If it were up to me, I’d definitely rather

wear a vest and a short skirt than a

conventional rhythm dress. I think

the culture of ballroom as an incredi-

bly heteronormative activity is slowly

starting to relax, and I hope that trend

continues. I’d much rather see dancers

expressing themselves as they truly are

than being forced into roles that limit

them to a stereotype. E

Photos from MichComp by Erik Anderson


Photos from Dancers Studio’s Summer Showcase by Edward Rainier Santos


SUNDAYS 4-5:30PMCOME FOR A FUN, LOW-STRESS DANCE CLASS AND RELAXED PRACTICE ENVIRONMENT IN OUR BRIGHT AND OPEN SPACE. WE’LL START AT THE VERY BEGINNING AND GIVE YOU ONLY WHAT YOU NEED TO STRUT YOUR STUFF AT THAT NEXT DANCE EVENT. WITH DANCERS STUDIO INSTRUCTORS NIC WESTLAKE & NELI PETKOVA!

litethe very best elements of partner dancing

New To Dance Class? Be Sure To Make This Your First!

Student & Member Rate | $1

415 Pascal St. North | St. Paul, MN 55104

651-641-0777 | [email protected]

Adult Non-Member Rate | $2


Blast is Back!get Your Feet Ready for the Most Explosive Ballroom Event of the Year

Photos from Ballroom Blast by Erik Andersoncostumes at the annual Halloween Ball,

which runs from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m.

Amateur dancers of every age and

proficiency level are welcome, and

newcomers are especially encouraged

to give dancesport a try. Register now

at www.mnballroomblast.com!

Prefer to watch? Available at the

door, spectator tickets are only $5 for

the entire day, including performances

by some of the nation’s top couples—

you won’t want to miss it! E

professionals, whose only mission is

to help you achieve your best! Unlike

traditional competitions, Blast fosters

a stress-free and improvement-based

environment specifically designed to

help new and improving dancers find

their home on the floor.

Those who don’t meet their dancing

quotas during the day will stick around

for a night of great games and creative

HARDWOOD FLOORS TREMBLE as

more than three hundred collegiate

and amateur dancers prepare for

Ballroom Blast, a day-long extrava-

ganza of dancesport, professional

seminars, world-class hair and makeup

tutorials, and various games and social

dancing. On October 24th, forget about

the stress of placing first or last—

instead, join the fun at the University

of Minnesota St. Paul Student Center to

receive instant written feedback from

at least three of the area’s top dance


Photos by Edward Rainier Santos

Dancers Studio Showcase

AT THE HOLLYWOOD LIGHTS SUMMER Showcase at Dancers Studio, the staff perfor-

mances dazzled the crowd with slick moves,

lifts, tricks, and some grade-A lip-syncing.

LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?Support your dance community and don’t miss a single issue:

Get Sheer Dance delivered to your door monthly.A full year is only $22!

Name

Street Address

City State Zip

Phone

Email

Make your check for $22 out to our publisher “Rapit Printing” and mail to:

Theresa Kimler, 7050 49th Street North, St. Paul, MN 55128

Have questions about subscribing to Sheer Dance?Email [email protected]

t Street ort • St aul

Jeremy Anderson and Yuko Taniguchi perform their beautiful smooth routine at the Gumbo...

Documents

Transcript of Jeremy Anderson and Yuko Taniguchi perform their beautiful smooth routine at the Gumbo...