My intro into partner dancing was in salsa when I was in graduate school at the University of Arizona. I was looking for an outlet for my stress and it happened that a friend of mine was going to a salsa party and invited me to go. I went and fell in love with the dance. I loved everything about it, the people, the rhythm, the dynamics of all the moves intertwined with one another. I started taking lessons to become a more proficient and advanced dancer.
After class one night a whole group of us went out for drinks. The guy I ended up sitting next to was a west coast swing dancer. He said he had really liked my dancing and wondered if I would be willing to give swing a try. He said he would teach me if I would be his partner. I thought, “why not?”
I went to my first competitive West Coast Swing event, in Phoenix, after dancing for only three months. I made finals in my first Jack’n Jill. I was hooked! From that point on I made it my mission to learn everything possible to become the best swing dancer I could be.
In the process of doing so, a job came up in a studio in town. I began teaching ballroom, salsa, and swing. I partnered with another swing dancer in town and we really began to hit the scene. We started traveling, competing and teaching both nationally and internationally. While traveling, I met a dancer from New York who invited me to come to the city to teach. New York had never been on the top of my list of places to live but I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Shortly after arriving in New York after selling everything I owned, I found out that the studio job turned out to be a flop. I had only been in the city for one month and was out of work, devastated, depressed and contemplating giving up and going back to Arizona.
I decided to go out and sooth my sadness with a little social dancing in the city. I was approached by a NYC dance studio manager who asked me to dance. After our dance he said he had never seen me before and asked me if I was new in town. I told him my sob story and as the heavens must have been looking out for me, he got me a job at his studio within the week.
I now reside in New York City happily pursuing my love of West Coast Swing. I continue to compete and teach stateside as well as internationally. I love sharing this wonderful dance with all who want to learn!
Sharing the opportunity with my partner Brian (my favorite person to dance with!!) to spread this dance to others is a blessing. I thank Brian for the willingness to take on this task and I hope that SwingStudioOnline.com will provide all of you with the opportunity to fall in love with West Coast Swing the way that we have!
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