My Ballroom Competition Experience

I’m just going to say wow! I’ll try that again - WOW! That’s more like it. I can’t believe how amazing the weekend was, and I cannot believe the results and the awesome feeling! 
The Dance With Me Studios in the North East had a Fall Classic the weekend of Nov 15 in New Jersey. I was so blessed with being a part of this family and event to begin with. Everything was so grand and so beautiful. My first time taking part in anything like it. it was almost like a fairy tale. I definitely love dancing multiple times more than I ever did before - if that is at all possible - for a few reasons. 
The experience - just all the dancing that we did. And I was one of the dancers who had lower number of heats by option. I didn’t know what to expect and did not want to go overboard - I found out that is not possible! If I had to dance more than 40 heats, or more than 100 heats, it would still not be overboard! With each 1.5minute heat we had, I became a better dancer, a better performer and then more relaxed on the “floor”. I felt each part that was instructed - the poise, the posture, the frame, the steps, the angles, the turns, the head, the weight and everything else. Every part was a different experience for me. Every minute added more to me as a person first and then to me as a dancer. 
To experience the feeling of being on that dance floor, being watched by the audience and judged by professional dancers who are on a completely different realm than you in dancing was something I will be forever grateful for. I’ve always been used to taking stage for presentations, speaking about something that I am extremely confident about, know more than most in the audience about - but never to be just watched as entertainment and certainly not judged on movement and performance. Wow! The importance of performance in dancing was definitely highlighted more than the technique and the ability to dance when you are performing with other couples. You need to be comfortable in your own skin while wearing something that is completely not you, and you need to be comfortable with your partner. More important you need to show your connection with your partner. 
The entire concept is the complete opposite of what you are normally used to doing in the real world, and how you’re brought up. Talk about leaving your comfort zone. I now am anxiously waiting the next opportunity to do the same. Getting comfortable outside of your comfort zone. Perfect! 
I won second place in the Bronze Level Rhythm in my age group out of 12 couples who got into the Championships. That is not bad, considering I’ve only been doing this for 6 months! :) I am very very grateful and fortunate. With all the videos and the experience I now have a more clear understanding on what I need to work on, improve and do! Love it!
Then following us, the amateur dancers, our instructors - the professional dancers - had their competition and dances! Oh my god! THAT is what you aspire to, that is why you do this and why you invest your time and money. To witness how beautiful, truly beautiful, movement between two people can be, the expression can become - the connection you can project - it's one of the best parts of life. It does not seem possible to be bored, or tired of watching such beauty and inspiration on the floor just flowing on the same rhythm, to heartwarming music, and just showing life! The thought that you could touch one person the way that each of those couples touched me, just makes me want to get up and practice!
In time, I trust and believe in myself that I will become as best a dancer as I can, and I will never quit doing this or being part of this crowd! Hopefully I have many many more competitions in my future with better and better results each and every time!

Thank you universe for giving me this opportunity and experience!