The Official Publication of the  Tucson Swing Dance Club	July 2002, Volume 15.0 www.tsdc.net

If I'm The Better Dancer, How Come I Don't Win Any Dance Contests?

You've practiced for weeks preparing for this moment. Your friends say your dancing is getting so hot! You're ready. You dressed in patent leather shoes, high-waisted, black, Latin pants, and the coolest, deep blue shirt. The blue of your shirt matches the blue dress your partner has on. The music starts, "One Drop of Love" by Ray Charles. You know every break and nuance in the song. Your Jack & Jill partner flows into the dance like warm honey. You are totally connected. It's just the three of you, two people and some great music. It's the moment you've been working toward for the past four years. People in the audience are applauding and cheering. After you walk off the floor, your friends say you're a "shoo in." People you don't know come over to congratulate you. An hour later you find out you didn't make the cut. And, to rub salt into the wound, the same jerk who started only six months ago, yanking everybody around, and grandstanding all the time, did make it.

What are you to do? Remember, it's just a dance contest, not a life and death struggle. You'll get another shot at it next week or next month. Now, it's up to you to get back to work. The following strategies will turn yourself into a better dancer, a dancer who can win. There are never any guarantees but becoming a better dancer is the only way to win that contest. Also, the better you dance the more fun you have. And that's why we all started, to have fun.
 

The best way to learn West Coast Swing is to take regular group lessons from the best Instructor you can find. Without some sort of lessons you may think you are dancing West Coast Swing but you're probably not. And even if you are, you are probably doing it badly.

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