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Clara Shih

Geniusness versus Neuroticism
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Have you ever wondered why some people are just so incredibly good at what they do? Whether it be Tiger Woods with golf, Yoyo Ma playing the cello or Bryan Watson in Latin… they are all experts who have achieved incredibly high standards in what they do. When you look at these champions, do you just stare in utter amazement? Do you simply chalk it up to talent, genetics or just plain luck? read more

Consistent Dancing = Consistent Marks
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In my last blog, I wrote about the Island Fantasy Ball, our local DanceSport competition in Nanaimo. As I mentioned in that article, the winners for each of the BC Closed Championships were obvious; and in some events, even the results of the top six were pretty clear. Why is it so clear in some cases, with the winners often winning each and every dance and getting the majority of first place markings, while in other events, the results are all over the place? Honestly, at times, it is hard to say. However, the more you know about the judging system, the more you’ll understand what can actually be determined by looking at the judges’ marks. read more

Competition Checklist
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The competition atmosphere is nerve-racking enough, without getting to the venue and discovering that you forgot your favourite lipstick or your competition shirt! (Not only will your partner be unhappy with you, but DSBC might have something to say about your infringement of the dress code!) From experience, we know that forgetting things can cause added pressure which is really unnecessary. read more

Fly Your Flag All Year Round
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Boy! Now that the playoffs are on, all I see are Canucks flags flapping in the wind on every car in town! It makes me wonder…where are all these fans during the rest of the year? How come they only come out during the playoffs and not throughout the season? read more

Get Comfortable with Discomfort!
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Time after time, I hear from my students, “REALLY??? But that feels so uncomfortable!” And again and again I’ll say to them each time, “Well, of course it’s uncomfortable! Anything new is going to feel somewhat awkward and strange at first.” The key is to not avoid it, but to face it straight on, so that you can actually learn something. read more

Sustainability for the Planet and for Dancing
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For me, the whole evening, as well as Earth Hour, was spent reflecting on how to make my life more efficient. Of course, being a dance teacher, coach and fanatic, I started thinking about ways to make my students more energy efficient while dancing. As a professional dancer, when I look out there on the competition floor, I am simply aghast at how much energy is expended on the floor and not used to contribute to a more positive performance! It’s so wasteful that it almost hurts! It’s like having all the lights and appliances in the house turned on, with no one home! read more

The Spirit of UBC
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On the Friday evening, as we sat at our usual table on the short wall of the UBC Gala Ball, Michel Guimond (a good friend of ours and judge at the event) turned around and asked Joel and me, “Did you ever compete in the Newcomer Club Closed events when you were at UBC?” I replied, “Yeah, I sure did!!!” Like many of you out there, I am part of that crazy group of students who did their first competition ever at the UBC Gala Ball after their Newcomer year at the Dance Club! read more

Are We Speaking the Same Language?
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Communication is so important in every aspect of life, whether it’s in the workplace, during play, within your family or in your personal life. On the dance floor, good communication can help to avoid misunderstandings, prevent arguments, accelerate your learning and improve your chances of success! read more

Women Trying to be Men
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Probably one of my biggest pet peeves out there on the ballroom dance floor is women trying to lead! OMG! Ladies: stop resisting the man and trying to control him! Maybe you do that in your personal life or at work, but there’s no place for it on the dance floor! read more

Down to the core
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How would you like to have a greater efficiency of movement, better balance and stability and increased power and control in your dancing? I know I would! Here’s how… read more