Competition Tips

5-Step Competition Warmup

A good warmup is essential for competition success.  Not only does it prime your body to perform at its best, but it also prevents injury and is good for your health in the long run.  Don’t go straight into a 5-dance cold and expect to dance well.  You need to spend a good chunk of…

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An Interview with Amber Blair

Meet Amber Blair… Chemist during the day, outdoors aficionado on weekends and ballroom dancer at night.   Name: Amber Blair Nickname: “Bambi” Age:  27 years old Education:  Master of Science in Chemistry Current Occupation:  Scientific Communications and Publishing Coordinator at STEMCELL Technologies.  Amber’s main role is to write weekly science newsletters covering a variety of immunology…

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Competition Checklist

Island Fantasy Ball is this weekend in Nanaimo! Since it’s an out-of-town competition, I thought it would be a good time to bring out my old Competition Checklist again. I’ve posted it quite a few times, but I think it’s a good reminder so that you don’t forget anything for your trip! read more

Ballet versus Ballroom Training Approach

Everyone knows that ballet is a very technically demanding form of dance. The strength, balance, flexibility and precision required to dance ballet is quintessential. No one would argue that fact. However, in ballroom dancing, for whatever reason, the strength, balance and flexibility that all dancers admire and respect, seem to fall by the wayside and the focus is more on learning steps and routines. read more

The Inner Sound of Dance

Clara showed me some of the feedback from our Robson Square show on her Facebook wall the other day. Among all the very cool comments (which btw, thanks everyone!), there was a question posted about whether or not I make the same sounds I did during our solo Waltz demonstration as I did in competition. read more

Interview with Emanuel & Tania – Part I

At the Snowball Classic earlier this year, Joel and I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with the winners of the IDSF Standard event, Emanuel Valeri & Tania Kehlet. Although Emanuel is Italian, the couple represents Denmark and are currently ranked 2nd in the IDSF Standard World Ranking List. Having traveled to Denmark and having trained with their Danish coach, Hans Laxholm, ourselves, Joel and I had a lot to talk to them about. read more

The Olympic Athlete’s State of Mind

One of my favourite things about the Olympic coverage was definitely the interviews that were conducted with the athletes, their coaches and families… The theme that keeps coming back over and over again through these interviews is how important an athlete’s state of mind is. Sure, hard work, of course, is a key ingredient to success. But it definitely isn’t all there is. read more

Interview with Simone & Annette – Part 2

As you can see from this hard working and dedicated couple, success does not come easily. You have to be patient and focused; you have to work hard and be committed; and you have to have faith and believe strongly in what you are doing… All vital ingredients to get you to the top! read more
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