LOVE HAS NO LIMITS!  Things in Life don’t always work out as PLANNED!! We go thru life hoping we have control over our children and our everyday situations. 10 years ago, last Christmas I lost my middle son Brett in a car accident. After my family loss I was thrown into having only two options. 1, fall deep into depression, have everyone feel sorry for me and live a depressing life. OR…  HONOR my son in the best and most POSITIVE way and get up each and every morning with a PURPOSE!! I chose the latter. For the last 10 years, all in my 50’s I was blessed and honored to have 4 wonderful gentlemen to Cabaret Theater Arts Ballroom dance, Ice dance and Pairs ice skate with. It’s been a whirlwind of tremendous experiences and challenges. I was given the best GIFT anyone could ever have in life and that was to be able to express myself through the feeling and emotions of dance and music. This has allowed ME personally to FULLY grieve and heal positively thru MY physical, mental and emotional body and mind through joy, happiness and self-worth. I set out on this journey to not have a destination but to live life to the fullest. 

As I reviewed the list for a new sport I could try, I noticed the list included archery, fencing, marathon running (in the dead of winter in Ohio, I don’t think so) and numerous other sports, none of which I was drawn to. Just then an old acquaintance approached me and asked why I looked so perplexed. I told him I was committed to selecting a sport that would be challenging, exhilarating, fun and allow me to be able to compete in the 2013 Arnold Classic Event. He suggested, with my athletic ability in gymnastics combined with my strength in fitness I would be a natural in Theater Arts Ballroom Dancing which requires lifting and acrobatic moves similar to Cirque du Soleil.

When I returned home I realized I was at a major turning point in my life. I could either allow my grief to consume me or I could transform this energy into something positive. I knew I had the ability and believed if I could dig deep enough, I would find the courage to make the change. After several days of soul searching I made my decision. I would dance; yes dance my way into the next stage of my life. Now, all I needed was a partner.

I contacted a friend who just happened to be a ballroom dancer and asked her for suggestions in finding a partner. She said “Look for a partner the same way you would look for a date.” “Post an ad on professional Ballroom dancing and Cirque du Soleil type websites. Be very clear that you are looking for a committed partner to take this journey with you. Include exactly what you’re looking for; the characteristics you want; the criteria they need to have and exactly what you expect of them on various levels to find the right match.”

In less than a week I posted my ad and immediately started getting responses. I scheduled appointments to meet and interview each potential partner. Just a few days later I was having dinner with a friend at a local restaurant. I was excitedly (and apparently loudly) telling her about my new adventure and my search for a committed partner. Suddenly a very handsome young gentleman stopped by our table. He introduced himself, indicating he was a professional ballroom dancer and happened to overhear our conversation.

As it turned out he had been going through some of life’s difficulties on his own. He was in a bit of a rut, searching for a new purpose and direction for his life. Perhaps this could be what he had been searching for. He decided to dive right in and invited me to his studio for a trial lesson.

In April 2012 we began training. Little did we know how hard and grueling this would be physically and emotionally. It’s been said that “patience is a virtue.” Unfortunately, it was one we both were in need of!

Despite his dance background and my fitness training we quickly realized this type of dance would require forms of exercise and training we hadn’t previously learned. We had to hire acrobatic, theater arts and ballroom dance coaches as well as physical trainers to whip us into shape. Developing the strength and learning to perform a variety of acrobatics tricks and lifts while remaining perfectly coifed and gracefully gliding across a dance floor is no easy task. All this for a “3 minute” routine! In addition to all the physical bruises our egos suffered a few bruises of their own.