After four years of competing as a pro/am student, my ballroom dance experience has come full circle. Here I was, preparing for my professional debut at the same competition where I first competed pro/am. My partner, Shane Haggerty, and I had pushed hard to be ready for competition after only three months of working together. Dancing at Snow Ball was the fulfillment of a dream for both of us; it was my first time competing at the professional level and Shane’s first time competing in all nine dances. And it was an absolute thrill!
I have not missed Snow Ball since I began dancing four years ago. It is an incredible experience to perform for such a supportive audience. All of the coaches we’ve worked with were able to see our dancing and give us immediate feedback. Our families and friends came out to cheer us on. Even our fellow professional competitors were encouraging (and surprisingly apologetic when we’d crash into each other). This support and enthusiasm from our local community will carry us the rest of the season, when we will surely encounter straighter-faced judges and spectators.
Snow Ball was also a great networking opportunity for us. The judges are the same people I’ve seen on my panels at Milwaukee and Ohio Star Ball, but because Snow Ball is still growing, the judges had time to meet us and get to know our dancing. In addition to the local coaches I know well (who also judge across the country), I met Chantal LeClerc (Seven-Time Undefeated Canadian 10 Dance Champion), Richard Booth (Organizer of Colorado Star Ball and Golden State Challenge), as well as Susan Puttock (U.S. Open Professional Standard Champion).
When we made the final, we heard many cheers from friends and fellow dancers, which helped make this first Professional Rising Star American Smooth event such a success for us. We now feel ready to spread our wings and travel to other locations, where we may have to work a little harder to get the crowd on our side. But thanks to you, we’ll have the momentum to do it.
