Dancing with the Champions

By Babette Brown
Fred Astaire Dance Studio Jupiter
Scottish Professional Champion

As you all know, “Dancing with the Stars” is back in full force, and I am enjoying what has turned into a very exciting season. Here in Jupiter (Fla.) we all cheer for Tony Dovolani and Jane Seymour, as he is member of our Fred Astaire family and we are all extremely proud to see him out there doing his very best.

That brings me right to my point - dancing with champions. What is it like? What do these celebrities have to go through in order to perform on such a high level in such a short amount of time? If you are someone who sits in front of the TV thinking, “I would love to be able to do that” or even, “I would love to be able to social dance just for fun,” this is how it works.

Learning to dance is a little bit like learning to play an instrument or learning a new language - it takes some time and you have to learn in stages of layering. First you learn the notes or the words, then you put simple melodies or sentences together and after a little while you can play a whole variety of songs or can talk to people in your new language. After you’ve mastered the basics you go to more complex songs and sentences – you read books and make conversation to improve and fine-tune your new skill. You will be able to use your new skills for many different reasons and will be able to apply them to different life situations.

This is also what it takes to learn to dance. There is a big difference between learning choreography and learning how to dance. The performances you see on TV are absolutely breathtaking and I personally admire the celebrities for all they achieve. But will they come out of it knowing HOW to dance? Most likely not, since they spend all their time mastering a certain choreography, which is, of course, the purpose of the show.

So what is the solution for those people who would love to perform like the stars and master a choreography dancing with a champion? Join the showcase at your local Fred Astaire Dance Studio. A showcase is a performance where every participant has prepared a special choreography to a special song. You can dance with a champion dancer or simply with your own partner, if you prefer. The process is exactly like “Dancing with the Stars.” You pick the music, learn the choreography and dance your heart out.

Now who can do this? Anyone? Or do you need a special dance background and to be fit and in top shape? Absolutely not. We hold showcases in our studio twice a year and we have participants of all ages, from 15 to 80 years old and from all backgrounds. So what are you waiting for? Check out your local Fred Astaire dance studio and enter the next Showcase to dance like the stars… or just for fun.