Short time to Showcase

Next week is the last week of practice before Showcase. So we’ve doubled up on Tuesday as well as the typical double on Wednesday. Yesterday was routine day and today will just be going over the other dances.

This is where the cost of doing this becomes an issue. Certainly, the more you practice, the more prepared you will be and, hopefully, things will go better at the actual event. But lessons aren’t free so things must be balanced. And I think a few extra lessons before Showcase is a good investment.

Yesterday was an example of why moving to the afternoon was a good idea. It is still a little weird to show up around lunch time but, most of the time, we are the only students on the floor so it gives you the room to do the routine and it gives you control of the music. There was another student with us yesterday but that is still better than having to navigate around four or five other students/couples.

The Argentine Tango continues to be solid. We actually just did that one once and then decided to leave it. That’s usually how things go. You do a cold run to see where you are. If it is a good cold run, and there are no major flubs, then it is best to leave on a high note. It kind of means the routine is in a good place so further practice might be counter productive. I don’t know if that is true but it tends to be how things go.

I was actually a little shocked with how well the Viennese Waltz went given the problems I’ve had with it. We did run it a few times because there was one newer section that was still a little problematic. But, if we perform it at Showcase like we did yesterday, then I’ll be happy with it.

Then we worked on the two routines we have planned for November. One is still a work in progress. She added some more choreography but there is still more needed. Expect we will put that one into overdrive once we get through this first Showcase. Already have a coaching lesson lined up to work on this routine as well.

I’ve also been doing a little shopping for things to wear – both for the routines and for the general dancing. Couldn’t really find anything that fit the theme of the event. You look for magic and you get wizard cloaks or fake tuxedos that stage magicians supposedly wear. Neither really appealed so I won’t be in any sort of costume for the evening portion. But the Viennese Waltz song does fit the theme so at least we have that.

I guess most hobbies that are physical activities do require some amount of practice – at least if you want to progress and get better. I do wonder sometimes if my friends and family who see the videos I post realize just how much work goes into that 90 seconds on the floor. Wonder if they would think I’m crazy for spending so much time doing this.

Yeah, I just do this naturally. Practice is the time I focus way too much on what went wrong. When I get out on the floor at an event, I’m just having fun.