Art Is Back to Dancing!

I am hapy to report that Art is back to dancing less than 2 months after major back surgery. He started back to dance lessons about 2 weeks ago and has already worked up to 2 hours. He danced 2 hours of tango today without a break, then was a bit tired. After a 10 minute break, he danced Viennese Waltz for another 30 minutes. Awesome!

Betty

Successful Back Surgery

I am happy to report that Art's back surgery on March 24 was successful. He came home on Friday and is walking and climbing stairs. Although he is in low gear, and sleeping a lot, he is not in pain. So we'll be off the dance floor for awhile. We will be sorry to miss the Amateur Nationals next weekend in Baltimore, but hope to dance the following year.

Meanwhile, I plan to continue my pro-am dancing with Louis.

Betty

My March Garden

Here are some photos of the flowers coming up in my March garden.
Enjoy!
Betty

Dance Notes Gives Us a Rave Review!

Imagine our delight to receive the January/February issue of Dance Notes and find that it contains a rave review of Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies. OK, the reviewers, a competitive amateur dance couple, didn't like the title or the cover--but they loved what was inside. A few excerpts:

"It's so good that the competitive dancers in us want to keep the things we've learned a secret, but the book lover parts want to pass on a good find!"

"Not only are the answers in there, but they're easy to find because the book is well thought-out and nicely organized. Plus, each chapter's material is summarized at chapter's end. With the short chapters, the moments of thunderous self-enlightenment, and the lack of psycho-babble, you'll actually enjoy reading this book."

"With gentle humor, conversational ease, and some dead-on quotes, Betty and Art guide readers from the Bronze level of dance relationship skills (Respect, Responsibility, and Responsiveness) through the Gold level and beyond."

"Beginners will feel mentored. Long-time dancers will relate to their own struggles, and then feel validated to recognize how common their emotional issues are."

Thanks Paul and Mary Jo! (No, we really didn't pay them to write such a great review, but we surely appreciate it!)

Betty and Art

More Positive Feedback on Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies

We were gratified to get an email recently from a dancer who bought Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies at Maryland Dancesport. She wrote:

Both my husband and I read your book, Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies, and loved it! We both could relate to the experiences you shared, and found value in the summaries provided on how to address various challenges of partnering. What I liked most was the emphasis on enjoying the journey and letting go of perfectionism!

Thank you! We are delighted that you found it useful.

Betty and Art

Home at Last

We are home at last, tired but happy. Had a great visit with family in the east after the Bethesda comp.

Great story from a friend we saw at Maryland Dancesport who bought Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies at the Ohio Star Ball but hadn't read it yet. In the meantime, she lent it to her mother. After her mother read it, she returned it with the comment, "It's about relationships!"

Our friend commented, "My mother doesn't do relationships..." I guess she was disappointed...but that's where the challenge of partnered dancing lies.

Happy dancing,
Betty and Art

Had a Great Time at Maryland Dancesport

We had a wonderful time at the Maryland Dancesport Competition hosted in Bethesda by Glenis Dee Creger this past weekend. Thanks to Glenis' reputation as a top judge and coach, there was lots of good dancing--Pro-Am, Pro-Pro, and Amateur-- as well as a wonderful show choreographed by Wendy Johnson at the end of the Pro competition Saturday night.

A highlight for us was that Victor Fung and Anna Mikhed were entered in the International Standard competition. Although there was a very good field of dancers, Victor and Anna are so outstanding that when they are on the floor it is very hard to watch anyone else. They are so beautiful and powerful! Talk about dancing in harmony--wow!

We had brought copies of Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies to sell at the comp and John Depalma was kind enough to announce it from the podium. Thanks, John.

Betty and Art