OK. I am doing it!

I love DWTS, which stands for Dancing With The Stars on ABC, in case you live on the Moon don't know. Well, actually I have to say WE love DWTS, because our entire family watching it religiously every Monday night (in real time) and Tuesday morning again, but now scrolling through commercials and enjoying the most favorite dances.

 Last season, I have decided to sketch all female costumes from the entire season of DWTS, and I should tell you - it is a lot of fun, I have challenged myself on my never-developed-but-so-wanted sketching skills and had a great time watching the genius of Costume design team, that I am sure secretly employ some of Cinderella's mice and birds, to create the magic that we see, otherwise there is no humanly possible explanation of this on-going production!

When this season had started I was telling myself, that I should not/could not/must not do it, but.... I gave up. This creative ride is so fun that I am doing it again. I will start with the Episode 6, that was released on April 25th and will trace it back to the very beginning of Season 22, with one little correction: I am not going to do all of the dresses, but majority of them, which covers pretty much 95% ( I told you, I love the show) The remaining 5% will be the dresses that do not inspire me as much, or not unique, or could be found elsewhere... There! I got it out and feel much better now - disclaimers rock!

SEASON 22, EPISODE 6, APRIL 25TH, 2016

The idea behind each sketch is to demonstrate the costume, to illustrate main lines,but  not to critique

Kim Fields and Sasha Farber danced the jive. Kim's dress  looked simple, but on closer look - it had lots of details. Inspired by musical Hairspray, the dress was mainly black, with black and white checkerboard pattern insert on the front and an adorable bow along the neckline. It had flirty style, and was very excellent choice for the dance. 

Von Miller and Witney Carson danced jazz routine to "Bad" Michael Jackson. OK, on a person level, this routine and Witney's outfit I am ready to rock myself on any day and at any time!!!! (just saying!) Entirely black unitard, with fingerless gloves, tall lace-up boots and yes, the heavily embellished with rhinestones vest in totally Jackson Style (zippers, pockets. etc) 

Paige VanZant and Mark Ballas danced jazz routine in costumes inspired by Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. Paige was wearing 70th inspired dress. with heavily embellished headband and the cutest substitute for GoGo Boots - she danced in white knee high socks and white latin style dance shoes covered in rhinestones. 

Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd danced Quick Step from The Mask. Peta's dress with low cut back in champagne color with long fringe and golden embroidery on the front and on the back was simply stunning! The sketch doesn't do the justice!

Ginger Zee and Valentine Chmerkovskiy danced jazz to Nasty by Janet Jackson. Ginger looked picture perfect in her period-perfect outfit, featuring black unitard, with long lose black jacket, mesh dancing boots and with only two bling pieces - her long shiny chain and shiny buckle.

Doug Flutie and Karina Smirnoff did Bollywood routine inspired by "Jay Ho" song from Slumdog Millionaire. Karina had a very creative and simple solution inspired by the movie: she was wearing tight body hugging jeans, with white bustier and yellow scarf attached to it. 

Wanya Morris and Lindsay Arnold danced jazz routine to Bye Bye Bye. Lindsay's tiny frame looked amazing in leather looking sleeveless unitard with low cut front. 

Antonio Brown and Sharna Burgess danced jive. Retro weightless pastel colored dress created a perfect soft background to Antonio kicking it high!

This episode featured mostly black outfits and some yellow tones, with the exception of Sharna's dress.

 Can't wait to see the next set of costumes tonight! Thank you for stopping by!

Sincerely, Violet (a.k.a. #ballroomdancemom)

Have you danced in a desert?

Desert Classic Dancesport Championship was the first BIG out of state competition for my daughter.  It usually takes place in the beginning of July in Desert Springs and is a very well attended event.

Before the competition, I was told it was big, but what is big? Well, let me tell you it is BIG! I have never seen an army of dancing kids before. Multi colored competition dresses of Teddy Bears and pre-teen, fancier dresses of older kids EVERYWHERE! The floor in the bathroom looked like Swarowsky commercial shot - covered in rhinestones, the smell of self tanners and a hair spray, shouting parents, running kids. I started to feel a little anxiety, but the calm and quiet voice of daughter shooked me right back in: So, where are we going to dance, mom?  She was standing next to me, happily looking around, ready to go, and this entire scene took me to the very beginning of my daughter's ballroom experience - she started dancing, because she loved it, and that's why she enjoying it so much, and the competition is just another way of doing what she loves - nothing else (right?!)  Why am I telling this story? Our dance studio is having Igor Suvorov for coaching sessions. Him and his wife are the owners of Desert Classic Dancesport Championship and being an avid Googler, I have decide to type in his name and see what happens. Well, first of all, I found this interview dated 2010. 

The funniest thing is at the very end, when they talk about 5 or 6 kids attending the competition, and how cute they are. Well the beginning of this post I talk about 2015 and hundreds of kids were attending, and then I found this video

and it explains the attention that these two are getting up to this day and why they are living legends, and why Igor Suvorov is so desirable as a coach and so respected among professionals. I can watch this video non - stop - two people, who love to dance and enjoying it! After all that what it's all about!
Happy Thursday!

Best Idea for Friday!

That's what happens!

What is your sport?

Four years ago.... Playground. Kids climbing, running around. My daughter laughing loudly trying to catch up with the rest, but she wasn't the best at any of that - she was chubby, wasn't the fast runner, had trouble climbing on play structure, but she always had a great time and the happiest smile! Watching one of her climbing attempts that day, I kinda said out loud : C'mon! Get up there, kiddo! and another mom, sitting next to me, turned around and said with the sweetest smile: "Oh, it's OK! Not everyone should be athletic"

Four years forward. My daughter is no longer that chubby struggling little kid, she is a fast runner , fearless climber and most of the time she is ahead of her group, but she still laughs loud and finds joy in being with her friends. She is very athletic and I often get a question, what kind of sport does she do?  Here it is!

Have a great Thursday! Be the change!

3 STEPS ON HOW TO MAKE YOUR NEXT BALLROOM DANCE COMPETITION LESS STRESSFUL

If your kid is in competitive ballroom dancing, you've been there, you've done it! If you are thinking of jointing the competitive crown, then you will see, but in both cases I think this infographic will serve you well. At least, you will get something to think about! 

3 steps_to less stress on competitionInfographic

Bronze? Silver? Gold? What does it mean?

As a Ballroom Dance Mom (do not mistake with Dance Moms!) you know things, different things! Things that could relate to Ballroom directly or may be completely out of it, but still relate to Ballroom (it's strange, I know) I will be sharing both, but I will start with the basic.
The phrase "My daughter just did Full Silver Close" could make a perfect sense and be a no brainer for one ("Hello! Ballroom Dance parent!) or could sound as Japanese for someone else, whose kids just starting in ballroom, or that parent didn't find time (yet!) to read an exciting set of rules and regulations created by NDCA (Love you, NDCA! My annual fees are solid proof of it!) that could be found here

In any case, I have created this Infographic (it's a fancy word for a visual explanation of complicated and boring material  that no one is looking forward to actually read) to help. It will help you to visualize your kids journey in the world of ballroom!

Ballroom 101 Close Bronze, silver, goldInfographic

I am looking forward to hear your feedback, or suggestions

and not only on Monday!