San Francisco Dance-o-Rama 2007
I just spent the weekend participating in the 2007 San Francisco Dance-o-Rama. I have to run to the airport now, but it was a fantastic weekend and I’m even taking home a little something! ;o)
Update: It looks like a couple people have already found my site via Google searching for info on the San Francisco Dance-o-Rama - I’m not sure what they were looking for, but allow me to post a little more info. In addition to my day job, I spend anywhere from four to sixteen-plus hours a week taking ballroom dance lessons. This past weekend was the Arthur Murray Area 6 Dance-o-Rama, held in the lovely Grand Hyatt in San Francisco, CA. A dance-o-rama consists of (at least) two days of constant dancing competing against hundreds of other students from studios across the country. I personally had 52 “entries”, plus two solo routines, and a group formation - to give a little perspective, the top instructor had 307 entries dancing with various students. My instructor came in 2nd with 297(?) or so entries - congrats. 
It was a great weekend, though. Dancing, especially competitively, is a great rush and when we weren’t dancing we were cheering on our fellow students and teachers. As noted above, I did pretty well taking first or second in nearly every heat I competed in. I only recently (in the past year) took up this hobby and I am very pleased and surprised at how well I did. I am already looking forward to the next competition I’m going to which will either be in Chicago in the fall (if I can finance it…) or Hawaii at the beginning of 2008. I’d love to go to Chicago so I can re-unite with my original Arthur Murray studio as well as see all my old friends, but I will have to budget very stringently in the next few months in order to do so. I also have a lot of work in front of me in order to step up to the next level in the dance world and compete at the level that I want to.
15 Comments so far
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Congragulations Damon! I wish your dance contest was in upstate NY so I could have seen it. Is there a web site I can go to that will tell me more about it?
By ellieon 04.30.07 4:39 am
Unfortunately, no, but I’ll write up a bit more about it once I get my scores back.
By Damonon 04.30.07 6:15 pm
I saw you there, you did a great job! I was surprised at how much you have improved since the last time I saw you dance.
By deck girlon 05.01.07 12:00 pm
This was the first dance o rama I’ve attended and I came as a spectator. The competition was fantastic to watch - makes me want to compete. congratulations on your award!
By michelleon 05.02.07 12:53 pm
We’re so proud of you! It would be so much fun to watch you dance. Does your Mom have any of this on dvd? Isn’t it great to latch on to something like dance that you really LOVE to do??? Next family reunion I’ll teach you a little “country,” NOT line, but Schottisch, Cotton-eyed Joe, Cowboy Cha-cha. You game?? I’ll bring the music.
By lauriannjaneon 05.02.07 7:36 pm
Thanks, deck girl! And Michelle, my first dance-o-rama that I attended was what got me hooked on dancing for good - it’s so much fun!
Ant Lauri - there was actually a _large_ contingent from Texas at this competition so there was all manner of country western dancing - CW cha cha, CW waltz, CW swing, CW shuffle, CW two-step (which I did!), CS three-step…there was a lot! I’m in for the next reunion!
By Damonon 05.03.07 11:19 am
So, are you going to dance with me at the Summer Showcase??
By deck girlon 05.03.07 3:19 pm
Damon, I’m sorry we missed you in our home town. We would have been there to cheer you on. I have to ask… are there youtube videos?
By Mikeon 05.03.07 10:14 pm
Of course, deck girl - all you need to do is ask!
As for the youtube videos, no…not yet.
By Damonon 05.04.07 11:09 am
I’m going to hold you to that. Any specific dance? WCS is my thing, although I’m not picky.
By deck girlon 05.04.07 2:33 pm
Sounds like a deal.
I can rock some WCS, although I’ll need to pick up a few new moves before showcase.
By Damonon 05.04.07 5:06 pm
ok, so hopefully you are going to the zoo tonight and you’ll west coast me there
By deck girlon 05.22.07 4:47 pm
I wish I had seen this earlier! What a great WCS, even though it was just a bit fast. I’m glad I got to dance with you and I’m looking forward to next time - I’ll be practicing!
By Damonon 05.23.07 1:00 am
I agree WAY too fast. The slower, the better. BTW -You still owe me one for showcase! =)
By deck girlon 05.23.07 11:56 am
thanks for the cha cha, I enjoy dancing with you.
By deck girlon 06.04.07 10:29 am
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