LuvSeason18 wrote:

Thanks CEK for the recap of the previous castle. Hope tonight is another good one. Like I said, I enjoyed yesterday's a lot. One of the better written ones of the season. Imo

Luv I enjoyed Sunday's show too...they seem to be getting back to the way they use to be....YAY
Didn't watch last night but I recorded it.

tangodancer208 wrote:

april6263 wrote:

tangodancer208 wrote:

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!   I hope it's warmer where you are.   I'm still in my hotel in NYC.  My morning flight was cancelled because of snow at home.   I'm rebooked on a 6 p.m. flight.  It looks on the map like the snow will stop early afternoon, so everything should be fine by this evening.  However, I'll have to spend the day at the airport, because I need to check out by noon.  

This has been a very eventful and fun week, topped off by learning about Maks' and Val's summer tour.   Lots of exciting things going on.   I have been in NYC since Wed. for a conference.   When I wasn't working, I was at DWM Soho for lessons.   They started on Wed. evening with 3 lessons.   As I was changing my shoes and packing up afterward, Leanne came out of the work room and starting saying something.   She had a birthday cake for me (my birthday was Monday).   I was flabbergasted.  I knew they did celebrate people's birthdays, but it never dawned on me that they would do that and several days after the fact.   Everyone sang, and all the guys danced a few steps of salsa with me.   

So over the past several months, 3 different instructors had suggested to me about participating in the Summer Invitational.  This is an inter-studio dance competition that will be the first week in June.   I have danced for years but never, ever competed.   I asked about it, and well, the rest is history.   Leanne signed me up for just about everything.   I'm competing over the 3 days, in all the styles.   That's 19 dances.  I'll probably dance mostly with Anton and David, a couple with Kosta, and maybe, Andrei.  Just so much fun, but I'm a little freaked out by this.   I can't believe I agreed to 19 dances.  That's American rhythm (1) cha cha (2) rumba (3) swing (4) bolero (5) mambo; American smooth (6) fox trot (7) waltz (8) tango (9) Viennese waltz; International Latin (10) cha cha (11) rumba (12) samba (13) jive (14) paso doble; and international ballroom (15) fox trot (16) waltz (17) tango (18) Viennese waltz (19) quickstep.

I'm also definitely going to see Maks and Val in St. Louis, and I hope Nashville the next night.  

My husband called while I was there, and I stepped outside into the stairwell where there was less noise to talk to him.   Found myself sitting in the spot where MnM filmed the Hermès vase video before Sway 2.0.   A little twinge to the heart, esp. when they started playing their fox trot song.   

Anyway, as you all know, it's all about Maks for me.  If he's happy, I'm ok with it.  I'm glad to see he's starting to look happier now, esp. talking about the tour.   Well, I need to get out of here and on my way to the airport.

More soon.

OMG!! GOOD LUCK in the Invitational.....we will be cheering for you!!!....that is alot of dances.....do you have to learn new ones or are they ones you already know????? 

Fortunately, April, I've done them all at one point or another.   We haven't studied American style much at all in the last 13 years, but it was first we learned, with the exception of swing & bolero which we do regularly.   I had never done jive until a month ago, but it's basically swing with the high knees.   We took a few paso doble lesson 15 years ago, but I've never really danced it, as it's not played much.   But I think it'll all fall together, and the man leads, so I just have to trust my teachers and follow!  With style!

I also want to send a heartfelt hug and thanks to Cassidy.  Were it not for her recap of her experience at the very first Sway, I would never have had the inspiration to go to Sway 2.0.   I knew from the way she told her story how special it could be.   I went with a healthy dose of skepticism but great hopes, and look what happened!  I met almost everyone, including Maks who was so wonderful to me.   Now I've met almost all of the fam and most of them know me.   I got to rumba with Maks, and I think he even had fun.   Now I'm going to be a full participant in one of their events.   If I stop to think of it all, I get very emotional.     

Every single person I've met involved with the studios has been awesome, friendly and welcoming.  They always go the extra step to make you feel special.  I don't think any of this is an accident.  I think it comes from the top, and I think it is a conscious policy that is ingrained in their management and cultivated in the people they hire.   It also means that they treat their employees like family so that they in turn feel like treating the students as family.   I cannot reiterate enough what a special experience this has been every step of the way.

Tango, again I am so happy for you that you are able to experience time with DWM Studios and SWAY...I agree with you, and I have had no contact directly with them that they seem to be close and passionate with their craft. From what I have read about them and those that have attended their sessions they have all had wonderful positive experiences as well.  
So nice to have you be able to tell us about your experiences ....