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Pam Ross
I came to dance kicking and screaming, led by my husband at the time, about 8 years ago. We signed up for lessons at a local dance studio, where we learned our ballroom basics. My husband had an old-Hollywood vision of us dancing in formal wear at the Rainbow Room to Frank Sinatra.
Who would have thought that years later I'd be single and dancing in old jeans to the Pussycat Dolls. It was actually the song "Don't Cha" that I heard when I went to my first West Coast Swing class, some 3 years ago. Erik was teaching at Al's Place, a dive bar in Fairfield. The intermediate class was doing a routine to this song, and we beginners were watching in total awe. It was the first time I was at a dance class where people were dressed in cool casual clothing and the women were wearing flats. That appealed to me right away. And it was the first time I saw people partner-dancing to popular music. Exciting contemporary music. Music I would never have heard at a ballroom dance, and would never have heard at all if not for my exposure to this dance. I was hooked.
I phased out my participation in ballroom dance, though I do love a California Mix, when I can find one, because it gives a nice variety of dance options, including Hustle which I also learned from Erik. I try to social dance in the metro area and will go to the occasional dance event, especially one that is not focused on competition. It's great to be part of a dance community, to have made lasting friendships, and to now know how to dance to music I love. This is especially life-changing for me, because dancing was never part of my life.
When I'm not dancing I'm doing freelance writing/editing/research. I've developed many books and materials for educational publishers and am currently working on content development for a mobile app.