Written by my dedicated student Robert Ward.
WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE . . . A STUDENT TESTIMONIAL . . .
I began taking lessons with Sonia in February 2004 intending to brush up on salsa and merengue for club dancing. Sonia taught me to refine my basic skills in those dances and then asked if I'd be interested in learning cha cha for a forthcoming showcase. Sonia already had students covering salsa and swing, and she hoped to sign someone up to represent cha cha. In late March 2004, Sonia planned a dance showcase where we could select our own music and perform our own choreography. The music was the hot beat of a Santana cha cha and audience fell in love with the routine. Sonia had her videographer record the dancing, and it ended up being the smash DVD of the season for my seven year old son!!!
Three more showcases came in May 2004, August 2004 and then in February 2005 with dances in both tango and cha cha. I was itching for competition having tasted the sweet rush of live performance. Sonia presented me with news of a dance competition Houston's own Randy Ferguson was organizing for mid May 2005. I jumped at the chance and begged Sonia to sign me up for every dance possible. Sonia exercised appropriate judgment and restraint and had me focus on ten dances, instead of over 20 possible!
In mid-March and April 2005, we began having lessons three to four times a week as my business travel schedule would permit. We had our work cut out for us. Our dances were foxtrot, walz, tango, cha cha, rumba, east coast swing, salsa, merengue, mambo and paso doble!!! Dance time for each was pegged at 45 seconds to 1 minute and 15 seconds. Not a great deal of floor time ultimately, but it was time that had to be put to strategic use in terms of executing the basics in rhythm to the music, as well as patterns and styling appropriate for the dance and my level of experience as a pre-bronze newcomer.
When Sonia found out two weeks before the competition that I had to travel on business three days before and including the first day of our American smooth dances (foxtrot, tango and walz), I offered to cut a deal with my company for flextime. With my company's generous understanding, I practiced with Sonia both first thing in the mornings as well as in the evenings for a week and two days. I left on my business trip, made a presentation to the U.S. Government on behalf of two of our divisions the same day of our first dances and made it back in time to warm up with Sonia.
While I was struggling to get back to Houston in time, Sonia had made appointments with her make-up artist. She dressed up in a lovely ballroom gown our first night of American smooth on May 12, 2005 while I dawned my tuxedo. She was an elegant, graceful and radiant beauty. We danced our way to three first place finishes in each of our American smooth dances that evening. The next day, Sonia met with her make-up artist at 7:30 a.m. and emerged as the most stunning latin dressed goddess upon whom I've ever laid eyes!!! I wore my latin dance shoes, dance pants and a latin muscle shirt. We ended up placing first in four dances and second in the remaining three dances.
The experience was nothing short of magnificent! It definitely falls in the category of one of those lifetime memories I will always cherish. The high one feels during competition, upon receiving awards as well as watching other dancers perform their best is pure elation. Moreover, the focus one musters in preparing for competition is a great exercise for all areas of one's life where discipline and goal setting play such an important role. My own preparation even involved getting on a full fitness program Sonia recommended called "Body for Life". In short, preparing for competition evolved into a total fitness program for me of mind, body and spirit - simply awesome!
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Patricia A. Martinez
My First Dance Performance
Last summer, I attended my first social dance party at Sonia's. I remember all the performances how wonderful they were: Students performing ChaCha, Rumba and Swing! I never would have thought I would be performing myself in a few months. I had just graduated with my Master degree from the University of Saint Thomas; I wanted to reward myself for all the hard work I wanted to have a little fun! Dancing was the answer. Plus, I had always wanted to learn to dance.
I started at Sonia’s with the singles group salsa class offered, but once summer was over, I switched to private lessons course that Sonia constructed for me. Signing up for private lessons was the best decision I made! At Sonia’s my previous instructor taught me the basics, but my currents instructor Chad put all the pieces together. I have to give Chad a lot of credit since he did not know what I had learned when he first took over in December 2007. Chad is a great teacher. I really enjoy my lessons. We always have fun in the midst of my frustrations and stepping on his toes! All the hard work paid off when we performed at Sonia’s General Dance Social on January 26th, 2008.
It was my first dance performance. I was excited, but not nervous at first. Once the performance began, I finally started getting nervous; I had been years since I had last performed. As Chad escorted me to the dance floor, I got over it. After all, Chad would be dancing with me. Soon, I was smiling and performing the Waltz. I felt like a princess as I glided across the dance floor. For the first time in my life, I was really dancing! I was happy and very proud.
Learning to dance has been very rewarding. Not only am I learning about different dances, but I am learning more about myself and life lessons. Dancing is one of life’s unexpected gifts to me. A gift I really enjoy and will treasure in years to come.
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Written by our Precious Hip Hop & Salsa Student Robbie Ward ( Age 8)
Robbie's Recital
I love performing, it is mentally challenging!! I like to win the trophies! My Hip Hop teacher Brette is soooo nice, she's GREAT! Sonia is nice too, she is my dad's teacher. GO Brette & Sonia! GO! GO! GO! I love the feeling, I want to stay on stage all the time. Go to Sonia's World of Dance, IT'S AWESOME!
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Written by our dedicated student Carol Mohrman.
I’m not a TV watcher at all; my true confession is that I don’t even know how to turn it on (what with the various remote controls, cable stations, etc.). Yes, I’ve heard about the show, ‘Dancing with the Stars’, but of course I’ve never watched it. The fact that Joel and I are beginning a course of dance lessons has nothing to do with this show, and our aspirations are not to dance like those showboats do. It is merely a desire to do something fun together and learn a new social skill while having a so-called, ‘date night’. Actually, it was Joel’s idea.
We met at the Sonia’s World of Dance studio in Houston this week. Don’t call us Fred and Ginger yet, but after only one lesson, we both learned that the key to dancing smoothly together is not your feet. Proper placement of and subtle pressure from the hands is what directs the movement of the feet without having to actually look at the feet. Who knew?
We ate a post-dance supper out after our first lesson and vowed to practice our newfound skills faithfully. Then as I was returning home, a call from Mom came to say that Dad was going to the ER in an ambulance, and could I come pick her up and take her to the hospital? So much for that date!
The very next day, a call came from the animal hospital to say that our Bailey was ready to go home after 12 days of being confined after his surgery. As you can imagine, he’s been a real stick-tight ever since, and although I’m not really sure what Shadow thinks about all this, I do know that between them both, it’s sometimes difficult to maneuver!
With all the excitement of bouncing between Dad and dog, several days passed before we had an opportunity to practice our new dancing skills. Given the recent Velcro behavior of our pups, ‘Dancing with the Dogs’ is an apt description of what took place next. Did I mention that we had gotten to the point where we don’t have to look at our feet? Well! Those two dogs were certainly watching our feet! They were heeling to our feet. But it was confusing to them when we’d change direction, and we ended up stepping on one or the other… maybe we need to train THEM to dance with us! How cool would that be?
Suffice it to say, there is an underlying atmosphere of joy in our household with the return of our sweet Bailey (and the current stability of Dad’s health). Dancing seems an appropriate way to celebrate, and so we shall continue to do so, dogs and all!
…and the ‘old shall be merry’
The Oliver Kids Team
On behalf of the Oliver Kids Team, I would like to thank you for making our staff wellness training a success! The goal for my training this year was to introduce my staff to new and exciting ways to keep their bodies fit and healthy. Your Latin Aerobics class was not only FUN, but it was an energetic workout. I think we sometimes feel the only way we can keep our mind and bodies in shape is sweating it out at the gym. However, after your class, I think my staff will definitely rethink those gym memberships and look for a dance floor to practice their new moves!
Everyone raved about your class and told me how they were going to look in to taking lessons with you in the future. Thanks to you and your great dance moves, my staff can now see that dancing is not only enjoyable, but it’s a great way to release energy and burn calories. Mission accomplished! The Oliver Kids Team will definitely be using your services again for our future trainings and workshops. Thank you again for making this one of our most memorable trainings!
Cheers,
Amanda Fisher
Nutrition and Wellness Educator
The Oliver Kids Team
