From our students...
DanceWise Student of the Month!
Susan B. is September's Student of the Month!
Why did you start dancing?
I started dancing when I was a kid (tap, jazz and ballet). Then in college, I started Swing Dancing and following Steve Conrad around the valley to any lesson I could find. I even helped form a swing dance club at ASU for a bit, the Swing Devils and went to a swing conference in Laughlin, Nevada. I was a double-major in dance and English Literature until I injured my knee (the first time). I was forced to drop the dance major. After college and knee surgery, I still wanted dance to be a part of my life, but knew that it would not be my profession. In 2008, I found ballroom dancing. I walked into a studio just asking for more information and I walked out after an impromptu lesson in sneakers and dance lesson package, and the rest is history.
What’s your favorite dance?
I’ve competed in American Smooth, American Rhythm, International Standard and International Latin. My heart is International Standard and Latin. If I had to pick from those: Waltz and Samba.
What’s your favorite memory at DanceWise?
My favorite memory predates “Dancewise” proper. It was my first competition with Paul. I had only been dancing international standard for a few months and I accidentally was entered in the OPEN GOLD scholarship heat. I was so scared. Paul was reassuring and told me basically to “hold on” and we’d get through it. And we did. I was just lucky I didn’t fall! At Dancewise proper, my favorite memory is making the showcase during COVID. I love how we all came together to make something creative in a time of crisis. But I don’t miss trying to dance with masks on, so hard to breathe!
Do you have any advice for other dancers?
Don’t get wrapped up in your head about flaws or mistakes. So many times when I feel low, I think about quitting because I’m not thin enough to be a dancer, not tall enough, not this or that enough. I focus on flaws at performances or competitions and forget about why I do this in the first place: because I can’t NOT do this. I’m always dancing. In the house, the grocery store, while cooking or doing laundry. My hero is Lorraine at the studio. I hope when I’m pushing 90, I can still dance and put a smile on everyone’s face.
The Student Spotlight of the Month is an opportunity to highlight the wonderful people that make up the Dancewise community. Each month, we'll randomly select one of our students to shine a spotlight on and celebrate their dance journey so far! Thank you for being part of our Dancewise Family!
About DanceWise
Dance Studio
At its core, ballroom dance is all about community! We are committed to fostering a friendly and inspiring atmosphere, as we believe this is essential for our students to thrive and develop their skills as dancers.
With over 60 years of combined ballroom dance experience, your feet are in good hands with DanceWise, the wisest choice in dance!
