Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury
Arthur Murray Santa Monica
Have you ever walked into a dance studio and watched the dancers enter? You always know them because they have on so many clothes to stay warm and they have at least to gigantic bags on them, perhaps a drink in their hand, and a shoulder bag or a backpack. It’s a true giveaway that they are the teachers and or students.
One of the top coaches we have in our school came in with a mini espresso machine. And he proceeded to make espresso coffee for us!
I almost always have two huge bags with me. Why, because I am going to need something that day that is important. First there are two bottles of water and a lunch that I made at home and brought with me at a fraction of the cost of purchasing food out.
Then dance shoes, a sewing kit, a zip lock full of safety pins. Cologne and a makeup kit. A journal, a plastic holder of pens and Sharpies. I have 4 phone chargers and my mobile phone. A journal. Sometimes my laptop. Treats. Kleenex and WetWypes. A hat, a jacket, a couple of scarves. Studio and home keys. 2 Garage openers. Several pairs of glasses and sunglasses. A million pens. Bayer aspirin. Chewing gum and mints. More treats.
3 to 4 bottles of cologne. My Chamber of Commerce name tag. Stamps. Charger cables. Business cards. My wallet. Business Cards.
Sometimes I have event papers and a plastic portfolio for special papers to carry them to and from home and work. Thank you notes. Perhaps music on memory sticks. Several masks for when I’m around someone who is coughing up a lung and they say its “allergies”. Eye drops. Disinfectant lotion.
So why do I always have all this stuff with me? Inevitably, someone needs a safety pin, a Sharpie, some aspirin, a charger and a cable. I’m asked for a breath mint. I may need to go and pick up some food or studio supplies so I may empty out one of my bags to use at the market.
If you are a guy, you will say “no way” until the day you walk into your Arthur Murray dance class with your shoe bag and your other bag with water and your “things” that you need to get through your lesson.
If you’re a woman, you just want to cross check my contents list with you. A woman’s bag will often have some items I don’t need, but have at the school just for them.
If you have small kids, you’re nodding your head. If you have teenagers, you have a van. If you have college students, you have a U-Haul to move all their stuff.
Every day we leave home for our school, we have hangers with costume changes, a bag of costumes accessories, including top of our 2 “daily bags”.
This is just a wonderful part of being a ballroom dancer. We travel ready. We arrive early and prepared. We’re ready for any emergency and we know how to glue shoes, sew a costume, fix shoestrings. We can do it all and we all love it! We’re Ballroom Dancers.
Recently I was the closing speaker for a big training weekend, and I had prepared for months for this great honor. An hour before the event, the organizer called me and said the opening speaker missed his flight and would I open the whole event. I was so ready, I immediately said yes, and I did indeed open the weekend with a presentation to the general assembly. I was ready with my finished draft of my notes and I was fully ready. The funny thing was not only did the presentation go very well, I was able to relax for the whole weekend and I was able to connect with many, many of the attendees answering questions and chatting with them. It was a true blessing and a privilege.
Your assignment: go to Amazon and order 2 big shoulder bags and a good backpack. Watch the first time you pack them. Oh, I need my shoes, water, treats, a jacket. My dance notebook. And your list will grow and grow. When your teacher and dance friends see you coming in with your Winnebago of stuff, they will all know that you have arrived, and you are now a great dancer!
Guess what? Carry all this heavy stuff around with you, and you will find yourself truly light on the dancefloor because you are prepared.
Enjoy your holidays!
Thanks for reading!
Here’s to dancing in 2024!
David Woodbury