“Chasing the Dream-Sneers Away”

Changing Lives through Dancing by David Woodbury                                       

Arthur Murray Santa Monica

Do you dream? I do. I dream of my career. I dream of the Arthur Murray Dance Center and the success of our wonderful school. I dream often and I dream big.

What is the challenge of dreaming? Your most trusted friend and ally will tell you that you can’t do it. They will tell you to not move across the country for your dream, as you risk every in your life to make a hope a reality.

I have found out that when I do walk into the unknown, not knowing how I will support myself, where I will live, I have no fear. But yes, I have experienced dream killers all throughout my life.

No, don’t try that. Don’t buy a house. Don’t try to compete. Don’t work so hard. Take it easy, why are you working so much. While I was trying and succeeding, the dream spoilers where everywhere.

I remember one night years ago at the lobby bar at the Fontainebleau in Miami, I was 25 and out celebrating with friends after a big competition. I had won a top teacher award and had three champion students attend.

From out of the blue, one of the friends said, “You are brainwashed”. Your bosses are just using you. They are making money off of you while you are working yourself to death. They continued to verbally attack me for a while.

Well, as I am my mother’s son, I just quietly sat there. Then I finally spoke up. I replied, “Yes, I am brainwashed”. I just bought my first house. I just purchased my second brand new car. This year I took my full Judge’s Certification and began traveling and coaching and judging. On top of all of that, this past year I was top teacher in the nation I made more money than the executives in our executives in our school.

Oh, I forgot to add that I ran my first marathon this year and I experienced my conversion into the Catholic Church. I took a last sip of my drink, and said, “Yes, you are all correct, I am brainwashed” and I walked out leaving an astonished silent table behind me.

When I was a young ballroom dancer, I must have had a hearing problem, because when I was building my career, I just did not hear all the no’s, the you cant’s, the you shouldn’t’s. I just moved forward never turning to the right or the left.

Looking back, I really believe I was certainly not the most talented, even not the hardest worker, but I had a big dream and dogged determination.

Funny, as I look back 48 years, I would have said to myself to “do more”. And I could have done more. Yet, I did see many of my dreams come true. 48 years later, I’m now saying, keep on going!

As we recover from the closures from the pandemic, I am once again seeing my dream of success coming true. The difference is I’m 68 and my body is often angry with me. But I still have a dream and I am continuing to live my dream.

Are you a dreamer? Then I love you and support. Listen to your heart. Don’t be afraid. Make it happen!

Thanks for reading,

David Woodbury