Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

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about

I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

Month: February 2013

  • Trying To Look Cool While Not Getting Hit In The Face

    I was recently lamenting my lack of accessories.   False. I was recently lamenting my lack of accessories I like. And am allowed to wear. You see, I banned myself from wearing bracelets because I am obnoxious when I wear them.  Similarily to when I have fake nails on, I use my hands to talk…

  • Rear Your Child

    I'm fascinated by families.  Specifically, how families divide or share child-rearing responsibilities.   I've heard horror stories of dads who've never been alone with their kids.  HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?  I wonder what parents with 9-5 jobs do in the summer when their kid(s) aren't in school.  WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM?  I hear…

  • You’re Doing It Wrong

    No, this isn't a post about dancing (your crossover breaks or twinkles might still need some help, though).   Do you love oatmeal?  If you don't, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. Oatmeal is a delicious, fast, low-fat, mostly gluten-free, filling, and CHEAP breakfast food. But here's the thing: it can totally suck.  Ask my in-laws.  Horror…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love – Facebook Style

    How are you feeling today, Kate? Well, fake Facebook, here's my missing status reports for the week: – is not impressed by her own dancing prowess (says The G). – wants to add Nessun Dorma to her list of songs.  Pavarotti!   – fell down walking into the dance supply store.   – bought the…

  • When Practice Goes Bad

    Like Grizzly Man, often when people practice ballroom dancing, I'm waiting for something to go wrong.   Here's where you get in your own way: Mental Practice Here's the thing about mental practice, or visualization: you have to have done The Thing before you try to visualize yourself doing it.   "I tried it in…

  • Songs That Haunt Me

    Every once in awhile, there's a song that sticks.  In my head, in my heart, in my body.  And literally haunts my dreams.  Literally. 01 Suo Gan   This song, from the Empire of the Sun soundtrack, was in my dreams off and on leading up to V's arrival 4+ years ago.  I freaked out…

  • Giving Up

    It's Ash Wednesday and I'm Catholic, so you know I have to say something about Lent… I guess…   Actually, I'm kind of surprised I'm mentioning religion here.   … On with the show! For reference, I have been Catholic for… eight years?  For some reason, I decided I wanted to "get religious" that many years…

  • Possible Oxymoron: Dessert Fail

    New recipes go against my personality.  I like routine.  I don't like new things.  I like repetition.   Nonetheless, I've been looking up new recipes with abandon.  And then making them.   Last weekend, I tried making a copycat recipe of the Starbucks Toffee Almond Bar.  Did anyone else eat their weight in these, like I…

  • List of Last Week’s Labors of Love

    – cooked and baked all the things.  Seriously, I've been cooking 2-4 meals a day.  If I'm making a chicken so-and-so, I make the other chicken whatsit I have planned for later that week and throw the 2nd one in the freezer.  I have sooooo much food everywhere.  IT'S FANTASTIC! – said "screw you, healthy…