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.

Category: Dancetastic

  • A Little Explanation of Judges’ Marks – Steps and Choreography

    Remember me? "Me" being this damn pyramid, of course.  If you need a refresher of what's been going down: Overview and Timing Posture Footwork Characteristics of the Dance Steps and Choreography Here's what should happen: you dance 5 steps or amalgamations… tops. you dance down: Bronze in Silver, Silver in Gold, etc. you keep the…

  • LLLL

    – Zoo [the youngest Bratt, coming in at 2.5 years old] corners my dad and starts talking his ear off the other night. Trying to distract her from her mission of Grampa Domination, I request her to sing a song from "Frozen". Zoo: No, I do not like the Frozen music.  It is horrible. [Mind…

  • A Little Explanation of Judges’ Marks – Characteristics of the Dance

    Here we are again.Let's say you've conquered the correct timing, posture, and footwork for a dance.   WHAT ELSE COULD THERE POSSIBLY BE?!  Well, if you ever want to be more than an average dancer (definition: an adequate social dancer; more talented than a beginner, but less talented than some one who wins), there are many,…

  • A Little Explanation of Judges’ Marks – Footwork

    I'm sure you're all familiar with this: If you are unfamiliar, I suggest you read up about general judging criteria, timing, and posture as it concerns ballroom dancing. One oftens hears that there are "frame" judges and there are "feet" judges; judges that look up, judges that look down; top or bottom judges, you might say.…

  • A Little Explanation of Judges’ Marks – Posture

    Last time, on Riot and Frolic…   I gave you an overview of some basic criteria of ballroom dancing judging and how good timing might be the most important factor to show.  I'm still a little surprised that I didn't use posture as the base of the pyramid, but let's face it: if you dance…

  • A Little Explanation of Judges’ Marks

    Judges are not keeping judging criteria a secret.  All the things you work on in lessons?  That's what you're being judged on.   Many officials hesitate to answer the "how do you judge ballroom dancing?" because there's no short answer.  Even asking a judge why they marked you the way they did may not be…

  • Why You’re Bad At Dancing

    Subtitle: While You Might Be A Good Dancer,  Everyone Rolls Their Eyes At You. You lack humility – Be grateful to all the teachers and champions and coaches and wise ones that came before you and LISTEN TO THEM.  Be surprised when you win, be thankful to anyone who helps you along a path to greatness,…

  • Beyond Ballroom Dance Company – 2014 – A Review

    I watch a lot of dancing.  And more than that, I watch a lot of Really Good Dancing.  I watch so much Really Good Dancing, that while I enjoy watching all levels of dancing, I'm rarely Excited watching dancing.   I was Excited to watch BBDC this year. Taking on a slew of new dancers…

  • 18 Signs You’re a Ballroom Dancer

    Ballroom dancers are an odd bunch.  Sterotyped as "Dancing With The Stars" wannabes while spending much of your income on a very subjective sport/art/pastime will make you quirky… and awesome. Here are some signs you have gotten in the "swing" of things: 1. You can no longer get funky. 2. You call your sad attempt…

  • List of Last Month’s Labors of Love – Return of the Jedi

    Hi. Long time no see. Let's get down to business: – at the beginning of December, we signed a lease on this place: ye olde Oddfellows Hall – after we got some money, we spent the last two weeks in December turning that space into this: la nouvelle Mill City Ballroom – but let's face…