One Dance Step at a Time

A few years ago, I discovered a Ballroom and Latin Dance Studio nearby and signed up to take a weekly Ladies Only class. I’d never taken dance lessons before and knew it would be a challenge both physically and mentally, but I was curious about learning to dance and resolved to give it a shot and to do my best. Nevertheless, I walked in the door that first day with hesitation and a fair amount of trepidation. But instructor Gia Viseli quickly made me feel welcome, as did the other ladies, and when class was over, I was hooked. Over the next few months, one dance step at a time, I learned Jitterbug, Salsa, and East Coast Swing, to name a few. Later I started taking private lessons, both with my husband and by myself. We learned other Latin and Ballroom dances, and with practice, I gained confidence, improved over time, and we enjoyed dancing in and out of class.

Fast forward to this month and the 2025 North Florida Dance Challenge. Earlier this year, Gia began teaching me Foxtrot, Slow Waltz, and Tango and said I should compete (!) at the event as a newcomer/beginner. Two of my classmates had competed in it the last few years, and some had even competed in other events in the U.S. and Europe. To say I was anxious and worried about participating in this one is a serious understatement. I was petrified!

However, I had been training for the event—without realizing it, to be honest—for months. Another dancer would be a rookie too, and since her dances (including Cha-Cha and Bolero) were different from mine, we wouldn’t compete against each other. Our friends who had already participated in it were competing in a higher level, and this fall, they took us under their wings to help us get ready—which I soon learned meant much more than getting my routines down. They shared details about the event and helped me find the right dresses and dance shoes. They gave us information on everything from hair and makeup to the event timeline and what to expect. Most important, they encouraged and supported us as we trained, and urged us to have fun!

Others in our dance class are very supportive as well, and not just about events like this one. We help and encourage each other while we learn new dances and routines, we socialize at studio dance parties, and we get together on other occasions. Our teacher is a dance professional who expects us to listen and learn, not to “think” (which is hard for me), and above all, to follow his lead when he dances with each of us. But he’s also very patient, encouraging, funny, and observant—qualities I now know are essential for a dance instructor.

The day before the North Florida Dance Challenge, I felt nervous yet excited. But that first night, my nervousness slowly faded after I danced three “warm up” dances with my instructor: Meringue, Salsa and Bachata. The next morning, I stepped onto the dance floor with more confidence and determination, and I was thrilled to receive 2nd place in my level dancing Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot. My friends also placed in their dances, the more experienced ones earning 1st place medals and inspiring me to work harder to improve and to enjoy myself in the process. Learning to dance is a challenge, but it’s fun and rewarding, and I’m happy that I’ve come as far as I have—one dance step at a time.