Living My Mother’s Dream: A Dance of Connection and Discovery

Every life is a dance, a swirling choreography of dreams, stories, and passions. I’d like to share a unique, personal dance with you, a dance that has shaped my life and the essence of AZ Ballroom Champions. It’s the dance of living my mother’s dream, a dream I didn’t even know existed until after her passing. This discovery has woven a profound thread of connection between us, coloring my life with deeper meaning and purpose.

A Portrait of My Mother

My mother, born on May 19, 1959, was a vibrant soul who dreamed of being a dancer or an artist. As a child, she imagined herself as a ballerina or a performer in Dean Martin’s show, The Gold Diggers. She was inspired by her art teachers, who seemed to embody a stylish, modern flair that she admired. Her creativity found expression in colored pencil drawings of beautiful birds and flowers, and in the homemade costumes she crafted for my Halloweens.

But life didn’t offer her the chance to chase these dreams. She became a single mother, and her time and energy were devoted to raising her four children. Her sacrifices laid the foundation for the life I lead today, and I am eternally grateful. I am blessed to live the dream she couldn’t, a gift made possible by her selflessness and love.

An Unlikely Dance

I never planned to be a dancer. My path was set toward chemical engineering at ASU. But as life would have it, I dropped out due to financial constraints and found myself in the restaurant industry. A friend, Billy, who managed a Fred Astaire Dance Studio, insisted that I had the potential to be a good ballroom dance teacher. The idea seemed far-fetched. I had no dancing background, and I held a misconception that a dancer’s career ended at 30.

But Billy’s persistence led me to a meeting with the studio owner that changed my life. I discovered a whole universe within the world of ballroom dancing. It wasn’t just about teaching dance steps. It was about changing lives, about creating spaces for personal growth, connection, and self-discovery. As someone who always enjoyed helping others, this resonated deeply with me. I decided to take the leap and embrace this unexpected dance.

Learning to dance was not easy for me. My body didn’t move as I wanted it to, and the rhythm of the music was a language I struggled to understand. But I persevered, took countless lessons, and in time, I blossomed into a skilled dancer. I believe my initial struggles made me a better teacher, allowing me to empathize with my students’ difficulties and reassure them that it’s okay to be uncomfortable in the learning process.

A Splash of Color

Around the same time, I stumbled upon another hidden talent – painting. I was a natural, taking to acrylics like a fish to water. My artistic abilities and love for color and composition found their way into my work at AZ Ballroom Champions. I utilize my creative skills to build beautiful webpages, produce amazing graphics, and create compelling social media content and videos. My artistic and dance worlds have beautifully blended, making our studio truly one of a kind.

The Spirit of AZ Ballroom Champions

The brand pillars of AZ Ballroom Champions – community, expertise, fun, creativity, and accessibility – echo my mother’s influence. We have built a welcoming, supportive community where everyone is encouraged to be their authentic selves. We continuously refine our expertise, and we embrace fun, injecting laughter and joy into our parties, trips, and daily interactions. Our studio is a hub of creativity, where we’ve choreographed routines as imaginative as a T-Rex performance of the YMCA or a hoverboard rendition of ‘A Whole New World’.

Accessibility lies close to our hearts. Our dance classes are inclusive, catering to all mobility types, and we’ve even designed a stroke survivor dance class. We welcome individuals with memory issues, helping them feel normal and cherished. We are here for everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability, or background. If you dream of dancing, we want to help make that dream come true.

My mother’s kindness and her ability to make everyone feel special are guiding lights in our studio. Her spirit continues to touch every student and teacher, fostering a space where everyone is seen, heard, and appreciated.

A Dance of Connection

Unearthing my mother’s dream was like finding a hidden piece of a puzzle. It connected me to her in a profound, soulful way. I felt a sense of sadness that she wasn’t able to pursue her passion, but I was also grateful for the sacrifices she made so that her children could chase their dreams.

This discovery has given me a deeper understanding of the importance of fulfilling our dreams, and how it’s never too late to let our inner child play. My mother’s open-hearted approach to people guides me in creating a nurturing environment at AZ Ballroom Champions, where everyone can explore and realize their dreams of dance.

I highly recommend this book, You and Me, Mom. I gave it to my mom many years ago and I was able to learn so much about her and I will forever be thankful that I gave her that before she passed away.

The Vision Ahead

Looking forward, my vision for AZ Ballroom Champions is to continue fostering a space where everyone feels welcome. Dancing isn’t just for the young or the able-bodied, it’s for anyone with a passion to express themselves through movement. My mission is to help people who thought dancing was beyond their reach to realize their potential and fulfill their dreams.

In honoring my mother’s memory and living her dream, I aim to make AZ Ballroom Champions a beacon of kindness, inclusion, and personal growth. This is not just about teaching dance, it’s about helping people find their true selves, about making them feel seen and heard, and about empowering them to love themselves.

Every day, as I guide my students through their dance journeys, I’m reminded of my mother’s sacrifice and love. The dance studio is not just a place where we learn steps and routines, it’s where we connect, grow, and fulfill dreams – our own and those of the ones who came before us.