Interview with Susan Milicia, Feb. 23, 2016
Susan and her husband, Anthony, have been dancing together for a few years and decided that they were ready to 'take it to the next level' and try their feet and hands at competing.
After the festivities of USA Dance NQE, Mid Atlantic Championships, Bethesda, Feb. 20 and 21, 2016, I asked Susan about the experience.
"What was the stand-out remembrance or benefit of competing this weekend?"
Susan: I liked having a GOAL for which we HAD to prepare. I didn't really know what to expect. When we went onto the floor it felt exciting and surreal. It took one dance to get the jitters out. There were three couples in Sr II and Sr II. After we had danced, I wished we had done more--maybe another level--but we couldn't have done silver because we don't know samba yet.
"What did you learn about the other couples?"
Susan: Another couple who competed against us in the Sr III, has experience in rhythm and smooth and standard at gold level. How can it be fair for them to dance in Bronze against us newcomers?
"The organization can't make everything fair. Every couple has at least one thing that is an advantage--could be raw talent, enthusiasm of their partner, a partner who is also a dance teacher, an extreme level of fitness, mucho money and time to take lessons and practice. The ONE thing that can still level out those kinds of discrepancy is INVIGILATION. A couple who is skilled enough to dance at gold, who have 3 or 4 years of competition experience, is a couple who will not be satisfied dancing the bronze steps required in bronze."
not finished...check back....
Susan and her husband, Anthony, have been dancing together for a few years and decided that they were ready to 'take it to the next level' and try their feet and hands at competing.
After the festivities of USA Dance NQE, Mid Atlantic Championships, Bethesda, Feb. 20 and 21, 2016, I asked Susan about the experience.
"What was the stand-out remembrance or benefit of competing this weekend?"
Susan: I liked having a GOAL for which we HAD to prepare. I didn't really know what to expect. When we went onto the floor it felt exciting and surreal. It took one dance to get the jitters out. There were three couples in Sr II and Sr II. After we had danced, I wished we had done more--maybe another level--but we couldn't have done silver because we don't know samba yet.
"What did you learn about the other couples?"
Susan: Another couple who competed against us in the Sr III, has experience in rhythm and smooth and standard at gold level. How can it be fair for them to dance in Bronze against us newcomers?
"The organization can't make everything fair. Every couple has at least one thing that is an advantage--could be raw talent, enthusiasm of their partner, a partner who is also a dance teacher, an extreme level of fitness, mucho money and time to take lessons and practice. The ONE thing that can still level out those kinds of discrepancy is INVIGILATION. A couple who is skilled enough to dance at gold, who have 3 or 4 years of competition experience, is a couple who will not be satisfied dancing the bronze steps required in bronze."
not finished...check back....