Back to the Future

By Joel Torgeson

"So, when you only know the pro, how do you cheer?"

I looked at Janie and laughed, "I don't know!" I'd never had this problem before.

"Go one-fifteen! Go Scott's partner!" we cheered as Scott, and (my program told me her name was Suzanne) glided around the floor. "Alright three-sixty-two!" Michelle Hudson and David Schmit spun by us seconds later.

"I think numbers are a safe bet," I told Janie. We laughed and clapped as the Viennese waltz drew to a close and the four-dance couples exited the floor.

I'd arrived at the 12th Annual Snow Ball earlier in the day, fresh from a game-day meal with some of my favorite relatives. In the dressing room I took some time to warm up from the sub-zero temperatures I'd just escaped. Finally dressed in grey, I was about to leave when Shane Haggerty came in and plopped a bread-loaf-sized machine down on the central table. I soon found out he was laminating his number! I'd never seen that before. His number certainly laid flat and looked schnazzy during his heats, so I'd chalk that up as a win.

When I walked in, the ballroom was decked in soft blue and white. Paper snowflakes drifted lazily from the ceiling, while the beautiful drapes, blue with white accents, curled like a well-executed spiral turn, hung upon the walls. The dual effect was nice, the frozen beauty that is typified by Minnesota at this time of year melded with the warmth of an excited audience and performers waiting for their moment to shine. The audience Sunday night was indeed warm, with a nearly full house of supporters there to cheer on their favorite Pros and Ams. As show time neared, I spotted Kate Bratt getting ready to dance across the room, and, having read her Facebook plea for a pencil, went over to provide one. Georgia, her daughter, was doing homework at the event and needed something to write with and I was happy to help!

Speaking of pro/am, as a collegiate dancer this is not a category I'm used to seeing very often, so it was interesting to see many of the instructors I've seen teach lessons go out and dance with their students. This is where Janie and I had our moment of laughter with regard to our cheering! I particularly enjoyed the light and playful style of Scott Anderson and his students and the intensity that is always apparent when either Gene or Elena Bersten dance with their students. I'd like to give a special shout-out to a former teammate, Tyler Bridges, whose impeccable smooth performance with Kate got him a fourth place. Well done! I cheered and cheered.

The main event for me was the professional smooth heats that capped off the night. I'd been looking over this part of the program repeatedly, memorizing numbers I knew and preparing to watch closely those that I did not. There were so many couples that they ran two heats for semifinals, which I thought was impressive given the high level of competition. All of the competitors that night were stunning, but two couples, 131 and 147, quickly stood out to me. I still feel that I have little to offer in terms of accurately or reliably being able to rank such high-level dancing, but in this case Janie and I came to the same conclusion that the judges did. Adrian and Hannah Dydynski were the runners up, while Kyle and Allie Spinder took home first place. Immediately following a stunning finals performance, the champions did a show-dance Viennese waltz that was breathtaking. Their movement was so fluid and clean that I found myself swept away (along with the rest of the audience) in the flowing lines and explosive energy this couple put onto the floor. It was a fitting end to a beautiful event.

I enjoyed my Sunday evening at the 2016 Snow Ball, and I would like to thank Donna Edelstein for putting on the event. I look forward to seeing more excellent dancing next year!