My First TCO Experience

By Brittney Heisserer

At the Twin Cities Open American-Style Congress, all of the lecturers shared their tips and tricks to improve our ballroom dancing. These experts gave us the tools that are essential for becoming a champion dancer. The Congress was a series of six lectures given by some of the most influential and knowledgeable people in ballroom dance. These lectures were captivating, as they addressed topics that are relevant to dancers at every level. from newcomer to open. Professional American style champions helped demonstrate, and it was impossible not to be inspired by their talent and passion. I clung onto every word spoken by these professional lecturers, and I made sure to take thorough notes in order to absorb all of the information that they were sharing.

I was lucky enough to not only attend the Congress, but I was also able to attend the Professional Open Championships that took place the night before. At the Congress I learned about the technique and knowledge that is required to become a professional ballroom dancer, and at the professional show I was able to see these elements in action. I was in awe of the power that these professional dancers exuded on the dance floor. These dancers carried themselves with a confidence and elegance that I have never seen before. The dresses that the ladies wore were exquisite, and it was captivating to watch as the dress complimented the movement of the dancer perfectly.

The professionals took the audience on a journey and told a story through their dancing. The expressions on their faces were vibrant, and the emotions that they were trying to convey were clear. I was amazed by the couples that were able to draw in my attention through the glimmer in their eyes or the brightness of their smile. These dancers looked like they were genuinely having a lot of fun and that energy was infectious. The night flew by as the competition was always entertaining, and it was impossible for me to keep my eyes off of those stunning couples.

The next day at Congress I was able to have a better understanding of what the lecturers were teaching because I had the example of the professional show from the night before in my mind. We were lucky to have Andre and Natalie demonstrate at the Congress. I was even more amazed by their talent in the more informal setting of Congress than I was the night before at the competition. These dancers were able to captivate me simply by demonstrating a basic: I never knew that a basic could look that impressive. After we spent the day focusing on the small details of technique, it made me appreciate how the professionals are able to make their routines appear effortless. I have a lot of respect for all of the dancers at the professional competitions and the lecturers at Congress. All of those people have worked hard in their careers and they genuinely love to share their passion of ballroom dance with all of us. This was my first TCO experience, and I was in awe at all of the talent that I was able to observe over the weekend. Although it was easy to feel overwhelmed at times, I am so glad I had the opportunity to learn from some of the best and be a part of this great event.