Charmed by Snow Ball

From First Impressions to Lasting Impressions

By Esther Foo

This past weekend, I had my very first experience at the Snow Ball Dancesport Competition. Having moved to the area just shy of five months ago, I had no idea what to expect of the ballroom scene here in Minneapolis. However, after competing and experiencing the event for almost an entire day on Friday, my partner and I were absolutely blown away by the quality of the event put forth by the organizer, Donna Edelstein, and the rest of her team.

The competition was held in the Hilton Minneapolis, right by the airport and Mall of America which, based on the amount of shopping bags some competitors were holding after a break between events, enabled some last minute New Year’s shopping! Donna and her team did a wonderful job of creating a great ambience at the venue. The bluish-white snow themed decorations were elegant and tastefully done. Of course, there were also lots of sparkles in their decorations because as ballroom dancers, who doesn’t like sparkles?

My favorite part of the competition was the people who were participating in the event, and not just the dancers. Everyone, from the vendors, to the organizers, volunteers, and competitors, as well as judges, were so friendly and welcoming. The fun and laid-back atmosphere was certainly contagious because everyone was just smiling and greeting one another. The freezing temperatures that day certainly did not deter the warm hospitality in the ballroom! I am typically someone who becomes very nervous when having to perform and compete, but surprisingly enough, I wasn’t overwhelmed with my usual anxiety. I attribute this to the incredibly friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the event.

Other than the ambience, another highlight of the competition was the dance floor itself. The floor at the Snow Ball was definitely the best one that I’ve ever danced on that I can remember! It was clear that it was very well-cared for so kudos to the organizing team for the great selection. The photo booth right outside the competition ballroom was also equipped with fun props to make after-competition photo sessions extra fun!

If you’re one who enjoys an atmosphere of friendliness and camaraderie, Snow Ball is definitely a great competition to participate in. It was a pleasure to have danced in such a wonderful event and I’m hoping to be back next year!