Strictly Speaking

By Maria Russett

I have always loved the Strictly portion of ballroom competitions. You get a chance to see more social dances in a competitive light, and I love the opportunity to be a Cool Kid who knows a Cool Dance. A word of wisdom, though: don’t hold off until the last minute to find a partner. I was excited when Joel agreed to dance with me and I was able to do the West Coast Swing Strictly. I’d never done a Strictly before, and I was glad I got to ‘debut’ with such a fun dancer.

The Sunday before the Strictly events was long, but it was warm and sunny, and I took advantage of that to calm my pre-competition nerves. Mid-afternoon sun flooded the ballroom as Joel and I took the floor, mercifully close to my Northern Iowa friends. Blues music plays and college students cheer, and I think my face is gonna split with all the smiling I’m doing. I love West Coast Swing and we’re having fun. The music fades and we do our little bow, then we’re off the floor. I stare at the callback page as friends hug me and I’m surprised when I see Joel’s number pop up.

You see, I’ve never gotten a callback before, not in a West Coast event. Being the only member of the dance community who wears a leg brace, I’m well aware of how I’ll never have the technical ability of a pro or the grace of any well-trained follow. It comes with the package. But the judges called us back, and I was so excited.

The next song was a pop song that I knew pretty well, and I felt comfortable playing around with it more. I was having fun until I tripped myself and landed squarely on my back in front of a judge. There’s no way they’d call us back again, absolutely not. Not between my graceless recovery and the aforementioned leg brace, even with the wildly better skills of Joel. Right?

I wasn’t expecting the second callback. A second callback is something I’d never even dreamed of. Another pop song, another fun dance, and I get a little more comfortable playing with the music. I feel like I’m soaring when we leave the floor. Maybe it’s the adrenaline, maybe it’s the fun, maybe it’s three performances of my favorite dance, but it was definitely a good feeling.

I was shocked to find our number in the finals. So many of my friends had been competing with me in the first round, and as I looked around the ballroom one more time before the last song, I only saw Kellen on the floor. I had never made the finals for a West Coast event, so it felt like Cloud Nine in my corner of the floor when ‘Uptown Funk’ starts to blast. I still love that song, and I know everyone on that floor danced their hearts out. I don’t think I’ve ever had more cheering directed at me than during that final dance, and that means the world to me.

I stood by my friends as all the Strictly winners were announced, including a few of my Northern Iowa friends, and cheered myself hoarse. When the West Coast awards came up, I stood by Joel and felt both nervous and excited beyond belief. After every couple was called to collect their ribbon, I was sure Joel and I would be called next, because surely everyone else did a better job? Surely the others had better technique, or more complicated figures? Surely I was going to continue my tradition of bringing my partner down by virtue of my brace and my limp?

Imagine my surprise when the judges point at us and say that we’ve won the Strictly.

I never expected to advance, let alone win.

Imagine my giddiness when Joel lifts me up and spins me in circles to go claim a ribbon I never expected to get.

I had tried not to get my hopes up so that being eliminated in the first round wouldn’t hurt so badly.

Imagine the excitement in my system when I’m handed a trophy and congratulated by everyone.

Many people, including myself, might not be the greatest at tango or cha cha, but have such fun doing the more social dances. Being able to compete in those less regulated dances can be an amazing way to end a weekend of ballroom, and having different figures and music dancing around your brain can be refreshing. Strictlies gave me a chance, and that’s why I love them.