I haven't posted in a while, and this was a big event this semester, so I figured it was a perfect time to start up again. I wanted to try something new this semester, so I decided to take a ballroom dance class. As part of the class, we were required to compete in or attend the DanceSport National Championships. I chose to compete, and I'm so glad I did! I competed in the quickstep and my partner was Erik Lovell. It was a wonderful experience... once I got there. :) We had to be there at 7:45 all lined up and ready to dance. I was going to get up nice and early and be all ready to go before we needed to meet up. I woke up at 7:30 to the sound of a text on my phone. It was Erik. He told me that he was outside the Marriott ready to go. I jumped out of bed and starting putting my contacts in while I called him. When he answered I told him I had bad news. He said, "You broke your leg." I told him no, and explained the situation. He started laughing and told me not to worry and to just get there as soon as I could. I brushed my teeth while I got dressed and I threw my shoes in a bag. I finished putting my hair in a ponytail as I slipped my black flats on and started to sprint to the Marriott. I arrived there at 7:50 and out of breath. Erik started to go in and I was hunting around in my bag for my wallet (that had my entry ticket in it). I realized that I had forgotten it back at Heritage! I was starting to panic when Erik ran back to his stuff and got his wallet to buy me a ticket. He bought it, we went in, and I changed my shoes while he ran my flats and jacket up to where his stuff was. We lined up, he grabbed my hand to escort me onto the floor and we danced. The first round was a bit of a mess. :) We both messed up the routine (at the same place and in the same way, thank goodness) and in the middle my heel interlocked with the heel of the girl next to me. I didn't fall down (I got that out of my system Thursday in class when I fell flat on my back. Erik tried to pull me up before I fell but it was too late and we both landed on our backs in the middle of the ballroom.) but we definitely had some difficulty. By some miracle we made it the second round, and I credit that to the fact that we were both smiling. We danced the second and third rounds, and then got eliminated right before quarter-finals. It was a little disappointing, but DanceSport was still a great experience. There is such a rush to performing! You just step out on the floor and give it all you have. I loved hearing people yelling our number cheering us on and just dancing. I'd love to do it again, but next time, my alarm had better go off! :)
Love Always,
Mallory
