Recently, I read with interest that there would be DANCE-ONs for all Championship events that advance from semi-finals at the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships. That’s different from last year, when organizers were trying to save time. I guess people complained. I, for one, didn’t miss those DANCE-ONs at all.
Quick Commercial Break: The 2026 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships will be held March 27-29 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They will also include the USA Dance National Collegiate DanceSport Championships, the USA Dance National Social Dance Celebration, and a Professional Congress. It is really going to be quite the ballroom weekend and place to be. Don’t miss it!
OK, back to my story.
I remember the first time I had to do a dance on. I was dancing Pro-Am with my Professional, Garry Gekhman. We danced a Standard quarter-final that led to a semi-final, and I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. Garry casually came up to me, gave me a kiss on the cheek, and calmly said, “Good job, you made the final.”
Great! I made the final in the Open Championship Standard. Whooo Hoooo!! This was a big deal, and I was excited. Then the bomb hit. “There will be a DANCE-ON,” he continued. He turned away and walked off.
“WHAT?” Did I hear him right? What did he say? A DANCE ON…I knew what it was. I had seen it done by professionals. What? How? WHAT? WHY?
Right about this time, my husband, Mike, came over to congratulate me on making the final. Poor guy wasn’t ready for what he saw; I was suddenly falling apart at the seams. “Garry says I have a DANCE-ON,” I managed to say. “How does that work? I’ve never done that! Can I scratch?”
Mike immediately recognized Amateur Panic – This is a ballroom syndrome that causes ladies in very expensive clothes to panic over the stupidest things, all for the sake of ballroom dancing. It is exacerbated by the Diva Syndrome, when your hair is done up too tightly, your feet hurt, and your dress is uncomfortable.
In a case like this, there is no Amateur Male cure. The cure must be handled by a real Professional. “I’ll go find, Garry!” he announced, and quickly headed off like a gallant knight bound to rescue the fallen… … … you get the idea.
Mike was soon back with Garry and they both looked at me. Garry couldn’t figure it out…I was fine when he left me. Now I was some crumpled-up pile of feathers and fluff sitting on the floor against the wall. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
I explained that I had never done a DANCE-ON before. Then all the questions came: How did it go? What dance were we going to do? What end would we start on? Do we bow before we start? Do I turn? Can we skip it?
Garry looked at me with his sweet face and dark eyes and said, “You won’t know what dance it is until we are lined up, but don’t worry about it. Just follow me. You will be fine… Think about the final, not the DANCE-ON.” He smiled, winked, and then walked away again.
Think about the final? Oh my goodness, a DANCE-ON and then a final!! Mike had been watching and was now smiling at me. “You’ve got this,” he said. “You’re dancing with Garry.” Certainly, he was right. How bad could it be? Besides, it was time to line up.
Lining up
We took our place in the on-deck area; we were fourth in line. The first couple was called out, and they began their Waltz. “OK,” I thought, “I’ve seen this before. We will all do Waltz. Pull yourself together and do a good Waltz.”
The couple bowed and moved off the floor while the next couple started… Tango. Now my mind was on overload, and my hairpins were practically popping out of my head. “OK,” I thought again, “1. Waltz, 2. Tango, 3. Viennese Waltz, and 4. Foxtrot.” Garry and I were going to dance Foxtrot. I looked at him, and he smiled at me. I knew I was right, plus Foxtrot was my favorite.
The second couple finished, and I was already feeling better. The third couple took to the floor…Foxtrot. FOXTROT!!! I looked at Garry and asked, “What is going on? What are we dancing?”
“Darling, you have a Waltz,” he explained. “Just look beautiful.”
Beautiful or not, it was our turn, and we stepped onto the floor. But it was dark, and then there was a big spotlight on us. I couldn’t see a thing. Waltz music started, and I moved to Garry. His big, comfortable frame formed around me, and I closed my eyes to block the light. It was so quick, and then we were rolling out. My legs were shaking, but I smiled and curtsied. I made it through the DANCE-ON. We got off the floor, and I headed back to the table, only to be stopped by Garry. “Rose-Ann… the final. You have to dance the final.”
The final…oh yes, the final.
Long story short, I made it through the final. As I tell this story, I have no idea how we danced or where we placed. It doesn’t even matter because I survived my first DANCE-ON.
To this day, when they say there is a DANCE-ON, I have to take a breath and part of me still wonders… WHAT? But I’m ready!
