Let’s be real: a month in Italy is a dream for your soul, but a logistical challenge for a dancer’s muscle memory. As competitors, we’re hyper-aware of our bodies, and 31 days of train-hopping and a high-carb lifestyle can make you feel like you’re losing your edge. I didn’t want to spend my vacation hiding in a gym, but I also didn’t want to land back in New Jersey feeling like I was 70% pasta and 30% Vino.
The challenge was finding a way to maintain my athletic “readiness” without letting it take over the trip. My secret? Finding micro-moments to stay in the zone when I’m six time zones away from my partner and my routine.
Here are my top four tips for keeping your competitive edge while living the Dolce Vita!
Spritzes and Stretches
I learned quickly that enjoying an Aperitivo with friends doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in a few calf raises or a subtle hamstring stretch against a medieval stone wall. If you’re waiting for a train in Rome, that’s a perfect five minutes for some ankle rotations. It’s all about functional flexibility, finding easy ways to keep your range of motion while the rest of your body is busy trying to decide between gelato flavors.
Vino and Vibes
Being a partner dancer without a partner for four weeks in the most romantic country on earth is its own kind of Roman tragedy. Since my husband, Bryan, was an ocean away for most of my trip, I had to let the Italian landscape step in as my lead. Who needs a partner when you have a Tuscan hillside and a full glass of Chianti!
Standing in a winery, I’d let the endless rows of grapevines remind me to keep my movement big and fill the space. I wasn’t doing drills; I was letting the vibes of the vineyard keep my artistic momentum from stalling. It turns out nature is a pretty decent stand-in, and of course, a little wine never hurts the creative process!
The Cobblestone Core Challenge
You haven’t truly tested your center until you’ve navigated the rain-slicked, 2,000-year-old cobblestones of Pompeii. Without Bryan there to help me maintain my frame (and I know, I know, we’re all supposed to be perfectly independent pillars of stability), my core had to do all the heavy lifting. I spent the afternoon dodging puddles and slick stones, and every step was a drill in stability and weight transfer. If you can maintain your poise and stay over your feet while navigating ancient chariot ruts and uneven Roman blocks, then a polished ballroom floor back home feels as reliable as a brand-new pair of Italian leather shoes!
Dance Rosetta Stone!
The Dance Rosetta Stone
While staying in Florence, I found a dance studio within walking distance of my flat. At the time, my Italian vocabulary was limited to a menu of various pasta shapes. Translating a dance lesson was going to be an exercise in creative guesswork as a solo act on a floor filled with strangers. Then, the instructor began a rhythmic chant…. “Lento, Lento, Veloce, Veloce, Lento!”
Suddenly, my brain, which had been short-circuiting over simple greetings all week, finally clicked into gear. I understood! Slow, Slow, Quick, Quick, Slow. It was proof that when your vocabulary fails, you can always trust the universal language of dance. My body already knew these movements by instinct, so when the instructor shouted a word, my feet did the work, and my brain followed. I was literally using muscle memory to decode a foreign language in real-time.
But the real “aha” moment for me was the realization that I wasn’t a solo act after all. I hadn’t just found a place to practice; I’d found my extended dance community. Now, I have a dance family in Florence that I still feel connected to, proving that our world of dance is much smaller than the map makes it look.
The Takeaway?
When you’re out of your element, your training and muscle memory don’t need a translator, and your community is never as far away as you think!
The Dolce Vita Final Verdict
By the time my 31 days were up, I realized that staying “in the zone” while traveling isn’t about finding a perfect practice space or hitting the gym to maintain your exact competitive peak. It’s about shifting your perspective and letting new experiences shape your journey as a dancer, whether that means using ancient Roman streets to test my stability or decoding a new language through a Rumba walk! I brought back with me a reminder that our “rhythm” isn’t tied to a specific place or time zone, and sometimes being out of your routine is exactly what you need to find a little Dolce Vita in every step you take back home!
Christine Young is an accomplished Amateur dancer and long-time contributor to the USA Dance community. Dancing with her husband, Bryan Young, Christine has been a consistent USA Dance National finalist for almost a decade, with appearances across American Smooth, American Rhythm, and Show Dance divisions. Her versatility, musicality, and commitment to excellence have made her a familiar and admired presence on the national stage.
In 2021, Christine and Bryan earned the title of USA Dance National Champions in Senior I American Smooth, a highlight in a competitive career marked by longevity and sustained achievement.
Beyond the competition floor, Christine serves on the USA Dance Senior Committee. Her passion for dance, combined with her leadership and service, reflects the very best of the USA Dance vision — celebrating excellence, inclusivity, and lifelong participation in dance.
