When Rose-Ann, American Dancer Managing Editor, asked me to think about sharing my story, the first thought was I prefer not to write about myself. After much deliberation, I thought that maybe my story could help other dancers.
Physical restrictions due to injuries, infections, chronic conditions, lifestyle factors, or nerve compression can cause a dancer to take time out from dancing.
My condition was due to a pre-existing disk deterioration in the C2 level of my neck. In October of last year after traveling in Saint Maarten, I started feeling a sharp pain on the right side of my neck. For six months, I tried many remedies, including a nerve block to help the pain. Nothing worked. The disk was pressing on my voice box, so I could not talk. I had a hard time swallowing solid food. All my food was blended. I had to sip through a straw.
I was in immense pain and bedridden. I couldn’t hold my head up. The only relief was to lay flat in bed. I was admitted to the hospital for three days so the doctors could treat the pain level. The PA from Neuroscience and Spine Associates came into my hospital room and said they have a plan to help me. At the end of April, the surgeon performed an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. I was not your ordinary patient. I had pre-existing scar tissue from four previous surgeries years ago from fusing disk 3-7. I was also allergic to many medicines.
Now, I will be in my third month of recovery from the surgery at the end of this July. I see my surgeon every two months to make sure the screws are still in place. The complete fusion will take time.
During this time of recovery, I can’t drive, put my hands above my head, lift more than five pounds, push, pull, or bend. In other words, the only thing I can do is walk and slowly move my head from right to left or left to right. I will be in physical therapy for the next six weeks, three times a week. I am thankful that the pain has reduced, my voice is back, and I can eat solid food.
Physically dancing and writing for dance publications has always been my remedy for surviving many hardships in my life.
What am I doing during this time of no dancing?
Even though I can’t physically dance, I can mentally dance, write, and watch the movement of dance.
The day of the operation, I visualized myself dancing the Viennese Waltz to Strauss’ Blue Danube, I could hear the music in my head as I fell asleep. It calmed my nerves.
The first three weeks home, I rested and made sure I tried to walk as much as possible.
After six weeks, I decided to write a poem for the publication called, “Viennese Waltz, The Oldest of the Current Ballroom Dances.”
I then decided to research the history of many ballroom dances. I developed a format of writing about each dance, starting with the origin of how the dance started, the music, the feeling you get when you dance it, the basic steps, the costumes you wear, the cultural food and traditions. I completed this for the Viennese Waltz, Bachata, Swing, Samba, Tango, Paso Doble, Waltz, Cha-Cha, Hustle, Rumba, Salsa, and Foxtrot. I danced without dancing and discovered I want to showcase Paso Doble.
While researching the information, I started watching dance movies, dance competitions, and “Dancing with the Stars” for each dance style. You can view these using DVDs, rent on Digital, Stream, or use YouTube.
Listed below are some of the movies for ballroom dance styles I watched:
Foxtrot: “Shall We Dance” (1937) When researching the Foxtrot, I found out about the book “Shall We Dance? The True Story of the Couple Who Taught the World to Dance”, by Douglas Thompson. I recommend reading it. It is about Vernon and Irene Castle. I also discovered that Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire performed in a 1937 film about the Castles, titled “Shall We Dance.”
Rumba, Cha-Cha, Waltz, Tango: “Shall We Dance” (2004) Richard Gere plays the boring lawyer who secretly takes dance lessons to spice up his life. Jennifer Lopez plays his dance instructor. The film explores the themes of passion, self-discovery, and the joy of dance.
Viennese Waltz: “Wiener Waltzer Viennese Waltzes “(1951) is a historical musical that focuses on the life of composer Johann Strauss. The film features the “Blue Danube Waltz.”
Salsa:” Cuban Fury” (2014) A former Salsa prodigy (Nick Frost) must whip himself back into shape. The passionate heart of a Salsa king lies dormant. He starts dancing and re-ignites his Latin fire.
West Coast Swing:” Love N’ Dancing” (2009) It’s a story about Jake, a deaf dance competitor. After retiring from competition and breaking up with his dance partner/fiancée, Jake becomes an instructor at a local dance studio. He picks amateur Jessica to be his partner. She discovers the joy of dancing.
Paso Doble: “Strictly Ballroom” (1992) Fran and Scott’s dance a passionate version of the Paso Doble taught to them by Fran’s father and grandmother at the Pan Pacific Champion ship Competition. “Mask of Zorro” (1998) a spirted Paso Doble is danced by Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. My favorite line is when Antonio says, “Are you willing to try something robust?”
Hustle: “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) with John Travolta, who became a dance icon. Tony (John Travolta) doesn’t have much going on for him during the weekdays. He lives at home and works as a paint store clerk in Brooklyn, N.Y. He lives for the weekends when he goes to a local disco club and dances the night away.
Cha-Cha: “Cha- Cha Real Smooth “(2022) A young man who works as a Bar Mitzvah party host strikes up a friendship with a mother and her autistic daughter. It’s about love, family, and personal growth.
Tango: “Scent of a Woman” (1992) Actor Al Pacino plays a retired blind Army Lieutenant Colonel who beautifully leads a woman through the Tango.
There are many other dance movies that include Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Chorus Line etc., that I have on my list to watch. Goggle,”70 of the Best Dance Movies of all times to Watch”. It was updated December 3, 2024 by Amber Topping of the Silver Petticoat Review.
During this time, when I was starting to regain my voice back and eating solid food , I wrote about two delightful dance couples for Americandancer@usadance.org., “Rites of Passage” Victoria & Mel Paterline and “Chris & Karen Chaleki Dance Journey”.
When resting, I play music and visualize dancing. Certain songs bring back memories of a competition or showcase that I have performed.
It will take time to recover before I can physically get back on the dance floor. I am grateful I made it this far and have less pain. I am also grateful for the many years of social and competitive dancing over the past 16 years. Dancing is stored in my memory. I can bring it up in my mind and dance mentally any time I wish.
Hopefully, my story will help other dancers who have had to physically take time away from dancing.
Interested in sharing your story? Contact Rose-Ann Lynch, Managing Editor at Americandancer@usadance.org
