About Ann Marie
Hi, I'm Ann Marie and I’d like to welcome you to Behind the Sparkle Blog! Whether you’re a fellow dancer, a ballroom enthusiast, or just stumbled upon this blog while searching for DWTS or wedding-dance lessons, I’d like to invite you to peruse the site and dive into the sparkly world of ballroom dancing. On this page you’ll find out more about me and the blog - including some of my background, why I started the blog, and what you can expect to find throughout my posts.
A bit about me:
I’ve been dancing since 2013, but I was first introduced to ballroom dancing in 2009 during a 6-month work assignment in Florida. Not knowing anyone within 1,300 miles, I decided to walk into the ballroom studio I drove past every day on my way to work and (hopefully) make some friends in the area. I’m not sure where I got the courage to set foot in that studio - I’m normally not a very outgoing person and had zero dance experience (unless you count dancing around the kitchen with my family) - but I'm so glad that I did. For the next 6 months, I made the studio my second home; I took every group class I could and as many lessons as I could afford (really just once a week since I was fresh out of college). I started out learning social dances but in September of that year I went to a local competition to support some new friends and my dance goals were forever changed. After seeing the hair, the makeup, the stunningly beautiful dresses, and above all the amazing dancers performing for an enthusiastic audience, I knew that I wanted to compete. Sadly, my work assignment ended shortly thereafter and I moved back to New England. I was thrown into an amazing (but demanding) work project that had me in the office from 7AM – 8PM and commuting 2 hours on top of that. Sadly, dancing was no longer an option. After a couple of years, things calmed down and I was fortunate enough to move back to Florida. Before the moving trucks even arrived, I walked back into that same studio - back to many familiar faces, and I was able to excitedly say I was ready to compete! Since then I’ve been lucky enough to be partnered with an amazing professional - whom I compete with as a pro-am couple. I've gone to several competitions, done countless in-studio performances/events, and I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way (that have nothing to do with learning steps). Those experiences, observations, and helpful hints are what I want to share with you.
Who I am in one sentence: I’m a rhinestone-loving, Disney-obsessing, husky-owning, amateur ballroom dancer.
Rhinestone-loving:
A bit about me:
I’ve been dancing since 2013, but I was first introduced to ballroom dancing in 2009 during a 6-month work assignment in Florida. Not knowing anyone within 1,300 miles, I decided to walk into the ballroom studio I drove past every day on my way to work and (hopefully) make some friends in the area. I’m not sure where I got the courage to set foot in that studio - I’m normally not a very outgoing person and had zero dance experience (unless you count dancing around the kitchen with my family) - but I'm so glad that I did. For the next 6 months, I made the studio my second home; I took every group class I could and as many lessons as I could afford (really just once a week since I was fresh out of college). I started out learning social dances but in September of that year I went to a local competition to support some new friends and my dance goals were forever changed. After seeing the hair, the makeup, the stunningly beautiful dresses, and above all the amazing dancers performing for an enthusiastic audience, I knew that I wanted to compete. Sadly, my work assignment ended shortly thereafter and I moved back to New England. I was thrown into an amazing (but demanding) work project that had me in the office from 7AM – 8PM and commuting 2 hours on top of that. Sadly, dancing was no longer an option. After a couple of years, things calmed down and I was fortunate enough to move back to Florida. Before the moving trucks even arrived, I walked back into that same studio - back to many familiar faces, and I was able to excitedly say I was ready to compete! Since then I’ve been lucky enough to be partnered with an amazing professional - whom I compete with as a pro-am couple. I've gone to several competitions, done countless in-studio performances/events, and I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks along the way (that have nothing to do with learning steps). Those experiences, observations, and helpful hints are what I want to share with you.
Who I am in one sentence: I’m a rhinestone-loving, Disney-obsessing, husky-owning, amateur ballroom dancer.
Rhinestone-loving:
I get a little excited when my rhinestones arrive in the mail.
Disney-obsessing:
Me as Hiro and my instructor as Baymax in a Big Hero 6 routine.
Husky-owning:
My lovely Luna keeps me company late at night while I'm stoning.
Amateur ballroom dancer:
A dramatic moment in our tango routine during a competition.
Where did this blog come from?
I was inspired to write this blog after I attended a “Ladies Day” hosted by my studio right before a competition. Having been to a few competitions myself, I attended more for the mimosas than to ask questions. But after seeing how many women had questions on so many different topics, I couldn’t help but think this should all be written down somewhere. From tanning to makeup to jewelry there are so many different aspects to learn - whether you’re preparing for a wedding dance, prepping for an in studio performance or getting ready to compete. I’d like to share some of the information I’ve picked up over the years, as well as tips from the pros at my studio and some of my friends who have been living in this world longer than me!
What this blog is and isn’t:
This blog isn't a how-to on dancing. I'm definitely not qualified for that! I’m also not a makeup artist or costume designer. I can’t create masterpieces out of hair - nor give the perfect airbrush tan. What I can do is share all the tips and tricks I’ve learned as a complete novice jumping into ballroom dancing and discovering how much I love it. I’m enthusiastic and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with as many people as I can. From self-tanning to makeup tutorials to stoning (funny story I’ll share later about that term), I’ve done lots of experimenting and I'm ready to share some of the best ways to immerse yourself in the ballroom world - in most cases for less money (because let’s face it, ballroom dancing doesn't come cheap)!
So now that you know a bit about me, I'd love to hear about you! Feel free to email me, leave a message on our Facebook page, or comment on a post. Share your passion, ask questions, offer your own insights - I've always found the dance community to be supportive and I welcome you to jump in! Happy reading, happy commenting, and happy dancing!
I was inspired to write this blog after I attended a “Ladies Day” hosted by my studio right before a competition. Having been to a few competitions myself, I attended more for the mimosas than to ask questions. But after seeing how many women had questions on so many different topics, I couldn’t help but think this should all be written down somewhere. From tanning to makeup to jewelry there are so many different aspects to learn - whether you’re preparing for a wedding dance, prepping for an in studio performance or getting ready to compete. I’d like to share some of the information I’ve picked up over the years, as well as tips from the pros at my studio and some of my friends who have been living in this world longer than me!
What this blog is and isn’t:
This blog isn't a how-to on dancing. I'm definitely not qualified for that! I’m also not a makeup artist or costume designer. I can’t create masterpieces out of hair - nor give the perfect airbrush tan. What I can do is share all the tips and tricks I’ve learned as a complete novice jumping into ballroom dancing and discovering how much I love it. I’m enthusiastic and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with as many people as I can. From self-tanning to makeup tutorials to stoning (funny story I’ll share later about that term), I’ve done lots of experimenting and I'm ready to share some of the best ways to immerse yourself in the ballroom world - in most cases for less money (because let’s face it, ballroom dancing doesn't come cheap)!
So now that you know a bit about me, I'd love to hear about you! Feel free to email me, leave a message on our Facebook page, or comment on a post. Share your passion, ask questions, offer your own insights - I've always found the dance community to be supportive and I welcome you to jump in! Happy reading, happy commenting, and happy dancing!