Just thought I'd send a quick update on how Floorplay in the Desert (in Palm Springs, California) went last weekend. My student Lisa from Winnipeg and I competed in a reverse-role (man follow and woman lead) International Latin division and we received three first places and one second place. I'm extremely proud of Lisa for committing herself to dance and working very hard over the past few months, not to mention challenging the traditions of the ballroom world!
The North American NASSPDA Annual Championships were held at Floorplay as well and I partnered with Rafael from Oakland, California for the International standard division. We met and danced for the first time on the Friday for three hours and then competed on Saturday! I'm happy to say that we took first place and may be considered North American champions of the men's division :) We expect to be dancing together again at April Follies in San Francisco in April!
Picture of all the North American Champions in the various divisions.
If you're curious what Rafael and I look like on the floor, here are videos of our dancing in the finals round (we also competed in Viennese waltz but that's no fun to watch):
