We have a 24-degree morning on this last Sunday in March, but there was plenty of heat yesterday at the Glen Ridge Woman's Club ballroom. Fred Astaire Studios of New Jersey held their annual 'practice day' where the students had the opportunity to showcase the dances they had learned. With no specific choreography we were called to master dances with our dance partner, so the music and the steps were unscripted. It was the ultimate challenge!

My dance instructors, Olena and Dmitry, are wonderfully supportive, and it was fun spending the day with them. Many of the students have been taking lessons for years and were in practice for competition. It was an inspiration to watch them. The other student, also Jo Ann, and I attended as a to challenge ourselves, as we are both on the older spectrum of the dancers participating, and were just there for the experience. When she leaned over and whispered, "At least we're still moving", I knew exactly how she felt.

When I am dancing, I feel like I'm 25 years old, but the aches and pains I have today remind me that I am not. Dmitry and I performed fifteen dances; Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Rhumba, Hustle, Salsa, Samba, Cha-cha, East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Tango, and Bolero; a few of the dances we did twice. Not bad for me at 68 years old!

I am most comfortable dancing at Dmitry and Olena's studio in Lafayette, where we are all beginners and are enormously supportive of one another. I look forward to the dance parties we have each month; the next one is themed 'karaoke night' which is something I have never done or wanted to do. I will try to choose a funny song that requires no vocal talent. Any suggestions?

Recent articles

Lafayette Dance Group Dmitry, Jo Ann, Joanne, Olena, and Yori

Joanne and Dmitry In preparation for the Tango

Next Sunday I will unveil the new cover for 'Deceptive Images'. I am pleased with the way it turned out, and the picture of Alex on the cover, I admit, is much more enticing than the original cover that showcased my dental X-rays. I believe I am the first author to include their dental X-rays on the cover of a romance novel, so maybe someday the original will be sought after. Wouldn't that be ridiculous! Since next week is the Easter edition of the newsletter I hope to have a photo of our forsythia blooming. Perhaps a warmup will encourage them to emerge. Have a prayerful Holy Week, and as always, best wishes, Joanne