Lou started pro/am ballroom dancing in 2016. She dreamed of competing again at Blackpool someday, as she did in 1980 (am/am). Not only has that dream come true, but she became a Blackpool Champion in 2022. Again, she returned in 2023 to win three championships, thus making her a four-time Blackpool Champion!
1. Introduction
In 2016, Lou miraculously found Slawek Sochacki, a four-time undefeated US Smooth Champion. Lou was nervous and intimidated at her tryout, as she had not danced ballroom for over 35 years. But Slawek took her in, thus starting Lou’s pro/am journey. Shortly afterward, Lou shared her Blackpool dream with him …
2. Blackpool
Lou’s connection with the Blackpool is profound: She debuted in 1980 (am/am). Then she returned in 2022 (pro/am) and again in 2023 (pro/am) …
2.1 Blackpool 1980
Lou and her am partner did Latin and Ballroom at Blackpool 1980. They somehow made it out of the first round in Latin but not in Ballroom, which they considered to be their stronger style. There were so many better dancers from all over the world. For more details, read Section 7.
2.2 Blackpool 2022
Lou’s dream of competing at the Blackpool again came true! Moreover, she won the Open Smooth championship!
2.3 Blackpool 2023
Lou returned in 2023, placing 1st in Gold and Open Smooth (with Slawek).
Additionally, she placed 1st in Open Ballroom (with Oreste).
2.4 Summary
Lou never dreamed, after finishing competing at the Blackpool for the first time in 1980, that she would ever return there to dance again, let alone the fact that her two future pro dance partners facilitating this successful return were (1) Slawek who was only six at the time, and (2) Oreste who was yet to be born!
3. Results and progression with Slawek
Lou credits Slawek’s teaching philosophy to their success. Slawek does not rush to get to the next level at the sacrifice of principles. It is trust and teamwork that brings joy to ballroom dancing. High placements are something extra to be enjoyed. Finally, the goal is to be better than yourself the last time.
From 2016 to 2023, Lou and Slawek won at Embassy Ball and USDC (Smooth and Ballroom) 21 times combined, plus three wins at the Blackpool, totaling 24.
3.1 USDC 2017
Lou placed 1st four times in Closed-Bronze Smooth and Ballroom.
3.2 OSB 2018
Lou placed 1st in Silver Smooth (S1), after 37 couples, 7 rounds and 28 dances.
3.3 USDC 2021
3.4 Embassy Ball 2023
3.5 USDC 2023
4. Results and progression with Oreste
Lou’s partnership with Oreste in Ballroom began in 2020. Since then, from Silver to Gold and Open, they have won at Embassy Ball and USDC Gold and Open nine times combined, plus one Blackpool title, totaling 10.
4.1 Embassy Ball 2022
Lou won her first Open Ballroom title! When the champions in all age categories stood together and the National Anthem played, this was truly an Olympic moment for her!
4.2 USDC 2022
1st place in Rising Star Ballroom, 1st place Open Ballroom (S1), and 1st place in “Open to the World” Ballroom (S1).
4.3 2023
1st in Open Ballroom (S1) at the (1) Embassy Ball and (2) USDC (photo below).
1st in Open Ballroom at the Blackpool – See Section 2.3.
5. Covid
Covid was difficult for so many, and the ballroom dancing community was no exception. Because of the travel restrictions, Lou’s partner was less available, but she did not stop dancing. She and one of her teammates figured out a way to practice on their own. This forced Lou to rely on herself and perfect her dance technique on her own. She now sees this as a crucial part of her success. This way of thinking and practicing aligns with Slawek and Oreste’s philosophies of working hard and bettering yourself as a dancer.
6. Discussion
Four lessons learned:
- Healthy lifestyle.
- Teamwork.
- Your pro cannot make you a champion.
- Be thankful.
To briefly highlight each …
6.1 Healthy lifestyle
Successful competitive dancing requires a lifestyle of healthy living. It impacts everything you do, from the moment you get up in the morning and decide what you are going to eat, what your lesson or workout schedule is going to be, how to maintain your fitness level between lessons, the amount of sleep you ideally get, and so on.
Dancing keeps Lou’s mind and body fit and healthy. She plans to dance for another two decades or so and has already forewarned her two partners to stay in shape accordingly.
6.2 Teamwork
Dancing at the top level in two styles or more in competitive pro/am ballroom dancing can be very challenging, seemingly putting such a competitor at a disadvantage over others who focus only on one style. However, Lou tremendously enjoys the teamwork, trust, everyday discipline, and commitment between herself and her two partners. She sees their ability to communicate so well together as a great advantage and plans on dancing two styles as long as she can.
Of course, teamwork involves teammates, of whom Lou has the best in the world!
6.3 Your pro cannot make you a champion
A pro partner cannot make you a champion on his own. You must learn to practice on your own and stand on your own feet, completing dance-related homework and stamina training outside of lessons.
6.4 Be thankful
A beautifully polished couple on the dance floor does not just happen by accident. In addition to a dancer’s pro partner, there are many others who assist. Additional coaching from other pros has been extremely instrumental and helpful to Lou. Then there are workshops, the organizers who own and run the competitions, the competition staff, those who design and make beautiful princess dresses, shoes, accessories, hair/makeup artists, and music specialists who provide the music for the comps.
Lou enjoys the camaraderie of the dance community, particularly the other women who also compete with both of her dance partners. These women support each other. Also, getting to know fellow competitors is important. Many of them are the same people who have also won titles and work tirelessly on their dancing. Dancers battle injuries, illness, and personal issues, but they figure out a way to keep their love of dance alive.
7. To dance is to live
Lou began dancing Tap, Jazz, and Ballet as a child at Victor Veyrasset’s mom’s (Margaret Michaels) dance studio in Redondo Beach, CA. Victor was in her Jazz class, and they did recitals together. When she saw Victor dancing Cha Cha with his partner at a recital, Lou asked her mom what that was and told her, “I want to do that.”
She began taking lessons in Ballroom and Latin both through church group classes and individually. She danced in church cotillions and junior competitions in the western US but could never win since Victor was so much better and always there competing as well. After her dance partners quit in high school, she thought that was it.
7.1 BYU
While attending BYU, she danced on the Ballroom and Social Dance teams for four years. During her last year, she quit the team and began dancing am/am with a partner who had also been on the Ballroom Dance Team. They did 10-dance and began winning 1st in am/am in Ballroom throughout the country and top three in Latin. At the end of that year, he wanted to go to the Blackpool. They knew that they were a new couple together and would not get far competing there, but thought they would do it for the experience. The rest is history (go back to Section 2.1).
The fact that Lou now competes in pro/am at times against Victor Veyrasset and one of his am students (Yes, they were in the same finals at Cal Open in February 2024!) and that they are still friends after all these years is certainly another bucket-list moment!
7.2 Lee Wakefield
Another full-circle moment was to meet Lee Wakefield again after many decades, having the opportunity to reminisce with and thank him.
Lee changed the course of the BYU Ballroom Dance Team during her tenure there in the late 70s, and she was happy to be a part of it. In her freshman year at BYU, Lou tried out for and was chosen as a member of the Ballroom dance team under an older couple’s direction at the time, who had apparently been in that role for years.
After that year, Lee Wakefield (a pro teaching dance at BYU at the time) formed the Social Dance team on campus. Many of the best dancers chose to be on his team instead of the Ballroom Dance Team. In addition to Ballroom and Latin, this team learned and performed West Coast Swing, New York Hustle, and Disco. Lou was on the Social Dance Team for three years before BYU made Lee and Linda Wakefield the new Ballroom Dance Team directors. The Social Dance Team dissolved and was eventually brought back under the Ballroom Dance Team. Lee remained the Director over all these many decades and now oversees many dance competitions in which Lou competes. However, Lou never thought she would see Lee again after leaving BYU …
8. Beyond ballroom dancing
After over 20 years of service to children and families, Lou retired from her job as Foster Care and Adoption Director at a nonprofit agency. Despite personal challenges over the years, ballroom dancing has been instrumental in helping her not only survive these challenges but also become a stronger person.
In her spare time, Lou enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with friends and family, which includes three adult children and five grandchildren. When the grandchildren come to visit, they enjoy wearing grandma’s medals around the house.
9. Closing
After USDC 2023, Lou started making her goals for 2024 and, with her partners, has been creating and implementing a plan to achieve those goals …
