Dancing Queens & Kings

Dancing Queens & Kings

My new book (“Dancing Queens & Kings”) will be available at Amazon by 5/30. In this post, I will publish (1) Book reviews, (2) Acknowledgments, (3) Foreword, (4) Introduction, and (5) Afterword.

1. Book reviews

This book bas been reviewed by five industry leaders prior to the publication: Sam Sodano, Natalie Paramonov, Bill Sparks, Marzena Stachura, and Peter Minkov.

1.1 Sam Sodano

What a book—sexy, glamorous, and classy!

The collection of 30 personal stories portrays the passion and dedication of amateur ballroom dancers—a tribute to real people who have followed their dreams to dance.

Dancing Queens & Kings is a compelling read for anyone interested in understanding the commitment required to compete in a pro/am ballroom dance competition.

1.2 Natalie Paramonov

This wonderful book lets us peak into the vibrant world of pro/am ballroom dancing.

Through a collection of captivating stories, this book unveils the journeys of individuals who have embraced ballroom dancing as more than just a hobby. It is a transformative experience that profoundly shapes or reshapes their lives. From humble beginnings to remarkable achievements, each narrative delves into the personal triumphs and challenges faced by dancers on their path to mastery. Through heartfelt journeys, readers gain insight into the dedication, resilience, and sheer joy that accompanies the pursuit of dance excellence.

The book highlights the pivotal role of mentors and teachers, whose guidance fuels the aspirations of these dancers. What sets this book apart is its exploration of the deeper significance of ballroom dancing. Beyond the glitz and glamour, it reveals how dance becomes a lifeline for some, offering solace, rejuvenation, and a renewed sense of purpose. Through these narratives, the book offers a refreshing perspective on the power of dance to enrich lives.

Overall, it is a heartfelt tribute to the passion and commitment of pro/am ballroom dancers. It celebrates the diversity of backgrounds and cultures within the community while underscoring the universal love for dance. With its inspiring stories and insightful revelations, this book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the artistry and resilience found on the dance floor.

1.3 Bill Sparks

This book shows the world of pro/am ballroom dancing, offering both students and the industry valuable insights into the lives and dedication of these remarkable student dancers. It opened my eyes to the fascinating stories and the immense time and effort all pro/am students pour into their passion. My review simply captures a glimpse of the magic this book reveals about the transformative power of ballroom dancing for anyone who dares to take the plunge.

For over three and a half decades, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the transformative power of ballroom dancing. Students, each carrying his/her unique dream and anxiety, enter a studio as individuals. Yet, within the embrace of the music, the graceful flow of movement, and the raw vulnerability of emotion, something extraordinary unfolds.

This book is a testament to that transformation, a collection of stories from students who dared to step onto the dance floor and, through the challenges, the unwavering discipline, and the pursuit of seemingly impossible goals, discovered a strength and resilience they never knew they possessed. These students did not just learn to dance – They bloomed into confident and empowered individuals, claiming their own unique space on the dance floor and, in doing so, becoming more than just dancers – They became dancing royalty!

1.4 Marzena Stachura

What an absolutely fabulous tribute to some of the best amateur dancers in competitive pro/am ballroom dancing in the US!

Through those amazing stories we get to see that with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, all your dreams can become a reality. Despite any age, race, or religion, we are one big family in our industry that is like an amazing bubble that glows and shines and makes us different from any other industry.

Frank, thank you so much for showing us the stories of these 30 students, whose hard work makes our industry a better place. I hope to see the next edition, with many other dancers who also deserve their spotlight.

1.5 Peter Minkov

Let me repeat Sam Sodano’s quote: “There are no strangers in the ballroom world, only friends we have not met yet.” This book brings us closer to many of these friends.

This book presents some amazing stories about 30 amateurs in pro/am ballroom dancing. Regardless of the backgrounds and cultures, they all have discovered the love for ballroom dancing. Furthermore, for some, ballroom dancing is so much more than just what meets the eye. It literally has brought them back to life! Along the way, the book also breaks a few myths about the industry. Overall, it is a great tribute to pro/am ballroom dancing, which is the engine behind the thriving industry of ballroom dancing.

2. Acknowledgments

This is my first book on ballroom dancing, for which I am deeply indebted to many.

First and foremost, I must thank Bravo TV for having produced such a ridiculous reality TV show about ballroom dancing (Bravo: Dancing Queens) that I felt compelled to publish a series of reviews, one after each episode (“Dancing Queens”: The Final Review). Before the 8-episode show was over, I started thinking about producing this book with real stories that truly depict the industry.

Second, I must thank Sam Sodano for his blind trust in me: he let me put his name on the cover of the book before a single word of the book was written! Without a strong endorsement like that, I would not have even attempted to produce this book. Now, his powerful Foreword has made the endorsement official, in writing! Furthermore, his 2-page personal story about pro/am ballroom dancing at the end of the book is very informative.

Third, I must thank the other 29 participants in the book. Without their stories and diligent efforts in writing, there would have been no book!

A big “thank you” to Slawek Sochacki for encouraging his three champion students to participate in the book: Irene Fong (Chapter 7), Lou Nielsen (Chapter 19), and Patricia Schneider (Chapter 24).

I must thank both Dr. John Lounsbury (the Managing Editor at “Economic Currents”) and Steve Hansen (the publisher) for giving me a platform for publication in May 2011. Since then, I have published 1,000 articles (https://econcurrents.com/author/frankli/), including more than 50 directly related to this book.

A world of thanks to these five industry leaders for reviewing the book prior to the publication: Sam Sodano, Natalie Paramonov, Bill Sparks, Marzena Stachura, and Peter Minkov.

Special thanks go to (1) Alexis Salapatek (Chapter 22) for the wonderful design of the book cover, and (2) these four individuals for proof-reading the book: Kayla Carpenter, Nichelle Kennedy (Chapter 13), Mark Madia, and Pamela Melton (Chapter 18).

Finally, a huge “thank you” to Jaana Lillemagi, my teacher and professional dance partner since 2017. Without her, I probably would not be dancing today, thus no book!

3. Foreword by Sam Sodano

4. Introduction

As a direct response to Bravo’s reality TV show about ballroom dancing (Bravo: Dancing Queens), I published a “Call for Participation” for this book on June 18, 2023 (Dancing Queens & Kings: Call for Participation), with two requirements:

  • You must have competed at the USDC or OSB.
  • You must have a compelling story to tell.

In total, I received 51 submissions of the 1-page highlight, of which 39 were accepted to proceed with the 10-page full story. Thirty of those were accepted and included in this book. Recently, two extra pages were added to each chapter, each having a full-page photo.

So, this book consists of 30 chapters, each of which is a 12-page story about one amateur in competitive pro/am ballroom dancing. Together, they mirror the industry quite well, as highlighted by the table below.

The 30 participants can be roughly classified into two types:

  • Champions, to whom other amateur ballroom dancers can look up.
  • “Top” dancers, with whom other amateur ballroom dancers can easily relate in some way, from “to dance is to live” to surviving cancer.

In other words, this book has something for everyone in ballroom dancing, especially the amateurs. For example, it answers three profoundly basic questions:

  • Is pro/am (or am/am) ballroom dancing good for my marriage?
  • What are the essentials for a successful pro/am partnership?
  • How do I advance from Bronze to Silver, to Gold, and to Open, eventually becoming a champion?

Just like all my published works, I own every word in this book. Every participant is responsible for his/her story in terms of the facts (e.g., Giovanni Fortezza claims to have won at the USDC and OSB 10 times consecutively. It sounded right, but I did not verify it), while I made editorial changes, sometimes substantial. Four examples:

  • Giovanni (Chapter 8) has never called himself “Giovanni the Great” – I did!
  • Nichelle Kennedy (Chapter 13) has never called herself “the best amateur in pro/am ballroom dancing in [North] America” – I did!
  • Mike Butler (Chapter 5) has never called himself “the next Giovanni” – I did!
  • Patricia Schneider (Chapter 24) has never called herself “a real Queen of Smooth” – I did!

Now, if a photo is worth more than 1,000 words, this book is worth more than 800,000 words, as it contains more than 800 color photos, offering a photographic overview of pro/am ballroom dancing! This book will be available at Amazon.com in three formats:

  • E-book: The photos are in color and all the hyperlinks are active.
  • Paperback (B&W): The color photos are in black & white, but quite readable.
  • Hardcover (color): It is simply the best in class, maybe even the best in the history of books, thanks to its rich content and the beautiful photos of ballroom dancing!

Happy reading!

5. Afterword

Thank you for coming to this page, and I hope you have enjoyed the book!

Personally, it was purely a labor of love for me to have produced this book by working with so many folks in this industry over the past 12 months. Two highlights:

  • Most participants in this book were extremely pleasant to work with: they were willing participants and they were very cooperative. For example, for each chapter, there were, on average, 20 revisions (i.e., 10 iterations between a participant and me) before it was finalized. This could not have been done without both sides being very cooperative and responsive.
  • For the submissions that were not accepted, the #1 reason, IMHO, was lack of effort in writing. Some did have an attitude problem, such as being unwilling to accept my simple editorial changes, without the understanding that “this is my book, after all.”

In hindsight, I did three things wisely at the very beginning:

  • As an experienced book self-publisher at Amazon.com, I gave all participants a short document of guidelines and a template (MS-Word) to work with. Because of that, all individual submissions (or chapters) can be easily integrated into the book (or taken out for revision), publishable at Amazon, almost instantly.
  • I published my story (1-page and 10-page versions) early as an example for participants to match and exceed, and many did!
  • I formed a private group on Facebook to facilitate communication among all participants. For example, the beautiful extra two pages for every chapter would not have been possible without the vigorous and fruitful discussions in the group.

Understandably, this book has been very time-consuming for me. Two examples:

  • While some participants are good writers, most are not. For some, I had to write or re-write their chapters, based on the basic info provided to me. By carefully reading through all 30 chapters, you should be able to tell the difference between “mostly original” and “mostly by Frank,” thanks to my unique style of writing.
  • I cropped and captioned almost all the photos in this book for the best presentation possible, as I wanted to make this book the best in the history of books in terms of the combination of the content and the form (yes, more than 800 photos)!

Needless to say, I faced many challenges along the way, from inviting some stars to participate, to cajoling some with special accommodations, to arm-twisting some into commitment and re-commitment, and to bruising some egos. For me, it is all business. Unfortunately, everything is personal for some …

As for my next step, I plan to do a book for the professional champions.

Who, then, is a professional champion?

Anybody who has won Open Professional at the USDC or OSB!

I will start with three American styles: Rhythm, Smooth, and 9-dance. Pending the interest expressed in the coming months, I may expand to include the “International style” (i.e., Ballroom, Latin, and 10-dance) as well.

Happy dancing!

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