Authot Julia
In anticipation of the new season, my article concerns a dream… or a goal. In addition, in this article I am sharing my experience with the only goal — to show other people that we can do absolutely everything if we want it.
The autumn of 2023 started with my thoughts about what I wanted to change in my life, or I’d rather say, to improve in it. Therefore, I decided to resume dancing classes, that I did in Kyiv as an amateur dancer, first in 2013-14, and then in 2017.
When I started searching for dance studios in Italy, I didn’t find anything suitable in the city I live in. I also couldn’t find anything like that within a 100 km radius of my city, that is in Genoa and Savona in one direction or in Nice and Menton in another one.
The studio that would meet my needs was found only in Milan, located… 250 km from Imperia, where I live. This is the Fred Astaire Dance Studio, founded by an Italian, Alessandro Cilio.
One Saturday in September, I came to a trial class, and the atmosphere I saw and felt there captivated me. The hospitality of the teachers, professionalism and particular approach to the client were the key-points that I noticed and that suited me.
Thus, in October 2023, I started attending dance classes at this Milan studio every Saturday. There were held double classes for me, which are two classes of 45 minutes each. As a former athlete and a sportswoman by lifestyle, it was important for me to set a goal for which I was doing all that. And so, my first goal was a trip to Madrid for a dance tournament on January 3-5th, 2024, as part of the Milan studio team. I started getting ready for it!
It takes approximately 3.5 hours for the distance of 250 km on Italian highways, depending on traffic and constant road works. It means that setting off at 9 a.m., I got to the studio by 1 p.m., next I danced for an hour and a half, and then from 3 to 4 in the afternoon I had a walk and a light lunch in Milan. Only by 8 p.m. I was already back home.
Everything would be great if I had to go there once a month. Not every Saturday! Thus, coming once a week and taking two classes in a row, I prepared for the performance, and a friendly team, composed of 12 people from the Milan studio, went to Madrid for a dance tournament.
Two days of dancing, emotions, new meetings and contacts filled my inner world. At that time, I danced two main programs:
- Ballroom: three dances (waltz, tango and slow foxtrot).
- Latin American program: two dances cha-cha-cha and rumba.
- And also my favourite salsa, which is a social dance and was performed just for pleasure on the first day of the tournament in the evening program.
On the first day after the Ballroom program, I was crying in my room, watching videos of my waltz, tango and foxtrot performance. I watched the video and realised that my dancing was just a shame. I was not dancing, but just walking round the dance floor. How on Earth I decided to come to the dance tournament! At that time, I was not very close to the team of the studio, so it was uncomfortable to seek support from them. I texted my former partner and dance teacher Volodiia, who currently lives and dances in Canada, and his support was very important to me. Of course, I wrote to my children and friends that everything was wonderful, as I understood they were worried about me and there was no need to disturb them once again.
That same evening, I had to dance salsa, and I needed to gather all my courage (I do not really like this expression, though). I had to gather it and go to the dance floor again. That was my decisive step, proving the power of desire!
Many aspects played a role that evening, changing me. The first was the prayer before leaving my room, as I felt more confident afterwards. No less important was the dress created by my friend, designer Aliona Mozgova. I called this dress Black Swan and, putting it on that evening, I felt like a professional dancer. That, in its turn, gave me some more confidence. Another moment of the evening was the look of one of the dancers, which I caught while going dancing. He looked at me with admiration! After that, it seemed to me I could do anything! I was also impressed by the support of our Italian team and all its members who were not supposed to dance that evening, but came to support me. Of course, another aspect was my partner’s support, who did his best to give me confidence.
And, of course, the dance itself. I simply loosed myself in the rhythm of salsa and danced magnificently!
Late in the evening, before going to bed, I was thinking about how different the first and second halves of the day can be, and how much depends on us, on our attitude and the strength of our desire! The second day of the tournament was great, and I returned home with new goals.
Every Saturday I went to Milan to dance. Many people, who found it out, said I was very goal-oriented. In fact, it is true, but there was something more in it… I began to notice that these Saturday trips to Milan and dance classes were improving and enriching my life. Last summer, my teacher-partners and I set a new goal — to perform on the stage at Milan theatre in a production of the entire studio called “The Broadway Show”, on October 12th. We learned two dance performances: Cha-Cha-Cha dance with my partner Alessandro and Rumba with another one, Pasquale.
The period from June to September was dedicated to that.
The studio’s working hours changed in July and August, and as the studio was closed on Saturday, I had to go there every Tuesday. It was inconvenient to my schedule, but the power of my desire was greater!
As you know, summers are hot in Italy. This is nothing new, just a statement of fact. It was +35 outside, the air conditioning was on in the room, but while dancing, you were still constantly sweating (sorry for the details).
Sometimes, getting into the car after classes, I was thinking: “When will I stop feeling hot?” When I left for Milan in the morning, all the city residents and tourists went to the beach to sunbathe and swim in the sea, meanwhile I went to dance 250 km from that very sea.
However, all those trips led to the fact that on October 12th I performed well in our studio show on the stage of one of Milan theatres. By the way, there is my article dedicated to the topic (also in Italian). The power of desire led to a worthy result!
On Saturday, October 12th, a unique event took place at Eco Teatro di Milano — “The Broadway Show”.
What happened next? After that, it was time to prepare for a unique tournament called “Amazing Vienna”, which is held annually in Vienna on December 7-8.
I first visited this event seven years ago, in December 2017, with my partner-teacher Volodiia Nikolaev. At that time, it was out of my comfort zone. Years later, I was going there again to take part in the competition!
The article you are reading now was published on the first day of my performance, in particular on December 7th. In the following two days, I was dancing incredibly interesting programs!
The first day was the Argentine program, including Argentinian tango, waltz and milonga.
On the second day, I was dancing a Latin American program, including four dances, two of which were new to me — samba and jive. However, I believed I would succeed!
After the tournament in December, I wrote an article about that event. I am sure that it will also help you think about your dreams, goals, new horizons and discoveries.
I am infinitely grateful to my partner-teachers and the entire studio team! I am confident in my partners, because I know they hold my hand tightly and lead me forward, where I have not been yet, but would like to be.
I called this article “Power of Desire” because I believe that these two words contain a lot.
Power and Desire
It all starts with a desire… In fact, many of us have it. We wish a lot!
However, a wish comes true when we add the power that pushes, moves and activates that desire, thereby helping it to become reality.
I wish you to desire something very much, to suppot it and to achieve what previously seemed impossible!
Main photo by Aditya Ali
Author Julia
Основательница Сoffee Time Journal
