The Naked Truth: Real Talk About West Coast Swing

The new year is a time for reflection, taking stock, and thinking about what’s ahead. So for this first episode of the year, Eric sat down with Courtney Adair to talk about her own challenges, growth, and self-development. It was a very personal and honest discussion, and she was very open and real. She talked about her first experience with meditation, why it impacted her so greatly, and how in some ways it led her to dance. She discussed her appreciation of yoga, her journey to get certified as a yoga instructor, and how yoga influenced her as a dancer and teacher. Courtney shared some of her personal struggles, how she learned to embrace some aspects of herself, and how she supports others on their personal journeys, particularly women in our community. Full of wisdom and insights, this is a great conversation to get you thinking about your own personal development in the year ahead.

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Courtney Adair and Sean McKeever
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Choreo Camp
Westie Goddess Retreat

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We’re back! Sort of. I was planning on relaunching the show in January but how could we not do an episode about the most prestigious event in our dance world? The Open is the most prominent stage for our dance – a showcase of some of our greatest talent and a look at the state of our dance today. So I sat down with a friend of the show, Christopher Dumond, to chat about the Open, what happened there, and what it all means for our dance. We talked about his own experience competing there, the other routines in Classic and Showcase, the judging and results, and yes, we chatted about swing content. We also discussed some of the other aspects of the Open, from the opening ceremonies (“God Bless the USA”?) to the presentations (congrats, Jordan and Tatiana!) to the post-division interviews (oy vey…). So settle in and enjoy this special, super-sized episode about one special, super-sized event.

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Many of us at one time or another have known the feeling of being “on the outside.” Whether it’s in our local community or at weekend conventions, it can be hard to find a group of friends to hang out with – and it can be even harder when there are others who seem to have it all. In this episode, we chat about our own experiences being outsiders. We start with a discussion of the “cool kids,” our own feelings about not being one of the “cool kids,” and what it’s like to be “drifters” instead. We chat about our social anxieties, how our upbringing has shaped who we are, and how social media influences our experiences in the dance world. We also look at how being on top isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and how being on top isn’t the be-all end-all of social dancing. This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt alone, out-of-place, or like an outsider in our dance community (…and also those who haven’t).

footnotes
Last Child in the Woods – Richard Louv
The Mind-Gut Connection – Emeran Mayer

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We love a good conversation with friends. So for our latest live show at Boogie by the Bay, we teamed up with the hosts of “Wine Coast Swing,” Brandi Guild and Robert Royston, to chat, laugh, and drink wine! In this episode, we talk about Boogie by the Bay and what makes it special. We talk about the challenges of dealing with rejection and defeat. We discuss how Robert, Brandi, and Deborah have stayed relevant for so long. And we invited Dr. Martha Stark to come chat for a bit about her work on neuroplasticity and intentionality. This one is full of personal stories, vulnerability, and lots of camaraderie.

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Wine Coast Swing
Those Who Can Do, Can’t Teach by Adam Grant

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We always have a great time when we get together with our audience, and our latest live show was no exception. We sat down with the fun and funny Christopher Dumond to chat about his background in dance, his rise to the champion level, and his own ups and downs in the dance world. He shared his experience with – and his passion for – music and audio production and how it has influenced his dancing. And he shared his views of the changes the US Open is making to judging this year, as well as his thoughts on routines in general. Then, we invited an audience member to play a game where we learned even more about Chris. Listen and enjoy!

footnotes
Christopher Dumond

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