About the love of dance, told through the eyes of a college freshman. Description of quite a few dances: salsa, merengue, swing, cha cha, fox trot, waltz, etc.

Slow, quick, quick. Slow, quick quick. I hear the counts again and again in my head as I

lead my partner across the dance floor. We stare into each other's eyes as our hips sway to the

stuttering beat. Foreign, this place is not. Like mother's arms, it soothes me, as the fingertips of

perspiration roll down my chest. A smile tickles it's way across my face as I realize there is

nothing in the world I'd rather be doing. I love to dance.

Ever since I was a child, I've greatly enjoyed music. I can recall with equal ease and

enthusiasm days where I, a six year old boy, would return from school to the livingroom

whereupon I would spend entire afternoons listening to music. I would sit in my father's chair,

King of My Universe, tapping along (and yes, singing) to the baseline of the song that

reverberated off the cold, hardwood floors.

Valentine dance, school

Scene at square dance in rural home in McIntosh Co...

Ball gown and tailcoat are always worn when dancin...

Oldies, bluegrass, pop, rock, it didn't matter to me. I

didn't have a favorite, I liked it all! This love for music at such a young age helped shape my

passion for dancing.

Paying for all my own lessons, I began to study ballroom dancing at the age of 15. I

quickly realized that I had found my niche. I had a natural ability on the dance floor. Leading

was second nature for me, the beat of the music became a part of me, and as I learned more about

each dance, I too learned more about myself.

As any ballroom dancer will tell you, every dance has a personality, style and character all

it's own. As I found this out, I began to develop favorites. I started to, and still do, go out every

weekend and dance. And depending on what kind of day...