Practice, practice, practice.......

Great practice on Saturday - no, I did not have to wear a costume (it was Halloween) and yes, I did have to skip having the trick or treat candy (again, it was Halloween). But we practiced differently; because it WAS a Saturday, there were other students there, so we worked on individual parts of the routine, honing and tweaking (me more than him, of course). Then he had us do the routine, and the other students, who were dancing, started to watch, and then I had an audience. That was new, and necessary - the dynamics change every time a person walks into the room. They were SO supportive, but believe me, it's still unnerving to dance in front of other students who know what they're watching, and understand what I'm trying to do.

Other than one little meltdown (saved by excellent coaching by my instructor and dance partner, Mr. Baeten), it went really well, and I'm over another hurdle. We're also much closer on the dance costume - so all the elements are coming together quickly as we enter this last stretch.

Thank you to the wonderful students and staff at Arthur Murray on Saturday for a Halloween that wasn't scary at all - just great support and encouragement to continue me on my journey!

Ding dong.......wait, could that be the doorbell and some trick-or-treaters? Gotta run.........

Feels like we're counting down............

I cannot believe how fast the time is flying, now that we're in the home stretch. It seemed like a million days away a month ago, but when you start to think about everything still needing to be addressed between now and Nov. 12th (which is right around the corner - did I mention that already?), it's crazy!

The LIST: Dance partner - check! Dance song - check! Routine - check! Lots of lovely people in the audience for support - check! Sponsors and donations coming in - check! Hair style at least discussed -check! Costume - no check!......we are still considering our options and in my mind's eye, I need to be able to envision how I will appear that evening, so need to move that up the list (not to mention the appropriate undergarmets, etc. - I know, I know, TMI!). I have tried on what seems like a million dresses/outfits/costumes, and brought in for review only a handful. If I was independently wealthy, there would be no problem - it's incredible the price of the dresses the professional dancers wear. Gorgeous and absolutely breathtaking in their quality and construction (at least from what I've seen on about 20 websites), but wow, I could buy a used car instead of a heavily beaded (but stunning) performance dress. Dilemma, dilemma..........and one simply must look like "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang!" - no easy feat!

Let's see.....back to the list.....Take advantage of the free offer for a full body tan? - no check yet! New Haven Tanning has offered to donate a full body spray to each of the couples (very generous on their part - thank you!). Do I do it - we've all seen that episode of "Friends" where Ross turns around at the wrong time while in the spray booth, getting two doses to one side, and no doses to the other? That would be my luck! But maybe I should........hmmmm.......will have to still think on that one......Goodie bags and cheering support for tables in process - check! Eliminating Halloween candy from my current diet - check! Practicing each day at home - check! Practicing more with Mr. Baeten at the studio - check! Appropriate meltdown two weeks before the event - check! Driving Dennis crazy with my constant chatter - check!

Yep, seems like we're on track.................

THANK YOU to our Fox Trot Sponsors!

Heartfelt thanks again to our sponsors to date — Dancing Donna is simply THRILLED to have the support of two wonderful Fox Trot level sponsors - Indiana Michigan Power and Pro Fed Credit Union. We have been fortunate to have enjoyed professional relationships with both organizations during our twenty years in business with Emley Design Group, and have met some wonderful people while working on various projects together. Both are also very community minded and do much in our community already. We're thankful for their support of The Carriage House through Dancing Donna and this event.

Please take a moment to visit their website and learn more about what they do and what they're involved in - you can visit any of our sponsors by clicking on the links to the right.

We also want to thank Design Collaborative as a Waltz level sponsor - thank you, Ron and Pat. And remember — anyone who gives us a donation goes into the "Everybody Dance Now" sponsor level - which helps vote for Dancing Donna that evening. So every donation, dollar and vote counts! We appreciate your support - and couldn't do it without you!

OXOX from "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang!"

Keep those reservations coming!

To all our great "peeps" out there - thank you for signing up for a "Team Dancing Donna" table - we LOVE how many of you will be in the audience cheering us on! Remember, all in attendance for us will receive official "Dancing Donna" goodie bags, and detailed instructions on how to clap, yell, whistle, shout and basically bring down the house when Mr. Baeten and Ms. Emley are on the floor.

For those of you who haven't checked your schedule, there's still time, but TIME IS RUNNING OUT! This event is expected to sell out, and if early ticket sales are any indication, it will, so if you want to be at one of our "official" tables, please let us know right away (436-9039 or 402-9118, or email us at Dennis@edg-dmc.com or Donna@edg-dmc.com). Remember, all checks are made payable to the Carriage House - you can send to us and we'll forward it on, or you may mail your check directly to them - just note somewhere you want to be a part of our group. And what a GREAT group it will be!

Mr. Baeten, my fabulous, patient instructor...

With so many of our other fall community commitments completed for the most part, I'm more able to gear up these next 30 days for the "BIG" event. Over the past few weeks, I've been encouraged to practice, practice, practice - hand positions, certain steps, posture, key parts of the routine - all so I'm better prepared for when I do show up in person and spend an hour or so with my wonderful instructor and partner, Troy Baeten.

The time just flies, and in the middle of deadlines and projects and photo shoots and communication plans and schedules and ad layouts and design and production and web strategies and updates and powerpoints and keynotes and eblasting and emailing, it has truly been a wonderful respite in each of my weeks.

We are formal at the Arthur Murray Dance School, and it's somewhat refreshing to be addressed as "Mrs. Emley" (although I do admit, I still periodically turn around and look for Dennis' mother). I wanted to share this lovely formal shot of "Mr. Baeten" and his wife "Mrs. Baeten" (Anna) - also an instructor at the studio - this is the look I aspire to and the one they so easily achieve. The beautiful lines, the exquisite carriage, the elegance and old-world styling is evident.

This, on the other hand, is how "Mr. Baeten" looks when dancing with me! The furrowed brow, the intense concentration and deliberation, the indecision.......just the other day, he reminded me "this is not a speaking part, Mrs. Emley - no talking!" as I mumble and berate myself through the errors and omissions. How many of my bad habits will he be able to break? You won't know unless you show up for the big event!

What we've been doing when I'm NOT dancing...PART 2

The second big event was not one, but two events - a weekend actually. We have been helping with the "Seeds of Faith" mission discernment, capital campaign and $5.5 million new addition and improvements project for Trinity English Lutheran Church. This wonderful downtown church has a rich heritage and foundation of faith, and the new addition and improvements recently completed will not only help them fulfill their mission, but it also earned them the Lugar Energy Patriot Award for October, for their many energy saving updates, including geothermal heating and cooling and solar panels.

On Oct. 11th, the "Seeds of Faith" FEST weekend kicked off with a community celebration in the new Washington Blvd. parking lot and entrance from noon-5:00. On WOWO that morning, the construction partners and myself talked with Rick Wolf about the uniqueness of the project, while everyone else was busy setting up for the ribbon-cutting, exhibitor displays, food, fun, and festivities. At 2:00, along with the ribbon-cutting with representatives from both the offices of the Mayor and Senator Lugar, 500 balloons were launched with return cards (three have already been found in Ohio!).

On Sunday, the celebration continued with the dedication and laying of the cornerstone, followed by a worship service with special readings and music, a reception and tours. Click here to see more - take time to look at the various video and photo gallery links from this incredible downtown revitalization project.

What we've been doing when I'm NOT dancing...

Each week, I tell my wonderful instructor, Mr. Baeten, that he is the highlight of my week (no pressure). But we've had a wonderful fall because of two other very important landmark community events we've been helping with.....

Francine's Friends mobile mammography coach celebrated its 5th anniversary with a "5 Days with Friends" and our annual fundraiser breakfast on Oct. 9th. To date, nearly 10,000 women have been screened on the coach. The mission of Francine's Friends is to make early detection of breast cancer available to EVERY woman in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area, regardless of her ability to pay. Check the current schedule of the coach by visiting www.FrancinesFriends.org.

This year was a special celebration for our all-volunteer board, our community partners (Parkview Comprehensive Cancer Center and Breast Diagnostic Center), our presenting sponsor (PHP Foundation), all the breakfast sponsors past and present, our wonderful survivors and the over 500 women who were in attendance at the breakfast. This year we raised over $120,000 to help fund mammograms.

Also, always on hand to MC the breakfast was Linda Jackson, a Francine's Friend and a fellow dancer. We compared dancing and costume notes, plus practice scheduled. Remember, she's originally from Peru - that circus town - YIKES! What a great person she is.......she always hosts us on her community program and helps get the word out for us.

Elena and Tony Announced!

No, this is not me and my dance partner — it's two of the OFFICIAL ABC Dancing With The Stars — and they're coming to Fort Wayne for our event! How exciting is that? Although Troy, my partner is certainly no slouch, it would take more than just brown hair coloring for me to look like Elena! What a night full of glamour, glitz and good times it will be — and all to support a wonderful cause.

For those of you who don't know who all of the dancers are for this year, here is the list: In addition to me, the other local "celebrity" women are Linda Jackson, Indiana's News Center; Jill Nichols, Vera Bradley; Dr. Christine Tremper, Summit Radiology; and Julianne Lassus, Lassus Handy Dandy. Local "celebrity" gentlemen include Tom Didier, City Councilman; Wendell Bontrager, Tower Bank; Joseph Cohen, Barrett & McNagny, Tom Lapsley, Thistle Group and owner of the Plex; and Mark McKibben, Glenbrook Hyundai.

But the real stars are the professional dancers who have been so wonderful working with all of us. First, there's my talented partner and ultimate professional, Troy Baeten, owner of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Also that evening, you'll see Jeanne Cross, Patric Didier, Jennifer Schnorr, Tony Didier, Chad Rice, and Joshua Savage of American Style Ballroom; Stacey Root of Tiffany & Co. Studio of Dance, Cristina Ray of K. Monique's Studio of Dance; and Sheenah Johnson, of Sheekristyle Academy of Dance Arts. We are in such good and capable hands, and regardless of the outcome, the audience will be in for a treat.