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!