One day she took me to a dance showcase that was being presented in our home town of Dayton, OH. when the owner of the studio saw me dancing with my mom, she immediately signed me up for classes. Within a few months I was entering my first dance competition. While my partner and I did not win, we did place 3rd agianst some very seasoned competitors. This was all it took to set me on a path that would span 14 years. I took lessons and traveld the country seeking out good coaches, and I entered every competition I possibly could. Soon after soaking up all the knowledge I could, my family packed up and moved to Houston, TX where I started my studies with the woman I call The Goddess.
Her name was Shirley Ballas and she was a world renowned dancer who had won most every world title there was. She was fantastic and I was soon mimicking her every move. Under her direction, I won every major dance title for which I was eligible. With her I won the ProAm divisions in Latin and Smooth several times. I also learned many of the skill I still use in my female impersonation. She taught me everything I needed to groom my partners into mini goddesses.
Over the years I have danced with several partners, but I was never happier than when I was dancing with Shirley and my Amateur partner Michelle Mueller. Michelle came from FL and was a stunning beauty and had a personality to match. After we joined forces, we won the United States Amateur title. We won this twice and went to the World Amateur Championships twice as the United States representatives. Michelle and I moved to London to study with the world's best teachers and to follow Shirley and her husband. We did not want to lose their influence either. We lived in London for 3 years and traveld Europe doing presentations and competitions. We danced in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Holland, Germany, and Czechkoslovakia.
After three years, we finally had to split our partnership, and I moved home. I had already been experiencing bad knee problems, and it was soon after that I was faced with knee surgery. After I completed my surgery, I tried dancing again and did so with a couple of other partners. I bounced from Florida to San Antonio, to Houston trying to make it work again, but it was not meant to be. Ballroom competition was over for me.
I still keep up with the telecasts that occasionally show up on educational television, and I fondly recall meeting Juliet Prowse during the taping of one such event we were competing in. I still use some of the skills I learned in dancing for my shows and pageants. In fact, my first year at Miss Gay America, I did a ballroom talent which won overall best talent and also became my trademark.
If you ever get to see a ballroom competition you should. They are about the best versions of seccular drag I know. Below are pics of me and some of my partners.
