What a treat to visit the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, downtown Los Angeles.
The perfect venue for a ballroom dance competition! They truly have one of the most beautiful ballrooms in America.
The Millennium Biltmore has an “old world charm” not many renovated hotels can pull off. Usually hotels of this age smell musty and downright “old.” Not so here! The Biltmore smelled of flowers and ballroom dancing (which trust me guys, definitely has its own distinct perfumes and odors). Built in 1923, the hotel’s architectural style is a mixture of Spanish-Italian Renaissance and Mediterranean Revival. The interiors are beautifully decorated with murals, carved marble fountains, massive beamed ceilings, embroidered tapestries and more.
Our competition took place in the Crystal Ballroom, a splendid decorum of crystal chandeliers and mythological creatures inspiring the kids to stand up taller, dance more elegantly and perform to a level that exceeded my ballroom dance business partner and F.A.B Ballroom owner, Irina Chalkevitch, and my expectations.
Ballroom dance competitions can be described in as little as four words: glamorous, dramatic, competitive and shiny.
Women spend thousands of dollars on their costumes, adorning each dress with hundreds if not thousands of expensive crystal stones. Brightly colored fabrics are paired and sewn in unique patterns, ruffles and lengths. Spray tanner and hairspray smells permeate the air at each and every competition.
Vendors and mirrors are everywhere. And trust me, there’s not a single ballroom dancer who doesn’t enjoy shopping for a new dress or tail suit and looking at themselves in the mirror… a ton! LOL.
One of the many reasons I love ballroom dance for children: it teaches them poise, grace, respect, and loyalty to their partners.
Ballroom dance is a two person team sport: the kids must learn to respect one another and get along. They must work hard together if they are to succeed and win. In other words, ballroom dancing teaches irreplaceable life’s lessons we all need at a very young age. Especially if we are to succeed later in life and in our relationships.
The kids may have loved the hotel more than their parents. Immediately following awards, everyone dashed to the lower level for photos, photos and more photos.
Remember what I said about mirrors? Well, us dancers tend to obsess over every photo opportunity. And rightfully so- it can take hours to prepare for a competition. The hair, nails, makeup and dress placement, when done properly, takes SO much time to perfect. Heck, as a coach we need to look glamorous too so it comes as no surprise that I fully enjoyed a photo-op with my Yorkies!
No no matter your age, skill level or ability, ballroom dance offers something for everyone. Boys and men feel like princes and take on an elegant charm. Girls and women feel like princesses: beautiful, courageous and elegant.
Partners learn to respect one another. It’s almost like The Chronicles Of Narnia, only instead of stepping through a wardrobe into another world, we are stepping into a ballroom.
Ballroom at the Biltmore is no different. A magical experience everyone can partake and succeed in!
xx Shanna
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