On Friday when I picked up my dress for the North Broward Links Gala Contest: Dancing with The Stars; I noticed that the tailor had butchered the bottom. He was supposed to take off 1-2 inches, instead he took of about four inches and hem was very uneven. That was the second dress he had ruined! I panicked and call my dance partner, Miguel. He told me to call our friend Dennis who knows how to work magic with the sewing machine. I left the boutique quite upset and disappointed.

I went over to Miguel’s house and Dennis had his sewing machine out. He measured cut and sewed most of the night. While he was sewing, Miguel and I practiced our dance routine. When Dennis was done, the dress looked a hundred times better. Then they had the brilliant idea to add feather boas at the bottom to hide some of the slight imperfection that remained. I woke up early Saturday morning and drove to the nearest Party City store. I bought four white feature boas and took them to Dennis. He sewed them onto the dress. The dress was transformed into a true Ginger Rogers style of dress.

I rushed home and got ready for the Gala Miguel, Dennis and our friend Jackie picked me up. When we got to the venue, we met the five other couples that were also competing. Needless to say, we were all very nervous. Miguel and I were happy to find out we were selected for the fourth spot; no ones likes being first in these types of competitions. Dennis came to the dressing room and helped me with my makeup. I have never worn false eyelashes, but again Dennis worked his magic and made me look more like the Swan Princess, ready for the ball. When our turn came, Miguel escorted me onto the dance floor, my heart was practically in my throat. He gave me a twirl as they introduced us and the audience applauded.

The music began. Although I was still nervous, my fear went away with the familiar voice of Frank Sinatra piped throughout the hall, singing “The Way You Look Tonight.” We danced and spun, hopped, quick-stepped, waltz, twirled and had a great time enjoying the dance and the audience’s responses to our moves. The audience, wooed and clapped whenever they liked a particular step. Next thing I knew it was over just as quickly as it began.

We sat and our assigned table and the judges made their remarks : loved the dance, loved Frank Sinatra, loved moves and wanted to steal my dress! Hahaha.  They raised their scores: one 10 and four 9’s.  “Wow! No Way,”  was my thought when I saw them. We waited while the last two couples danced. The last couple had a professional dancer as part of the team. I must say he was fantastic. He even lifted her a few times. There was no way, Miguel and I were going to do such moves.

Finally, they contest ended and they had us back on the dance floor for the announcement of the winners. To my shock and our great surprised, we placed the second and received two beautiful awards!  The professional guy with the lifts came in first place.  I must say, Miguel, Dennis and Jackie truly turned this techie, geeky, uncoordinated woman into a Swan Princess last night. Best part is that there were well over 400 people in attendance and lots of money was raised for the scholarship fund for the kids.  I also have three new awesome friends: Miguel, Dennis and Jackie! Happy, happy, joy, joy!

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When I agreed to help out with the North Broward Links charity event to raise money for disadvantage kids scholarship fund; I had no idea what I was getting into. The Gala’s theme is Denim and Diamonds; attendees are instructed to wear denim and a sparkle tops or sports jacket for men. That is fine, but my participation in the fundraiser is  to be a contestant in the organization’s version of Dancing with the Stars.

I told my girlfriend who recruited me, that I am accident prone and generally quite uncoordinated. I tried all the excuses that I could think of, inorder  to not be in the contest. She convinced me that it was for a great cause and she would find a partner that is an awesome dance. This person would make me look good on the dance floor.

Enter Miguel, the brave soul ,who agreed to be my partner and to train me. It started out a little rough, he would say go left and I would go right. At some point, he had to remind me that he was leading…there goes the control freak in me again. He has been stepped on, kicked and hit in the nose, all by yours truly. Come on, I’m into techie stuff (great technical terminology), what do I know about dancing? There were times that I thought Miguel must of thought: “ What the heck did I get myself into? This woman has too left feet!” Nevertheless, he was very patient with me and he encouraged me whenever I messed up.

After a number of days and hours of practicing, we will compete tonight in front of 400 people. I have the accessories, my gown, the music, my dancing shoes and I hope to remember to bring along my self-confidence. There are butterflies flying around my stomach, but I hope to shoo them away once the music starts. A few hours from now I will see if this clumsy Cygnet becomes a graceful Swan. To be continued…

Live a Diamond Life! Live a Life of Purpose!

Click to like my Fan Pages: MarleneMBryanLLC and HigherRoadConsultingCorporation

Visit my websites: www.marlenembryan.com and www.higherroadconsulting.com