Ballroom dance Journey: An Exclusive interview with Irina Shapeton
Sept 15, 2024 | Ballroom Dancing
We know how scary it can be to start something new. Especially if it’s something that goes completely against everything you’ve ever done before. Of course, we also know that dancing is such a scary thing for many people!
Therefore, you have not yet decided whether you want to start learning dance or not, we have given you a few examples of why we recommend it to you:
All right we’re here talking about ballroom dance with Irina Shapeton, one of Imi’s longtime clients. So tell me how long have you been ballroom dancing?
I’ve been dancing for about seven years. I must say yes.
Excellent, how did you get Into it?
My friend brought me to the studio. She was dancing for two years and she really enjoyed it. She said, Irina you like to dance so much, you should come with me and you should try ballroom dancing. I said I didn’t know I could, am I too old for that? She said no no no no you’re not too old at all, you know, people start it at any age. So I came to a dance party first. She introduced me to Imre and I danced with Imre once, took the first lesson and after that I was hooked.
That’s great. Do you remember what kind of dance you did for your first lesson?
On my first lesson. I believe it was Rumba uh and when the first time came I said I want to learn Tango. So Imi kind of looked at me and said, you know it’s a very difficult dance to start with!!! but we can do it if you want. I said okay!!! He said but let’s start first with the Rumba. I said okay so we started with everything like Rumba Cha Cha everything and I enjoyed it.
All the Rhythm dances first?
The Rhythm dances and the smooth at the same time.
Oh that’s nice. So in those early days how many lessons were you taking per week do you think?
One
One? so you were able to do all of those dancers in one lesson?
One lesson, one private lesson and then I took a lot of group lessons
And did that help you with the group lessons?
Yes it did. Then gradually I was taking a little more. I was taking two lessons. So seven years later I’m taking three lessons.But I started with one
That’s great that’s great so you have done a lot of competing is that right?
I did
When did you begin competing and what was your first competition?
My first competition was the Yankee classic in Cambridge. It was exciting, I was scared, but I was a beginner and I was told: no problem, it’s beginners so easy, but I was still nervous, but it was really exciting. You know, put some glittery dress on with the makeup and the hair the whole thing.
You just love the whole environment.
Oh yes
Were you focused on how you did at the competition? or has that changed over time? Do you care more now about your results?
I do but I um more exciting is to just do well and just perform. I like just the whole idea. You know, dancing in a beautiful dress with the music and people watching you and I just think of like, I would like people to enjoy watching me so I’m trying to perform.
Yeah that’s great, well you do it well. so your goals for ballroom dance. What did you start off with as a goal and has that changed over time?
Well I didn’t think about competitions that’s for sure. I started dancing because I like to dance and I wanted to learn new dances. All of them actually. I wanted to learn all of them. Most of all I wanted to learn Tango, just because I think it’s such a beautiful dance and I wanted to do all the head moves, the whole thing. Well meanwhile I learned all of the dances not just Tango.
For both smooth and Rhythm Styles.
Yes both smooth and rhythm style.
So what’s your favorite dance now? Is it Tango?
It’s hard to say! I think swing is probably my favorite. Just because I really feel it. It’s something exciting, it’s fun, it’s funky, it’s funny, it’s a lot like my personality. I really enjoy dancing it.
Yes I’ve seen you compete and you seem to work with the audience a lot which I don’t see a lot of the competitors doing. Did you start off doing that or did you learn how to do that just by Instinct?
I really don’t think I am doing that but maybe I am. Actually someone told me that I shouldn’t be doing that, butI’m not sure I know I’m doing it. Actually I’m not aware of it.
Well you make it look like you do!
That’s good.
Yes yes that’s very good. What are your goals going forward? Would you like to learn Latin or standard?
No, I’d like to stay with the rhythm and with the smooth. Just because there’s so much more to learn in rhythm and smooth. I’d like to learn the next level. Basically in rhythm I’m on the silver level and in smooth I’m getting there. I’m just starting to learn now.
So are you still doing a lot of social dancing?
Not as much as I’d like to but hopefully I’ll do a little more. That’s always exciting. Yeah, I like parties, yes.
So it sounds like this is a great addition to your life?
Definitely it brings joy to my life and it is so much fun.
That’s excellent all right thanks Irina
