Episode 12: Dr. Ryane Englar does ballroom dancing

Veterinarian and veterinary faculty member Dr. Ryane Englar still considers herself a “baby dancer,” although her teacher and dance partner, Lowell, saw her potential and gently encouraged her over their years of practice to dive into competition with him.

We start off the podcast with a fascinating consideration of how two dancers work together, one leading and one following, to maintain strict posture, movement, speed and flow by staying close together.

“If I start to slip, my pro partner can turn me so it looks pretty to the audience, but we both know he’s doing it to get me back where I need to be,” Ryane says.

Her descriptions of interaction between professional dancers and amateurs, men and women, leading, following and back-leading is fascinating. The art feels very gendered, with men leading and women following, and that just seems like an element of the art as performed today. However, Ryane says same-sex couples are “starting to make an appearance” in competitions and are actually common with certain dances in Europe.

The best part is hearing how dance added some tools to Ryane’s toolkit in her personal and professional life and gave her something that wasn’t about her veterinary work, “more than a definition,” she says.

Find out how Ryane got started dancing as an adult (ballet as a child didn’t do it: “I thought forever I would never dance beautifully,” she says), how Lowell helped her learn how to fall, and how it brings confidence in life and in dancing.

As Ray Davies sings, “Come dancing … ”

(Image by Peter H from Pixabay)

 

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

> Ryane drops a lot of names of different dance styles, and she covers it a little bit from “the student perspective.” But if you want to dig in at wikidancesport.com: American rhythm, American smooth, International ballroom, International Latin.

> Arthur Murray Dance Centers are Ryane’s choice. Find one around you?

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