Ballroom! : Obsession and Passion Inside the World of Competitive Dance

An all-access pass to a glamorous and fascinating world"Sharon Savoy''s exciting dance story is truly educational, informative, and inspirational. It reminds us all that passion and dedication will attract the circumstances and guidance necessary to see a heartfelt desire come true."--Denis Tremblay, two-time winner, Blackpool Dance Festival British Professional Rising Star Latin ChampionshipsDreams are made and broken every year in the dazzling Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England. Fierce competition, brutal politics, and stunning artistry are all on the program at the world''s most prestigious competition, known to ballroom dance enthusiasts simply as "Blackpool."Sharon Savoy''s lifelong love affair with dance manifested itself early on. At the tender age of 16 she left home to train under George Balanchine at the School of American Ballet in New York. An accomplished ballerina, her desire to dance more expressively and with a partner led her on the path that culminated on the competition ballroom circuit. There, her passion and artistry led her to become a four-time champion in exhibition style. But, as with all obsessions, her success came with a cost.In this spellbinding book, Savoy offers a backstage pass to a world where rhinestones and high heels accompany explosive athleticism and staggering talent. With emotionally absorbing and energy-packed prose, she provides an insider''s close-up view of all the players who compose this glamorous world that is part dance, part sport, and part art.Sharon Savoy won her first World Exhibition title at Madison Square Garden in 1984 and twenty years later ended her competitive ballroom exhibition career by winning the 2004 World Exhibition Dance Championships. She is a four-time Blackpool Exhibition Champion, a three-time World Champion, and three-time Star Search winner. She has performed in film, at the Kennedy Center, during the Sydney Olympics, and around the world.