Shalysia @ World Latin Dance Cup
Elysia and Sharon have made a huge goal to head to the World Latin Dance Cup (Miami) in December 2014, representing AUSTRALIA!
We will be competing at the World Latin Dance Cup in the category of SAME GENDER - meaning, dancing with a dance partner that is of the same gender! We will be the first representatives from Melbourne at this huge world competition, and the first ever from Australia in this category. In addition, Elysia will be representing in the SALSA SOLO and CHA CHA SOLO categories as well!
Working on this many routines together for a world competition takes an extraordinary commitment, in addition to our day jobs, as well as teaching dance most evenings and coaching students.
Day job: 40 hours/week
Dance job: 15-20 hours/week
Additional WORLDS Training: 10 hours/week
Insane.
WHY ARE WE DOING THIS CRAZY THING?
Elysia: Since the age of 8, I have been competing in ballet & horse riding competitions - competitive fire is definitely in my blood. I started Salsa classes in 2007 as a fun thing to do and it quickly became a passion and a second full time job! I now have eight national titles (Latin & Salsa) under my belt so it’s time for the next challenge - the WORLDS!
To me, the World Latin Dance Cup is the pinnacle - I have essentially been training for eight years to reach this point. It’s been an incredible journey getting here, with many highs and lows, but it’s now time to give it our all on the world stage. I’m happy knowing the best is yet to come.
Sharon: I last competed in 2007, so this is a huge step for me after a 8 year hiatus. 4 years ago I injured my back very badly, and was in bed for months. I was told I likely would never dance again. And yet, after 3.5 years of rehab, and some long painful work, here I am, doing the splits, trying to get my dance level to what it used to be, and pushing my body and choreographic/dance skills to new heights.
I recently celebrated the goal of 300 days painkiller-free (after 4 years of dependency just to get through the day). Now, I'm attending to the craziest dance goal of all - representing Australia at the World Latin Dance Cup.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE YOU ALL PROUD?
In order to maximise our chances of dancing the best we ever have, we are:
- taking private lessons from the world's best instructors
- training 3-4 times a week
- cutting back on income generating teaching opportunities and our day jobs in order to train harder and avoid fatigue
- making an array of costumes that cost the earth
- ensuring our bodies are in tip top shape by body conditioning, eating well, and strength training
- ignoring our friends and family and social events in order to focus 100% on this goal
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPETE AT THE WORLD'S WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE FURTHEST CONTINENT IN THE WORLD.
- Return airfares to Miami (almost $3000 x 2)
- Hotel at competition location ($600 x 2)
- Entry fees ($100 x 2)
- 3 costumes each ($500 x 3 x 2)
- Private lessons ($300 so far and counting)
Total cost thus far: $11,100
Probable total end cost: $13,000++
This doesn't include the hidden costs - taking time out of our day jobs, teaching at 50% capacity, etc.
WE WOULD LOVE SOME HELP, SO WE CAN FOCUS ON DOING OUR BEST OVER THERE.
We have had so many amazing friends and students tell us to let them know how they can help us on this crazy path. And so we came up with an idea.
Donate to our cause, and we will bring back all the knowledge of being at one of the largest Latin Dance competitions in the world to present to you in 2015.
In return, we would love to have you receive some truly gorgeous dance related products, designed and produced with love by US, as well as some really cool workshops we have planned. Starting at just $35, you can help us AND do some Christmas shopping for the people in your life who love dance.
These dance products will hopefully inspire all of YOU on your dance journey, and show you that dreams and goals do come true, and the impossible is never what it seems.
We will ship them in the 1st week of December, so you will receive them by Christmas! Perfect for gifts! :) 
Thank you so much for reading this far. We are so grateful for everything the universe has given us so far in our dance journeys, and have received nothing but support and encouragement in this craziness. We are so looking forward to making Australia very proud.