What is your current role at Stanford?

I’ve been a financial analyst for SPRC for more than two years. Before that, I worked at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies for many years.

How long have you been interested in dance?

My body was always moving whenever I listened to music. I don’t have a dance background but was kind of athletic. I started dancing when I became single not long after I came to California. We have to do something when we’re alone, right?

When did you get more serious about dancing?

I was a social dancer for many years while taking some group and private lessons. But when the pandemic started, that was another turnaround in my life. I was working from home and alone most of the time. I started dancing more and started training to compete with my current teacher, who was a successful professional dancer. Now I’m a more serious dancer than I ever was. I’m focused and motivated; I want to get better and better. Dancing is a demanding activity. To dance well, we have to be physically strong, fit, and flexible, and be able to connect with a partner.

How did you meet your teacher and start doing competitions?

I started going to the Starlight Ballroom Studio in San Jose about six years ago, and that’s where I met my current teacher, who used to compete as a professional. He trains me in standard ballroom dances, which include waltz, tango, foxtrot, quickstep, and Viennese waltz. My first competition was in September 2021.

What’s your training schedule like?

I’ve been taking private lessons with my teacher three or four times a week, and usually each lesson is about 45 minutes. But when it gets closer to competition time, I have to do more.

I also am trying to practice more on my own. A lot of times I get there early before my lesson to stretch and practice my weak points and go through my steps.

Do you have a favorite dance?

I always liked foxtrot because it’s so classic. But I also love waltz; dancing waltz well to beautiful music can be quite an amazing experience. I also like quickstep. You have to move fast, so it’s fun and cheerful. Each dance is beautiful and challenging in its own way.

Can you describe what the competitions look like?

Several competitors, in formal competition attire (including hair and makeup), are out on the floor dancing in front of judges and audiences. In my case, my male teacher is a professional and I’m an amateur, but there are female teachers competing with male students, too. It can be quite crowded on the dance floor. The judges score us while we dance. The first time I won, in Las Vegas in March 2022, it felt quite good. I never thought I was a competitive person, but it was still very nice.