24 Years of Pain until…I started Dancing.

At the age of 8 I was diagnosed with Osteo Arthritis. Normal childhood activities were always painful, but I kept going, dealing with the pain afterwards.

As a young adult in my late teens to early twenties, I used to go to the dance clubs when I wasn’t working as a chef. Disco was the rage and I loved it!!! Then, at the age of 27, my life was turned upside down when I was diagnosed with reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. My left leg, from my toes to my hip swelled to 4 times its size and turned a bluish gray color! The pain was horrific; it felt like my entire leg was being crushed with a 2 ton weight while viciously being stabbed with a razor sharp saber! The external skin temperature was 103 degrees, I was on fire, and the slightest touch was unbearable! I started getting strong muscle spasms around my rib cage, making it difficult to breathe and impossible to straighten up. All I could do was cry, just cry!!!

No medication at the time eased my pain. I lost everything, my job, friends, health insurance and at times my mind. All the joy in my life was gone and I slipped into deep depression. I could not walk or even put my foot on the ground.

I went to many different doctors and pain specialists, tried medications, physical therapy and electronic nerve stimulation, NOTHING worked! One specialist decided to try sympathetic nerve blocks. He was to insert a long spinal tap needle between the vertebrae and into the spinal column. He needed to inject a numbing agent directly in to the sympathetic nerve. This procedure was to be done once a week for 4 weeks. It was an extremely painful experience. During the last of the series I suffered a stroke. My body was in full tremor, my eyes rolled back and I couldn’t speak. The doctor removed the needle as quickly as possible and opened the I.V. line to release sedatives into my body. 15 minutes later I came out of it. The stroke had impaired the motor functions and feeling on the left side of my body. My muscles could no longer hold my hips in alignment; I could not move my leg, foot or toes. It took 2 years of therapy to learn walk, but walk with a limp I did. I could not walk more that 5 feet without swelling and pain, but I did walk. I gained a lot of weight from the 6 pills a day I had to take combined with the inactivity. I tried to joke saying “I am twice the person I once was”, but in truth, I was living a life of depression filled with pain. I could no longer do the things that brought me joy, long walks, or dancing to name a few.

Over the next 18 years all the medication took a toll on my immune system, I was sick all the time. After talking with my doctor, I decided to get off all of it. The pain became more intense, however, over the years I learned to live with it.

One evening, while watching television, I saw someone who inspired me to do something that would change my life for the better. I decided to try ballroom dancing. I began in late April 2008. The first few weeks were painful to say the least. By June, however, for the first time in 24+ years, I am completely pain free. My toes are moving, I’, getting motor function and feeling back and I’m losing weight!!! Everything seems brighter, depression a thing in the past. I’m so happy!! I feel healthier then I have in years! I won’t say dancing is a cure, but it has worked a miracle for me. Hurray I’m dancing again!!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a few people. To Maksim Chmerkovskiy for unknowingly inspiring me to try; Gabriella Bodocs, Babette and Warren Brown, Lisa Haber, and Pierre Gider for their encouragement, support and extra coaching; and most of all to Vladimir Velev for his patience, humor, kind heart, expertise, support encouragement and for not giving up on me.

Your Very Grateful Student,

Cheryl Bazar

P.S. Fred, wherever you are, thanks for creating these studios!

Let me introduce you to: Savanna Michael, 16 years old; from Canton, Ohio

1) When did you start dancing?
5 years ago, in Ohio.
2) Why did you become a dancer at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter?
2 Years ago I came to Florida for a long vacation with my mom. I took a few lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter while I was on vacation. I liked it, actually loved it, so I decided to stay with this studio. I come to train here every other month and spend most of my time in the studio; I go back to Ohio. I spend one month in Florida taking lessons, and one month in Ohio practicing.
3) What did you want to become a dancer?
The movie “Dance with me” inspired me to take lessons. I hated the first year because I felt I did not know anything, and then later I started to like it.
4) What goals were you hoping to achieve through dancing?
I started to set goals for the first time when I started to dance at this studio. I realized that I wanted to become a professional dancer and that I would like to open my own Fred Astaire Dance Studio when I am older.
5) How did dancing better your life?
It is keeping me in shape; it made me stronger, improved my posture, and I am not as shy as I used to be when I started. I am a lot more outgoing with my friends and I feel I became a better person.
6) Did your personal expectations for your dancing change since you started?
Oh yeah! The first year I hated it. I had no goals; I did it just for the exercise. Now I love it! I want to become a professional, I want to improve more and I want to have more understanding of the sport.
7) What kind of activities do you take part in at Fred Astaire Jupiter?
I dance at regional and national competitions. My biggest success so far was becoming 2nd at the World Pro/Am Junior Standard Championships and 5th at the World Pro/Am Junior Latin Championships at Ohio Star Ball. I have taken Top Youth Student at many Fred Astaire Regional and National Championships. My biggest competition yet was the Cross Country Dance Championships in Las Vegas last April. I also love to do Showcases and I perform at studio events like Holiday Galas and at some Friday practice parties. I participate in most of the events.

Let me introduce you to: Phyllis Holcomb, 81 years young

1) When did you start dancing?
I danced as a kid; I did tap, acrobatic and ballroom Dancing. I started to dance at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter about 2 ½ years ago.
2) Why did you become a dancer at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter?
After I had 3 back surgeries I have tried to walk in about shoulder deep water…..I got sick and tired of it….so I talked to my doctor who mentioned that Ballroom Dancing would be very good to strengthen my back. But I had not danced in 50 years; and I like old fashion style bands, I am not a fan of new music.
3) What benefits where you hoping to get from dancing?
My main goal was to help my back. I never thought I would perform or compete; not at my age!! I just wanted to do something I always loved to do.
4) How did dancing better your life?
Dancing helped my health through strengthening my back and giving me better posture. It made me more aware of myself and helped my stamina and balance. Dancing also made me proud of myself. I have accomplished goals I never thought I could. It boosted my self esteem and made my every day life more colorful. I developed a new family around me, my Fred Astaire Jupiter Family!!
5) Have your personal expectations for your dancing changed since you started? Yes, dancing changed my whole attitude physically and emotionally. I feel much better. I have no real expectations from myself because of my age. I am dancing for the love of dance. I am also dancing for the love of you all. I am living for the moment.
6) What kind of activities do you take part in at Fred Astaire Jupiter? Showcases, Competitions, events for special occasions like Sweepstakes and Holiday Parties…etc
7) How would you describe the competition and performance experience?
I have never done a competition before and it was a memorable experience. It helped my stamina; I loved the team atmosphere and enjoyed watching the other people dance. I love doing Showcases in particular because they give me self confidence. I enjoy it all very much. It is wonderful to be able to dance, and to dance with people like Warren and Vladimir, who are champions, is a thrill in itself. People should have more confidence in themselves, they should enjoy dancing Showcases and Competitions because it is fun and makes you feel accomplished. After dancing a showcase I have a great feeling of satisfaction.
8) Is there anything you would like to share with all of us?
Dance is a wonderful art. Anybody who does not get involved with it in any form is missing out on a lot! Everybody should take advantage of it. It is good to start dancing young but for people in my age it is great exercise and it keeps the mind occupied so we do not think about ourselves too much. The Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Jupiter has Champion teachers who know how to take care of students on different levels. It is a very well run studio, I would not go anywhere else. I love their dogs, Coco and Max. They are like my inherited grandsons. Dancing is a wonderful experience. I think everybody should try it. Half an hour of dancing is worth 2 hours of walking. I hope anybody who starts dancing will have as much fun as I do and gain as many benefits as well.