Year of Dancing Dangerously »

"One morning, fifty-four-year-old Lydia Raurell stumbled across an ad in the local paper that read "Walk in Monday, dance out Friday." She did just that. A year later she reigned atop the national leader board - a first for a newcomer. This is her amazing story." Over the course of one dizzily exciting year, Lydia is immersed in the magical world of pro-am ballroom dancing. It's a world where the competition is stiff and the tiny details count. During her journey to ballroom competitions across the country, Lydia needs to learn more than dance steps. She learns what it takes to be a winner, and, most importantly that it's never too late to make your dream come true.

Introduction 11
1 "Walk in Monday, Dance Out Friday" 21
2 Wings on My Feet 33
3 Sequins and Stockings 49
4 First Time Showtime 59
5 Getting Into the Competition Swing 67
6 On the Road 89
7 Partnership 117
8 The Disipline of the Dance World 133
9 Eyes on the Prize 145 Acknowledgments 153 National Council of America Dance Competitions 155