When Cecilia’s children began growing up, she decided it was time to pursue a dream of her own: becoming a ballroom dancer! She started dancing in 2006, and what began as a personal goal has grown into a passion that has taken her all the way to the USA Dance National Championships.
In 2011, Cecilia began taking private lessons with Simeon, and the following year, she and her partner, Edward Brennan, started competing together. Cecilia initially gravitated toward Latin, but as she learned more about Standard, she discovered how much the two styles could teach each other. She came to love the variety and the challenge of continually learning something new. Private lessons helped them refine their routines, technique, and floorcraft, while competitions gave them goals to work toward and the motivation to keep improving. Over the years, she and Edward have worked their way from Bronze to Championship level, winning first place in both Standard and Latin at the USA Dance National Championships along the way. To this day, they are still working on all ten dances! As Cecilia puts it, “The more you learn, the more you realize how much more there is to learn!” With so many dances to master, there is always something new to work on.
For Cecilia, though, dancing is about much more than technique and competition. It is a way to express emotions without words, to feel free and connected, and to simply feel alive. She loves that dancing keeps her moving while also challenging her mind, and finds that time on the floor is a wonderful stress reliever.
At Aria, Cecilia has found a community that makes the journey even more rewarding. She loves the camaraderie among students, learning from accomplished instructors, and having the space to practice and grow. She also hopes to encourage her fellow dancers in the Cha Cha Club to try the Aria Showcase or a local competition. She knows firsthand how much having a goal can motivate you to practice, improve, and discover just how much you can do.
Of course, having a great coach helps, too! Cecilia loves working with Simeon on her technique, flexibility, and elegant presentation. Their lessons are a great stress reliever, and even when things do not go quite as planned, she knows she is in good hands. As Cecilia says, “Even when I make a terrible mistake, Simeon still makes me look beautiful.”
From pursuing a dream of her own to standing on the national championship podium, Cecilia has come a long way since she first started dancing. Yet she is still learning, setting new goals, and finding joy in the process. We love seeing her enthusiasm for dancing and cannot wait to see where her journey takes her next!
