Dance
I got my first taste of partner dancing in 2010. When I got to college, my Dad told me that I wasn't allowed to just take academic classes (to this nerd's dismay), so I decided to take a 0.5 credit course at my university that taught "social dancing." I was introduced to East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Charleston, Lindy Hop, Salsa, Merengue, American Tango, and Waltz. Fast forward to my Senior year, and I had taken over the program to co-teach these classes alongside my regular courses.
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It's been over 11 years now, and I've learned to dance almost every partner dance out there. I’ve done paid performances and competitions; and I travel yearly for dance (pre-pandemic), often going to dance “conferences” (we call them weekenders) all around the US. My focuses today are Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, Blues, and Collegiate Shag.
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Here are some photos from over the years in my dance career.
 One of my favorite events, Lindy Focus, with one of my favorite dance partners. |  This might be the first picture ever taken of me dancing. This was taken in Moscow, ID, where I frequented when I first learned to dance. |  Why yes, that is Bill Nye. |
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 This photo was taken at 8am at a dance "weekender" called Camp Hollywood. No, we were not early risers; it's pretty normal to stay up until 8am dancing! If you make it until the morning, you get the honors of being in the "breakfast club." |  Got a funny number for this dance competition in LA. |  Camp Hollywood is one of my favorite weekenders. I've attended it more than any other event. |
 This was taken at an event called the CalBal, where I first learned Balboa, another vintage swing dance. |  This was taken at an event for Blues dancers called LA Blues. |  I'd often drive 4 hours round trip on a Thursday from Santa Barbara to LA to catch this weekly dance event, Lindy Groove. |
 Social dancing events are frequent in every major city in the US. You show up without a partner and dance to amazing music with friends, new and old. |  This is an event called LA Shag Festival, where I first learned Shag, a vintage swing dance. |  Performing on The Queen Mary ship in Long Beach, CA for their 4th of July event. |
 Dancing Lindy Hop with one of my favorite dancers at the Lindy Loft dance venue. |