It Is Hard for Nicole to Learn Ballroom Dancing
I think it’s been really interesting to watch the amazingly talented dancer, Nicole, struggle as she learns to do ballroom dancing. I must admit that some of her pouting, getting down on herself, getting frustrated, or whatever you want to call it has been kind of annoying. It’s kind of hard for me to watch someone who dances so amazing being so hard on herself. Not that I want her to be arrogant about it either, but let’s just say that those moments don’t put Nicole in the best light.
However, last night I finally understood what she’s really going through. Nicole described it really well. It’s not easy for her to learn to dance ballroom the way she does. When she said that I started having flashbacks. I got taken back to when I was 19 years old and understood exactly what she meant.
You see, when I was 19 I went on a mission for my church to Italy. Before going to Italy I went to a missionary training center for 2 months where Italian was fed to us like a firehose. The learning process was much like Dancing with the Stars. Only difference was that we were learning a language and their learning to dance Well, and there were probably a few other differences as well, but you get the point.
I remember those first couple weeks were incredibly intense and REALLY hard. What’s interesting is that I’d had 2 years of Italian in high school (great high school huh?). I’m sure that most of you reading this know how well the high school’s do at teaching language. Yeah, I couldn’t speak much at all thanks to high school language classes. However, I did have a little bit of base vocabulary and pronunciation which the other people in my class didn’t have. Does this sound a bit like Nicole? It does to me.
What’s really interesting is that despite my past language experience I worked my butt off and it was REALLY hard to learn a new language. However, I didn’t realize how much easier it was for me than my classmates until my final week of classes. We had to stay an extra week because of visa issues and so we got a chance to teach Italian to a brand new class of missionaries. When we went into this brand new class of people who knew NO Italian, I realized just how hard it was for them to go from nothing (something that I didn’t have to experience since I knew at least a little something). That’s not to say I didn’t work hard or that it was easy for me. It most certainly wasn’t, but I can easily say it was even harder for other people who are going from nothing.
I couldn’t help but understand what Nicole was saying. She’s working her butt off and ballroom dancing IS really hard for her. The problem is that she just doesn’t realize how much harder it would be for her if she was going from 0 dance training.
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John, you are the master of the simile 🙂 This is a perfect parallel to Nicole’s situation – someone with experience still struggling with learning something new.
I can recall my first dance practice with my college ballroom team – I literally went back to my dorm room & cried afterward. I had been on my high school’s jazz dance team for 4 years, so I thought learning ballroom would be a cinch – I thought to myself “Really, how hard can it be to learn another kind of dance? The principles are basically the same!” I couldn’t have been more wrong – the vocabulary was totally different, the technique was different, and I had never done any sort of partnering before. It felt completely alien – as if my years of jazz & ballet meant nothing. I cannot even describe how frustrating it was. However, just like you mention with your Italian language experience, I failed to notice that it was actually a bit easier for me than those who were coming into ballroom with no movement experience whatsoever – when the instructor likened the foot position of a certain move to a foot position in ballet, I understood; when a waltz routine called for a developpe, I could do one without thinking. It didn’t even occur to me that others around me were likely struggling even more, since they hadn’t done any kind of dance. I’m sure you felt the same way about learning Italian, and Nicole feels the same way about learning ballroom; I almost feel like it’s more frustrating for someone who goes into something new with a little bit of a background, as you go in with the expectation that “This should be easy!” only to find out the opposite – that it very well could be the hardest thing you’ve ever done.
Thanks. I like similes. It’s the best way to describe something.
I agree that it’s likely more frustrating for someone who thinks it should be easy and then finds it hard than for someone who expects it to be super hard.
As I think about it more, it’s basically that the volume of information is so large that rudimentary differences make it a little easier, but still leaves so much more to be learned. In fact, if you have the basics you go straight to the stuff that’s even harder to learn. That makes me think of another simile, but I’ll spare you;-)
Exactly, Courtney. I would think that *emotionally* it is much harder for Nicole because she’s hearing everyone say how good she’s *supposed* to be because of her past experience. So, not only does she have to deal with the frustration of having a hard time with something that she didn’t think would be as hard as it is, but she has to deal with the immense pressure she feels if she reads ANY media at all. You know that a mistake by Nicole would be FAR more huge and publicized than any mistake Niecy ever makes. It just doesn’t happen. Nicole has so many expectations placed on her that she’s got to be feeling it from all sides.
Derek even said that her experience is an asset in many ways – her biggest asset I would argue is her musicality which seems to match Derek’s – but I bet he wasn’t counting on the pressure. I bet it’s far greater than any Brooke had.
I loved how John summed up the Nicole issue. My problem with her is that she’s kind of getting on my nerves with trying too hard to be perfect. For example, during last night’s Paso, I *believe* there was one leg extension that she almost couldn’t get but managed to save and when the performance was done.. everybody was excited and happy except for Nicole herself. IDK if it’s the shock value that Derek mentioned in his tweet re: Nicole or if she thought she messed up on the leg extension and therefore gave a [edited]-face. The [edited] face also appeared when she messed up on her Rumba. I understand that she’s human and all, but if she’s going to give a [edited] face.. save it for the backstage stuff.. Don’t show America your [edited] face because then you’ll come off as arrogant and snobby [even though you might not be] I was totally excited and happy that Derek and Nicole pulled out an amazing Paso last night but unfortunately.. Nicole ruined the atmosphere for me.
But all in all, I hope they do win cause choreography and dance wise, they’re PERFECT!!
I think you made an excellent assessment of the situation. I’ve read about people thinking Nicole should just be so pleased with how beautifully she dances, but I think some people forget that this is someone who performs for a living. Those of us who do that don’t take it lightly. And we are harder on ourselves than anyone else could be. To hear people say that Nicole “should” be good because she is a dancer seems to me like saying Wynton Marsalis “should” be able to play the violin because he is a musician.
I’m just thankful that I got to watch D-Zing dance this season. They are a beautifully matched couple and a true delight.
xx – She is a perfectionist, you can’t blame her for that.
Nicole is not only a professional singer and a dancer, she’s also an actress. She’s putting on a show for viewers. People are blind. They see a beautiful, sexy
woman who’s trying so hard to learn how to do ballroom dancing?? Give me a break. I’m a dancer myself, but not a ballroom dancer. So when I signed up for some ballroom dancing, it felt really good. I picked the routine up pretty easily, no matter what the dance is, because of my experience as a dancer. And one more thing. the show should be about who is the most improved, not who the best dancer.
John, for someone who is used to doing a great professional job at what they do, not fully understanding the task at hand, trusting someone else to get you there is tremendously frustrating because you constantly feel inadequate. You get through ir by working harder and look for recognition for your performance. That’s why the studio audience response is so important. Derek and Nicole work as hard, if not harder than any couple in the competition. They take nothing for granted. Nicole said it best during the ABC Red Carpet interview last night, “I am so grateful for being here, I only hope we can get enough votes to stay in the competition.” Humbly said from someone who just put on arguably the best performance EVER on DWTS with their 50’s Paso.
Did you know figure skaters like Evan have usually trained in Ballet and other dance styles including modern dance? Learned that today.
Karla,
Depends on the skater. I think we’d all agree that Evan has benefits from skating like Nicole has benefits from her dancing. Although they both will fit into the story I told above of having a hard time picking up all the details.
Inna,
“the show should be about who is the most improved, not who the best dancer.”
I guess we could argue whether it should or should not be. What we know for sure is that it’s not about the best dancer or the most improved dancer. It’s about the most popular dancer. In the finale the scoring is so close it’s all about America’s votes. Translation: Popularity Contest.
John,
So the popular dancer will win, no matter if he/she is a best dancer. Thanks for clarifying this. Now I know who will win, then no matter what other people are saying.
Wow just found out she’s been singing/dancing/acting since she was a little kid. She went to a school for the arts for years before she even turned 18. She is a trained dancer…much easier to learn any kind of dancing when you have more then the basics. Add that to all the PCD work shes done and then all sorts of gigs before/in between and after…even recently before the show. It shows she is a beautiful entertainer but i want to see the premise for the show the “fish out of water”….she owns her own bowl. Congrats to her BUT i won’t dare vote for that!
@CassieLynn, I knew all that about Nicole, but the DWTS is not doing anything about this. If she wins the morrorball trophy, it’s like taking away from someone, who really deserves it. I hope Nicole gets voted off. She doesn’t belong there.
I just love to do ballroom dancing specially during my free times. dancing is my passion.