Congrats! You just won $25,000,000....

[elisedance]

What would you do with your dancing?

The lottery here is at $25meg so it was timely to fantasize. I was thinking I would quit work, buy a studio in partnership with pro and get very serious. In my fantasy at least with enough effort I could go pro...

[Lioness]

Get very good quality private lessons and buy lots of pretty dresses. Once I was good at dancing I'd travel all over the world for comps and stuff.

[flashdance]

Move to the US & build a house from scratch with its own dance studio
Invite all and sundry off here to dance party
Make some dance 'cakes'
Donate a Cray server to run DF forum exclusivly

[fascination]

take a three hour lesson 6 days a week...go to a comp twice a month and dance 150 heats...quite my jobs so I could have more practice time, hire a maid b/c the place is already a mess

[Lioness]

Oh, I'd install a dance floor in my house as well. A really really good one.
And then I'd put one in my dancing partner's house as well so no matter who was at which house we'd still be able to dance.

Hmm...and maybe I'd buy an orchestra to play live music...

[elisedance]

love the orchestra - I'll get a cruise ship then we and your orchestra can host a 2 week DF dance party visiting each others cities....

[etp777]

Build new house with a dance floor, pay of all my debt, pay off parents house for them, and do every comp I've even though of doing over next year or two.

[fascination]

I reccommend not waiting on the dance floor... mine only cost oh...I can't remember now but is well worth every penny

[BM]

As awesome as it would be to have my own dancefloor, I do enjoy the studio atmosphere. Ooh, but the possibility of hosting my own socials . . . NOW we're talking!!

First I'd take my partner to Holiday Classic, though. He really wanted to go this year, but neither of us could really justify it now.

Then I'd install my dance floor (in my fantasy flat/house that I actually own) and an awesome lighting and sound system.

Finally, I'd buy my brand-spankin' new Latin and Standard gowns. And some Smooth, too. Not competing in it yet, but there are always showcases, and I'm still hoping . . . :)

[BM]

I reccommend not waiting on the dance floor... mine only cost oh...I can't remember now but is well worth every penny


And from the photos I've seen, STUNNING. Lucky gal . . .

[elisedance]

As awesome as it would be to have my own dancefloor, I do enjoy the studio atmosphere. Ooh, but the possibility of hosting my own socials . . . NOW we're talking!!

First I'd take my partner to Holiday Classic, though. He really wanted to go this year, but neither of us could really justify it now.

Then I'd install my dance floor (in my fantasy flat/house that I actually own) and an awesome lighting and sound system.

Finally, I'd buy my brand-spankin' new Latin and Standard gowns. And some Smooth, too. Not competing in it yet, but there are always showcases, and I'm still hoping . . . :)

OK, so thats the first 200K or so. Now what do you do with the $24,800,000 you have left :)

[BM]

Why spend it all at once? ::grins::

Of course I'd take care of my partner's and my studio expenses for the next few years, probably buy more dresses, hire a heckuva PR firm to promote the studio (and of course, I'd get them to hire me as well, so I could manage the account AND have my own peons), sponsor a trip to Blackpool . . .

Then . . . hello, endowment!

[samina]

OK, so thats the first 200K or so. Now what do you do with the $24,800,000 you have left :)
To be honest, after taxes and if you take as a lump sum, you'll end up with about $8-9 mill to work with... ;)

[Stagekat]

I love stuff like this!!

1- buy a condo or townhouse... something with garage space and hard wood floors
2- quit working... and go into philanthropic ventures
3- buy copious amounts of lessons with pro and buddy teachers, start training myself to compete
4- while doing that work on building my own dance studio where social and competitive students can dance together in peace.
5- Travel... a lot!

[elisedance]

To be honest, after taxes and if you take as a lump sum, you'll end up with about $8-9 mill to work with... ;)

my fantasy - its a 25 mil take-home...:rocker::rocker: :tongue:

[cornutt]

OK, so thats the first 200K or so. Now what do you do with the $24,800,000 you have left :)

Well, somewhere there's an Indycar team with my name on it... :D

[samina]

my fantasy - its a 25 mil take-home...:rocker::rocker: :tongue:

Let it never be said I impeded anyone's dreams...imagine away... :)

[emeralddancer]

Um .... let's see ...
1. buy a house with a fully equipped state of the art dance studio.
2. have more lessons (like 24/7 LOL) so that'd be a pretty good salary for my pro right?
3. go to any comp I so desired whether here in the states or abroad.
4. set up my kids for life (college, house, etc)
5. make sure my mother in law had all the comforts she could possibly want
6. make sure hubby got whatever he desires (a week playing ball with the pros in FL, a week with the nascar drivers in daytona, bike week in daytona, a harley dyna wide glide, golf at the most prestigious resorts, etc ...)
7. travel to wherever whenever
8. dresses, shoes, makeup, jewelry (all for dance of course)
9. tummy tuck and boob lift. (hey kids do a number on a womans body and as you get older gotta have some help! LOL)
10. give to my church

[danceronice]

1. Buy a house west of the city with land.
2. Buy that horse I have been eying on the Finger Lakes Racetrack trainer sale page. And probably a couple others.
3. Take as many private lessons from my pros as they can stand per week!
4. Never worry about going to competitions again.
5. Buy my parents whatever they want.
6. Buy my brother whatever he wants.

[chachachacat]

stealing and amending Stagekats' list
I love stuff like this!!

1- buy a house in Hawaii... something with garage space and hard wood floors and a view!
2- go into philanthropic ventures, helping women and the arts worldwide
3- buy copious amounts of lessons with pro and buddy teachers
4- Hire a personal trainer, think about competing...
5- Travel... a lot! ITALY!!!!

Open a Healing Center for Women* in Hawaii.
Buy a Ragdoll cat.
Help out my family and friends.



* I really want to do this, any donations of a house in Hawaii or bunches of money to help women heal would be appreciated.

[elisedance]

4. Never worry about going to competitions again.


and from what they don't want shall ye know them :)

care to expand...

[Hey, you could always buy the competition and not worry about outcome at all!]

[quixotedlm]

25 mil isn't enough for my dreams. I need more to even start thinking about it...

[Peaches]

Is it wrong that I can't figure out what I'd do to spend $25 mil?

Pay off all debt, give a bunch away to close family (I'm thinking in $250k increments, which wouldn't completely eradicate all their debts but would help them a lot.), set of some scholarship funds for nieces and nephews or something, set up some funds to make sure relatives are taken care of as they get older, give a bunch away to charity...

We'd take a really nice vacation, and have some things done to the house that we've been wanting (patio, fence, landscaping, some furniture). I'd probably quit my job and find something closer and more enjoyable, but I'm not sure. Go shopping for some much needed clothes for DH and I. Maybe get myself a new pair of CiF's.

Definitely take more dance lessons, but nothing crazy.

I guess just squirrel the rest away into savings, so we can always live comfortably. Interest at 2% on the remaining, say, $10mil would be way more than enough.

Engage the services of some very competent financial and estate planners, and lawyers, to set things up so we can get the most benefit from it.

[elisedance]

Peaches - you're just so radical! :p

Nice first shot - now forget your responsibilites and being so incredibley nice and think about some (naughty?? selfish???) dreams... they're in there somewhere... perhaps....

[etp777]

year in ba learning AT?

[danceronice]

and from what they don't want shall ye know them :)

care to expand...

[Hey, you could always buy the competition and not worry about outcome at all!]

I would never have to worry about budgeting entries and cutting some dances I'd rather be doing. Wouldn't have to skip meals or worry about paying for hotel rooms. Wouldn't have to worry about bumming rides to and from the airport (or borrowing...uh, Tibor, I owe your wife $20, please don't let me forget....) Could go to Florida in February and not worry about affording plane tickets. I could have a dress for every style if I wanted.

Oooh. I could buy an aquarium AND hire someone to service it so my fish wouldn't have water-quality issues.

I could live somewhere where I could have a dog or two.

[dancelvr]

Oh dear...how many nights have I sat and contemplated just this scenario? Ok.....assuming I actually have $25,000,000...

1) quit job and pay off house and all debts
2) private lessons 5 days a week and lots of dresses and shoes...all custom made, of course
3) a mil to my brother and his family for bills and college for the kids
4) buy Mom anything and everything she's ever wanted
5) buy the building my studio is in and gift it to the studio owners with a check to pay for 10 yrs of taxes and maintainence.
6) give substantial gifts to charities which are dear to my heart
7) build my own practice studio...and swimming pool...and tennis court...and I guess buy more land to put all this on...sheesh!
8 )hire my own private massage therapist, chef, housekeeper, personal trainer and pool boy...;-)
9) prepare to compete, (a lot) and sponsor other competative dancers at my studio.

By now, I'm probably broke...but what a ride!

[elisedance]

I would never have to worry about budgeting entries and cutting some dances I'd rather be doing. Wouldn't have to skip meals or worry about paying for hotel rooms. Wouldn't have to worry about bumming rides to and from the airport (or borrowing...uh, Tibor, I owe your wife $20, please don't let me forget....) Could go to Florida in February and not worry about affording plane tickets. I could have a dress for every style if I wanted.

Oooh. I could buy an aquarium AND hire someone to service it so my fish wouldn't have water-quality issues.

I could live somewhere where I could have a dog or two.

thanks for explaining - I had misinterpreted your original post as if you had some sort of anxiety about comps - but anxiety about paying for them is so totally normal you would be a bit weird (or a millionaire) if you did not.

Of course we all go and have the time of our lives and then return to the reality of the little card that wants its payoff....

[elisedance]

..........
By now, I'm probably broke...but what a ride!

broke with a smile so large the top of your head is in danger of falling off (cf Enid Blyton, PC Plod in the Noddy stories...)

[danceronice]

thanks for explaining - I had misinterpreted your original post as if you had some sort of anxiety about comps - but anxiety about paying for them is so totally normal you would be a bit weird (or a millionaire) if you did not.


Oh, lord no. With the exception of Standard (where it's less nerves than sheer misery and loathing) I'm a remarkably cool customer where actually competing is concerned. (In other words I'm a ham who loves an audience.)

[Peaches]

Peaches - you're just so radical! :p

Nice first shot - now forget your responsibilites and being so incredibley nice and think about some (naughty?? selfish???) dreams... they're in there somewhere... perhaps....*shrug*

I like my life. I like my house and don't really want to move. We have enough *stuff* as it is, but some furniture would be nice. (Like a reading chair for the bedroom, and a headboard and night stands for the guest room, a couple of more sitting chairs and a coffee table for the living room and sunroom.) And we really want a patio but don't have the cash, so that would be nice.

I guess I'd just like the freedom to not have to worry about bills, or about family. I mean, we're doing fine with what we have now. Just the annual interest on a portion of it would be so much more than we've got now, and if there weren't debts in the picture...I don't know what I'd do with the money. It's not terribly fun in and of itself. I mean, put to good use (no debt, charity) it's useful, but there's only so much one can spend before it gets ridiculous.

Maybe I'd lease a horse and take lessons. I would like to own my own saddle, just because I've always dreamed of having my own saddle. They're so beautiful.

I dunno. DH would probably like an uber-modern condo in a city somewhere.

I'd just like to have the money around, and invested decently enough that we wouldn't have to worry throughout life, and could be as involved with charity as we've talked about...and so that we could give it all away when we die.

What do I want with more?

[elisedance]

no reason at all P, true happiness has no need...

I should really ask myself the opposite - what with all that I have would I want anything else? I've never been really avaricious for material things - its nice to have a nice car and house but its never been a real need. What I hanker after is some sort of unatainable achievement and I have no idea why. I'm probably going to end up the classic case of 'be careful of what you wish for'....

[Peaches]

I would like a diamond necklace or two. One choker, and one longer, graduated necklace.

And a double strand pearl necklace that comes to a V in the center.

And matching earrings.:cool:

[Standarddancer]

for sure I won't be working, not sure if would invest on dancing studio, just take lessons, travel to compete, have one dress each comp, maybe will relocate to London or Italy...maybe invest a portion of the money besides paying dancing expenses. Not buying jewelry, dont' care jewelry either, maybe investing in real estate or mutual funds, depends on market, also help parents pay off mortgage.

[Standarddancer]

To be honest, after taxes and if you take as a lump sum, you'll end up with about $8-9 mill to work with... ;)

remember in statistic class, professor said taking it out by installments end up saving some taxes and you'll end up with more cash...forgot exactly how to calculate this though:( in this case, I'll also donate money to some charities or some comps (assuming they are qualified non-for-profit) I can take a more tax deduction. It's win win case to support my favorite charities and take tax deductions.

[Joe]

Well, somewhere there's an Indycar team with my name on it... :D
So what do you plan on doing with yourself in 2012? :D

year in ba learning AT?
Actually, your $25M would go further in BA than in the US. :)

[Stillharbor]

With all that money, I'd move the entire studio and staff closer to my home so I could walk over anytime for a lesson. Go to every major comp, here in the US and in England. Might keep my job for something to do during daylight hours. *shrug* Buy every costume that caught mmy eye... Every time I think that's enough something else pops into my head.

[elisedance]

thats nice SH - the fact that you elect to get just more of what you already have must surely mean that you are a happy person :)

[QPO]

Well with that amount of money I would be able to do everything on the dancing front to help become a better dancer. But I would certainly like to think I can share my success with others so they can enjoy the experience with me..Perhaps I should start my own dancing Religion...Now I will have to think of a name .....

[elisedance]

religion?? So to worship dance? I suppose its been done to some extent - maybe we all do ;) but I think you mean 'Movement' or something akin?

[QPO]

Call it what you will my sister now go out and recruit! :cool:

religion?? So to worship dance? I suppose its been done to some extent - maybe we all do ;) but I think you mean 'Movement' or something akin?

[elisedance]

meh, I tend to avoid both.... to busy doin' my own thing ;)

[Peaches]

Thought of one other thing...I'd get a beautiful Steinway piano for DH. (Which is to say, he'd get to pick out whatever one he wanted, since I have no clue about them.)

...that might necessitate a different house, though... I don't know how well a concert grand would work in our current townhouse. (Although since we managed to have our grand piano in our 3rd floor walk-up apartment, I suppose we could make a concert grand work here.)

[PretzelsAndBeer]

First, my lovely and talented pro would get a trip to Blackpool every year.

Second, I would buy new dancing shoes (maybe two pairs) and get a decent haircut.

Third, I would schedule at least two lessons every week and take every opportunity to compete.

Fourth, get new tires for the car and fix the broken tail light. And maybe new floor mats. And what the heck, satellite radio.

And last, buy a new Lancair Columbia 400 (the coolest piston powered single-engine aircraft ever made), and a racing trimaran.

[PretzelsAndBeer]

And one more thing. I really need a new bowling ball.

[nucat78]

To be honest, after taxes and if you take as a lump sum, you'll end up with about $8-9 mill to work with... ;)

More like $12M I think, but...

Quit work, buy a couple condos in my fave cities, take a private lesson a day, donate a million to my alma mater to get my name on a building and watch the prez kiss my dance shoes, park the balance in a nice account with a decent interest rate and live off the interest.

[elisedance]

$25 million AFTER taxes. Tis my fantasy I get to call the deam...

[dancelvr]

And one more thing. I really need a new bowling ball.


P & B...you always crack me up! :D

[jwlinson]

Definitely quit work, pay off bills, put some in the bank so I could live off the interest, pass some along to the family so they can do the same.

Then, buy a big old Southern plantation mansion. I've always loved those. Hopefully find one with a ballroom for hosting dances.

Take many more hours of privates, get certified, build a classy studio.

[QPO]

I dont want to think about it, then I would get depressed that it wont happen. I must remember to buy those tickets!

[elisedance]

If I recall correctly, most studies on lottery winners do not have happy endings. Its not surprising - people go through a total change in their lives and loose a lot of the things that really meants something to them. Meanwhile their friends and relatives get jealous or greedy.

Falls into the catagory of 'be careful what you wish for...'

[nucat78]

If I recall correctly, most studies on lottery winners do not have happy endings. Its not surprising - people go through a total change in their lives and loose a lot of the things that really meants something to them. Meanwhile their friends and relatives get jealous or greedy.

Falls into the catagory of 'be careful what you wish for...'

Heard stories that everybody and their brother come out of the woodwork with a sob story looking for a handout, along with the swindlers and golddiggers. Makes one very untrusting.

Not that everyone who asks for help is unworthy. Might need to set up a foundation and let them apply for grants as a screening process. Plus it would be a nice tax write-off. :raisebro:

[Dawn DeMendonca]

Gather all the worlds best dancers together and organise a world tour !

[Captain Jep]

why bother? you can probably afford to keep the best dancer in the world in your chosen dance as a full time "employee" :cool:

[samina]

More like $12M I think, but...



my observations have been that cash-in-hand comes to about 34% of the total advertised pool... but more than that would always be welcome! :)

[elisedance]

sheesh, can't give people 25 mil - they keep wanting to cut it down and bail out the government :p

[Captain Jep]

hah for 12% preference shares I might just give it to them...

[lcdancesport]

1. Pay off condo, then go ahead and get a nice house complete with ballroom.
2. TRAVEL and dance in every country I visit.
3. Get more into cooking by buying better and more unique foods to cook with.
4. Take care of anything financially with my family.
5. Build a beautiful dance studio complete with dance and shoe shop, coffee and smoothie bar, and a spa in the back (heck I can dream!).
6. Take better care of myself- work out more, monthly massages and facials.
7. Help start, fund, or sponsor a children's ballroom group in the area.
8. Make the decision to bring in and keep only those who really wish to learn ballroom and kick out those who only cause drama and grief.

[etp777]

1. Pay off condo, then go ahead and get a nice house complete with ballroom.
2. TRAVEL and dance in every country I visit.
3. Get more into cooking by buying better and more unique foods to cook with.
4. Take care of anything financially with my family.
5. Build a beautiful dance studio complete with dance and shoe shop, coffee and smoothie bar, and a spa in the back (heck I can dream!).
6. Take better care of myself- work out more, monthly massages and facials.
7. Help start, fund, or sponsor a children's ballroom group in the area.
8. Make the decision to bring in and keep only those who really wish to learn ballroom and kick out those who only cause drama and grief.

And of course you forgot #9, marry etp777 so he can take advantage of it all. ;) Great list

[lcdancesport]

And your mom can make all the costumes. Life is complete! :p

[etp777]

SOunds like a plan. Now jsut to find that 25 mil. :)

[QPO]

25Ml...I will sit down with a bottle of bubbly and take as much time as I like to think about what I will do with the money :-) I have to spend it wisely ;-)

[elisedance]

Might seem to make sense - but I think few people do ;) Besides, is having fun 'wisely'?

[QPO]

Having fun is always wise.. it is good for the body, it releases good happy hormones that keeps your organs younger....and that is what dancing does for you! :bouncy:keeps you young!


Might seem to make sense - but I think few people do ;) Besides, is having fun 'wisely'?

[elisedance]

hmm, but some people think that jumping out of planes, drinking to the point of coma or eating light bulbs is fun... ;)

[danceronice]

$25,000,000...well, I would make sure my parents never had to worry about money again. I would probably buy the building one of our studios is located in so we could do what we wanted with it. I would do as many comps as I liked and if I felt like driving or taking the train I would...I'd buy land. I can think of a couple parcels back home I'd like to secure. Oh, and buy a dress just because I wanted it, not because I *needed* it, without knowing I'd have to wear the same one for several years. Oh, and a pony.

I'd take a vacation longer than a day or two to someplace that WASN'T a comp and wasn't home and just relax for once. I'd do THAT if I won $2500, really. A whole week where I could do what I wanted and sleep and eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Somewhere where there's water. And hiking. Maybe fishing or trail-riding or something. In a state I haven't stayed in yet.

[ChaChaMama]

What would you do with your dancing?



Fun thread!

Unlike a lot of people upthread, I would not quit my job. I love what I do and my job is central to my self-definition. I might, however, scale back from full-time (3 classes a week) to 2/3rds time (2 classes a week) and try to keep a M-Th schedule to allow for more long weekends.

What I would do with my dancing:
-Take 4-6 hours of lessons/supervised practice per week, if my teacher could put up with me that much.

-Do about a comp a month, and not worry about travel costs. (That comp at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas? DONE. Comps anywhere near my old stomping grounds in San Francisco? DONE. Florida? DONE.)

-Take up 10 dance! Right now, I think "Wow, that would seriously add to costs: an extra day at some comps, extra entry fees, and serious extra costume fees (though I guess that on a per inch of fabric basis, they are more reasonable than latin. ;)) If I have 25 million, I don't care.

-Get regular massages to keep this body feeling good!

-Buy myself an assortment of stunning evening gowns/cocktail dresses to wear to OSB, etc.

-Contribute to the scholarship pots for USA Dance comps--younger age divisions, to keep America's talent growing.


What I would do with the rest of my life:
-Add a room over the garage or club half the basement. Or maybe both. Fix them up nicely.

-Look into adding zoned heating/cooling. (We just have one thermostat for the whole house...and the house does not heat evenly.)

-Rent a vacation house at the beach for a week each summer. Florida for a long weekend a couple times a year. (While child is young, once at Disney and/or Universal once they get Harry Potter up and running, once in Miami.)

-Hire someone to come in once a week and help me plow through the less exciting items on the "to do" list, e.g., make appt at vet, get passport renewed, return library books, etc.

***

-Endow a gender studies prize at the college where I work.

-Give a generous gift to my daughter's school, which has added so much to her life.

-Buy new playground equipment for the local community pool that is about 5 minutes from my house.



In reality, though, while a lot of these material things would be nice, a lot of the things I do that make me happiest don't have anything to do with money. For example, a couple days ago I got an e-mail from someone who had read one of my articles and told me it was very helpful in a class she taught. Made my day!

Still wouldn't turn down some Florida sunshine. ;)