Does location make the champion?

[style]

To become a U.S. champion for example, do you have to move to city that supports ballroom dancing? Or can you though hard work and the correct technique make it to the top or very close, while living in a area that does nothing to promote ballroom dancing?

The reason I am asking is, should I stay here with few chances to dance or move to another state where there are more chances to dance and dance partners that want to work hard?

 

[liz]

Are you looking for a pro partner or do you dance pro/am? I know alot of pro/am girls who don't have their teachers nearby and have to do alot on their own.They travel every week or two or monthly to their pros. I think it makes you work harder not having it easy...

 

[style]

I drive an hour south twice a week now for lessons and practice. All my dance partners live there, but they either dance for fun or could not put in the time or money to take it beyond becoming a beter dancer. I would rather go am-am then pro at this time.

 

[wonderwoman]

It can't hurt to move to a city that's convenient to a certain partner/pro, whether accidentally or intentionally.

 

[Benjy]

Are we assuming champion on the global scale? If so, you mean am/am or pro/pro, and I would say that yes, location does. And I would argue that it would be nearly impossible to become a world class dancer in the USA outside of Florida/LA/NYC/Boston... maybe one of two other places. You simply don't have the exposure to the coaching needed, nor the presence of lots of other high level couples to push and inspire you, or the partnering opportunities you need. Hard work does a lot... but there are limits.

 

[latingal]

To become a U.S. champion for example, do you have to move to city that supports ballroom dancing? Or can you though hard work and the correct technique make it to the top or very close, while living in a area that does nothing to promote ballroom dancing?

I would guess that depends on the person. It's harder if you're not in a location that is considered a mecca, but I don't think it's impossible. Just look at the re-emergence of pro US finalists in the latin field from California. I believe those couples probably had to do a lot of traveling for coaching (or bring coaches in) and be very motivated on their own.

The reason I am asking is, should I stay here with few chances to dance or move to another state where there are more chances to dance and dance partners that want to work hard?

If you don't have a partner in your location now, and your location does not have much in the way of support or development of ballroom dancers, my guess is it will be a bit more difficult to find a serious competitive partner in your locale. But you never know....

 

[Chris Stratton]

I would vote for a location with a strong dance community, but would caution that because that probably means a major city, you might look back with fondness on getting to the studio in an hour ;-(

 

[Leonid Turetsky]

I would say that the biggest advantage to being in a city that has a developed dance community is that:
1. You have access to the best coaches most of the time.
2. You have tons of inspiration all around you with many other couples working/practicing towards similar goals.

 

[dlgodud]

I will say that the location is an important factor of someone being a good dancer, but I am not sure that the location makes someone a champion.
There are other factors you might need to consider for this question as well.

 

[Joe]

Obviously one does not make the other, but it can help. For every champion in London/NYC, there's someone who's never going to make it.

 

[danceronice]

You're in Essexville? If you have a decent job I'd stay where you are. The cost of living in this state is substantially lower than in places like New York or California. Or move south towards the northern 'burbs or Ann Arbor. But if you're not going to make it your full-time profession, don't move to places that are complete financial drains unless you can pull in at minimum very high five figures from your day job, or you'll just end up too broke to dance anyway.