"You will find ballroom dancing to be an investment that will greatly enhance the quality of your life.
It is an activity that combines healthy exercise, social companionship, sportsmanship, romance, beauty and glamour all into one." |
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Although Mr. West is a seasoned dancer, he did not develop an interest in ballroom dance until late in life. His initial exposure to it was unique and sounds a bit like a story from a fairy tale. Originally trained to be a graphic designer he settled on oil portrait painting as a career move. During this time he was commissioned to paint large donors for an institution that had a connection to the Royal House of Hapsburg. An opportunity arose to present a portrait to His Royal Highness Prince Karl von Hapsburg. It was at the gala ball in his honor that ballroom dancing came unexpectedly to Mr. West's attention. With the waltz having been developed in the Hapsburg courts, it was natural that dancing was going to be a part of the affair. Seeing an evening of waltzes with ladies in glittering gowns and men in tuxedos gliding around the floor made an impression upon him. Being embarrassed that he had to sit on his hands while the ladies were clamoring to dance, Mr. West figured this was something an aspiring gentleman and courtly man of the world had better learn to do. Vowing to never be caught flat footed again, he promptly began lessons. While doing this, the institution commissioning portraits informed him that later in the year the Prince's father Archduke Otto would be coming to America. He would be accompanied by two of his daughters to accept an award and to have his portrait presented to him. On this occasion Mr. West decided to put his lessons to work. At the ball he got up the nerve to ask a genuine Hapsburg Princess, Her Royal Highness Gabriella, to dance a little Viennese waltz with him and she graciously did.
Needless to say, since that time Mr. West has fallen in love with ballroom dance and seeks to make it the number one pastime of all Americans. Opportunities for teaching ballroom dance now take up most of his time. He would love to share his romance and passion for ballroom dance with you.
Mr. West currently teaches American style waltz, foxtrot, tango, Viennese waltz, cha cha, rumba, mambo, samba, merengue, bolero, east and west coast swing, hustle and International style quickstep. He offers classes and private lessons at the bronze, silver and gold level.
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