Jordan Quintana - Ballroom Dancer
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I was six years old when I stepped onto the dancefloor for the first time, and I knew immediately I had discovered my passion, my home. My dad was a ballroom dance teacher in the basement of our house, and every night I would be drawn downstairs by the enchanting music just to watch as one couple or another glided across the floor. During the day, I would go down after school before the lessons started and watch one of the scores of old competition tapes we had, dreaming of the day when I would be able to dance like those champions. Needless to say, when my dad asked me if I wanted to begin lessons of my own, I jumped on the opportunity, and thus began my life as a ballroom dancer. Or, in other words, my life.
Since that age, I have worked tirelessly through hours and hours of practice, following my dream of someday becoming a world champion myself. Growing up in the small town of Sheridan, Wyoming, I made myself known as the "Dancer Boy", the only competitive ballroom dancer in the entire state, that kid who travelled all around the country to competition after competition. With growing support from my community, I performed at countless showcases, events, and talent shows all in trying to show everyone what I could do. Of nothing have I been more certain than that I want to be the best. I have won two U.S. national titles and have recently been ranked in the top ten adult ballroom dancers in the United States, one of the youngest in the current rankings to achieve that. Most recently, I quit school and made the decision to move to England, where I am currently living with my new partner and her family and training with some of the best coaches in the world in the country where competitive dancing has the richest history. The two of us frequently travel to London to have professional lessons from past world champions, and have already booked competitions in multiple countries.
Since that age, I have worked tirelessly through hours and hours of practice, following my dream of someday becoming a world champion myself. Growing up in the small town of Sheridan, Wyoming, I made myself known as the "Dancer Boy", the only competitive ballroom dancer in the entire state, that kid who travelled all around the country to competition after competition. With growing support from my community, I performed at countless showcases, events, and talent shows all in trying to show everyone what I could do. Of nothing have I been more certain than that I want to be the best. I have won two U.S. national titles and have recently been ranked in the top ten adult ballroom dancers in the United States, one of the youngest in the current rankings to achieve that. Most recently, I quit school and made the decision to move to England, where I am currently living with my new partner and her family and training with some of the best coaches in the world in the country where competitive dancing has the richest history. The two of us frequently travel to London to have professional lessons from past world champions, and have already booked competitions in multiple countries.
I have never been happier. I am fulfilling my dream, working toward my lifelong goal, all the while being able to inundate myself completely with my passion of ballroom dancing. Every day I wake up with a smile, knowing that day will bring me closer to becoming that world champion. My dream is closer to being realized every day!
My determination and motivation to get to the top are unquestionable. As uprooting and moving across the ocean should prove, I will do anything it takes to reach my goal. My love for the art of ballroom dancing is unmarred, not only because of the ability it gives me to express myself, but because of the lessons I've learned. Ballroom dancing has taught me respect, perseverance, dedication, commitment, and good sportsmanship. I am the man I am today because of the lessons I've learned through the sport of ballroom dancing and competition.Unfortunately, ballroom dancing comes with a hefty price tag. With professional training, costuming (a new tail suit costs upwards of $1,500), and competition fees, it is anything but cheap. Hands down, however, the biggest expense comes from travel, specifically hotel prices and airline fares, as the best dancers must compete all over the world. The top professionals and amateurs will travel to five continents throughout the year in their vying for the title, needing the exposure and experience given them in their actual dancing at the competitions and in their ability to become a part of the global community and help improve their dancing by training with top coaches worldwide. Though I belong to this international circuit, it is a constant struggle to come up with the respective costs. My parents have been my financial support for my entire dancing career thus far, supporting my dream of one day becoming a world champion, but with my growing status as a dancer the costs are also increasing, and while they've done everything possible thus far to support me, there exists a limit to which even they can help.
My name is Jordan Quintana, and my goal is to be the World Ballroom Champion. Thank you for your support.
Organizer
Jordan Quintana
Organizer
