I still don't plan on having competitions at the Emerald City Blues Festival. I don't like how they break up the evening and, honestly, they're a bit faddish right now. Wait for it ...

But as far as what they can do personally for a dancer, that's a different story.

I used to think that they didn't have very much value and that I wasn't all that hot when it came to flashy dancing that was needed in comps. But I was in the final round of the blues competition at Andrew Slac's recent event and I happened to get paird up with Karissa.

Before we started dancing she whispered in my ear, "I want to do some solo blues." I think that was the key. I never do solo blues. So if I was going to go there, might as well just let it all out.

Trying to put how we danced into words, well, I just can't do it justice really. I was just filled with sheer joy, nothing was held back and we danced as close to perfect as I have ever danced with that much raucous energy. My heart was pounding and that grin was plastered to my face.

Where it came from, I'm not sure, but I've felt that for the past 3-4 years my dancing had plateaued. Maybe it's the cowboy boots, maybe it's the obnoxious pimp jewelry, maybe it's Karissa, maybe it's Steven doing the DJing. Doesn't matter, it just got kicked up a notch.