Women Smokejumpers

Women  smokejumpers hold the bar of excellence to a high degree. 

Fire season is here and no one is more revered than our fire fighters.  When they return from a fire,  cheering people line the streets for a welcome home.  Smokejumpers are flown into remote fire areas and parachute in.  During the season, bags are packed and the moment the call comes, they are in the plane. 

Women have been smokejumping since 1981 and have to pass the rookie test along with the men. The test consists of 7 pull-ups, 25 push-ups, 45 sit-ups, run a mile 1/2 in less then 11 min., carry 110 lb over 3 miles in less then 1 1/2 hr., finish by making it over a 6 ft wall.  A stigma was attached to women smokejumpers in the beginning.  The men didn't want the public to think their super tough job was easy if a woman could do it. Women soon proved otherwise as they jumped from planes and fought fires shoulder to shoulder with the men.

In the year 2001, out of 400 smokejumpers, 35 were women.  This year there are 370 jumpers spread across 9 bases. The Montana base is located in Missoula. 

What a comfort it is to have our fire fighters on the job. I say,  GO FIRE FIGHTERS and
YAY FOR THE WOMEN SMOKEJUMPERS.  
Photo by Kenton Rowe from an article by Lori Messenger in Montana Magazine  
 

Z is for Zydeco

Zydeco is a heavily syncopated dance originally danced throughout Louisiana but has become popular all over the United States. It is not included in the competitive dance program but can be recognized as a specialty dance. The Zydeco is more often danced in the Zydeco and Cajun clubs, where they hold their own competitions.

The dance is a blend of Creole, French and American traditional.

Zydeco is characterized by a lot of fast stomp'n that must be great for the cardio vascular as, especially in Louisiana, the elderly can out-dance the young ones. For an exhilarating syncopation of social fun find yourself a Zydeco club and dance the night away.

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Y is For Yoga

Many Ballroom dancers practice Yoga poses because it adds flexibility and calms the mind.

Every Ballroom Competition is a stressful day with dancers adrenals bouncing up and down. To be able to find a quiet corner in-between dances, and lose one's self in a peaceful meditation can calm the frantic stage fright and attract the judges eye for a higher score.

Judges score on a whole raft of personal traits beside the quality of the dance. They are good at spotting the nervous, frantic, worried dancers and they tend to score them accordingly. So, the trick is to fool the judges and keep that calm exterior vibrating "winner."

Below, a short vid on yoga
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X is For Xavier

Xavier Cugat was a Latin bandleader from Cuba who popularized Latin dance music in the US during the 40's and 50's.

Although he was trained as a classical violinist, Xavier preferred entertaining in the clubs and big hotels. Cugat's records and films made him a household word as Latin music took hold.

He was responsible for calling the Cha Cha....... the Cha Cha Cha, because, he said, the three chas made the sound of the maracas. This title stuck and even in the competition world, you will find either Cha Cha or Cha Cha Cha.
The video below shows you Xaviar's band

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W is For Waltz

Waltz is the oldest ballroom dance, dating from the 18th century. When it was first introduced to ballrooms, it was met with outrage because it was the first dance with the man's arm around the lady's waist.

The first waltz was the Viennese Waltz but later slower waltz music was written that called for long gliding steps in place of the constant turning of the Viennese Waltz.

Both the slower version of Waltz and the Viennese are performed in competition today. The slower waltz is the one that is usually taught for social dancing.

Below, is a video of the Waltz in competition.
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V is For Viennese Watz

Viennese Waltz is a fast-paced competitive ballroom dance with a 3/4 count  as in 1-2-3-1-2-3. As the name implies, the dance originated in Vienna and is traditionaly danced to Strauss music.

It is a series of fast turns as the couples progress down the floor in the line of dance.

The dresses are reminscient of the old European Romantic Era. Spectators enjoy watching the graceful lilt of the fast turns as the coupes find their way around the floor.

Viennese Waltz was never wildly popular with the competitors when I danced. I find that a dance where the dancers step on every beat is boring and just a lot of hard work. Many couples shared my opinion but I can't speak for the dancers of today. Although my partner and I always scored high on the Viennese, my mind would sometimes wander and it was the only dance I couldn't stay focused on.

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U is For Unit

Anytime you watch a lady and gentleman accepting 1st place in competitive dancing, you know they have learned to dance as a unit. Each one knows the importance of their individual role in the partnership. 

One important part the lady will have learned is that the gentleman always leads. In fact the lady will move a split second after the man, once she feels what the man indicates to her. That split second delay is never noticed but if she were to move exactly with the man, she would be trying to lead.

Trusting the man to lead is the hardest lesson for the female social dancer to learn. Until she learns this, the partnership will always smack of amateur. When the Unit is achieved, watch out world, the couple will be on their way to becoming champions. 

Below is a video of a couple in their practice.
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