I don’t think it’s really fair to discuss or describe people in terms of ‘internal’ or ‘external’ dancers. In terms of competition, yes, I care about the look and playing to the crowd and the personality I exude on the dance floor. But that is related to the fact that my technique, when I get to competition, is my technique, at whatever level of development it happens to be at. It’s not going to get appreciably better between dances or between rounds.

But in terms of dancing itself, and why I do it, I would fit much more into your description of an ‘internal’ dancer. I care about the music and the movement… and how things feel. And what I like best about social dancing is the way you come together with another person and share some sort of connection, driven by music, that generally breaks with a polite thank you when the music ends.

And really, my expression is best when the dancing feels good… when two bodies synchronize perfectly to the music and the feeling is so incredible and fulfilling that it has to be shared.