All-Nighter: DC Dancer Style

I am spending alot more than I usually would on entertainment/recreation this month because I start grad school at the end of August and will be working full-time and taking night classes for the next 2 years with NO summer break :( Therefore, I am trying to live it up during my last month of freedom! 3 more big events after this...

This week, my big splurge was on the 4th Annual DC Bachata and World Latin Dance Festival, aka the DC Bachata Congress. I've discovered that I like to attend one-time events rather than places (i.e. monuments, museums, or restaurants)because they're always there and I'm a permanent resident!

Wednesday - Melanie and I went to one of the DC Bachata Congress "pre-parties" at The Salsa Room

Thursday - my visiting teachers erroneously thought my birthday was Aug 8 and took me out to FrozenYo 13 days early haha. It's the thought that counts :)

Friday - serendipitously got a spot in a free barre yoga class (combination of ballet and yoga; I like the former and dislike the latter) at Lava Barre after being put on the wait list. Nevermind that I had hours of dancing ahead, I can't pass up a free class! (I'm in the green)

Friday night - it took us an hour and a half to find a gas station, Washington Hilton, and street parking (hotel parking was $36 for 2+ hours!!!) Finally made it there by 10:30pm

We watched some awesome performances (couldn't get any good pics) for about 30 minutes, then took pics while they cleared the chairs away for dancing. We were the most covered-up girls there by a looong shot!

At about 11:00pm, they opened up the ballrooms. There were FIVE different rooms for dancing: Kizomba/Zouk, Timba/Casino, Salsa, Hip Hop/International, and Bachata (the biggest room, pictured below)

I'd never heard of the first 2 before. It was humbling - I have alot to learn! I mostly stayed in the Bachata and Salsa (my favorite) rooms

I was dressed in the style of a BYU ballroom dancer (Latin skirt, blouse, pinned back hair w/ flower) while the trend was apparently booty shorts/micro miniskirt, strapless top, hair worn down. Subsequently, I didn't get asked to dance as much, so I did more asking than usual.

Nevertheless, I felt so happy to be at such an event attended by all the best Latin social dancers from not only the DC area but the whole East Coast! There were performing teams from New York, Orlando, etc.

Ew turned in feet - shame on me

Ate 2 PB&J sandwiches throughout the night to keep me going - my body was so confused by being fed at such hours haha

Most dance pics don't turn out well, especially with my slow camera. Here are some funny ones, just for kicks :D

Ironically, the best picture of the evening was not of me, but my awesome partner who I only danced with once and know nothing about! This pic should be entered in a contest or something. Nice job, Melanie :)

We left the event at 4:45am. I've never danced through the night like that, and my feet were so sore but I was running on adrenaline! This is only my 4th all-nighter ever. Other times include: I Love Lucy marathon in 4th grade, super senior year at BYU finishing final research papers, and hiking Mount Timpanogas. I don't plan on having these often, but it was a blast while it lasted!

Saturday - Got home at 5:15am, showered & slept for 4 hours before being woken up by my family calling from China (they come home on Thursday!). Went to an Open House for my grad program, then met up with Britt and Andrea at Union Station. Fatty sweet carbs look extra appealing when you're sleep deprived

I ended up buying these 2 cupcakes from Crumbs, one of the many cupcake places in DC. I'm not much for cupcakes (I prefer ice cream/gelato/frozen yogurt/cookies/brownies/cheesecake :)) but this city is obsessed and it's a part of the DC experience. Red Velvet and Pineapple Coconut

Hitchkickin' down the airport-like terminal. Just cuz.

Walked around the whole food court at least 3 times, sampling everything, before deciding on a place for lunch

Settled on an unassuming pizzeria and ate dessert first - chocolate hazelnut and white chocolate gelato :)

...which made up for the worst veggie sandwich ever - bland, hard to eat, greasy bread

Wandered around the beautiful interior afterwards

The outside was also majestic

Conked my head on the bell to get this pic haha

Got to go to the temple with these girls and received beautiful personal revelations. Not sure what I was looking at in this pic...

:)

Sunday - got to play and sing pop/spiritual/love songs at a local nursing home with Berlin and Emily, one of my favorite ways to serve. Didn't take any pics because I didn't want the residents to feel like a spectacle. But it was a mutually uplifting experience! :)

Later, watched Aladdin (can't believe it's been 20 years since it came out!) with these kids and Chris shared his artichoke with us afterwards haha

Another intern friend is leaving :( but Stephen insisted on saying "See you later" instead of "Goodbye"

End of a fabulous week, only 2 more weeks of summer left!