The Year of Dancing Dangerously: One Woman's Journey from Beginner to Winner

One morning, fifty-five-year-old Lydia Raurell stumbled across an ad in the local paper that read "Walk in Monday, dance out Friday." She did just that. A year later she reigned atop the national leader board--a first for a newcomer. This is her amazing story, recorded in her own words and in over one hundred breathtaking color photographs.

For the first time ever, immerse yourself in the magical world of ballroom dancing--a world where the details count--the shoes, the many dresses, the hair and the makeup--and the competition is stiff. While shows like Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance have introduced ballroom dancing to millions of Americans, very few of them know what competing in dance is like. By following Raurell across the country on her journey to the top, readers will gain intimate knowledge of what the competitions entail, and what it takes to succeed.