February 11, 1998
Dynamic duo
Holy two-step! Long Lake couple cut rug in championship style
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Mild-mannered mall manager by day, Jody Brown relishes the chance to ditch the suit and tie to slip into his hot pink and black satin dance costume. He squires his wife, Lisa, to the hottest country dance spots around.
Many weekends will find this Long Lake Township couple cutting the rug with a flair, as they waltz, cha cha, swing, two-step and polka their way through dance competitions around the country.
"As luck would have it, we both have a little skill, both can hear the music," said Lisa Brown, who with her husband placed third last month in the two-step at the United Country Western Dance Council international competition in Nashville, Tenn. "It is our hobby and we both enjoy it. A lot of my friends are envious that my husband and I do something together like this."
Jody is manager of the Grand Traverse Mall and Lisa is an assistant librarian at Interlochen Community Library. Married for nearly 20 years, they have been dancing together for six years and competing for just longer than three. While they have never won any money at dancing, they have earned numerous plaques, jackets, gift certificates and two pairs of cowboy boots.
"We're not in it for the money; we want the satisfaction of knowing you've done your best and can do no better," Lisa said. "And there's always a new move to learn."
They started their competitive dancing career at a bar in Benzie County, entering a competition on a lark and surprising themselves by placing third. Their interest sparked, they began to take private lessons, develop routines and compete in events regularly.
"We were scared to death at our first real competition, which was in Kalamazoo," said Jody, who moved to Traverse City with his family six years ago. "It took a year of working and being seen to start placing. Last year we had five overall wins in our division."
The Browns emphasize that they are not line dancing or square dancing. Instead, their branch of competitive country dancing - also called dance sport - is a hybrid of traditional dance styles set to country music with the grace and flair of ballroom-style dancing thrown in. Cowboy boots and hat are required.
"This is dancing with no flips, dips or tricks," Lisa said. "You can't support each other's weight, and have to keep most feet on the ground at the same time."
The Browns practice together about three hours a week, a little more just before a competition. They take professional dance lessons weekly and are working with a coach from Detroit.
Always looking for new moves or ways to improve their routine and presentation, they sometimes swipe and modify moves from other couples. They also have noticed other couples executing some of their moves during a routine, which they feel is the ultimate form of flattery.
The competition at their level is spirited but friendly and both Jody and Lisa enjoy playing to the crowd and the judges.
"Anyone who has every played sports knows that butterfly feeling, but it goes away," Jody said. "You have good days and bad days when you compete and some days you just have to suck it up."
The Browns plan to compete in eight competitions this year, including ones in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Kansas City and Chicago. Whenever possible they bring their three children, ages 15, 11 and 8, with them, making a family vacation out of the travel. Jody's mother, who lives in Iowa and sews all their costumes for them, occasionally comes to watch them compete.
Besides getting great exercise, making friends and traveling the country, the Browns have found some less tangible benefits of performing competitively. Dancing in front of hundreds of spectators and fellow dancers, scrutinized by judges for their every move, they have learned to project their style and smile no matter what is happening.
"Dancing has really helped my confidence," Lisa said. "If I am nervous about talking before a group, I just say to myself, 'If I can dance in front of people I can surely talk to these people.'"