Spoiler alert - this article is in no way referencing the Arthur Murray Live commercial we debuted during halftime of Super Bowl LI, but there was one ad that we think is perfect for anyone currently taking ballroom dance lessons.
In fact, it wasn't even a Super Bowl ad, but boy did it deliver like one.
Proctor & Gamble, the company behind many of the household items you, your parents, and grandparents have used put together this commercial "Thank You Mom" as part of their advertising during the 2014 Winter Olympics Games. Assembled by the creative masterminds at Wieden + Kennedy, this commercial is a master stroke of positivity.
And here we are, three years later, and it may be just the motivation a ballroom dancer, kung fu fighter, digital marketer, or software engineer may be needing.
As humans, we are always stuck romanticizing over goals, and underestimating the process. This commercial shows the struggle, and why that makes a victory that much sweeter.
Compare this to: The Curve Of Learning
How easy would it be for these kids to have quit their selected hobby if their mother wasn't there? You need to have a coach, someone in your corner, and a voice besides your own that can deliver words of encouragement - just like Mom.
Compare this to: 25 Examples of Dancing Progress
These kids demonstrated unwavering determination. They didn't stay down when they fell. They got back up, they dusted themselves off, and they didn't quit when things got tough.
Compare this to: How to Recover From Dance Mistakes
We can watch performers, like the ones in this commercial, and forget that they all started somewhere. We can hold them on DNA pedestals, talk about how they won the genetics lottery, and that they must have been born talented. The wonderful thing about this commercial is that it shows the hard work behind it. Without seeing it, it's easy to zoom in and focus on the finished product and call it lucky, call it destiny, or to speak glowingly about their body type, genealogy, or where they are from.
Compare this to: 5 Things You Don't Need to Learn Social Dancing
Your dance journey will have its bumps. There will be moments where everything makes sense, and then moments that feel exactly the opposite.
When in doubt, continue the process.
Your dance teacher will explain things in a way that may not always make sense. Then, at some point, a light bulb will turn on and it will begin to reveal the message.
When in doubt, continue the process.
Your dance partner may complain about your dance frame, get frustrated with your practice habits, or get irritated with your latest competition results. But they will also be there on the other side of the stress, when the planets align, the movement is clear, and everything seems to work out.
When in doubt, continue the process.
We hope this commercial, or these words, help you do just that.
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