Every month, Studio 665 nominates a Super Star who has achieved success through hard work and dedication. Jim Vecchio, 59, is one of our Stars and we are very proud to tell you a little about him.
Jim is the North American Manager of Sales and Service for Oxford Instruments Magnetic Resonance. He's been dancing for 4.5 years and hasn't looked back since. "I felt that I had become too sedentary and needed to broaden my life experiences beyond work by cultivating a leisure activity," says Jim. "Since the kids were grown and on their own and my wife's ministry work had left me alone with lots of free time, I began to actively look for a hobby that offered personal growth, provided social interaction, was fun and exciting, and would help me stay physically and mentally fit."
Jim used the internet to find Studio 665 and says his choice to start training here was easy. After doing much research, Studio 665 had an impressive reputation with lots of top competitive awards. It offered a variety of different types of dance which Jim thought was good since he had no idea what he would enjoy most. The studio had been well established for a number of years, so he felt that it would give him the opportunity to get the best possible instruction. We are so glad Jim chose us!
Although Jim enjoys dancing in general, he does like the Rumba the best. Additionally, he enjoys American Smooth because it is challenging. "When the music is really special, and every thing comes together nicely on the dance floor; the energy, the lead, the technique, the figures, I sometimes get so caught up in all of it and... well, the feeling can be quite exhilerating," says Jim.
" When I started as a Newcomer in group classes I felt very awkward, and struggled so much that I almost quit after just a few weeks. Today I am dancing at the Silver level, and wouldn't dream of quitting," says Jim. His goal is to dance the Quickstep, really, really well!
Jim would like to thank his daughter, Veronica, for being one of his inspirations. "Veronica loved dance as a child, won gold at Terpsichore Awards and eventually danced pas de deux with the Copley Square Ballet under David Drummond. Her experience gave me a profound respect for the hard work, the skill, and the achievements of amateur and professinal dancers," says Jim.
Another inspiration for Jim is his private dance instructor, Tatiana Obeso. "As a dancer she is absolutely amazing. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to learn to dance with someone with such incredible talent and ability. Tatiana is blessed with the unique combination of being both a fabulous dancer and a terrific teacher. She has a passion for teaching and for dance and she communicates in such an effective way that she makes it easy for her students to learn. And thankfully for me, she has unlimited patience."
To us here at Studio 665, Jim is an inspiration to us. The world of dance opened up a new and unexpectedly rewarding and enjoyoyable chapter in Jim's life. "What I thought would be a just a pastime has turned into a priority," says Jim. "It has opened my ears to music genres that I used to ignore, like the standards from the 40s for example. I have learned alot about myself, have made new friends, and have found a way to stay active and fit and have fun all at the same time."
