Lisa Picard: 1/11/25

During our video introduction at Swingtime in August, I joked, “Lisa is the creative heartbeat of our partnership.”

So I’d like to repeat in all seriousness five months later: Lisa was the creative heartbeat of our partnership.

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There’s a framework we use when rehearsing routines: “Stop/Go”— who is providing the motive force in any given moment and who is grounding in opposition to that force. You can’t both be “Go” or you tumble through space. You can’t both be “Stop” or you don’t get anywhere. You need both.

Like most things in dance, this is about more than dance.


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“This could be more complex.”

“This could be simpler.”

“We need another practice.”

“We need a rest day.”


“We can achieve more.”


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The last three years have marked a shift, not only in how seriously the community took us as routine performers, but how seriously I took myself in that role. We went from a new partnership getting our first invitations to perform at events to Classic Finals at The Open.

That advancement has been in large part thanks to Lisa’s work ethic and pursuit of excellence in all parts of her dancing.

I couldn’t help but get better with a partner like that. I couldn’t help but want to get better with a partner like that.

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I genuinely don’t know how Lisa does it. For my own role in the creative process, it’s all I can do to make sure my brain and body are rested enough between practices.

Meanwhile, Lisa would have reviewed our practice videos, thought of a new variation or styling choice, and clipped a YouTube video of another routine for reference.

If it was Open season, she would have also miraculously found time to dye shoes, edit music, and rhinestone a costume.

While working a full-time job in another demanding profession.


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I don’t know what 2025 has in store for the WCS community, but I know it will be worse for her absence these next six months.

The space she occupies as a dancer, teacher, performer, and routine coach is too big to go unnoticed.

I will certainly feel it.



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So here’s to the last three years and whatever comes next.