About the Author
Robert Cura wrote Master Ballroom Dance Technique as a matter of scholarly and technical interest—and as a special gift to his son. The book is a deep reflection of his philosophy in dance.
He calls it a brain-dump of what he has learned over 40 years of ballroom dancing. He would be happy if other dancers find it interesting and helpful in their development.
Who is Robert the Author?
Who is Robert the Author?
We asked him this very question: How would you describe your ballroom dance life?
His response? A quote from his new book.
“I hold no titles of world championship note nor allegiance towards any specific dance organization or society. Nor do I have any claim to ballroom dance fame, except perhaps being known within the dozen or so friends in my circle and family who, for some misbegotten reason, seem to unapologetically enjoy how I dance."
He got started in ballroom dancing at 15 when his mother roped him to practice dance with his six cousins—all girls. A ballroom class in college later cemented his never-ending search for proper dance technique.
“Haven’t looked back since then.” He says.
A humble person, Robert Cura’s extensive knowledge and experience is often revealed after a few minutes talking with him. One quickly realizes that he is some what of a polymath with a deep abiding interest in many areas. However, three appeal to him in particular: Art, Technology, and Strategy. And discussing these with him reveals his deep knowledge in those topics.
Artistry
Artistry
The quiet elegance of ballroom dance lies in its subtlety—more than its overt character. It is this silence in the movement that appeals to Robert Cura. He has a strong preference, a philosophy, towards an aesthetic of simplicity, subtlety, and unobtrusiveness. A simple preference in which he tries to conduct his life.
What he brings to dance is a passion for technique. He is an avid student of ballroom dance, its movement, its many beautiful styles, and its music. Its magic is what fascinates him the most.
Robert Cura is a multi-faceted artist. Aside from being an accomplished ballroom dancer, and former dancesport competitor, he is also:
A painter. He paints every day, focusing on the Tonalist Style and commercial art. Although he still dabbles in acrylic media and watercolor, he has shifted to oil paints now. A number of his paintings are in personal collections of friends and family.
A Digital Artist. A trained technologist, he is proficient in using Graphic applications. He has used Adobe’s Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premier since their inception years ago. He helped design the cover art for Volume One and developed its chapter covers.
A Calligrapher. When he was young, he was cursed with parents who had exquisite penmanship. After looking at his chicken scratches he finally embarked on a journey to attain beautiful hand writing. He still has bad penmanship, but he does an elegant Olde English script he perfected when he was engaged to write certificates and diplomas.
A Fine Art Photographer. He started learning photography when it was still in the 35mm (film) stage and black and white was the skill to learn. Today, he still dabbles in the art, creating beautiful photographs (some of which are showcased in Volume One and on this website). Additionally, he has done commercial photography for graphic design work.
He is a trained woodworking craftsman. He loves to use old-world techniques in the minimalist style to create functional pieces of art.
He is a proficient composer who loves to play the piano and guitar. He composes music every now and then for artistic expression.
PROFESSION: TECHNOLOGY AND STRATEGY
PROFESSION: TECHNOLOGY AND STRATEGY
We will not delve into his professional life here. A website is underway that will have more details about that facet of Robert.
Suffice it to say that he was as crazy about computers in the past as he is in dance today. He is semi-retired, occasionally consulting with start-ups who need help developing their technology. These days, he prefers to tinker and write programs in C++ for microcontrollers and embedded systems. He gets into trouble developing electronics systems for his house. Mostly, unsuccessful counter-measures against those villainous marauders otherwise known as moles.
A former Chief Technology Officer, he also has a deep interest in Branding systems, Marketing technologies, and Master Strategy. He helps new entrepreneurs (particularly start-ups) develop their business strategies.
And lastly, Robert Cura is a writer.
He is a writer. After all, he HAS written, and continues to write a book on ballroom technique. He is in the process of editing the manuscript of his second book—a treatise on the principles of Master Strategy and its role in business. He has recently started his third book, a novel set in 1890’s Asia.