Gateway Dancesport Championships

11/12/2025

Northern Lights were shining bright over St. Louis last night!

10/18/2025

08/30/2025

As we head into United States Dance Championships week, I just want to drop a little note into your world. USDC is always wild, and while it’s been 20 years since I last stepped onto that final floor, I still remember every single feeling—every thought and emotion that surged through me.

I want YOU to walk out there not only rehearsed technically, but also radiant and centered. My little gift to you? My personal mix-tape. (Yes, I’m dating myself here, but in the 80s a mix tape was the ultimate gift of love.)

This playlist is packed with songs that make me smile, move, feel strong, and remember why I fell in love with dance in the first place. So, I’m sharing it with you. Whether you need a morning boost, a car-ride singalong, or a pre-comp ritual, I hope it helps you feel grounded, energized, and unstoppable!

Some songs will feel instantly familiar, while others are a little more off the beaten path. I encourage you to really listen to the lyrics, there’s a reason each track made the cut. These songs have carried me for years (some for decades), reminding me not only who I am, why I’m here, but also how to navigate the beautiful chaos of competition life.

Remember, titles and placements are temporary, but how you feel when you dance is yours forever. Take care of your heart. Celebrate your body. And when the music starts, let yourself be radiant and free. Here’s to showing up fully, shining brightly, and remembering that our ballroom world isn’t just about movement, it really is magic.

Larinda McRaven

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0vd83pkvvz8fW2nQmdJwtd?si=347a1a3c21444eb2

311 Bill Withers Red Hot Chili Peppers Queen Love and Rockets INXS Able Heart Beastie Boys Carly Pearl Deraj Global Morgan St. Jean

08/22/2025

The calendar’s upside down! Gateway Dancesport Championships 2026 has moved from March to April 2–4 2026. Join us for a weekend that’s curiouser and curiouser 🐰

08/15/2025

Get ready for a thrilling development! Gateway Dancesport Championships 2026 has a Temporary Date Change that promises an electrifying experience. Join Gateway on the first weekend of April, April 2-4, at the St. Louis Chase Park Plaza for an iconic competition that blends creativity, ballroom elegance, and a vibrant atmosphere.

05/17/2025

Hey friends — it’s Larinda McRaven checking in from Gateway Dancesport Championships

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who reached out about the tornadoes in St. Louis yesterday. The Central West End, home of Gateway, was hit hard and the damage around the area is intense.

Here’s the good news: our hotel, The Chase Park Plaza, sustained only very minor damage, shattered glass. And even more important, my daughter, her husband, and my granddaughter are all safe and sound right next door at St. Louis Children’s Hospital / Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

I’m deeply grateful for all the texts, calls, and love. You all are the absolute best. 🫶

Stay safe out there.