Maestro Mario

Dancer, Choreographer, Instructor, Judge, and more! 

They call him "Swing Daddy".  The term is a gesture of respect as well as a sign of fondness.  With his many Championship titles, his nationally popular workshops and his superlative skills in choreographing routines for himself and hundreds of dancers across the country, Mario Robau is truly one of the great talents of the Swing dance world.

We asked Mario to share some of his history and thoughts with us...

USASN: What year did you start dancing?
Mario: 1984

USASN: How did you get interested? Who started you off? 
Mario: My father, Mario Robau, Sr., signed me up without my knowing it.  After the first lesson, there were 20 girls from dance class all asking me to dance.  At 16, that's pretty powerful motivation.

USASN: What club or studio? 
Mario: The Southwest Whip Club of Houston 

USASN: What was your first major competition? Who was your partner?
Mario: The Houston City Championships - just 3 months after my first dance
lesson. I danced with Karen Pons.  We placed 3rd.

USASN: When did you begin teaching? 
Mario: December of 1984.  I was asked to help out in the Beginner classes at the Southwest Whip Club.  By February of 1985, I was teaching the class myself.

USASN: Where did the nickname "Swing Daddy" come from? When? 
Mario: Buzzy Hennigan (event director of the New Orleans C & W
Mardi Gras) gave me the nickname in the early 1990s.

USASN: What was the best / favorite competition routine that you ever choreographed and performed for yourself? Why? 
Mario: "Alva's Baby Blues" with Kellese Key for the 2001 Dallas Dance Convention.  It wasn't actually choreographed for the contest - it was choreographed for Truman McCullough, one of the biggest influences in my life, both on and off the dance floor.  He was not doing too well and he said that he sure would like to see me dance with Kellese someday.  After getting the OK from Brent, I asked Kellese to dance with me as a tribute to him. The
routine was danced to a song that I used to watch him dance to, and it was comprised of mostly his patterns and style.

USASN: What was the best routine you ever choreographed for another couple?
Mario: I have many that hold a special place in my heart for various reasons, but asking me to name a favorite is like asking which one of your children is
your favorite.  I like each one for a different reason.

USASN: When did you begin creating choreography for others? 
Mario: My first choreography for someone else was in late summer of 1985.

USASN: What's your approach to choreography?  
Mario: I try to watch the couple I'm choreographing for and cater the
dance to their styling.  Rather than choreographing what "I" would do to a song, I try to choreograph what "they" would do to a song within their level of expertise.

USASN: What kind of music to you try to select for your own choreography?
Mario: I pick music that keeps me from standing still.  If it moves me, then I won't be tired of it when contest time arrives.

USASN: Name some of your favorite couples who you've choreographed.
Mario: There are so many that it's difficult to pick a favorite.  I have enjoyed working with all of them. Brent & Kellese, Angel & Debbie, Martin Parker, Gary & Lisa McIntyre, Robert Cordoba & Deborah Szekely, Robert Royston & Laureen Baldovi, and countless others have blessed me with the chance to work with
their talents - which in turn has allowed me to take my choreographic and interpretive skills to higher levels.

USASN: Describe your style of Swing dancing?
Mario: I do a combination of all the Swing styles.  While my dancing is firmly based in Whip / Push, I have been blessed to have the chance to work with many of the greats throughout the country in their perspective styles. Unfortunately, many of them are no longer with us.

USASN: What's your philosophy when it comes to dancing?
Mario: There are three rules to social dancing: you have fun, your partner has fun, and neither of you get hurt.  If that happens, then it was a good Social dance.

USASN: How many weekends do you travel to competitions and workshops?
Mario: Since 1990 I have traveled at least 40 weekends per year teaching, judging, emceeing, choreographing, and - last but not least - dancing throughout North America.  I normally have averaged around 46 to 48 weekends a year working, although I have had two years where I traveled 50.

USASN: What are your plans for the future (competing, workshops, choreographing, judging, dance productions)?
Mario: I am currently one of the directors of the "Americas' Classic Championships" dance event here in Dallas.  Keep your eyes and ears open - we have some VERY big plans for the near future.  As for traveling, I have begun to cut back in order to spend more time at home with my lovely wife, Erica, and our two great sons, Mario and Anthony.  I'm actually coaching Little League!

USASN: Any other personal comments or interesting advice you feel would be of value to our USA Swing Net viewers?
Mario: The only piece of advice I can offer is this: "Remember why it is you
started doing this dance in the first place.  It has never been nor will it ever be about hitting a break, doing that certain step everyone else is doing, syncopating, or spinning faster and harder than anyone else.  The reason we all got into this crazy 'Matrix' (thx Laura) called the 'Swing Circuit' was to have fun, meet new friends and have a wonderful tactile 'conversation' on the dance floor.  A good conversation occurs when BOTH get a chance to speak
and neither person yells.  Have a good time out there.  Don't take it so seriously."