Obviously, I’m not a real candidate for this show, but imagining myself on it did compel me to look up ballroom dance lessons in my area. A class wouldn’t be as brutal as the competitive reality TV show, and I’m always up for a challenge. After all, I hate the idea of thinking something is off limits to me because I have rheumatoid arthritis. Yet, I have to admit that all that spinning around on the balls of my feet in heels, the twirls, the lifts and the dashing around would probably be a recipe for disaster even if I started out feeling my best.

Part of me would really like to go for it and sign up for a series of classes and try it out.  After climbing mountains and hiking all around the desert, tackling the tango shouldn’t be so intimidating, and yet, that is exactly how I feel. Though I never learned ballroom, I grew up dancing, and it is something I used to be good at ‘before.’ Attempting to try it again ‘after’ feels rife with emotions and impossible comparisons between now and then.

For now, I’m still pondering what to do.  Having RA has taught me to be more cautious about what I put my body through, like it or not. When I push myself to my limits, my RA usually pushes back. In many ways, living with RA is a dance in and of itself, so I guess you could say I’m already learning how to do the tango- the Tango RA.

Sara is the author of the blog, The Single Gal's Guide to Rheumatoid Arthritis and a partner in the Buckle Me Up International Young Arthritis Awareness Movement.