It's interesting how babies have a natural rhythm. You can even find them dancing by themselves in front of the TV. As much as Papa' sang his 'Wickie Woof' song to me (a variation of Who's Afraid of the Big bad Wolf...but at double speed), all he could get out of me is a tapping foot.This is while my twin brother responded wildly to the music (but hey, he would become a drumming student later, so there went the rhythm). Square dance graduation in sixth grade....thankfully the year before me was the last one at Van Deene Elementary, so I was spared that humiliating ritual. :-)
Years later came junior high awkwardness. T'is true that at the tender and dorky age of 14, I signed a disclosure to my mom that I would never dance. Never. Not after seeing others in junior high make incredible awkward attempts with their partners to either dance disco or new wave. Funny how 3 years later she would pull out that piece of paper as she saw me free-styling to Funkadelic. It is in the blood, I tell you I couldn't help myself.
Enjoyed the dancing of that era because there was no need to touch your partner with Soul Train or Devo style dancing.
I started to Give in...a teeny Bit ...
I guess I got away with it, except for the few wedding waltzes I was subjected to. Somehow I could fake those, being more concerned with how awful the bridesmaids dresses were and relieved at how during that first dance, the wedding party would usually be joined by the rest of the guests, so nice to hide in the middle of a crowd.
Nowadays
Since then I have surrounded myself with friends and family and no dancers among them except one delightfully perky friend, waiting for opportunities to swing or salsa...with me hiding out as a self-imposed wallflower. I had become scared to death of dancing with a partner. I slowly moved to a group to learn Portuguese in order to expand my volunteer work and the scene changes a bit socially. In this group, there are Salsa-veterans who are also spiritual (as well as spirited). Many more are talented, skilled dancers of all shapes, sizes, and ages. Me...still frozen to the wall or boogying freestyle at a distance, wishing I wouldn't be so scared of a partner. Friends' weddings came and went...many opportunities missed....but me actually warming up to something new, something else I had begged off... a line dance by Cupid. Oh dear. Maybe this silly dance shows that it is okay to act goofy again, and that it is all in my head. My biggest fear is salsa and swing dancing. I can't even turn or step properly without hitting neighboring dancers. Someone is going to have a swing lesson party at her house. Dread....I accept the invite, although I will be there, the worse one of the bunch, I think. Then I desperately search the internet for YouTube videos of Fred Astaire and Murray's Dance Party to help....then what do I see...
Wonderful Groupon
Being ever the extreme cheapskate and the ADD multi-tasker, I find something interesting while looking at those impossible Dance videos. It is something very intriguing. What do I see but a Groupon for a beginner Swing class in El Segundo. Should I get it? Well, I emailed the website and the instructor herself kindly told me about the class, the deal, and the rules. Then she told me that I 'sounded fun'. Me!? The geeky Einstein-haired engineer?! Let me sleep on it...
OK, done
I decided to order a series of 4 classes with Rusty Frank. First class was yesterday. I was so nervous, my stomach ached. I walked in by myself. The majority already looked like experienced hipsters. Here goes nothing...to be continued tomorrow.
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