Hyperreal

Today is sort-of my dance anniversary. It was this same Wednesday last year that I first went to a Ceroc class…

The change in my life has been a revolution.

I have so many new friends, I have travelled more around Scotland than I probably have in the rest of my life put together. I have become from nothing a good dancer. I never have a moment free…

Yeah, I called myself a good dancer there. Probably the first time I’ve said that without qualification. So let me qualify it a little now. I think that for someone who’s danced a year, I’m pretty good. There’s plenty of folks I see, some of which have been dancing less time than me, who are easily better dancers than me, but I reckon I’m not so bad at this dancing nonsense…

There’s still a long road ahead of me though before I figure I’ll be good enough. Whatever that is…

Tonight a beginner came up and asked me to dance. She was a little hesitant, almost giving up before she’d even asked me, but she said she’d been told to look out for good dancers and ask them to dance. Best compliment I’ve had in ages.

At the other extreme, there was a really good Australian dancer there tonight. Her style put me to shame, but she still appeared to be enjoying our dance and so I didn’t feel too unworthy…

Maybe the best thing is that I get lots of offers of dances, and all my regular partners always look really happy to dance with me. And really, I don’t think you can ask for more.

I arrived late again tonight – somehow I even missed the start of the intermediate class. For that reason I won’t be able to do a description of each move justice, but they were… (I think!)

• double pretzel – not done this before, so trying to do it in class didn’t work so well…
• basket double lean (?) – basket, out, lean away, round, lean away…
• side-to-side let go! – normal move, but let go to scoot across, for a wrap-in and dip.

As that’s only 3 moves, I guess one of the moves might have been split in two – or does the double pretzel count twice?

I had a brilliant freestyle. Lots of great dances, felt like I was the best dancer in the room sometimes (I clearly wasn’t.)

It’s the combination though of feeling you’re excelling in your dancing, enjoying yourself – and seeing the same in your partners. There are other factors, like the music, your mood, blah, blah, blah, but it’s mainly and simply about how you both feel.

Feeling is the key word.

Lots of good music tonight… Only maybe a couple I didn’t want to get up and dance to. Sat out a few more just to get my energy back, or because I couldn’t see just the right dancer who would especially enjoy that song…

It was quite a busy night though, and long may it continue. With some of the better dancers beginning perhaps to prefer the GUU to JJ’s maybe they’ll balance out. (Or perhaps that’s just wishful thinking.)

Big thanks to all my partners for making it a good night for me – hope it was for you too.

See you next time!