So, you think you can dance?

So, you think you can dance?
Well, I don’t. I must say, that until I started college, I’d pretty much have to be paid to set foot on a dance floor. Even now, unless it is something I know how to do (AKA partner dances), I am still not one of the first on the floor. I guess I am just self-conscious and unless I am being “told” what to do on the floor, I don’t want to be out there. It’s funny because for a long time, I thought I was the only one out there that didn’t like dancing, and now more and more, I see people not wanting to get on the dance floor. It doesn’t count if you’re drunk, people. But conversely, when I meet people that are afraid or unwilling to try learning how to partner dance, I am almost insulted! It’s like this: I can talk until I am blue in the face about how much fun dancing is, but I think a lot of people have the same perspective on partner dancing as I do on “club” dancing. They’re just not interested. I wonder why that is. I suppose as a guy, it is more understandable, because really, the ball is in their court. They are the ones responsible for knowing what to do, how, and when. But what they also don’t realize, is that with a lesson or two, they can be pretty decent at it! It’s a great learning curve =). People say things to me sometimes like “you must be really good at swing dancing”. And to me, I’m not. I just watch people and drool over their style, technique, and grace – hoping I can be half as good one day. But then I realize that with how long I’ve been dancing, there are people out there thinking that about me (not many, I’m sure, but I’ll flatter myself with one or two)! The funny thing is that if someone takes just two lessons, someone who has never seen them dance before thinks they’re amazing!! So people, get off your butts, and give it a try. Just twice! (once tripping over your feet, and once actually learning). I bet you’ll like it!

I decided to break my mold and learn other dances besides swing era ones (IE Lindy Hop, Balboa, east coast, etc.) So, this semester, I am taking two classes. Every Sunday. One set of classes is beginning salsa, and the other is beginning ballroom (where we’ll go over Waltz, Tango, and foxtrot). So far, they have been pretty good. I like my salsa class better, but they are both informative, and both my teachers think I can dance, so I like it =). I am someone who likes what she’s good at, and doesn’t like what she’s not. So, it took me a bit of time to really enjoy dancing, and now you can’t tear me away from it. Come to think of it, I am going dancing tonight!