I guess that it is probably about three months now, since I sat at my computer, searching.
Waiting for that bolt of inspiration to form, to hit me, to sink its undeniable truth before my very eyes.
Searching, I found myself, for some new activity to partake of an evening. "Evening classes", a friend had suggested... Although, by the end of college, I had hoped that I had finished with the minutiae of academia. The forced structure of theoretical learning is not an area I enjoy - at college we had ended up skipping lessons, to learn that which we truly yearned to learn, rather than that they chose to teach.
But it provided a spark, a focal point from which I could expand my search - both the tangible (Google) and the intangible (mental, emotional). Seeking new parameters, adjusting my criteria, challenging Google to give all that it could give, to find something that reached out and grabbed me. I believe the eventual query that led me to my final path was simple - "things to do in [my local town]". I rather fancied... something that I didn't expect to usually do. Something challenging, perhaps something sporty.
As luck would have it, I found something. Not just something that challenged me, though, something that scared me.
Did you ever see that episode of Friends where Chandler and Monica get hitched? That Chandler had tried to learn to dance (despite his unfortunately slippery shoes) always somewhat fascinated me. I'm not entirely sure why. Memories, perhaps, of the times at which I have found myself in a venue at which dancing occurs; the times at which I was happy to lurk at the sidelines, apart from those occasions I found myself dragged reluctantly to the dance floor... But smiling.
I do not feel that I have a great sense of physical skill or co-ordination. To watch me attempt to catch something is like watching a two-year-old juggle - and one which has just swallowed everything in Amy Winehouse's bathroom cabinet, at that.
I mentioned, with some trepidation, my idea to my counsellor.
Well. Bugger me, it only turned out she used to teach the stuff!
Sometimes, things feel almost too coincidental to disregard as mere chance. So I went for it.
I began attending classes that deal in several types of mostly Cuban-inspired dance.
The Lady Luck was smiling when I made that decision. I could not have hoped to meet a selection of more outgoing, friendly, social, and encouraging set of people than these :)
I can find it very difficult... But I also enjoy it immensely :D
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That is a brave move indeed. I've often thought about learning salsa, but bottled at the last moment.
ReplyDeleteWell done you. Dancing is brilliant exercise, it's fun and as a bloke who dances, you'll never lack partners.
ReplyDelete*bangs head on desk*
ReplyDeleteI just lost a huuuuge comment I typed to Ing about types of Salsa: On1 (most common salsa), New York-style On2 (what I do), and la Rueda de Casino (another type of Cuban Salsa danced as a group rather than 1-on-1 - absolutely tremendous fun)
Summary: Go for it, if you've thought about it, you've no reason to bottle it.
And, if you see somewhere that does the Rueda, start yesterday. ;)
(sorry, it's a completely different sort of thing as you're dancing in a group rather than with a single person, but when I get off the floor after a Rueda I'm just absolutely buzzing :D)
Roses: Thank you! It most certainly is, indeed :) (But can be responsible for bizarre aches!) And that certainly seems to be true... The tricky part I find is remembering sometimes is that even if you don't know what you're doing, when you're up there, you'll enjoy it :)
Sounds like it's lots of fun!
ReplyDeleteI've never done salsa but I have been to a few ceidlihs in my time, which is group dancing and is absolutely brilliant fun !
NM: Aha, that's of Gaelic origin isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI read up a little on it the other week after noticing our main teacher had spent an evening doing it :) (I wondered what on Earth it was ;) ) I believe he enjoyed it though :)
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ReplyDeleteI think its gaelic - sometimes it was called country dancing and sometimes scottish dancing the only difference whether the music had a lot of bagpipes in it!
ReplyDelete(This sounds quite lame and is the type of comment that makes my southern other half hoot with laughter and reinforce every northern stereotype known to man) We had to do it school PE lessons when the weather was too bad to go outside.
I hated it at school but I've been to 3 ceidlihs (including one at a wedding reception) as an adult and always had a fab time as is so inclusive and friednly!
You know, when I read about it, I thought it sounded a lot like country dancing. Blimey, haven't done that since primary school ;)
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, a primary school up the road from where I work were recently out on the common dancing 'round a maypole. The people at work had enormous fun asking whether I'd be joining them...
I pointed out that I tend to think of the Rueda as having three main elements:
1. I'm a bloke and I'm fantastic
2. Look at the girl I'm dancing with, she's sexy!
3. Ooh, look at the girl over there, she's sexy!
Damn, did I ever get a shock when I started ;) You certainly can't dance "too English" ;)