I am so confused! For the past two years I’ve been concentrating on learning a variety of swing & country dances. About a week ago, the ballroom dance club held a 2-day dance workshop. I signed up for the Saturday classes in which they taught ballroom waltz and the rumba. After the workshop, they held a ballroom dance with a free Bolero lesson.

I loved them……………….I mean I really loved them! I am so confused now! Which direction do I go, what do I learn next……….help me please. I’m afraid to try anything else new, or I’ll just be more confused. I want to learn them all! I love every kind of dance I’ve ever tried, well maybe with the exception of one, but I’m not going to tell which one that is, because I know many who do love it. So even if I eliminate that one, there are dozen’s more I love. I know there are many dancers who stick with just one dance and become very, very good at it and I do envy the fact that they are so good…………but………..I love too many to just pick one or even two. I guess I’ll just have to resign myself to being a jack of many dances……master of none! Not sure that is all that bad.

After talking to Ras#2 this afternoon, I was reminded that I was missing our High Desert Swing Dance, Christmas dance. A bit bummed and overwhelmed with travel, I got busy making Star Wars Creepy Crawlers and a Snoopy Gingerbread House with my grandson. I’m not sure whether we got more candy ON the house or IN his tummy! The Creepy Crawlers are stuck to the wall and the Gingerbread House is now a centerpiece. After cleaning up that mess, I realized it was only 5:30 and the Wizard of OZ had just come on the telly. That meant he was occupied for the next few hours and then it was bedtime.

Yes, I hit the Internet, I figured if our Christmas dance was tonight, that somewhere in Orange County,  some other club must be holding their dance tonight, too. Bingo! Orange County West Coast Swing Dance Club, dance 8:00-12:00. I coerced my Lindy Hopping daughter to join me and we headed out the door.

Now, I have traveled quite a bit and I have been to quite a few dance venues. What you never know is just what you are getting yourself into. Will there be many dancers? Will the music be good? What is the experience level? Will anyone dance with me? Will they dance with me more than once? What is the dress code? All of these things always run through my mind. And more often than not, there is no need to be concerned. I almost always have a great time!

Tonight was no exception. The OCSDC was very friendly and inviting. We met some really great dancers and very nice people. I can hardly wait to go back another time.

It is really important when you go to a “new” place,  to allow yourself to be accessible and available to dance. You need to show enthusiasm and willingness. When you are in a new venue, if you put on your shoes and sit in the corner, chances are that you will be sitting there all night. If you are not asked to dance after one or two dances, then just get brave and do the asking yourself.  Chances are you will be escorted to the dance floor. I was fortunate, tonight to be asked to dance as soon as I put on my shoes.

Now,  West Coast Swing is not my best dance, and these guys in the OC are pros, so I was a bit nervous.  Luckily, once my feet started moving I began to relax…. a bit, anyway. Mike was a terrific leader and led me through moves I never even knew I could do. Needless to say, any trepidation that I might have had was gone. Once I got out on the dance floor, I rarely left.  It was great fun and judging from my aching feet, I know that I had terrific time. My daughter and I danced all night long. I can hardly wait to go back. The OC Swing Dance Club is top notch.

Going to new places, meeting new people and even running in to some that you have met at other various dance venues is just another one of those bonuses you receive by inviting dance into your life, heart and soul. Thank you Orange County West Coast Swing Dance Club for a truly wonderful evening of dance!

Ballroom Dance

If you have yet to stick your toe into a dance shoe, and hit the dance floor, then you will likely be as confused as I was, when I decided that I had waited too long to learn to dance. I had no idea just how many styles of dance there were, and I do not profess to even know now, however I do know that Ballroom, Swing and Salsa are very often, all danced at the same venue.

Tonight I was at our local USA Ballroom Dance. I danced Tango, Foxtrot, Waltz, Hustle, Night Club Two Step, Cha Cha, East Coast Swing, Mambo, Salsa and Rhumba. Quite a variety, wouldn’t you agree?

Last night it was a Swing Club Dance. We danced West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Country Two Step, Country Waltz, Night Club Two Step, Hustle, Cha Cha and a Triple Step Progressive.

Swing Dance

I suppose that the easiest way to describe the biggest difference, in my opinion, is that Ballroom Dance is “formal” and Swing Dance and Salsa are more lighthearted and “informal”.

Now here is the part that I find interesting. It is my perception that Swing people often think that Ballroom is a bit too stuffy. Ballroom people often thing that Swing is a bit too lackadaisical and I think that Ballroom and Swing dancers perceive Salsa dancers to be a bit too saucy.

In my opinion, I love them all! As long as there is music playing and someone to dance with, I am up for the challenge. I think that I would become bored if I only danced one style of dance. Maybe I am A.D.D.? But there are many people out there that are a strictly one dance, and one dance only type. My suggestion to those of you who are new to the world of dance is to give them all a fair shake. You may be surprised to find yourself, like me a total crossover to all of the dances. I find that I go in spurts and often have new favorites. I also find that there are many similarities in all of the dances. Besides, the more versatile you are the more opportunities that you have to dance!

I would love to hear what your favorite dances are, mine are currently Cha Cha and Country Two step. Of course, next week that might change!

Happy Dancing,

Ras #1