One of the most difficult things for me about social dancing, and I am talking about “organized club” dancing in my area, is that no matter what type music is played, most (ok, almost ALL) dancers still just dance West Coast Swing. It is so hard for me to just do West Coast Swing when the DJ is playing a Cha Cha or Hustle. Even if you can find a fellow Hustle dancer you will have a difficult time “doing the Hustle” as the West Coast Swing dancers get annoyed if you use too much floor space! UHG! Same applies to Cha Cha……oh, well, I guess some dancers prefer to only dance one dance………..what a shame, because the other dances are equally just as much fun!

Last night, at the monthly ballroom dance, I had the chance to talk with a friend who has been dancing about as long as I have. I was explaining (more likely complaining) to her how hard it has been for me to learn balance (still working on it). She responded “You too? I thought it was just me.” I explained to her that both Ras#1 and I have had to work extra hard to overcome our natural tendency towards klutziness.

Her comment reminded me of all the times I have been frustrated, nearly to the point of quitting, thinking that I was the only one having trouble learning some facet or another of dancing. Well, it isn’t so! Sure, there are those beginners who just have that natural grace and talent that allows them to learn with ease. And then there are the rest of us, some of us with more talent, some with more grace, and some of us with just desire and determination. So, while these occasions can be frustrating and even depressing, take comfort in that you ARE NOT ALONE! Others now and before you have shared the same fears, frustrations and even despair while attempting to learn how to dance. Ras#1 and I have both been and sometimes continue to be there and while we continue in our quest to become better dances, always remember…..even those of us with no god-given graceful attributes can learn to dance!

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!

I have to say, next to having to re-write this blog cause the first one went into cyberspace somewhere (think that could be the same place all my socks went?), is the fact that there are rarely enough men to dance with! Other than last night when fewer women came out to dance due to bad roads, the weekend was a bust as far as dancing goes.

We went to Ras#1’s office Christmas party and I think there were maybe 2 men who could do even a modicum of couples dance, so we got in 2, maybe 3 dances each. As usual (you probably guessed it) we ended up at the usual honky tonk hoping to add a few more dances to our evening. Big disappointment there! Again, there were about 2 guys there who can do any couples dancing, one of which indicated he had retired from dancing (said it was a long story) and the other oftentimes too much of a pain to bother getting on the dance floor (I don’t like that song, it’s too fast, it’s too slow, too many people on the dance floor, not in the mood, yada yada yada). Once again, we leave early, dissatisfied and disappointed. I even have male friends who admit that men who do dance have a distinct advantage with women, yet they still aren’t motivated to learn to dance themselves. Would someone please explain that to me? So, all you men out there, please come out and dance if you know how, or take some lessons if you don’t. We need you and you won’t be sorry. And, if you are out there and know how to dance already, please move to Boise, or at least come for a very long visit?

The “Ras Girls”

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

Dancing on the Cruise

Well……last night was one of those…….shall we say wasted dance night? There we were……first night back at the honky tonk following our limited dancing cruise…..in our sassy dresses/skirts……primed to dance the night away……looking forward to dancing till our feet hurt! Think again!!! Many of the local dancers were out of town at a dance festival/workshop in Tahoe….the place was brimming with numerous drinking fools who haven’t yet figured out the dance floor is for dancing…..not drinking! I left my table for just a moment……came back to have a long drink from a cold one we (obviously not big drinkers) had just purchased, and……………no beer! What the??? As I was frantically searching through all the beer bottles (not ours) on the table, the guy at the next table indicated one of those previously mention fools had picked up our beer and was drinking it as we spoke. I marched right over….grabbed that beer from his hot little hand ..just as it was about to touch his lips,,,,,, informed him that was not his beer…. and sat back down at the table with our beer…..now tainted by the lips of some buffoon! What to do! Well……..in the interest of monetary preservation…..we cleaned it up and finished it off! There were a couple of guys there who could dance (of course, competition was great with all the other women dancers), so we did get a couple of dances in. I only got one 2-step, however. Asked a guy in the next room who I knew can 2-step…who proceeded to tell me he was with a girlfriend (not really so, but not worth arguing). I said it’s only 3 minutes of your life and he said I had to check with her…..which I did…then indicated to him that it was now only 2 minutes of his life. So…got my one 2-step in. Danced a few other dances and did some free-styling with the girls. Finally decided we’d had enough, ordered our usual hamburger from the stand outside and called it quits. Oh mymymymy……those hamburgers are heavenly (actually only 1/2 – we share to avoid too many additions to the love handles)!! Have to admit……………….it was the best part of the whole night…….bar none!!

Well………………tonight’s another night! Maybe we’ll hit the piano bar and dazzle them with our voices…….or not!