Shuffle-hop-step; ball chain, ball chain, ball chain — that was about as far as I got in tap class as a kid. But ever since I was 7 years old, and took those first steps to music, I have been in love with dancing. As I became an adult, however, I forgot what fun it was to dance — as so many of us forget the enjoyable things we did as kids once we mature into our long list of responsibilities as adults. Take the dog out, pay the bills, stop by the grocery store, pick up the dry cleaning, make the lunches, pack the snacks, etc.
I say it's time for all of us to make room for a little "me" time. Here's how I was able to carve out some time to enjoy a passion of mine. I hope it inspires you to do the same.
I was walking through a plaza near my home while waiting for my car to get a new set of tires. It was one of those items on that "list of responsibilities" I mentioned above. As I strolled around, I walked by a ballroom dance studio. I thought to myself, It's time I take a dance class. After all, I had been thinking about it for years. I walked into the studio, picked up a brochure, watched some people practicing, then added "sign up for dance lessons" to my to-do list.
I registered for a package deal for three half-hour sessions of one-on-one dance instruction for $40. After signing up, I immediately bought some ballroom dance shoes — the kind with felt on the bottom, meant for wearing only in the dance studio. That's right: I was taking this seriously now.
When I met with the instructor, he asked which dances I hoped to learn first. Without hesitation, I answered, "the Latin dances." After all, I did grow up in South Florida. For a farm girl from Delhi, Iowa, listening to the Latin influence coming out of Miami, music infused with a Cuban beat, really struck a chord with me. I loved it. You just don't hear that kind of music all across the country. It's special.
During my first few dance sessions, we ran through the rumba, touched on the tango and sauntered on to the salsa. I enjoyed it so much I was laughing — a little at myself and a little because I was having so much fun. It was exhilarating, thrilling, so much so that I couldn't stop smiling. As I danced those first steps, it became clear to me that I could be kind of good at this — but I had some serious work to do first.
I kept at it and attended group classes. I introduced myself to the West Coast swing, the fox trot, the waltz, and of course, dove head first (or maybe it's more accurate to say toe first) into salsa, merengue and cha cha cha. I could really dig the swing. So quintessentially American, I felt like I should be in a movie. Rock step, quick step right, quick step left. It made me want to throw on a poodle skirt and bobby socks.
While I took a few steps of the waltz, I decided to leave that one alone for now. I'd have to come back to it, when my heart was in it. I could see the fun I could have with the fox trot, but at the moment, I was focused. I had my eye on mastering the hip action of the Latin dances. All the others would just have to wait.
I have to say, if you're not used to moving your body, it takes a little while to build the confidence necessary to really pull off one of these dances. It really built the respect I have for people who go on national television — i.e. "Dancing with the Stars" — having never danced a step in their life, only to be paired with a professional dancer and work hard, and through injuries, to try to win that big mirror-ball trophy. But once you get over the fact that your body can move with the music, it's a better thrill than any roller coaster I've ever ridden. Plus, not only are you getting the benefit of exercise, but it's a great test for your brain, too.
Remembering steps and moving in time with music can be a challenge. But the reward far outweighs the risk of putting yourself out there on the dance floor.
After getting a taste of a variety of dances, watching myself in the mirror picking up the steps one by one, slowly building up my repertoire, I set a personal goal. I wanted to do a performance. I set out to master a sequence of steps in a dance, set those steps to music, and put on a performance with choreography. Soon enough, I found out the studio was going to host a "dance challenge" — which is more of a challenge to perform in front of an audience versus a competition. It was the perfect opportunity for me. So, I signed up.
For the challenge, the song you chose to dance to needed to be from a movie. I started searching movies that had to do with dancing — "Dirty Dancing," "Shall We Dance," "Dance With Me" — but no luck with my genre of choice, cha cha cha. Then it dawned on me, I had just seen a movie on TV called "The Wedding Date," and in it, there's a scene where the two main characters take a dance lesson. The song that plays is the classic, "Sway." The version from the movie was a little slow, but the song has been redone several times. One last Google search revealed a modern take on it by the Pussy Cat Dolls. That was it.
I worked feverishly with my instructor for months to get the choreography just right. A female instructor worked with my dance instructor and partner to choreograph the steps. Each time I went to the studio for a class, they had new steps for me to learn. They had me doing dips and spins that I had never done before and the pressure was on. But if I ever got concerned that I couldn't get something, they would work with me to modify the step. That should have made me feel better, but the more we changed things, the more difficult it was to remember what step went where. It was tough, and for the first time, I was practicing at home. I didn't set myself up for this performance to be a flop.
I wanted to feel comfortable and confident when it was my time to take the stage. Then, there was the music. Sure, I had found a song, but being the modern-day hit that it was, the tempo was fast. I soon found out that the studio regularly did a little editing to get songs to a more manageable speed for beginners like me, and they managed to slow it down slightly.
The most difficult part about the whole thing didn't have to do with the steps or the music. It was the character. I really had to challenge myself to get into the character of the dance. This involves getting in touch with your inner actor to convey a mood. I could only hope that I could pull that off come showtime.
Next, it was time to consider wardrobe. Who knew those dresses made for ballroom competitors typically run in the $1,000-plus range? To say I had sticker shock would be an understatement. I was rather disappointed that I wouldn't be wearing a feathery, sequined and lacy-gloved ensemble. But there had to be more than one way to get me a sparkly outfit to wear. I paid a visit to the Festival Flea market in Pompano Beach, and sure enough, I found a little black sequined number for $100. It would suit me just as well.
Then it was time. Time for me to hit the floor, time for me to have my very own moment — just like on "Dancing with the Stars." The lights were low, and the mirror ball flickered. I took the stage, and the audience quieted. We stood still, deeply exhaling before the music began. My adrenaline was really pumping now! I said a little prayer to myself that the music wouldn't skip, that it would play at the right speed, and that all would go smoothly. I took a deep breath, and we took our positions.
Just then, the first note blasted out of the stereo. I started the routine, concentrating on my steps and trying to remember to smile and have fun. Once we started dancing, all I could see was the reflection of the sparkle of sequins on my dress in the studio mirrors. The audience disappeared — from my perspective — and I completely focused on my dance partner and the choreography. My heart was beating fast, and I was actually shaking. Despite all that I felt from nerves, I danced my little heart out! I was determined to pull it off. I hit every step, I gave it my all, and it was completely exhilarating.
After all those months of practice, it was over in a flash. A wave of relief came over me. I was so proud to have reached the goal I set for myself. Looking back, I realized that the time really did fly by while I was having fun dancing. I had been taking those dance classes for two years at the time of my performance that evening.
Through the experience of my "Dance Challenge" performance, I learned that dancing makes me laugh, it keeps me active, and it all around just makes me happy. So, here's to all of you in finding what makes you dance.
Source Kery Knutson
6:24 PM
Salsa Circuit
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