Dec 12

Q: Do you know how much I like to dance? A: A LOT.

And I had forgotten just how much! There just hasn't been many opportunities in Indiana to dance to the type of music I like or with other dancers with similar rhythm. (Except in my own home. Here's a shout out to Lindsy who is the queen of living room dancing!!)

But I had to start making more opportunities. Last summer,  I was at a big outdoor event and finally became one of those woman who dances solo in public.  I always felt subconscious about doing that, and felt a little sorry for those "out there" types when I saw them, but that day the music was great and the dancing alternatives were lousy: ask or wait for a stranger to ask me, or wait for a group of friends to come along,  or join in with a nearby group of strangers (believe me, that can be as awkward as a junior high lunch table.) Or the worst of all- ignore what I really wanted to do and not dance at all. 

So, my first solo dancing night was fantastic! I had a blast. And now I go out of my way to find as many opportunities as I can to dance- in fact, I have a new goal of dancing 54 times this year.  It's a good number because I turned 54 this year and, of course,  in honor of Studio 54. (It was the happening place in NY during my most dancing-ful years; I never went there, but in Buffalo we could emulate.)

Aaanyway, so far I've been a little freaked out about dancing in Portsmouth. First, there was the Salsa Dance Party (first and third Friday of every month!) in a small restaurant/ club.  I loved the band, but the dance floor was as tiny as a postage stamp, and the men were a bit too, uh, into themselves.

I agreed to dance with one that had nothing but twirling on his mind; no steps in between! Was he afraid he'd need to mov more than his arm?  It got a little dizzying. I felt bad that I couldn't keep up but than I talked to one new friend who said, "You danced with that guy? No way will I dance with him. He makes everyone feel all pukey." Okay, it wasn't just me.

One man asked me to dance and held out his hand in a gentlemanly way. Just then,  a woman jumped between us to give him a hug. And then a big, somewhat long kiss. His hand was still out to me. Was I supposed to take it?

Then I was asked to dance to a slower song. This partner was looking for a closer dance than should be happening between strangers. He was already excited to be there, if you know what I mean. Eeew. That ended quickly. It looked like his next dance partner smacked him.

Then I tried to dance solo. No go! Bad dancers of one kind or another kept trying to join me, or more accurately, touch me, so I left. I went to hear a soul/funk band in a different club. Good live music played by Solemate! This time I tried to camouflage myself in with a MeetUp group that was there. (I had met them at a comedy night a few nights ago- more later.) But one elderly member decided I needed a partner. He kept telling me what a great dancer I am but unfortunately he wasn't soulful or even funky. Well, maybe a little funky.

Oh well, there's always my weekly African Dancing class. It's a fun workout with great live drumming and best of all, there's no touching of others!  Here's a video to inspire or entertain you. (It's actually a beginner's class I took in Champaigne, IL before I came out here.)

I need 44 more dances to make my goal. Wish me luck!