Social dancing

It's been a while since I went dancing socially. In fact, I really hadn't been dancing socially in Chicago (as an idea of how long its been). So I jumped online and found a local dance last night. I should have known what I was getting into by the fact I had to drive way out to Highland Park.

As an experienced social dancer, I have become accustomed to a few basics. 1. I will always be one of the youngest there. 2. I will always be one of the better dancers there. 3. Men in brown suits are necessarily skeazy. 4. There will be Christmas lights and generic cookies. 5. Waltzes will get everyone on the floor, and sambas will largely clear them.

Because it was out in the suburbs, these details were magnified. I singlehandedly lowered the average age by like 20 years. With the possible exception of an instructor and a pregnant lady, I was the best dancer. But no brown suits. Just short guys who wanted to tango with me. Ugh. I am tall for a dancer, and I can bend my knees pretty far, but it gets a little awkward. And the sambas were painful to watch.

I have been spoiled by fairly good dance scenes in VA where the dancing is of a higher caliber, there are more college students, and a general openness. Here, everyone was middle-aged or older, and only danced with the person they came with, which largely defeats the purpose of social dancing. But I did get to dance a couple times with an instructor, a short guy named Leo, and an old Chinese guy.

One thing I love about social dancing is that once people realise that I follow well and have long limbs, I can become a bit of the Belle of the Ball. I feel very talented and pretty. But in addition to raising my self-esteem, it does make me overly critical. I just want to start teaching (or screaming). Like the woman who insisted on moving her head constantly in Viennese, which explains why she nearly fell on her ass. Or the couple who looked so positively bored and joyless dancing. I just wanted to shake them and remind them that this is FUN.

It reminded me that I miss dancing, and dancing well. I guess I will need to start seeking out a more vibrant (read: young) dance crowd.

on iTunes: "Happy Meal" - Cardigans