Dusting off the dance shoes

In less than a week, I have already been dancing twice, and will probably go out again tonight. It's awesome!

As an undergrad, I was in the ballroom dance club. Then I was on the team. Then I was suddenly captain. At one point, I was dancing 4 or 5 times a week, practicing with my partner, teaching, socializing. A total blast. Sometimes it feels like a million years ago.

I tried with various levels of success to keep up my dancing, but life and budget can interfere. Back in a university setting, there are lots of opportunities, and they are much more affordable. (As much as I crave private lessons, I don't have the $80 a pop to drop on them). Last Saturday, there was a swing dance with band. Tonight a community dance. And last night was team practice focusing on International Rumba (technique) and American Foxtrot (yawn). It felt really good to focus on my technique instead of just following the same three steps at a social dance. I was dancing with good dancers! And as subtly as possible, I was able to coach a couple people.

My shoes made me stick out. Which was a good thing. People knew I had done this before. If nothing else, I got alot of compliments on them, which is funny given how thoroughly ratty they have become. If I keep this up, I will have to buy new ones!

On one hand, it's hard to justify going out dancing when I have mountains of reading to do. Then again, if my research is dancing, doesn't that count? Besides, it's good to get out, hang out with non-theatre people, move around, use a different part of my brain. And it is always such a charge!

on Pandora: "Girl on the Wing" - The Shins