Week 14

I'm the most fickle person I know. I'm constantly changing my mind; my thoughts are constantly bouncing around in my head. I can't even decide on an outfit in the morning; usually what I wear is a product of running out of time to get dressed. But I also find pretty much everything interesting, and I adore research. When I'm interested in something, I want to know everything about it. I submerge myself in in and become very passionate, very quickly.

I remember being a little girl, I always begged my mom to let me take dance lessons. With my big feet and big hands, I never saw myself as much of a dancer. But whenever I watched television shows of people dancing, I always got a little twinkle in my eye. A natural klutz, I could never imagine being able to do the things with my body that these dancers do. They look so graceful, so beautiful. When my mother finally got sick of my begging, she told me she'd let me choose between soccer or taking dance lessons.

When I was younger, I was always compared to Cindy. In every way, shape and form. And I learned quickly that the easiest way to obtain approval was to act like Cindy. Cindy was a class clown, so I was too. Cindy was a tomboy, so I was too. Cindy played basketball, so I did too.
Cindy played soccer, so I did too.
I kicked the dancing dream (literally) because I knew that soccer was would make me more like Cindy.

Now, I'm much older and I have accepted that it was never beneficial for me to try and be like my sister.

But I sometimes wonder how differently things would have gone if I had pursued dancing instead of soccer.

Soccer is probably my favorite sport to play. It's difficult, and I'm not very good at it, but it is a fun sport to play. But it never sparked my passion, per se. But when I joined Drama Club and Chorus, I loved them both, and realized that I definitely had a certain flair for dramatic expression.

So, I've made a mental note to return to that secret passion inside my head. And that secret passion is dance. Considering I was voted class clown in high school, I know I'm not exactly the most graceful person on the planet. But, I still would like to learn the basics of certain dances.

The Tango

Probably one of the steamiest ballroom dances out there is the Tango. The authentic Tango originated in Argentina, and is a saucy, sexy form of expression.
Whenever I see this dance on movies or on TV, I feel the need to get up and move around, because it's just so darn inspiring. I like to think of the Tango as the original Dirty Dancing. Before nobody put Baby in a corner and before the 'bump and grind' age of today where girls just shake their ass and wait for a guy to choose her out of the group and rub himself all over her.
The Tango is different. The Tango can almost tell a story. A man and a woman, heated with passion and desire. The man leads the woman, sometimes the woman leads the man. It's a dramatic tale of love and often times betrayal, all set to music. What's not to love?! 
With it's Latin spice, swishy dresses and hot-hot-hot intensity, the Tango is a dance that I dream about taking lessons for someday.

Swing Dance

Now, if a dance can bring you to life, it's swing dance! There's something about jazz. Something sensual, something, fun, something very American and alive.
Swing Dance is used to describe the styles of dances that is usually done to jazz. It originated during the 1920's-50's, during the times of war and the Great Depression. During a time before social networking, the internet, cell phones or extreme mass media. A simpler time where dancing was all you needed.
Because of my old soul and obsession with things that happened before my time, I think swing dance would be something  I'd strongly enjoy. It's high-paced, doesn't really have much flow to it, and is basically all over the place. Sort of sounds like life! ;) Many people who dislike jazz say that it's too hard to follow. There is no flow. But maybe that's exactly what's so wonderful about it. Jazz sounds like the inside of my head on a busy or a relaxing day. Jazz can either soothe me to sleep or make me feel awake.
And swing dance... The way the people move and soar across the dance floor looks like it's easy and anyone can do it. They look happy while they dance like that.
The swing dance isn't like the Tango. It's not as intense; not as formal. Swing dance is just a couple of people, some music and a common goal to just let loose.
Because of my 5-day-a-week work schedule and constant 'to do' lists, swing dance is something that I think would do good for my body and my mind.




The Foxtrot

Classy, slow, graceful and cautious, the foxtrot is one of the most widely known ballroom dances. This big-band dance was premiered in the early 19-teens.
Growing up in the middle of the woods, I'm not exactly the classiest person you'll ever meet. I like to eat with my fingers; I crave cheeseburgers that practically swim in grease; I am known to let rip a mean belch. But sometimes, just sometimes, I feel a little classy and wish I could slip into a ballroom gown and stroll across a ballroom floor.
The Foxtrot is a dance that was originally set for being danced to ragtime, but as it evolved in changed to big band music, which is similar to what Swing Music is danced to. Foxtrot dancing is very slow with long steps and arm movements.
To me, this dance is much about love. The man and the woman dance together very slowly, always touching, always together. They have plenty of time to hold eye contact and maybe even whisper little words to one another while they slide along the dance floor.
Although this dance isn't as fast-paced as the others, it still is one that I'd love to learn more about someday. It's graceful and beautiful, classy and smooth. It's very out of character for me, but it's still a skill I'd like to acquire.





So there you have it. Some facts at a glance about a few dances that I've always been interested in learning. Someday, when I have the money, hopefully I'll find the opportunity to take some lessons. I don't play soccer anymore, but I always still wonder if I'd be a dancer by now if I would have chosen dance.