Learn to dance, including tango and polka

Regularly I’ve heard that the Samba is one of the most difficult dances to learn. At the same time I hear that Swing is not too terribly difficult. Maybe it’s the skill level of the combinations, but I’m finding the Samba we’re being taught is easier for me to pick up than the swing – same instructor. Of course if he starts hitting us with some really difficult things in Samba, I’ll write a retraction. Haven’t had any private lessons for a few weeks; Everyone’s schedule seems to be impacted by somethng or other.

We started doing Polka and Cowboy or Texas Two Step, and it’s necessary in order to be able go to a variety of dance environments, but my interest is more and more in refining and developing my Waltz skills. Rumba is also attracting me. Both are so dreamy and melodious that I start losing myself in the music, but not enough to have an accident on the dance floor.

The biggest thing for me was regular social dancing during the breaks of the show, in the middle of a bunch of very skilled dancers, making mistakes and just accepting it and not getting shook up. One lady had said she wanted to do a waltz with me. Music started, and I asked her if it sounded like a waltz to her. She said yes, we started dancing, and my instructor call out from her table: “George, it’s a tango”. We both agreed again that it had sounded like a waltz at the beginning, we switched to a tango, laughed about it and didn’t get worried that we might have looked goofy. I’ll still get complexes from time to time about errors, but they will diminish. The instructors’ have an attitude that if you correct yourself while keeping the dance going, you are not committing an error which is also good therapy.

I’m taking Polka lessons,(also taking Texas 2 Step) and they’re not easy. The actual movements are not terribly complicated, but the couple is moving vigorously the whole time, and coordinating all those movement quickly can be slow to learn, BUT they are fun!!

This weekend some of us are visiting another studio for their Showcase, and the owner asked be if I wanted to dance in their showcase. I said yes and then a couple of days later it really hit me that this was a major compliment and affirmation of what I have learned. He trusted that I would perform well enough to support our studio’s reputation. I feel really honored.

I went to a group class tonight, and the instructor decided to teach waltz instead of the regular Latin dance. The basic things he taught were quite different from what I had been doing, and when the class was over everyone had learned what he was teaching, except me. I know I’m a slow learner when it comes to neuro-muscular coordination, but tonight I was slower than ever. When I asked for specific guidance I still didn’t understand. I’m almost motivated to become a biker instead of dancing.

But I was exhausted when it was over. I felt good while dancing, but I realize that I was tense, stressed, and anxious. The next day I kept thinking: “Big Deal, what’s the use???” But a couple of days later my attitude was positive again, and having fun in the group classes. I’ll probably ease up on private classes until I get bugged that there is something I should know but don’t.

By The Way, there were a lot of positive remarks about our performances, and that is always a measure of progress.

But at the next showcase/recital I’m dancing twice (fools rush in?)because I felt like trying it. I’m doing a waltz with a good friend I met at the studio, and a Rumba/Bolero with my instructor. ( Or should it be “instructress”?) Anyway, I find that when I’m alert I can dance OK, but when I’m tired from work and working out I have a hard time doing anything correctly. And that also affects my ability to develop the muscle/neurological memory that is needed for smooth and happy dancing.

What is great is that I am feeling more and more relaxed and less self conscious on the dance floor, and I do less thinking that people are going to see me make mistakes and label me as a lost cause. Dancing is becoming more and more fun. It is also good exercize when out on the dance floor a lot.

I was out with illness for a while, and my instructor was out of town for two weeks, but the dancing I have done has started grinding the patterns into my neurological makeup. Right now I feel confident in Fox Trot and Waltz, and slightly less in Rumba, and a couple times I got inspired and kind of improvised a small thing on the floor, but led the lady well enough so that it turned out OK, and added to the fun. At the Rumba practice we went into Bolero, which I am finding is a great dance, and most of the Rumba steps apply, slower and only slightly different, if at all.

I’m also finding out more and more that dancing can be hard work, although it does not stop being fun, and after a very active class I am beat, and have a hard time getting up to go to work the next morning.

I’m also fortunate that in addition to my instructor there are two ladies that are very adept, almost instinctive, at dancing and learning new things, (much faster than I) and active practice with the three of them is making my mind think dance combinations as part of my normal day and daydreaming.

I went to a party at the studio and was having a hard time recognizing the beats of the music. I have to hear more so I can identify it quickly, and I also forgot some dances I had practiced pretty well not too long ago. SO I have to do something with my attention. But it was fun, even though I made mistakes. One of the ladies told me that if I keep dancing and we don’t fall down from my error, it’s considered a success. I guess my improvement is attitude; I’m not as shy dancing when I’m not sure of myself, especially when I know the lady.

I think it is a matter of the more I understand and know about dancing, the more quickly I understand new things and adapt them to my physical and neurological memory. Two hours of classes last week and two this evening had things falling into place with a whole lot less repitition and drills than I needed two or three months ago. I’ll still need it for dances I’m very ignorant about, like the Samba, but new steps and combinations in dances where I have familiarity seemed much more obvious than I had thought possible!!

The dance studio showcase was yesterday, I got a lot of compliments for my performance, and I had a lot of fun doing it. I was nervous, but It was still a lot of fun. Part of the mood was that everyone seemed to be having a good time, so that affected my attitude. I enjoyed wearing my black suit and black tie. I felt rather dignified and formal.

I also realize how much more I have to learn, which is part of the challenge and fun.