Swing Dancing

Swing dancing is truly amazing, it's a unique conversation to have using a whole other dimension and integrates all the phsyical senses in silence. The reaction is immediate and requires being present, or lost.

Swing culture does not discriminate, you can dance, you say yes and you're on the dance floor. Tall, short, no fingers, one leg shorter than the other - you can dance. Time flashes by through play, laughter, movement, as various partners revolve through the music. We are all fed with the need for human touch where hugs, side pecks are abolished as safe greeting practice and shoulder pats relegated to the few deserving.

Ladies know guys names long before getting to know each other, same with guys. Some are there soley to dance, others in a mate search.

How a person asks you to dance, holds, sends out, spins, brings in says so much about their nature: structured, loose, forgiving, bold, dynamic, flexible. How they correct you also tells you something about themselves: the hyper-critical little voice in their head, the gentle soft voice of concern, the non-emotional "just the facts" approach. How fast can they learn a dance step and make it their own - or can they? Do they give up easily or stay? Do they only ask safe partners that make them look good? Truly fascinating.

We are used to a culture of expressive spoken language, and within the dance community a whole different world of language exposes us through behavior. Who are we for each other, how we relate through the medium of dance, we represent a small proportion of the population who enjoy moving our bodies through music. Used to be every culture, every age integrated dance ritual as norm.

There is a distinct difference between dancing with the other and dancing by yourself. Sometimes it's easier to get lost into the music and forget the other exists, ideally it's the melding of the music, communication with the other which makes for a fabulous, fun moment.

My feet hurt, danced till 11:00 last night and the night before, and will do once again on Saturday night. It's March Break. Met Joan for lunch and she says there is a time for harvest in life. Harvest to her is: after she's worked through all the ups and downs, the kids are all grown up, have their own lives, she reaps the joy of enjoying her grandchildren. Her family is everything to her. She had her kids stay in State university so they would be married in State and perpetuate the next generation close at hand. I love her because she is centered, a far thinking woman for what works for her. This time round, Joan did not ask me any deep thinking questions, she gave whole bunches of insights, narratives, and examples. She was full of abundance.

There are not many things I'm truly committed to every day. Through my behaviors dance is a priority, building a relationship with Mike, maintaining my connection with Nina, being a teacher who makes a difference, oh and developing myself intrinsically - that's about it. Everything else is a side dish: volunteering, spending time with friends, discovering new places to eat/have fun, traveling, taking on leadership positions, working on my art, starting a new exhibit for the art teachers, catching up on the house.

Behaviors says a lot about you, on the dance floor and off.