Would you like to Dance?

I guess I’m a “dancer”…mostly because I love to dance. Almost any kind of dance will do, but my favorites have been partner dances.

Understand, I am not a performer. (I don’t mind being in a performance. It is nice to feel that your passion and practiced skills are noticed!)

Like many, I began to feel the music when I was a youth. A friend’s parents were ballroom dancers and they would take their two daughters with them to the Officers Club on dance nights. Lucky me because my best friend would invite me to tag along.

I guess it was this experience as well as coming home from school and turning on the tv to watch a dance show that fed my soul. I danced with my invisible partners. I danced with door frames and door handles. I danced with myself. The music took me to other places.

In high school we had three different dance nights…one a YMCA sponsored dance on Friday and two others that were sponsored by our church youth group. (Tuesday and Sunday). We truly were “dancing fools”. It was satisfying, invigorating and pretty safe recreation.

In college, it was more a part of a “bar scene” dance. To many it was secondary but not for me. It was my reason to be there!

Then came the real world, marriage and babies and not much social life. Dancing was listening to the music and swinging the little ones around.

Divorce presented another opportunity to return to my dancing. Sometimes I would find a date who really wanted to dance…wasn’t just using it as a vehicle to meet someone. But for the most part my return to single life didn’t provide the dance outlet I wanted.

In a conversation with a colleague the concept of country dancing came up. My friend said that a group of friends regularly went to a country bar and had a blast. My reaction was: “I don’t really like bars or country music (think whining sad songs), so why would I want to go there?” Then, at a party at this friend’s house, I was told by my “new girlfriends” that I really needed to go country dancing. The group said it was a wonderful venue…didn’t need partner (line dancing), got lots of exercise, and was not a “meat market”. After thinking about it (after all my friend, “Linda”, was more of a snob than I), I decided I certainly should give it a try. Uh oh…history!!!

I suggested a trial run to another friend (whose response was…”I never thought you would do it, but I have been wanting to see what this was about for a long time”.)

We went on a Wednesday (Ladies nite ) and then every Wednesday after…plus weekends!!). I learned the line dances (good for brain challenge and aerobic exercise). I learned the partner dances (waltz, two step, country cha cha). I dressed up in “cowgirl” gear…boots, sometimes hat, western shirts, full skirts. I felt like I was in costume. The most intriguing part to me was that we were from all walks of life and unless you took the time to actually talk (not when you are dancing) you didn’t know who came in his pickup from his farm, who left his Assistant Librarian in charge for the night, who was late because her patient needed stitches. It was a grand “equalizing” place. It was a healthy place to be.

Ironically, this pattern of dance escape has woven in and out of my life over the years. It has presented itself in many different venues. I’ve been in the country bar scene where “everybody knows your name”. I’ve been involved in dance clubs where the members are very serious about their skills. I’ve been in dance groups where our mission was just to be able to dance ‘til we dropped. They are unique in their own ways. I love them all. Since Covid, I miss them all.

Many good friends have entered my life through this back door of dance. I have even met two romantic partners. To say it is my passion is probably not far from the truth. To say the experiences define me is the truth. Dance soothes my soul and makes my mind happy. It provides life’s nourishment…exercise, mental acuity, socialization, therapy. An old friend (rest his soul) told my then fragile self that “Dance was god’s way of giving us the human touch we all need without it being intrusive”…(Bless you, Jerry). LET’S DANCE.