Lessons of Dance and Life

Dancer_K · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

Dancing is not just what you think. At least I didn’t think it would bring this out of me. A bit embarrassing, totally irrational, but I have to tell someone. This is a true story.

He was tall and had a slight accent, he was my first dance teacher. It happened somewhere between when his took my hand and led me to the dance floor and the first two steps of Rumba. I expected struggle through awkwardness of the dance I‘ve never done before, but instead, surrounded by a bright light and at least six couples practicing dancing, I found out how I wanted to spend the rest of my life: feeling his hand on the left side of my back, his warm hand against my right hand, my left hand just below his shoulder, his body moving my body so gently and so persistent in the direction he wanted me to go. It was not what I was signing for when I decided to take private lessons, but here it was, I was deeply enjoying simple physical contact with a strange man. It was not cheating, was totally legal, and was witnessed by many who didn’t seem to care. The first lesson lasted only 30 minutes, he stopped often to explain feet position and rhythm, and at some point asked me to hold his ribs and hips so I can feel his body in that Rumba motion. On the way home I turned the radio way up and sang along to anything that was on. I also kept bringing my left hand to my nose – it smelled like his cologne. I had few questions circulating on the back of my mind, but I didn’t let them to surface - I fell in love and was willing to fool myself for as long as I could.

During the next two weeks, I bought a pair of dance shoes, watched numerous videos of Rumba, and went to four more lessons. The questions kept popping up and slowly I created a list of them that went something like that: does he feel the same? Does he remember my name or has to check his appointment book before each lesson? Why did I react in this way? How did I get to be so lonely?

Then, after the fifth lesson, he told me he was transferring me to a new teacher because I was no longer a beginner and deserved a more advanced teacher. Ok, I said, whatever. I didn’t really know what to say. “You should come to the party at the studio tomorrow”, he said. Ok, I said. So I did come to the party. I danced with few men, some good and some bad dancers, it was just OK. About an hour through the party, I saw him, standing on the opposite side of the dance floor taking to other teachers. It turned out they planned a short dancing demo with the teachers. I watched him dance; he was actually not such a great dancer comparing to others. His dance partner was a short woman, so he was leaning forward a lot. I turned away and watched other pairs. Soon after, I left.

Next week I am starting lessons with my new teacher. Maybe it will bring me back to the state of mind I was in before – wanting to dance solely for the love of dance and not the other way around, but I know dancing will never be the same for me.

jojo13 · Joined: 22 Feb 2008 Posts: 3

the passion of dance :-D thanks for sharing!! :-D

primaballerina175 · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 589 Location: On stage.

Dance is basically like a big love story. Though it depends on how you look at it. Thanks for sharing. :D
Welcome to Dance Forums too.

Dancer_K · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 2

... I realize now it was a wrong forum to post things like that... You are all just kids... 14.... 16...20 years old, just like my own kids. Ha-ha! :lol: just forget it! I'm sure your mom doesn't dance the same way I do! :wink:

santafejoe · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:56 am Post subject:

Hi Dancer K Welcome to Dance Forums. Just wanted to tell you your story ( Post ) was Beatiful i really enjoyed it.

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Thank you for sharing Dancer_K! :D I'm not a kid btw... ;)

sunshine · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 106 Location: dance room

We're not kids, we're dancers. :) dancers should have their own terms of communication and not be classified after their age.. P.S. Most of us have experienced similar situations, i'm sure..

primaballerina175 · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 589 Location: On stage.

I agree entirley