DANCING

Do we ever really learn to dance the right way? At least the right way according to the dance instructor? This our second attempt at ballroom dance lessons in the past two years, and even though some moves are familiar, will we really remember them when we are out on the dance floor with 50 other people in a fury of thrashing feet, arms and hips? It all seems to go well as we practice a new move without music and people dancing beside us, but then...

Our ballroom dance class is two hours a week for eight weeks. We are learning the Foxtrot, Hustle, Cha Cha Cha, Rhumba, East Coast Swing, Tango(our favorite so far), Waltz (our next favorite), West Coast Swing, Samba, and even the Polka.

We did notice some muscle pain after the first few classes, but now I think we have limbered up a little. Our bodies are getting used to twisting in unusual ways, flinging our heads around at odd angles, and even flexing our knees while standing beside each other in parallel position, ready to cha cha.

We are learning to count to the beat of the music, although Latin seems to be the hardest to recognize. Maybe because of our European descent? However, we did notice that our dark-haired classmate, Roberto, had no problem with that beat.

Our dance instructors are very positive, and encouraging. They never seem to show even the least bit of dismay as we step on each others toes, or blame one another for making the wrong move at the wrong time! They patiently demonstrate the move again for us, and sometimes a lightbulb does go off in one of our heads, or we have the aha moment that indicates we might just remember or understand what we are doing next time around the dance floor.

We are struggling, but determined. We have attended one real dance since we began our instruction, and actually had the courage to get up on the dance floor and struggle through a Foxtrot, and a Cha Cha Cha. As the night wore on, we even remembered a few steps from the Texas Two Step, a dance that we learned long ago. As the last song of the evening was played, we threw all caution to the wind and proudly did that Two Step around the dance floor to the pounding tune of a Latin Salsa! Adios for now amigos, wish us luck!