Every so often, I believe each one of us has a particularly wonderful night on a dance floor punctuated by something very encouraging and memorable. This past Sat (4/5) was one such time for me, and with this thread, I encourage y'all to share yours.

The best part was getting to dance with this one woman about half the night. She had a very unique style and approach. Keep in mind, this is in the framework of an EC Swing event, complete with smoking live big band. Essentially, this wonderful woman combined EC Swing, Jazz dance and Improvisational dance in a manner truly her own, and she was such a JOY to lead and really put her personality into her dancing full-tilt . At times, she reminded me of a cat. She was amazing in that she got me to pull things out of the hat I didn't even know I could do. Not only that, she was just such great fun to hangout and talk with. I watched her dance with others in the room too, and she really bought out some wonderful things in each dancer, really encouraging them to "get out of the box-step" and let go! I'm sure we raised a couple eyebrows among the more conservative dancers there (all 4 of them ), not that we cared. We got lots of compliments from other people there.

I also got to dance with the woman who taught the beginner's swing lesson at the beginning of the night (she had a very unique approach too, using some basic principles of drumming as part of the lesson), one Christine Nunziato (who I think also competes), and despite her knowing far more than I, she really made it a joy to lead and be creative with her too. She had lots of compliments for me too, and asked me if I did other types of ballroom too. That's really special to me, when someone WAAAAYYYYYY above your level compliments you and points out what you do right.

Needless to say, this Owl went home flying!

Anyone care to share their stories?


Hoo Hooooo Hoo Hoooooooo

[This message was edited by Administrator on 05-18-03 at 12:21 PM.]

Samantha, the young ladies name was Samantha.

It was just after I moved to California, I had only been doing Lindy Hop for a few months, but I had been doing swing for about a year and a half. I didn't think I was good, but I was fairly experienced, and confident enough to ask people to dance.

Except for Samantha. She was (she still is, I assume) a gorgeous blond twenty something with a dancers body, and incredible dance moves.

It took me two weeks of dance parties to work up the courage to ask her to dance, but she said yes right away. It was incredible, so responded to everything I did and we made great eye contact.

She wasn't flirting with me. I was ten years older, and not nearly as much of a dancer as she was. But she smiled at me, and used her eyes in ways that made all the difference.

I told her that she had very flirty eyes, and what happened next has been indelibly bonded to my dancing psyche. She grinned, and said, "Well, we can't have that, now can we?"

Then she closed her eyes and continued to dance. I did everything that I knew how to do, and she was always _right there_. Free spins, tuck turns, waist slides. I can't remember what we did, but I can remember that she made me feel incredible.

Samantha is a dance goddess.

=====

She left that scene for six or eight months, and when she returned we danced again. She had been away from dance (a new job in a far-away place, I think), whereas I had been taking lessons 2-3 times a week, and social dancing every weekend. We talked after one of those dances and she complimented me on how great I was.

Have you ever had a dance goddess tell you that you are great?

I didn't tell her that I thought she was a dance goddess, but I remember how wonderful she made me feel by dancing with her eyes closed, and I try to share that joy with all of my partners.

Hmm, I'd have to say that my responses fall into two categories—reactions and feelings.

Reactions:
Saturday night I danced with someone new (as is someone I hadn't met &/or danced with before) and reaction at the end of the song was “like butter.” Given that I have prioritized being smooth and leading smoothly, this was music to my ears. In the same vein, I appreciate all of the comments about how smooth I look dancing with “X”, and all the inquiries of if I'm an instructor. The comments that I look like I'm really having fun and enjoying myself are always nice too. Maybe the best compliment I have ever received, however, (in any context) came about a month ago, when someone showed up to one of the clubs early. Knowing that I love the ½ hour of music before a lesson—when I don't have to worry about others on the floor—she came to get 3 dances before driving up to LA for the weekend. Rather then just get on the road sooner (to go spend the weekend with her fiancé at that!), she postponed driving up for three dances with me…that has got to be about as flattering as it gets!

Feelings:
This one is hard to put into words…by definition.

The disappointment of my first comp when my results with “A” fell far, far short of what I had anticipated.

The elation, also at my first comp, of winning a dance with “E” when we didn't even think we'd advance one round!

Competing with “J”, one year to the day from our first comp together, in front of our home crowd, and absolutely dominating the day.

The feeling of attacking our cha the last time “J” and I competed…we knew it was the comp we were going out with, and we knew that the other couple on the floor were not competition for us…so we weren't dancing to win, we were just dancing to dance, together, for the last time (albeit I don't actually know if these were/are exactly her feelings, but that's what it felt/feels like to me). That was (and is) very bittersweet to me…but defiantly one of the most memorable.

Coming to “J” in rotation, learning a group routine, and have just an instant of “perfect” connection…its only happened to me twice, both times with “J” and after we had stopped competing…but those two instants linger in my mind and my soul as among the most sublime and transcendent of my life…just those brief instants but total awareness, sensitivity, and reactivity between us…my G-d…

This is a great topic! I Like to find a moment like this at every dance, even if it is just a brief one One of our best moments so far came just a few weeks ago when we went to our first live big band dance. I had on a FABulous new dress (full length and very appropriate to the scene) and (if I do say so myself) looked great. We danced a quickstep to some great old big band tune and just flew around the floor. It didn't even matter that we only know the basic and a corner move It was great. *sigh*

tourist

I'd have to say the most memorable experience occurred at a Friday night dance party at the studio. My instructor and I were performing a waltz routine and out of the corner of my eye I could see she was looking at me with those soft blue eyes and smiling like there was no tomorrow. With that kind of encouragement there was nothing I could do wrong even though we had only spent an hour preparing for it.