I Like to Move It

I don’t think I mentioned this before but the studio has started doing student demonstrations at the weekly parties. Many are wedding couples getting an opportunity to demonstrate their upcoming dance in front of a crowd for the first time. Others are people getting ready for an event and wanting to show off what they’ve been working on. Sometimes it is people who aren’t going to an event but still want to show what they’ve learned.

I never really gave it much thought until PJ asked if I wanted to do one. Would I turn down a chance to dance in front of an audience? Of course not. And she knew that. Plus I think it functions as a plug for the studio. I’ve never been known for my athletic prowess but I can dance and it kind of gives people an idea of what is possible. (At least that’s what they tell me)

So a couple of weeks ago, we did our Cha-Cha grouping. Last night, one of the instructors came over to me on our lesson because she wanted to tell me about one of her couples who saw our Cha-Cha. I guess the guy made comments about wanting to dance like that. I was apparently moving all over the floor (true) and “looking cool” (maybe??).

I will say that the Cha-Cha lends itself to arm styling easier than some of the other dances. We have a couple of places where we I’m coming after her and we can rotate our bodies a bit and then it is just natural for me to have my trailing arm out so we probably make a nice line. I suppose I should say it is natural now because it takes time to get over the whole “does this arm thing make me look silly” phase.

I know I keep bringing this up but I would never have imagined that people would enjoy watching me dance when all this started so many years ago. I do remember seeing a particularly advanced couple when we first started and being a bit blown away. It is just hard for me at times to accept that people like what I do. Those type of compliments do feel good but it also can be a bit embarrassing cause there are just times I don’t want to be on that pedestal.

Except when I’m actually dancing. Then it doesn’t matter if all eyes are on me. Like I’ve said before, it is like some switch gets flicked in my head and I’m not the person who tends to shun the spotlight. Dancing has very much changed my perceptions of who I am. No, it hasn’t made me any more likely to seek attention in normal life. But it gives me that outlet for something I never really knew I needed.