continuing with Florida

Saturday, I wasn't so frazzled, and our dance evening was another new place ,Plaza, with high ceilings, nice lighting and good music - this one an hour away, but Joe made some calls and we went with another couple.
We'd missed the Viennese Waltz lesson which only pulled in two couples. The place filled up only a third - makes you wonder if they'll make it - so no mixer, but Joe spotted a guy who needed to be asked to dance, and sent me over.
Joe, in his persona as dance host had asked a lady who refused him, saying she was there with her husband. This fellow tried her as well, and thereby had the wind taken out of his sails. He asked me if I had noticed his unhappiness, and I had to admit my husband was his helper.

Jensen Beach, Florida

For anyone who missed the news, I am in Florida with my husband who is in love with this by-water on the east coast of our semi-tropical state. Here on the Indian River, I can watch the sunrise from behind the barrier island.
Joe goes to play tennis for the morning. "Bye, honey!"
In the afternoon, he windsurfs, except the wind has not been cooperating, so we bike to the beach and swim in waves.
Evenings, there are a selection of dance places, and we went to two Friday night after I arrived.
South Florida Swing Dance re-opened as "Save the First Dance". Still a nice easygoing space, but only two weeks in with amateurs who took it over as a dream. The old crowd supports them, but they will need new people too. $10 admission and the music is pretty good, as was the homemade banana cake.
On Route 1, down from Home Depot, Target, BJs, Wendy's, Lowes etc., Joe calls another new place the Wine Bar, where a former dance teacher set up a lovely floor with tables, high mirrors (not teaching mirrors), a white piano, a Quebecois waitress, and his choice of good dance music. He told Joe he's not in the dance business any more - he's in the liquor business. Two drink minimum $5 each for beer or wine, or water.
I was exhausted!!

Beginner West Coast

For the Intermediate class.
I was afraid they wouldn't be ready - they'd hate it - they couldn't get it!
But Wednesdays at 8 PM has enough talent to make it happen after only 2 classes.
My teaching also might have improved since the night school class where they all quit!

Next blog will be from Florida, if I can make the system work there.
I'm back in town for the First Saturday, April 2.

Season 12 DWTS

Did you notice, it took me three days to discuss this? I did watch every minute. Not every second because when you run a VCR, the tape takes a bit of time to slow down.
My finalist choices based on the first episode: Ralph (Karate Kid) and Karina, Kirstie and Maks, Hines and Kym, all three with a fan base, talent and the ability to work.
Chelsea Kane (who?) and Mark, Romeo (Mr. P's son) and Chelsie, Sugar Ray (age 54, younger than me) and Anna should all stick around and provide some competition.
Boy, did I expect more out of the WWE guy Chris. Cheryl usually gets them going...
Another model - Petra with Dmitry.
Kendra (stripper) had such weak legs, I felt sorry for Louis.
Wendy didn't look as weak as she danced. C'mon,Tony.
Mike was at least funny so I might vote for him next week even though Lacey has the worst hair ever.

Connection

Dance Teachers Club of Boston brought in David Rozinski today for an enjoyable lesson on styling - the head and arms. Common sense seems to be coming in for the International Ballroom community, so natural movement is being allowed. David Rozinski runs a great competition in Springfield, so he has to be up on the latest rules and how the old ones get changed.
My favorite hint was an improved hand position for the lady's right and the man's left, one that allows for improved connection.

This Winter's Quilts: Denim & Waves

Sundays in the Studio with Ron

Bolero is the subject chosen for the latest set of Ballroom lessons with Ron Gursky. I liked the idea of the rise and fall styling and the larger movements being applied to the Latin style. 5 PM on March 20 and 27, and April 3. Usual pricing applies for Ron's classes at the Cape Cod Dance Center.

At my mother's house

9 boxes. Newspapers get recycled (even if it's a clipped article on Willy Brandt, German Chancellor in 1980s) along with charity requests and notes to herself (4 boxes). Magazines get saved (2 boxes). Catalogs and pretty pictures went to the high school art teacher (2 boxes). Personal memorabilia is saved (1 box).
1 local art review magazine from 2005 with a great cover picture of a dancer who does a type of movement with roots in Laban's work, Gyrokinesis, developed by a Hungarian in the 80s. The description sounds like what I love, stretching and understanding the body from within. A "Pulley Tower Unit" seems similar to the "Reformer". Gotta try it.

Fun

We agreed it was fun. Ron Gursky presented an easy step with plenty of technique attached: rise and fall contributing to brush along with navigating the floor, left side lead, and a proper promenade - very satisfying. Then we danced with favorite friends and some new people, too.
Next week a ballroom class for Bolero after the Argentine Tango classes, beginner (new) and intermediate.

A poetic appreciation of dance

"The poem fails when it strays too far from the song, and the song fails when it strays too far from the dance." (cited by Jimmy Dale Gilmore on "Fresh Air")

"Music begins to atrophy when it departs too far from the dance... poetry begins to atrophy when it gets too far from music."
Ezra Pound on www.brainyquote.com/

Shall I tell Jimmy Dale Gilmore?

Line Dances

Tuesdays I see my lovely Sloane who will be three in June. She likes the Bunny Hop, not the Twist (that follows on my iPod "Children's Music").
I found notes for a few more steps than just the "Hop, Hop, Hop!" not too complicated, and phrased nicely.
The Chicken Dance, a polka, can also do more than just flap the "wings".
The Alley Cat words aren't great for a kid, and the dance doesn't imitate a cat, so I guess we'll skip that one.
My education on kids' dances.

Mardi Gras?

Call it a New Year's Resolution, a bit late!
Connecting into the social network to manage events, AND connecting the events to the calendar events of society at large - like Mardi Gras that I could have at least decorated for! Green, purple and gold.
My guest for the party, Tiny Catrambole, thought of St. Patrick's Day, which is also good. She brought green meringue cookies.

Head Flicks

Christine Harvey presented an interesting step from the International style, adapted for American by a nod to the 8 count finish. Unfortunately, by my count, there were 18 counts which doesn't actually divide evenly. I spent the ride home trying to work out another set of steps that would lead in and divide evenly. Or we could abandon the 8 count tyranny.
The best part of the lesson was her description of the frame necessary for the step to work.
No one had told anyone but me to use a left shoulder lead, much less explained its uses, so that fell on deaf ears, though I will quote her and try to get it across in a group class.
Private lessons are the place where body work like that can take hold.

Learning how the brain works

The Body Odd - Can't dance? Brain chemical throws off your groove
http://bodyodd.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/03/02/6172473-cant-dance-brain-chemical-throws-off-your-groove/from/toolbar

Teen Center

The Foreign Languages Dinner was at the Rec Center last night, so I showed up, opening with a merengue in French - "Dansez! Dansez! C'est bon por le moral."
Mostly merengue in Spanish - "La Makina". They were silly, but happy to dance, and I think I communicated the idea of a dance connection through a good frame.
School night, over early.

DWTS #12

To quote Annie Barret, "Even though this stable of extra-fringed My Little Ponies has less star power than we’ve seen in some other seasons, I’m pretty much cool with anyone at this point. My DWTS enjoyment is never really dependent on the Stars, anyway. For me, it’s about the things that will never ever change: our fearless hosts Tom and Boobs, the crazy set, Bruno’s salacious verbal warfare, inexplicable song choices, assorted sparkly ridiculata, and — of course — Our Pros."