Always fun

I'd like a poll of dancers at the Conservatory last night - Did I seem edgy?
The evening moved faster than usual. Plus we ran out of food.
Jay, the guy from the Vineyard, has been studying. I did more Viennese than ever before. My teacher only covers left and right turns. He used whisks, hesitations, a point step, a Very Quick turn, and something else that I didn't recognize but kept going anyway.

Another place - Rhodes

In August, we went to the Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet ballroom in Cranston, RI, the most beautiful ballroom I know, though sometimes hard to find, for the Cavalcade of Bands, and the Providence Federation of Musicians is having another one Tuesday October 26.
It was crowded with social dancers, and a few ballroom dancers were there, too. For $10 advance tickets, it's a bargain - 5:30 to 11 PM.
Inspiring - a battle of the bands is a good idea.

Gormless

Never heard this word before - means stupid in Brit-speak, from the old Norse 'gaurm' for attention. "That TV show features a bunch of gormless twits."
I never heard of 'ceiling eyes' before either - denoting the tendency to stare off vacantly, sometimes at the ceiling, similarly showing lack of attention. Our 'star', Audrina Pattridge is a prime example, as I read in the DWTS review. There was that clip of her pro, Tony, asking her what was going on and her reply that she just needs to focus. There are rumors it is a medical condition, also affecting Paris Hilton for whom the word was coined. Not an endearing trait, but perhaps forgivable in a dancer.

3 in a row

Another successful evening!
Our studio party did very well with high praise for the lesson and time to visit with old friends and new.
The number of people at the lesson was perfect, and they all could already dance, so they appreciated a nice new step put into a combination.
A "utility step", Ron called it, useful in all the "Latin Motif" dances, so I played the other rhythms for people to work it out. It seemed more like practice time than the dance atmosphere I get at the Conservatory.
Ron stayed to dance with the students, which was just plain nice.

Cuban Revolution Restaurant and Bar

The Providence venue was featuring my son's percussion teacher, the Dominican Jesus Andujar and his band, and I had the first Saturday of the month off, so I packed us up for a visit to the always fascinating granddaughter and her parents. After dinner, we went to 60 Valley Street with printed directions - do not visit Providence without a map and or directions, certainly not with a GPS.
We found the converted warehouse space with the band in full swing (not 2 hours late as some Latin bands are). Terrific keyboard, a drummer in addition to Jesus with five congas, and a flautist who took up shakere, guiro and clave at times. They riffed on "Toma Chocolate" before the break. Afterwards, Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" slid briefly into "On Broadway" for fun.
The food was cheap and varied though a bit dull in the spice department, as our son had said. We shared a sandwich in order to keep the alcohol under control, and to try it out. I got a flan to go because I felt sorry for the waiter - too quiet for a Saturday night. Their downtown location gets the crowds.
Joe pointed out to me that there were three attractive women sitting alone, which is unusual. He still surprises me when he notices stuff like that - typical guy, but mostly they wouldn't tell their wives.

JazzFest Falmouth

Torrential rains in the afternoon tapering off in the evening kept attendance at Falmouth's JazzFest Stroll minimal.
I stayed with Livio Freitas in Puritan throughout except when he took breaks. Mwalim was not at Eight Cousins because his basement flooded. I'd have bought something there.
Next door, the Inkwell bookstore is gone leaving an empty space with a dance floor in front, only a couple of offset pillars. We should have a benefit dance there if the landlord would donate the space for an evening. A trio of teen jazz musicians were there - not danceable.
Then it was onward to Grumpy's where George Gritzbach was part of the JazzFest. The beleaguered town manager was there with a young girlfriend, living it up. I like his ex-wife. An independent candidate for Delahunt's seat was campaigning, but we just danced until the floor got too crowded.
Tonight we will check out a Salsa band in Providence. The leader teaches at the Conservatory. I wish Jon Baptiste best of luck in the recital hall, and we'll be there next week.

Sell out

A new initiative brings people in, so we sold out Ron's lesson followed by dance at the Cape Cod Dance Center.
It remains to be seen if it works monthly.