Not even slightly nervous.
My predominant feeling is one of accomplishment. I set out to learn dance as my self-improvement goal this year and I'm nailing it. In eight weeks I went from knowing nothing to participating in a local tournament, losing fifteen pounds and adding tone and muscle up top. I explored a new world.
And not done yet. It's on to Vegas in six weeks.
Jacqueline and I arrived together at 9am. My nine-year-old daughter Willow came along. The place was crowded with a line almost out the door. There were a lot of last minute entries, which is great news for the studio, but put everything an hour behind schedule. All told perhaps eighty souls in the building, all done up in outfits and practicing here and there.
Jacqueline had her make-up already done and I could see the stress lines of concern behind her eyes. It is important to her to do well, and make a good showing. She has character like that. Willow found herself a perch in the back row of the risers and used that as her base of operations for the next twelve hours.
We found our Master Samantha in the back room. She was stock still on a stool (like that alliteration? Well it's not over) looking straight ahead with another woman smoothing out her hair. She told us where to get dressed and put our things. We created a small encampment in a side room.
Martin handed me my Latin shirt. With some trepidation I went and put it on. I almost didn't get it over my broad viking shoulders. Let me tell you that shirt was most unflattering it really highlighted my love handles. I am now even more determined to melt off the last of my dad bod. Fifteen pounds down, fifteen to go.
During a morning lull in the dance line-up I was ever so tempted to get on the floor and ham it up, or address the crowd. But I remembered my promise to Samantha to "bring glory to the dojo" and keep shenanigans to myself. Same for Willow. She really wanted to get out on to that empty floor and dance her heart out. That's the Gately motto: What I lack in skill, I make up for in enthusiasm.
We practiced a few last times, enjoyed the early parts of the contest with the high level dancers, and finally we were on stage. I danced rumba and cha cha (american) eight times each split between two partners, a forty minute whirlwind of going on and off the dance floor. I felt confident and it was easy to smile. There were only a few times that I forgot my lines, so to speak, but just fell back on the basics until I could find my place again.
Then a break for lunch. I peeled off that super-slutty latin shirt (it had attached shorts that were really plastered to my crack).
I got to talk at length to Mark McComber a high level student who made a fine showing with Casey his accomplished partner. Watching those two dance is food for the soul. He is easily six foot five inches and performed a series of stunning lifts. I aspire to that.
After lunch I changed into my black and slimming waltz (aka smooth) outfit with a blue tie to match my companion's dress. A charming British woman (Aisha) helped me on with my suspenders and as she was commenting about how her shoe buckle and hair clip had flown apart during her routine in gremlinesque fashion, my suspender buckle busted open. After a momentary laugh "I'm such a calamity Jane" we got it all put together.
By this time Jacqueline was clearly feeling her naturally cheery self again, having overcome the main stage of the event. At lunch I got to hear the story of Christian, one of the local instructors about how he got into it. Everyone has a story, how they started to dance. Jacqueline and I are both people watchers, and we had many fine asides on our observations of this world. We note that people are very supportive and accepting. All of the established athletes there were so very encouraging and complimentary. There is a really good feeling in the room.
About half of the people left, the younger dancers and their parents. Willow was in a fine mood and added her spirit to our table's atmosphere. She is loved wherever she goes. Since lunch was late I rounded up a fistful of peanut candies for her. I met Samantha's husband (Matt) and we chatted a bit about D&D.
Willow and I had a chance to take to the floor during intermission and just dance around freestyle. We had a moment of father-daughter bliss, both smiling with the fun of it.
Next up were the smooth dances, and for me eight waltzes each about a minute. This was the last dance I learned, and with only two weeks under my belt I think we made the moves admirably. And just like that it was over. I put on my street clothes and we lined up for dinner. With the lights dimmed and hearts warmed with food and wine, it was as if we were all wrapped in the cloak of night, like perhaps the ancients felt in their forest home around the fires. Chatting lazily as we "filled in the corners" like hobbits of the shire. Martin is a fine host as he breathes life into sociality like the pulsing of a human heart.
Normally, at a dinner there might be a few brave souls taking to the dance floor, maybe one old couple doing a simple swing, but not so here! Almost everyone is on the dance floor with only a few odd people still seated. Jacqueline and I didn't know enough to freestyle it so we just did a slower and smaller version of our cha cha routine and that seemed natural. For me that was a magic moment, to be spinning around with skill and harmony with the others of the tribe.
After dinner and dancing, there was a succession of highly skilled pairs doing complex routines for show. It was breathtaking. My soul was full. At long last the night drew the curtains and took a bow and we loaded up and went home.
My predominant feeling is one of accomplishment. I set out to learn dance as my self-improvement goal this year and I'm nailing it. In eight weeks I went from knowing nothing to participating in a local tournament, losing fifteen pounds and adding tone and muscle up top. I explored a new world.
And not done yet. It's on to Vegas in six weeks.
Samantha (instructor, left) and Jacqueline (partner, right)
Jacqueline had her make-up already done and I could see the stress lines of concern behind her eyes. It is important to her to do well, and make a good showing. She has character like that. Willow found herself a perch in the back row of the risers and used that as her base of operations for the next twelve hours.
We found our Master Samantha in the back room. She was stock still on a stool (like that alliteration? Well it's not over) looking straight ahead with another woman smoothing out her hair. She told us where to get dressed and put our things. We created a small encampment in a side room.
Aisha and Martin
Martin handed me my Latin shirt. With some trepidation I went and put it on. I almost didn't get it over my broad viking shoulders. Let me tell you that shirt was most unflattering it really highlighted my love handles. I am now even more determined to melt off the last of my dad bod. Fifteen pounds down, fifteen to go.
During a morning lull in the dance line-up I was ever so tempted to get on the floor and ham it up, or address the crowd. But I remembered my promise to Samantha to "bring glory to the dojo" and keep shenanigans to myself. Same for Willow. She really wanted to get out on to that empty floor and dance her heart out. That's the Gately motto: What I lack in skill, I make up for in enthusiasm.
We practiced a few last times, enjoyed the early parts of the contest with the high level dancers, and finally we were on stage. I danced rumba and cha cha (american) eight times each split between two partners, a forty minute whirlwind of going on and off the dance floor. I felt confident and it was easy to smile. There were only a few times that I forgot my lines, so to speak, but just fell back on the basics until I could find my place again.
Mark and Casey
Then a break for lunch. I peeled off that super-slutty latin shirt (it had attached shorts that were really plastered to my crack).
I got to talk at length to Mark McComber a high level student who made a fine showing with Casey his accomplished partner. Watching those two dance is food for the soul. He is easily six foot five inches and performed a series of stunning lifts. I aspire to that.
After lunch I changed into my black and slimming waltz (aka smooth) outfit with a blue tie to match my companion's dress. A charming British woman (Aisha) helped me on with my suspenders and as she was commenting about how her shoe buckle and hair clip had flown apart during her routine in gremlinesque fashion, my suspender buckle busted open. After a momentary laugh "I'm such a calamity Jane" we got it all put together.
By this time Jacqueline was clearly feeling her naturally cheery self again, having overcome the main stage of the event. At lunch I got to hear the story of Christian, one of the local instructors about how he got into it. Everyone has a story, how they started to dance. Jacqueline and I are both people watchers, and we had many fine asides on our observations of this world. We note that people are very supportive and accepting. All of the established athletes there were so very encouraging and complimentary. There is a really good feeling in the room.
Willow Gately
Willow and I had a chance to take to the floor during intermission and just dance around freestyle. We had a moment of father-daughter bliss, both smiling with the fun of it.
Next up were the smooth dances, and for me eight waltzes each about a minute. This was the last dance I learned, and with only two weeks under my belt I think we made the moves admirably. And just like that it was over. I put on my street clothes and we lined up for dinner. With the lights dimmed and hearts warmed with food and wine, it was as if we were all wrapped in the cloak of night, like perhaps the ancients felt in their forest home around the fires. Chatting lazily as we "filled in the corners" like hobbits of the shire. Martin is a fine host as he breathes life into sociality like the pulsing of a human heart.
Normally, at a dinner there might be a few brave souls taking to the dance floor, maybe one old couple doing a simple swing, but not so here! Almost everyone is on the dance floor with only a few odd people still seated. Jacqueline and I didn't know enough to freestyle it so we just did a slower and smaller version of our cha cha routine and that seemed natural. For me that was a magic moment, to be spinning around with skill and harmony with the others of the tribe.
After dinner and dancing, there was a succession of highly skilled pairs doing complex routines for show. It was breathtaking. My soul was full. At long last the night drew the curtains and took a bow and we loaded up and went home.
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