Hyperreal

Hi!

It’s that time again!

Hands up who’s been on the edge of their seats waiting for the next installment? :clap: It’s almost as gripping as “Desperate Housewives”! (And don’t worry, I caught tonight’s episode at the weekend on E4! )

So that was class number 5. Before I go any further, I’ve gotta say I’m really tired, c.f. the thread on insomnia.

So, on with the class - and the first problem… finding it! They had changed to a different room upstairs. Apparently this was the regular venue up until just before I started, so it’s just as well I found some other lost, but smart people. I worry that others may just have turned and left.

It’s good that I’m getting to know a few people there. It makes a big difference. Easier to relax when you can chat with someone rather than just sitting there on your own, with a dazed look on your face. :?

So, the moves!

1) Arm-jive swizzle. Pretty straight-forward. I’m not 100% up with the arm-jive itself, but the swizzle bit is cool.

2) Octopus. My big difficulty is remembering I’m going left this time!!! My lead going into the bit when I turn must be really awful as I always remember too late what I’m supposed to be doing! Otherwise, no bother.

3) Side-to-side something. The something part is where I “chuck” the girl across me into a spin and catch her on the way out. Switched to right-right hand hold at this point - took me a while to sort that out too! Can someone tell me what the “something” is called? I quite like this move. (found out it’s “let go!”)

4) Hatchback. Again, fairly easy. Biggest problem I had was with a lady who didn’t want to let go of my hand and didn’t want to spin. I guess this is just really a variation on a yo-yo. On the return, both hands to go back into the arm-jive…

For maybe the first time I really felt “experienced” compared to some of the other beginners. In fact, I’ve begun to notice that even some of the “intermediate” dancers could do with a few more beginner’s revisions and maybe a workshop.

It’s a good feeling! I must be getting better. One girl (I can’t remember if she was a first-timer or not) complimented me on my confidence. I can’t remember my reaction - I hope it was a smile and a thank-you (c.f. the thread on compliments.) Another said “this isn’t your first time, is it?” I felt good.

So I danced almost all the way through the first freestyle session, pausing only for gulps of water. I tried to stick just to the moves we’d learnt in the class (as I had last week, in case I didn’t say?) and that went fairly well, maybe because I was only dancing with other people who had just done the class too.

My biggest stumbling block was the octopus. Which way am I going now?!?! Everything else was pretty much OK, though sometimes I forgot what I was meant to do next… :?

Fortunately, almost all the partners I had all through the night were excellent back-leaders.

It can really put you off someone. OK, I probably don’t have the best lead in the world, and sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’d rather mess up and get a puzzled look from my partner than be led into the next move.

Maybe it’s not so bad when you’re not doing set moves and so the girl won’t know what I’m supposed to be doing, but even when I’m doing things right, too many people wanted to try and put my hands in different places from where I wanted them to go.

So, onto the beginner’s revision class. Again, I felt a little like I didn’t really need to be there, but I reckon it’s good for technique, even if I don’t have so much of a problem with the moves. I was saying this to my favourite taxi dancer and although we didn’t get to finish the conversation, I think she was about to tell me that people who move up too fast end up being knowledgeable, but poor dancers. Or something like that. I’m not going to rush things anyway.

After the revision class I went back to the hall and watched the freestyle for a bit. I noticed a few guys doing dips and drops with inexperienced girls in a confined space - much frowned about around here. No sleazy behaviour to report.

I left without dancing. I just wasn’t in the mood. “Tired and emotional” - and I had only been on the water all night.

Interestingly, on the way out of the GUU, there was some filming going on, with lots of lights and people and stuff. I wonder what they were making… :?

Anyway, I’m going to the Edinburgh beginners’ workshop on Saturday. Should be fun!

I’m also maybe going to go to the Edinb’ monthly party that night. Not sure yet. I’ll probably be beat after the workshop, but I might go for a couple of hours.

If I do go, and I do stay, is there anyone from Glasgow who can offer me a lift home? Send me a private message, or google for me and find my email address.

And that’s all I have to say! Hands up who’s still reading? :clap: I know I tend to just skim these long posts. But no, not yours! :halo:

Cheers guys, I’ll see you back here on Saturday or Sunday for a report of the workshop.

Stay cool. :hug: