Hyperreal

JJ’s tonight. And what a fab night it was?!

Couple of things marked it out as unusual – in that it was different from recent times…

First, the attendance was way up on the last few weeks, back to the typical numbers.

Second, I was there for the beginner’s class!

For various reasons – work in particular – it hasn’t been so easy for me to get to the beginner’s class, but I made an effort tonight and, you know what? I think it was worth it!

The beginners class is always fun – there are occasional challenges, but you get to relax into the night…

It also means a full how-ever-long-it-is of the first freestyle of dancing – that meant at least four or five rather good dances more than I would otherwise get.

The intermediate class had a couple of themes… First leading between spins and linear motion, and secondly, the opportunity for girls to hijack spins and spin the guy instead…

The moves were first move barrier spin, wurlitzer, secret hijacked spin, shoulder drop into lock and wiggle. Quite liked the wiggle move – found it also works with a right-handed shoulder-drop which I do more often than the normal left-handed version.

During the class two notable things happened. I managed to cut the little finger of a girl with one of my fingernails (I was provoked!), and I gained a partner for the Musselburgh competition.

So glad I didn’t miss this class.

We had a couple of special visitors… First, a DJ lady from Dundee, visiting not to DJ, but to dance. Good to see her – I always enjoy our dances too.

Second, a wee Ceroc baby – daughter of one of JJ’s regular’s, couldn’t have been more than a week or so old. She’s been to JJ’s so many times though it must have been just like coming home. All the music and noise didn’t bother her one bit.

We also were visited by what appeared to be refugees from a ballroom dance class. There were three of four folks who when on the dance floor seemed to be doing a cha-cha, or rumba or similar…

I’m not sure if this is related or not, but I had quite a good dance with someone I hadn’t seen before. Later she came up to me and explained that she’s been doing latin classes for the past two years, before which she did Ceroc. She also told me I’d be a natural at latin dances and should come along to the class she goes to when it restarts at the end of August. I’ll give it some thought, but I don’t really think so… I’m working on WCS, I’m hoping to do Tango – I don’t think I’ll have the time, energy or mental capacity to do anything else. Not for a while anyhow…

Talking of mental capacity… Someone bashed me rather hard with their elbow on my jaw. I’m trying to remember who it was. Not one of my usual suspects… I’m wondering if it was the latin lady… The strange thing was that although it was quite a bash – it didn’t hurt at all. Didn’t even sting. Maybe I’m just getting used to being bashed about by my partners…

But what a great night I had! Excellent music, excellent partners, incredible atmosphere. I can’t remember a better regular night of dancing. I felt good about my dancing, I was truly in the zone.

Only bad thing I can think of was dancing with a girl who had the soggiest back ever. Like eww!

When I wasn’t dancing there were lots of nice folks to talk to – I even got the best back and shoulder massage EVER. Thought I’d died and gone to heaven.

The night was so good – and it went on late too! We’re now in official ceroc time until 11pm, at which point we get thrown out – but in a nice way…

The only downside to this is that by starting the night early at the beginner’s class I’m exhausted a good half hour before the end, and I’m running on adrenaline. What was it I read about the average age of the excessive male dancer? Oh yeah… thirty-one. Death must just be around the corner…

At least I’ll die happy!