Hyperreal

Back on Saturday there, it was the monthly Glasgow party.

It had the promise of being a really good night, and it didn’t disappoint…

There were a few things special about the night, including the appearance of an ogress (even with the make-up, etc., she still looked gorgeous) and a visit from a couple of London forumettes - Tessalicious and her mum, Daydreaming Diva. There were also a few mad folks who’d come down from far-off parts of Scotland to be there, but we already knew they were nuts.

I got there at my usual a-touch-too-late-for-the-class time. We had both the upstairs rooms at the GUU this month – with the debates chamber having a brand new floor. What was alarming was just how tacky this new floor was – it was as if the varnish hadn’t dried properly and if you stood in the same place long enough you’d stick. It was a touch worrying, and it took the first few dances to get used to it. I managed to find a small space on the floor though that didn’t seem so bad, and got some good dances in.

It was pretty busy – despite the absence of the Dundee folks and a few other regulars, the numbers were good. Time moved quickly and soon the latin and blues room was open, and things evened out so neither was too busy, or too empty. Compared to the typical crowd in the blues room when it first started 4 or 5 months ago, there’s a lot more folks frequenting it – especially amongst the locals.

Here’s a room though, whose floor could do with a little bit of care and attention. It’s a bit patchy, though I guess for slower dancing it isn’t such an issue…

I had some really terrific dances in there with some really fab dancers. I continue to be astounded by how much my dancing varies depending on my partner. With some dancers something clicks, and I am inspired and my dancing becomes more improvisational, and experimental. I can then take some of this feeling and use it to dance with other dancers with whom the inspiration isn’t as strong. (There are still dancers (of varying ability) with whom I find it hard to dance with in an inspired way. Maybe one day…)

Meanwhile, back in the main room, the tackiness of the floor where it had been danced on was going, and instead we had a bit of a staking rink in its place. I’ve never seen a floor go from so slow to so fast in so little time. Some people put the change down to talc that people had used on their shoes, but I’ve seen the effect that talc can have on a slow floor and it wasn’t this dramatic.

Even with the ultra-fast floor, I split my time between the rooms, maybe having one or dances in each room before switching around…

The music in both rooms was rather good. I can only recall maybe one or two tunes I might have chosen not to dance to, but there was nothing bad enough to make me want to run out the room. Trying to remember particular songs that stood out for me. The Tango De Roxanne was pretty cool, there was a latin-ish tune also that I really like that I must some day find out what it’s called. (Just now I can’t remember how it goes at all.)

At the end of the night after having the last dance in the latin & blues room, being able to then pop across the landing and having the last dance there was pretty cool.

Afterwards a load of us were for something to eat in town, so I guess it was about 4 by the time I got home and to my bed.

Just as promised, I’d had a really good night.

Thanks to all those involved. Hope you had a good night too.