Strictly ballroom
The music was fast, scandalous. The dance it spawned – when people listened, there was no way you could not help but move – was even more shocking.
As people who danced it looked for contact. Craved it.
Sounds a little like the punk movement, huh?
Try the 1800s – and the Viennese waltz.
Of course, the dance was way too hot for the rest of the world; but the music, you couldn’t help yourself. So the British added things. So did the Americans.
And that’s what I have begun to learn – the American waltz.
Think Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers.
It’s not as bad as you’d think.
I’ve got two weeks to learn the waltz and a swing routine. For a benefit dance on July 14 that will help youth in my community.
A Dancing with the Stars kinda thing.
I’m not half-bad.
When compared to the others.
“You’ve got this on your iPod,” one of the other dancers asked me about the waltz music we stumbled around to.
“Oh, filled.”
I have no dance experience, save for what I picked up at high school dances, concerts and a few mosh pits.
(The mosh pit thing delights the rest of the "celebrities" by the way; they wouldn't know the Angry Samoans from NOFX and I think I scare them with what I might be capable of.)
At least my partner is a Professional Dancer.
My goal when first approached was to just get by.
Now, I want to win.
I downloaded waltz music this morning; I practiced.
For a minute after dance practice Monday night, with ice on my knee, ice in a glass of vodka and a few ibuprophens onboard, I considered going the other route; drop acid right before the show. I’ve never dropped acid, so I maybe could go skitzo.
Probably not the best thing for youth to see.
So, I’ll dance.
The waltz. The swing.
And make the best of it.
As people who danced it looked for contact. Craved it.
Sounds a little like the punk movement, huh?
Try the 1800s – and the Viennese waltz.
Of course, the dance was way too hot for the rest of the world; but the music, you couldn’t help yourself. So the British added things. So did the Americans.
And that’s what I have begun to learn – the American waltz.
Think Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers.It’s not as bad as you’d think.
I’ve got two weeks to learn the waltz and a swing routine. For a benefit dance on July 14 that will help youth in my community.
A Dancing with the Stars kinda thing.
I’m not half-bad.
When compared to the others.
“You’ve got this on your iPod,” one of the other dancers asked me about the waltz music we stumbled around to.
“Oh, filled.”
I have no dance experience, save for what I picked up at high school dances, concerts and a few mosh pits.
(The mosh pit thing delights the rest of the "celebrities" by the way; they wouldn't know the Angry Samoans from NOFX and I think I scare them with what I might be capable of.)
At least my partner is a Professional Dancer.
My goal when first approached was to just get by.
Now, I want to win.
I downloaded waltz music this morning; I practiced.
For a minute after dance practice Monday night, with ice on my knee, ice in a glass of vodka and a few ibuprophens onboard, I considered going the other route; drop acid right before the show. I’ve never dropped acid, so I maybe could go skitzo.
Probably not the best thing for youth to see.
So, I’ll dance.
The waltz. The swing.
And make the best of it.
Comments
That being said, you'll be great!