Motion

[ladysprite]

If I haven't said it here before, Boston Swing Central is quite possibly the best thing in the world. Well, second-best; umbran will always be the best thing in *my* world. But he comes with me to Friday Night Swing Dance, so... BSC has dance AND husband, which is pretty freaking amazing.

It's open swing dance, every Friday night, with a class at the start for any beginners. Live music, a different band every week, and all the dance you want. And, most of all, it's friendly like almost no other group I've ever encountered.

I've gone a few times now - maybe 3 or 4 - and I can't get over how much fun, and how welcoming, and how positive it is. Everyone gets to dance; everyone dances with everyone; beginners are encouraged and experienced dancers make a point of rotating and dancing with newbies, and nobody is frowned at or criticized or excluded. It's like the Shangri-la of dance, with big band music.

I've missed dancing so much, and I've missed learning new dance stuff, and being in a room with so many talented dancers is amazing. The fact that they're happy to pull me out onto the dance floor, spin me around (apparently I have an invisible sign that says 'Please dip me and spin me energetically!' on my forehead), and when I don't pick up a step the first time, run through it a couple of times until I can incorporate it into my repertoire.... I don't have words for how much fun and how uplifting it is.

I know I'm still not particularly good at Lindy Hop. But I'm a decent follower, and most of all? I'm having a blast. I can't wait to go back....

Comments

[hermitgeecko.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a whole lot of fun! I checked my calendar, and all my Fridays are booked into mid-July, but maybe I can come out then.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

If you want to, that'd be awesome! I didn't know you were interested in swing dance.... :)

[hermitgeecko.livejournal.com]

I took a year of ballroom in college, which included the basics for East Coast swing and jive (along with waltz, foxtrot, tango, cha cha, two step, mambo, rumba... I think that's it.)

I've likely forgotten everything, but I used to be a reasonably good follower, and getting back into it would be fun.

[bess.livejournal.com]

oooohhhh.... Maybe we can go with you sometime!

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Absolutely!

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

That is awesome!

[dreda.livejournal.com]

Cool! Just a quick question - it sounds like gender doesn't matter, since you say that everyone dances with everyone, so we'd be ok going as a two-girl couple?

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone would notice at all - there's a significant number of same-sex dancing. Though people tend to rotate partners a lot... that said, I don't think anyone would raise an eyebrow if you didn't.

Like I said, it's a ridiculously open and accepting group. :)

[dreda.livejournal.com]

Awesome - thank you!!

[tafkad.livejournal.com]

I am crying reading this.

Just a month or so ago, you were telling me that the pain so awful you were barely able to move, and now you're swing dancing again, even learning the Lindy Hop!

Oh, Honey, I am so happy for you.