This video, of a Camp Jitterbug Jump Session, did just that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcsyUhZgcps
When I was living in the Bay Area, swing and blues dancing was an essential part of my life. I'd go out dancing 1 - 4 times a week. I'd practice steps at home. I even taught swing dancing as a Choice Day elective at East Bay Arts, hoping to spread some of the joy.
Then I moved to Los Angeles, and I stopped dancing. I went out a couple times, but it just wasn't the same. My friends weren't there, I'd have to drive too far, and alone. It didn't seem worth the effort. So I stopped trying.
Knowing my birthday was fast approaching, and unaware of my distance from dancing, a dear friend in the Bay Area plotted a gift. Despite an incredibly busy schedule, she started taking lindy hop classes so that we might spend more time together in my favorite environment: the dance hall. On the week of my birthday, I came up to visit her and my other friends. She took me out dancing. I was hesitant at first (Would I be any good, being so out of practice?), but eventually I gave in a had a fantastic evening. It was quite possibly the best gift I had ever received.
But a return to LA, meant a return to dancing apathy. When my friend would come to visit, she would propose an evening of swing dancing, but I never had the heart for it. "The drive's too long." "Eh, doesn't sound like fun." "I'm tired, how about we catch a movie?" I had become apathetic about something I truly loved, I let the city beat me into submission. In so doing, I failed myself, and I failed my friend.
I'm sometimes asked: Has LA changed you? To which I reply, "No I don't think so, I think I've done a pretty good job of holding on to who I am." Seeing this video, knowing I've neglected a part of myself and afraid I've hurt a very giving friend, I'm not so sure.
2 comments:
I'm glad you realize this.
Easy solution:
Go dancing.
I don't know anyone in the swing scene, but every time I go down to LA I try to hit up the Atomic Ballroom or Lindy Groove in Pasadena, and it's always a ton of fun, even if I go by myself.
I do know a few LA blues dancers who are awesome! I haven't checked out the scene down there, though, but I'm sure it's a lot of fun.
You could always go to a lesson before the dance and that way you will meet people. The only way to get to know dancers is to go dancing. I end up going to dancing by myself quite a bit but now that I've been going so long I know that when I get there I have my great friends to hang and dance with.
So, get those dance shoes on and go!
Haha, awesome! Programming my calendar now.
I think it's all about breaking that inertial resistance.
Thanks for the kick in the patoot.
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