Line Dancing

The urge to move is inherent to all living creatures. Even the atoms gyrate—and they do it in extraordinary ways. It’s second nature for people to dance. Dancing can express joy or sadness, elegance or vigor, fulfillment or longing. If we don’t like to dance it’s often because we didn’t get a chance to learn specific dance steps at the right age. And who would want to look like a novice on the dance floor?

In our culture, women are particularly fond of dancing. They willingly teach each other and dance together. Yet, have you ever seen two men waltzing or tangoing with one another? The mere thought seems absurd; it might even raise an eyebrow. And yet, men are great dancers. What could be more spectacular than a group of floor dancers or a performance of Mikhail Baryshnikov or Rudolf Nureyev!

At most social dances, however, we find a preponderance of females. I didn’t notice when I was younger—I didn’t have time to look.

Line dancing may be a good alternative. It combines vigorous exercise with the joys of music, good company and dance. It certainly beats bicycling for an hour in a stuffy gym.

On Sunday afternoons, the Allegro Ballroom in Emeryville, CA offers a great class in Line Dancing ($3.00 for members, and $6.00 for non-members). The class is followed by ballroom dancing.

The instructor is capable and elegant Steven Louie, who instructs in impeccable English and occasionally summarizes in Chinese. He has performed, competed and instructed ballroom and line dancing for 17 years all over the SF Bay area. His students range in age from 18 to 85. He teaches by demonstration, not just in front of the class, but he alternates teaching from each side and the back of the class.

“Bring you cameras,” he told us last Sunday, “and take videos of the steps so you can practice them at home.” It’s a great idea—practice makes perfect. The video works fine on my screen, but it still doesn't play back on this blog. I'll try some more this weekend.

In the meantime, have a good one.

Rosi