swinging... ;)

Double progression. Balance and swing, Hey-for-4, Star-left, chain through to a courtesy turn, right-through-to-an-ocean-wave... swinging around fast enough to get dizzy. All moves I've learned two weeks ago and today, going to a 3-hour contra dance workshop in SF. Most confusing was the third dance today, when the #1 couples were sent out of the room, the #2's taught the dance by the caller, and then the #1s returned to be taught *only* by the #2s, while actually dancing. I was a #2 lead, blanked and threw my quad into chaos. (blush)

It did get better... I was the only beginner in the room, which surprised me. It was taught by a visiting caller from Boston (Chris Ricciotti) who did a great job of giving tips and suggestions and challenging the experienced dancers there (nearly all had been dancing for years) while giving me enough explanation to allow me to learn the dance moves. The last couple of dances were complex, enough so to give the other dancers some difficulty. But... the transitions were interesting, once it starts moving it's like... a roller coaster, swinging and swirling seamlessly and flowing up and down the two lines. I noticed my pre-planning and eye contact improving, and was praised as a fast learner :).

Afterward.... I went over to Berkeley, and had Ethiopian food at a new restaurant with tenacious_snail, whom I'd met at the dance.