swinging... ;)

[jay]

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.

Comments

[elissaann.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of the mystery dance for the #1's.

That definitely sounds like a workshop for experienced dancers! Yay you for getting through it.

As you've probably figured out by now, the gent is not actually the lead, except in deciding when the swing ends (and I'll take over that decision if I think we're going to be late for the next move). All four people (and the caller and the band) are leading the dance, which is one of the things I love about it. If I space out, there are 3 people ready to get me back to reality; conversely, I can make things go easier for another dancer with a head nod or hand gesture.

[datagoddess.livejournal.com]

Contra is so much fun! I need to go back to the dance here. Sounds like you had a good time :-)

[faeryguinevere.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you had a fun time :) It sounds great.

[inflectionpoint.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a wonderful time! I am glad that you are dancing and look forward to sharing that with you.

I love love love hey for four, and was so happy and excited when I finally got it down. It took me a while, but it makes for fun and a lot of chances for eye contact with folks.

If you are ever in a hall with an upstairs gallery, perhaps sit out one dance and go up into the gallery and watch how things look from above. Seeing the dancers weave in and out and make the patterns is like a human kaleidoscope being shaken. It's very beautiful.

Yay to you for trying new things! And which restaraunt was it?

[dryadgrl]

I thought you and tenacious_snail knew each other already! (I'm totally teasing, the way that as written amused me.)

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Yay learning to dance! I am usually the one who throws my group into disarray by forgetting steps during ballroom dance. But it's fun enough to keep trying.

Which Ethiopian did you go to? My favorite of the seven or so along Telegraph are Cafe Colucci and Cafe Eritrea d'Afrique.