Story Weekend: Dance!
I sit all day long when I’m writing, which is not good for the old bod. I used to set my alarm for every thirty minutes and when it buzzed, I’d get up and walk around the house before returning to my chair and the computer screen. When the new Springsteen Wrecking Ball album came out, I changed the walking to dancing. Yes, I pick one of the songs from the CD and dance around my office before getting back to work. It’s much more fun and energizing than walking into my living room and back, and the dogs love it, too. So that’s my dancing story for today. I look forward to hearing yours.
If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme, however you interpret it. Thanks to all of you who’ve been contributing. As always, there are a few “rules”:
▪ The story must be true
▪ Try to keep it under 100 words. Embrace the challenge! That’s about six or seven lines in the comment form. I want others to read your story, and most people tend to skip if it’s too long. I know how tough it is to “write tight” but I hope you’ll accept this as a challenge.
Have fun!
All of my life I have wanted to do the things that I have absolutely no talent for. Dancing , singing, playing the piano. I don’t really have any talents…But just because I am not any good at it.. I sing at the top of my lungs even if I don’t know but two or three words. I bang on my piano playing what I taught myself and of course no one really wants to hear….And I dance… even though I can’t put two steps together and have absolutely no rhythm. Anytime the music starts playing, I am on my feet giving it my best imitation. I suppose if everyone only did the things that they have an absolute talent for, life would be very boring…. As an after thought I want to tell one little dance story. About 3 years ago when I began to substitute at the junior high, a student helped me with my dancing. I was letting them listen to some music while killing some time. Of course I was up dancing…which brought many laughs. One young man stood up and gave Mrs. Mathes some dancing lessons. I love my job..
My dancing career began and ended in kindergarten. I was the kid who went left when everyone else was going right. You know, the one who not only tripped over her own feet, but brought down the girl next to her. In my head, I was born to be a prima ballerina, dressed in the pinkest of tutus, in front of a crowd mesmerized by my brilliance. Sadly, my ballet teacher recommended me not continuing with classes. 43 years later I still mistake my right from my left, while tripping over my own feet, trying not to land on anyone. Sigh.
So I started performing on stage when I was in grade 2 the teacher put on a play and I faked arm-wrestled with the VP(I won only cuz it was fake). Then in grade 3,4 I was in the talent shows after that I auditioned and didn’t make it. Then grade 8 the Drama teacher put on a play and after the same teacher wanted to show off some of the students dances(from drama class)so I volunteered to go first. Grade 10 I was in the fashion show and that was the last time I was in any school performance. My first performance outside of school was there was a singing competion downtown and I got to perform that was maybe 2-3 years ago. Last Fall I took Salsa class.Bad idea with no partner and all older people. Next up Gutiar lessons maybe. I also like dancing in the computer room when I feel like it. oh and your picture made me lol. it’s cute.
i absolutely love to dance. Due to degenerative arthritis in my knees…and my weight…I had not danced in many years. One of my favorite things to do was to make dinner while dancing around in my kitchen. Am I good dancer? NO! but it was the perfect expression. In my younger days when going out with friends to clubs I used to dance alone…just for the love of it. Feeling the music. Your body embracing it. and it did not matter the type of music.
Now that the weight is coming off and the knee has been replaced I am feeling the desire. I havent given in yet except for “chair dancing” and “car dancing”.
But I think diane that your idea has inspired me to get up and shake my booty!
1977: My best friend was dancing with her boyfriend. I was sitting the dance out as we had all been dancing most of the night. Frankie Valli was singing “My eyes adored you” and every time Frankie sang “though I never laid a hand on you” I watched as he let go of her, singing and grinning. We were 17y and he was 19y. Sadly 8 years later and after having 2 beautiful girls he died of a brain tumour but I still smile when I think of him and my best friend on the dance floor. Remembering it now, I am still smiling.
Me too:)
One of my favorite things to do when we have a singer at the Convent where I work, is to dance with the “Girls”.
Whether in wheelchairs, or with their walkers, they love to spin, and dance to the music.
You can get a smile out of the crankiest “Sister” when you bring them onto the floor for a dance.
Dancing gets a laughs and lots of clapping from the on-lookers, as well. 🙂
A number of years ago there was a sweet little Irish Sister, in residence at MSMA’s McAuley Hall, who loved to dance but she was also 104. Upon occasion, whenever some Irish music played that is, she got up and did herself and the Sisters of Mercy proud:)
In one of those many rooms awaiting us i am certain the dancers are gathered and Sr is no doubt headlining!.
(residense)
Nope, sorry, residence! lol Sleepy time & I keep losing my server connection anyway so nite-all:)
I love dancing! I took ballet and tap for years. I still love to dance. I was sad when I had to stop ballet lessons, because of the cost. At one time I wanted to be a professional dancer. I loved tying on my toe shoes and dancing, spinning, leaping across the stage. I will never forget the time I danced on television for an American Amateur show in Taiwan. These days I dance every chance I get, but only at home for my own pleasure.
I think I was born dancing. Love music and love the freedom that dance brings to my life. As early as age ten I was teaching dance moves to my friends at recess in the playground at school. Anything from the Grand Marching Circle to intrepretive dance, I loved it all. On graduation from high school I fancied going away to uni to get my degree in choreography but being raised in a blue collar family it was not to be. My Irish partner and I were raised on different music and he would not feel the affection that I do for Janis Joplin and Jimi Henedrix. One day when he was out at work I cranked Foxy Lady on the stereo and was giving it my all while singing along. Arms flailing, butt moving. I was in the zone:} When the song ended I turned around to applause as he and his staff stood clapping from our open door. I was every shade of tomato red that has ever been invented but I didn’t care. Like Guy Clark sings and I believe with all of my heart. You gotta sing like nobody’s listening, Love like you’ll never get hurt. You’ve got to Dance, Dance, like nobody’s watching. It’s gotta come from the heart if you want it to work. I dance because I can not only feel but can respond to the distant drum of my ancestors. Once in my medical career we were sent to a dance at a psychiatric unit and I danced with the lifers there. Their minds may have been wandering and lost but their feet still knew the rhythm of their hearts. We are a melody that grace and goodness never takes away no matter where our mind wanders to. We are the sum total of the songs we let sing in our hearts and we celebrate those songs in dance. Blame it on the Bossa Nova. Cha cha cha for it’s magic spell.
She was born to dance and her instructor knew it. Chosen out of hundreds to perform with Burt Parks as the little dancer in MUSIC MAN, she was in 5th grade and knew she was on her way. Her dreams were shattered when scoliosis took over but luckily she was allowed therapy that she turned into a type of dance. When the brace came off 5 years later she continued to dance with her exercise and eventually found the love of Yoga which is a form of dance. Life is never fair but there’s endless opportunities in life if we just open our eyes to all thats possible.