not being Catholic, nor a pawns of the greetings card industry, we don't "do" VD. what we did do, however, was go to a Valentines dance. yep, that's right - last night was our first proper dance, six weeks or so after beginning to learn how to do it properly. well... depending on the occasion, of course. i've been shaking my booty on dancefloors for many a year but, as you know, we've been learning the more formal version. specificaly the quickstep and the waltz, so far. foxtrot lessons start tomorrow. :)
N.B. hubby's a little apprehensive about this, but i'm looking forward to it. just the name of it makes me smile, imagining woodland creatures galloping up and down kicking leaf litter about...
aaanyway, our ballroom class instructors run a lesson and dance on sunday nights at the Rolls Royce Pavillion in Derby, and we decided to amble on along, to see what it was like. last night was themed along the lines of VD, of course, but i got the impression that it wasn't much different from what normally goes on.
this is the sight that greeted us as we walked in. a little early, rather than to everyone canoodling under the tables, as someone on Twitter suggested (i'm looking at you, @twiteryeanot). as we sat there looking around, hubby and i had the same thought. my mum and dad and, indeed, my much-missed nana and grandad, would perhaps have had the same view, once upon a time. about half of my immediate family, being almost solely from Derby, were employed by Rolls Royce at one time or another. mum and dad met there, when mum was 15 and dad was 19.
as it turns out, they wouldn't have had quite this view, since the building we were in had been built long after they had both left for pastures new (or South Africa as it's more usually known - they emigrated for three years not long after they were married, but that's another story)
nontheless, the sense of family and history was quite tangible, and sort of comforthing.
the evening started with a slight departure from the norm. usually, there'll be, as i mentioned, a regular lesson for an hour, and then the dancefloor is opened up for dancing and practicing. in honour of VD, however, last night's lesson was in how to smooch decorously. it was interesting, and entertaining. i had no idea there was so much involved in dancing on the spot... *grin*
hubby had a haircut especially for the occasion. it's shorter than i've ever seen it, but it suits him rather well, i think. and it will be more of a shaggy mop by the time we go to france. that's his plan, anyway...
following the lesson, we retired to the sidelines to watch as those braver / more experienced souls present began to strut their stuff. and i disappeared to the ladies' to ensure i was still gorgeous....
...yep... ;)
so we sat around for a while, marvelling at the skill of some of those present. seriously - i wish i'd taken video of one particular couple (i didn't as it seemed impolite, somehow). they were astonishing! every single dance, no matter what it was, they kicked. its. ass. and my gods, were they having a good time doing it!
eventually, however, i persuaded hubby that since we were here, it might be nice to have a dance. i was raring to go, but he was a little reluctant. understandable, really. having done it for most of my life, i'm somewhat better at making a fool of myself.
it was a waltz.
it was a disaster.
we were both a little flustered, and either one or the other would add an extra step, or forget one (i freely admit it was mostly my fault, BTW). not long after i tripped over the stage (!), the instructor (who was playing DJ for the night), jumped in, and danced a figure or two with me, reminding me to stamp my feet to keep time.
it didn't work too well, i have to say. fortunately, the song ended not long after, and we beat a hasty retreat.
i made another trip to the loo, and got lost in the warren of corridors and little rooms in the building. i happened upon a teenyweeny little dancefloor in a deserted side room, and quickly went and grabbed hubby for a private practice to restore our confidence.
it worked.
the second dance we stood up for, a quickstep, went much, much better. we still cocked it up, of course, but this time, we didn't really mind, and there was a fair bit of laughter. this evening, hubby remarked that it's much easier to dance in public when it's more structured, since everyone who's ever learned to dance like this is aware that one has to learn, and one will make mistakes (or "variations", as our instructor calls them...) when one's dancing freestyle, as in a club, etc, it's much easier to look a tit, because everyone knows that everything comes from you and you alone - there is no outside structure imposed - and any mistakes or idiocies are entirely one's own.
it was lovely.
i was at a dance, and my man was whisking me around the dance floor, and i was happy and in love. :)
the rest of the evening passed in relaxed good humour, and i am so very, very proud of both of us.
i can't wait to go again! :)
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La bamba has the two of you in it's grasp.
ReplyDeleteHold on and go with the flow :-)