Step, SQUISH

Last night, I went to the weekly swing dance they have here at the Gradplex, and it was, as usual, highly entertaining. Mike, the guy who leads it up, was trying to teach us simple blues stuff, and in trying to describe how to shift your weight to one foot and then pop out your hip, he began to chant, "Step, SQUISH, step, SQUISH," with the SQUISH representing the hip pop. It was completely wrong for what he was trying to convey, but typical of Mike.

But as much as I feel self conscious being a "big girl" when dancing with a partner (and I mean this in the most non-self-deprecating way -- I am not fat, I am just tall and happen to not be a stick), I do enjoy it when someone else is leading and it's very clear what I'm supposed to do, and all I have to do in follow along. Very little thinking, the guy has to do all the mental work, and it's nice. It's so refreshing to have a set of guys around who are strong leads, who have a sense of rhythm and know what they're doing. For goodness sake, I was dipped several times last night by different partners -- I enjoy it when someone flings me around like that. But even those who aren't great yet have a fun time on Thursday nights, and that's good, too. My sincerest hope is that someday, I can convince the Affianced to learn to dance with me (preferably swing), so we can enjoy it together, because it really is one of the most fun things in the world. (Did you catch that, Affianced?)

Tomorrow night is contra dancing, which is vaguely like square dancing. Also a rip-roaring good time, and the best part is seeing Dave and Eric in skirts. It's some contra tradition...and it's hysterical.