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Two weeks ago today, I went and took dance lessons. The instructors were
teaching the hustle that night. I can honestly say that I learned how to do the
basics of it well enough that I could show someone else how to do it, and that
from just a single session. I am a bit amazed by this because back in my Sophomore year in HS I
learned how to do the waltz, but it took me forever. My dance partner/instructor back then
was a very gifted dancer and HS Sr. named Becca and we were learning... well I was learning... the dance as part of
the production My Fair Lady. I doubt she's reading this, but if she were* she'd
agree it took forever for me to learn that 3/4 time style of dance. (Side
note: not much music is written in 3/4 time any more. Jamey Johnson makes reference to that fact in his song The Last Cowboy
which is a bit slow but very waltz-able) I apologized to her feet (and to the rest of her, actually) many times.
Waltz is a dance where if one person gets the steps wrong, the other person's
feet definitely suffer and this was true for Becca all through the experience,
poor girl. Anyway, Becca was a good teacher and very patient** and
eventually I learned to waltz and still remember how to do it. Fast forwarding back to two weeks ago, by then I hadn't waltzed or even so much as stepped foot on a dance floor to do more than just slow dance in a circle for many years. So, naturally I tried to inform everyone in the studio that I am NOT a dancer. I was doing the Kevin James dance in Hitch to demonstrate my abilities. When the dance instructor saw what what I was doing, he came over and told me to stop. Actually, that part is a lie, but he should have because I absolutely did that, just out in the parking lot before I ever went in. What also actually happened was that I warned every partner... did I fail to mention we consistently switched partners? It seems like that should be common knowledge, but I had no idea going in that that was what went on in dance studios. I was under the "dance with the one who brung ya" impression... that I truly had no idea what I was doing. Anyway, as the lesson progressed I was definitely surprised at how easy the Hustle seemed to be, and more so that each new partner said things akin to "I thought you said you didn't dance?" Actually, that is a direct quote from the dance instructor's wife.
Unlike the waltz, the hustle is a dance where you're less likely to step on feet if you get things wrong, but there is a lot of fun spinning and "swinging" in any case. In fact, swing style country dance looks very similar and I guess the two dances are related. Anyway, I'm pretty excited about having learned this now because I see people do swing in country bars I infrequently frequent and it always looks like folks are having fun with it and my guess is I could join in and folks wouldn't be able to tell much of a difference.
The studio holds open sessions on Fridays and even though I wasn't able to go back last Friday, nor am I able to today, I plan to go back the Friday next. Their schedule says they will be teaching the waltz. I think I can do that one!
*She'd also give 2 Kudos like you should.
**Cute too. To this day I wonder if her patience was because she had a crush on me or just felt sorry for me.
Comments
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Michi
I have a completely different definition for “the hustle”
Good to know it’s used for other things.
This probably came first.
by Randy®; ; Report
Also... 1 kudo? Seriously?
by Randy®; ; Report