Last week into this one has been a great week for dance. I have danced four days last week; two regular ballet nights on Monday and Wednesday, then two nights of social dancing with my Dad. My Dad was in town for a conference Thursday and Friday.
I met up with my Dad at his hotel on Thursday, we ate and the ended up going to the Top of the Mark. Apparently they have a swing band every Thursday. They also have a group of regular swing dancers that make use of the band. There were some great dancers too! There was one charming 85-year-old guy celebrating his birthday and he could out dance at least half of the young guys there, if not all! This guy really had some smooth moves! YAY for those who refuse to get old! Of course my Dad and I danced the night away with a couple of other people from his conference. I wish I would have known about the swing dancing though. I was wearing a sweater and slacks, came from work, it is not the best outfit for dancing/sweating. I think I got a bit of a sweat rash under my arms from it. I know, ewwww…….! WORTH IT! I will be back with friends, that’s for sure.
Friday was the big “end of conference dinner and gala”. There was a few awards given out, dinner and then in came the Jazz/Blues/Soul band. Huzzah! Bring on another night of burning up the floor! I think my Dad’s colleagues where impressed with both of our sweet moves. “There ain’t no party, like a (insert my family name here) family party!” Seriously, you should see a family wedding. My family will dance all night even with injuries, to just about any type of music. I love my family!
I also love partying with people over 40! I love the confidence in the conversations and on the dance floor. The previous generations are from a time where social dancing was held in a higher regard than today. Where dancing WITH people instead on ON them was cherished. I wish my generation could get back to that. I see so many peers either freak dancing, which gets old fast to me, or dancing so timidly that I feel bad for them. I think this is mostly because not as much stock is put in social interactions, including dancing. It seems less about having a good time and more about finding a partner for sex or a relationship before a whole conversation is held. So come on people let’s work on getting out and having some good clean fun… and if you want a little something on the side fine. Let’s respect ours peers, quit with the over sexual-ized flirting (seriously there is an art to flirting that doesn’t make people uncomfortable, learn it) and shake our groove things with confidence. (steps off soapbox)
Moving on…….I went to a dance show featuring some of my peers from my ballet class on Sunday which is always a good time. Three cheers for those who performed on Sunday! There was everything from comic numbers featuring underwear with an ocapella group singing, no they were not wearing only underwear, to an intense all male number, to belly dancing and a couple of numbers performed by little girls. So fun. On a side note, if you want a great ballet class look up Kathy Mata, she is on Facebook. I take Kathy’s class at the Alonzo Lines Dance Center downtown San Francisco. Kathy really makes class fun! Check out the link above and you can check out a few pictures from her shows.
I then went to the San Francisco Ballet on Tuesday to see Don Quixote with some girlfriends. Thank you for joining me girls! I love Don Quixote! I love the folk dance elements, the comedy, and of course the SF Ballet dancers were gorgeous! The show went by much too fast. I do wish that SF Ballet would do Firebird. I would love to see that show live!
Whew, that’s a lot for me! I think I need a nap now.
Have you been to any shows lately? Does your family go crazy on the dance floor too? Any other great dance stories?
*No I am not being compensated or in cahoots with any companies or people mentioned in this post. All opinions are mine and given because I was taught to share with others.
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