To my future fellow blues fusion dancers,
Learning how to social dance is honestly terrifying. It’s hard to build up the courage to intimately dance with a stranger. I promise, you will mess up and you will feel uncomfortable. Don’t worry, it gets easier and more exhilarating. Those strangers will soon become opportunities to develop your style, as well as challenge your partner’s style. And then I promise, you will get better and you will feel amazing about your body.
I started blues fusion a little over a year ago. After watching my significant other and his friends in the community dance, I decided I wanted to look that beautiful while moving. I asked him to teach me. Even though fusion is one of the less structured partner dances, learning how to follow correctly is still frustrating. Like most things we learn in life, practice makes perfect. Our first dance was less than perfect. When I would pull away from him, my moves lost all structure. Reaching for my hand, I closed my eyes as we resumed to dance. This small act helped greatly. I was able to listen and feel rather than see as he taught me to follow. I remember observing that night that dance is about moving to make art with your body. Silly, structured, or elegant, our ability to dance can be aroused.
The first night on that shiny, light-brown dance floor, I tricked myself into knowing what I was doing. As stubborn and competitive as I am, it was natural for me to become frustrated when someone would kindly point out what I was doing wrong. I repeated to myself majestic, not clumsy, hoping to believe that of myself. Eyebrows furrowed, I consistently glanced down at my feet every 10 seconds. I would practice any way that I could. Practice included dancing alone at my favorite evening sanctuary. The moon being high above me radiated my shadow. Watching my figure, I could visualize what looked good and what I needed to improve. I thought to myself: My arms hang like broken tree branches; maybe I should try crossing my right one behind my back. But damn, the bottom half of my body was spot on. At least I got hips that my prancing feet show off.
After countless awkward dances, fumbles, and apologies, I started to feel like one of those follows I thought I would never compare to. Gaining confidence is feeling comfortable in your body. My dance partner and I have reached a point of understanding how we move our own bodies and each other's. When he lifts his arm, I know to spin. His hand arches on my back, and I dip. Lifting back up, one hand still on my back, the other in my hand, I position myself on tiptoes, crossing one leg with the other. Repeat. These signals require me to listen to my partner with our body’s movement while also allowing myself the creative ability to show off my own style. Whenever we get complimented, I take the words humbly, knowing that the new follow who spoke the compliment will soon feel the same about themselves.
To those curious about or just starting social dance, I challenge you to stick with it. I urge you to listen to your body and love the way you move.
