Standing on my own two feet - and dancing

[mrsbrown]

I read a dance manual and then interpreted the instructions and taught the dance.  It was the first time I've ever done that.

I'm thinking that my lack of dance teaching ability is also a good thing for the "beginners"* we have.  I delegated dance teaching to some of them, and they taught the mimed bransles and the officer's bransle. 

teffania is also being a brick, and just being there to hold my hand, and provide a dance manual for me to teach from, is a huge help.  Having her teach some more challenging dances** is also fabulous.

Maybe this dance class thingy can keep going next year, even though my original dance teachers have all had attacks of life.  Hooray!!

On another note, I remembered, on my way home, while waiting at the train station, that I don't want to live my life being "too tired to be enthusiastic" and doing stuff but moping my way through it.  It's time to remind myself of how I hold my body when it's awake and chirpy, and hold it that way even when it isn't.  No more bowed shoulders and slumped lower back! I also need to put the smile around my eyes.  And then, maybe I'll teach myself to stop feeling this way.

*not beginners, some have been dancing for up to 9 months, and I think fa11ing_away even mentioned two years.

** here's the link to the book teffania taught from (Joy and Jealousy) and here is a page which includes the appropriate mp3's

Comments

[vonstrassburg.livejournal.com]

I am still available for the odd trip down there. A bit harder over the summer with sailing commitments but in the new year should be fine.

[mrsbrown.livejournal.com]

Thanks, you're on my list as the "teaches harder, more interesting dances" opportunity.

Ideally, that would happen about once every two months, but really, just tell me when you can be here, and I'll put you in the program.

[quatrefoil.livejournal.com]

The 'holding yourself' thing is a useful reminder - I think it's a similar thing to the 'loosening' I felt the other day. It is a principle of Neuro Linguistic Programming as I understand it too - to associate the stance and gestures with a time when you felt confident and happy, and then use them to achieve the same feelings.