I had two very contrasting experiences today. The first occurred as my mom was channel surfing this morning and happened upon a Japanese ballroom dance showcase. I got to see Brian & Carmen, as well as Katusha and her new partner, Arunas. As Arunas and Katusha danced, I wasn't just watching. I was feeling what I imagine each movement must feel like when you're absolutely impossibly amazing at them. I breathed with the couple and tried to keep my head from twitching.
At church, later, I was asked to teach dance to the Priests and Laurels (16-18 year-old boys and girls, respectively) in the ward this Wednesday. Their prom is coming up, so I plan to teach them some basic American waltz. I don't have a partner or TA to teach with, so I was teaching my brother some of the basics so that he could demonstrate with me. As we clomped along awkwardly, I thought about just how different the two ends of the ballroom dance world are. You have the uniquely stylized professionals that take an experienced dancer's breath away, and then you have social dance, where you're expected to be social and maybe even make conversation. They're such separate worlds, and yet most enter the former through the latter. How on earth are so many of us led, cha-cha step by foxtrot step, so far beyond the original social dance experience?
And are the politely awkward interactions in social dance classes and events really the predecessors to the little-understood, immensely committed long-term competitive dance partnership?
