morean

Last night I went to our first Latin and Ballroom lesson with my mum and sister. It was great. The instructor decided to start the class off learning single swing (to get us all used to the rules of partner dance) which I have been doing since I was in grade school...making it very easy and enjoyable.

Towards the end of the class we learned a couple first waltz steps.

I am so used to taking lessons wich are strict in the movement and harsh on the body (ballet as much as I love it falls in to that category). I was looking for something a little more loose, while still structured, and that would not agrivate my injured knee. This style firts perfectly!

The only wierd thing is that in partner dance you really have to depend on your lead to make you look good. When you are with a bad lead suddenly you can't follow the steps, you don't know when you have to turn etc. Everything depends on the lead's little signals, a push on the hand here, lifting the arm slightly there. I am so used to depending on myself only to pull of a move. Even in group performances for ballet or modern you have to trust everyone to do their part as best as possible...but you have to trust only yourself to do the same for your part. It is definatly a new and intersting way of dancing.

We also had our family Samhain ritual this year which was the first one for my two year old niece. It was so wonderful to see her following along in the circle, and she got so excited when an apple was cut in half and she was able to see the star inside and how it makes the sams shape as a pentacle (to her just a pretty necklace). She probably said "Blessed Be" far louder than the rest of us too, lol. When it came to turning a hum to a roar just to raise everyone's energy and get them comfortable she wanted to do it three times it was making her giggle so much. I can't wait to see how she reacts tothe Winter Solstice