Dance Dance, We're Fallin' Apart

Last night, for the very first time EVER, I went swing dancing. May I just say that there is now no part of me that doesn't hurt. But I'm really getting ahead of myself here...

My best friend, Molly is married to a man who is a competitive swing dancer. In her quest to be a good wife, she is getting into swing dancing in an attempt to hone her skills and find her own style within the Lindy Hop world. So she decided to go downtown for a quick lesson and then a dance. And I, in my quest to horribly injure my muscles....er I mean be a good friend and get some exercise....went with her.

Thus did I find myself sitting in a corner wondering why I had eight feet, none of which seemed to be working right, yet ALL of which seemed to be left and trying not to cry.

Fortunately, that was just the pre-dance class, the night improved from there! Molly, being a good friend, encouraged me not to give up, poured a couple red apple martinis into me, and forced me to go to the dance. We spent a bit of time in a dark corner going over the basic swing step (altogether now "step, step, triplestep, step step triplestep!") and your basic Charleston (which when i do it goes something like step, kick, step, kick, kick, stagger) until I could do them without falling over.

The real fun began when she recruited some of her kind, patient, and very skilled friends from the dance circuit to come and help me. Apparently almost everyone who dances remembers their First Night and is more than willing to help out a noob. Scott and David taught me how to acquit myself credibly (or at least to only have two feet that went more or less where I told them too). I had an amazing time being whirled around the dance floor by those two nice men. I really can't thank them enough.

So, if you ever take up swing dancing, I urge you to keep in mind the following bits of advice:
1. Bring an extra shirt -- you will sweat more than you've ever sweated in your life!
2. Always have your left hand on your partner's shoulder by the count of 3, or he will end up grabbing your boob.
3. Don't be afraid to ask someone who looks like they know what they're doing for help, but make sure it's a slow song.
4. Apply icy/hot to your aching body only AFTER you have removed your contact lenses, or you will regret it immensely.