free falling

Happy 50th birthday to my mother!

I want to continue on this theme of feeling free. Such a weekend of revelation...let me share with the world.

I went back to Bas, for what was supposedly Latino night. But there was a whole mix of people there and the only thing that made it "Latino" was the salsa and merengue in the upstairs room. Other than that, the main room was still hip-hop and again, thank you for playing "Ditty." It was only me and Israel this time around, but it was fine. We both love to dance and we're comfortable enough with one another. The one thing about Israel though. He hasn't learned how to properly salsa with a partner, meaning he doesn't know the ins and outs of leading...and that's basically all I know about salsa. In the past, I've tried to dance with him, but it's difficult because he's freestyling and here I am, trying to stick with the music, but not being led by anyone. It's much easier for me to go to a place like Allegro Ballroom, take the lessons, and then dance the night away with guys who have also gone through the same lessons and know how to lead. That makes things much easier for me.

We're doing the hip-hop thing for awhile, which is nice and relaxing since my legs are sore from horseback riding. When the upstairs opens up, we move on and start the night of salsa and merengue that leaves people sweaty and tired...it feels more like a workout than anything else...but a fun one. At first, I'm a little hesitant...I am self-conscious that I'm obviously just doing the same old steps. I like to be told exactly what steps there are, when you use them, etc. That's why sometimes with capoeira, I think so hard about getting the moves perfected that I forget to loosen up and flow and just freestyle. I like to be given a routine to do. Same with salsa. Let me work on making my moves perfect...but I neglect the development of my personal style. I mentally dig up lessons from salsa classes I've taken before and try to incorporate them. At one point, Israel even takes my hands so we can try to dance together as salsa is usually done, but after a few seconds, I shake my head and apologize. We laugh because it's obviously awkward when we're both doing completely different things. Some couples around us were just moving, not even doing the "real" salsa steps. Others were amazing dancers and flowed gracefully as a couple.

About an hour later, though, I'm feeling it. It hits me that I've loosened up...I feel free and I'm not just doing the same old thing. Basic step. Turn. Side step. Turn. It's more than that now. I've even abandoned the formulated steps and have added my own style to it. A little hip-hop there and then back to some salsa. It was all about just feeling the music and not worrying about whether your feet looked okay. Sometimes it's like they had lives of their own. My knees were killing me, but I felt like I couldn't stop them. I was doing it. I was dancing salsa without being led...and it felt great.