I am sitting in the Redstone Dining Hall, (something I have not done since last Spring when they gave out free muffins at midnight,) trying to write an essay about the differences and evolutions of Arias and Recitatives in Operas. It's not going well for a few reasons-some of the top reasons being; My computer can't connect to UVM internet (I stole Molly's computer to write this,) it seems that I didn't take very detailed notes about Arias OR recitatives, and I am surrounded by chattering college students and dining hall food. Also, I've never been clear about the music being played in this dining hall, even back when it was "Simpson Dining Hall," (yes, for those of you that can remember that far back.)
I wanted to write about the recent lerning experience I had.
I went to a contradance in down town Burlington.
Now, I've contra-danced before...at least I thought I had. At the Governor's Institute on the Arts, http://www.giaofvt.com/, or at my highschool when a delegation of Mongolians came once a year...
but I think I was deceived.
You see, I walked in with pals equally inexperienced, and we immediately knew we were out of our league. We watched as the dancers who got there on time (woops,) spun and looped and jigged around the floor, and I saw fear spread across my pals' faces.
The dance ended and before we could make any sort of move to partner up amongst ourselves a group of long-skirted, flowy-haired women and scraggly-beard, suspender-clad men were bumbling over to us.
As in keeping with the life-long continuous joke, my partner barely came up to my shoulders, but had the power of a Clydesdale horse. The first time he swung me I was absolutely positive I was going to vomit, and am equally positive that had he let go I would have gone smashing into the gym wall. Maybe through it. As we moved down the line he tossed me around and shoved me in the right direction until I had a vague sense of where I was to go, but was often thrown off by him shouting through his wiry beard, "JUST LOOK INTO MY EYES."
The dance ended, my pals and I glommed together, and I saw my facial expression reflected on everyone else's. We had all been tossed, and shoved, and screamed at. It was going to be an interesting night.
I write with pride when I say that each and every one of us went back out there, partnering with strangers who clearly looked forward to this event, perhaps a little too much.
By the end of our evening, we each had gained some instincts about the general direction to head when our partner released us, some were even being total rockstars and spinning the experienced ladies around like nobody's business.
I was merely hanging on for dear life...but I can honestly say that I hadn't laughed that hard in a good while, and it was a marvelous de-stresser. I highly recommend at least trying contra-dancing if you're looking for something to blow your mind.
-Lessons Learned:
-Go with the flow
-Don't think
-Let someone else lead
-Be aware of everything around you
-JUST LOOK INTO HIS EYES.
And this post would not be complete without mentioning that one of the purposes for going to the contra-dance was to bring an out-of-state friend to one final Vermont experience before he goes home.
I'll miss you buddy, it's been fun.
Here's a video that is related to contra-dancing... and will make your heart race if you've seen "Becoming Jane." Maybe even if you haven't.
Enjoy.
I'd have no problem looking into James McAvoy's eyes.
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