Dance like no one's watching

MSN between Mr Fox and myself many, many moons ago:

Mr Fox: You'll never be good in salsa.
Me: You know, that's so encouraging. Thanks for letting me know.
Mr Fox: You're not hiao enough lah.

I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted at this point so I did my usual diversionary tactic of changing the topic.

I wonder if it's the experience that comes with age (Gasp!) but sometimes I'm saddened by the changes that happen in me. From being a chirpy, forthcoming girl (who usually says the wrong thing, apologising unabashedly before being forgiven magnanimously by the other party), I've somehow changed into this self-conscious hag who is conscious about not making a mistake, not saying the wrong thing and not stepping on anyone's toes.

And somehow, this translates into my dancing as well.

It's alright when I'm following a partner, feeling free to express myself, styling without abandon even if it sometimes interfere with his lead (oops). But somehow when the lead lets me go or even just stand stock still to encourage me to shine or style, I suddenly feel like I'm floating in space - awkwardly manoeuvring back to a place with gravity.

This happens even despite the tips and encouragement of nice girls, like Danielle and Chantel who try to explain how to signal that the shine movement parts have ended. All these sound well and good in my head. But when it gets to the dance floor...

I think Mr Fox is right. Some girls just show their best side when they know others are watching, and are thus able to play with and have chemistry with the audience.

For ordinary girls like me, this advice might be best:
"Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching."

The heart of the matter, is the matter of the heart. Whether from the lack of self-consciousness (in a good way), the full seizing of the moment, or just simply enjoying the surroundings as it is (with the music, the people and most importantly, the dance partner.) It is setting the heart and body loose to go with the flow.

With that principle in place, I'd guess it's just a matter of modelling and learning the strategies. Now, to get my body to listen to that same maxim... :)

A simple introduction

This entry is dedicated to Chantel, a sociable, cheerful and big-hearted girl whose post was the reason why this blog was started.

It was started on the 20th June, Friday because of the amazing coincidence of reading Chantel's post dated 22nd Aug 2006 on her list for her ideal partner and finding my own list (dated 11th November, 2006) right after in my drawer while attempting to pack my room. It inspired a sudden "I must write this down" urge and this blog was born. With blogspot's infrastructure and spontaneous ideas for the theme, title and ideas on it generated on the spot as I needed the information, its delivery duration is 2 hours 30 min.

Chantel is just such a person. Like the way the title of this blog was born (many titles which expresses the theme of ordinary invisibleness was already taken and not available until the analogy of "grass of the field" was found), Chantel has her goals in her mind and grabs the opportunities that will help her move forward.

Different as we are in character, there are a few similarities in our lives. We're the same age, at similar stages in our lives, wrote our list for the ideal partner at around the same time, found our Mr Maybe-Right at around the same period and took salsa at around the same time. We're similarly vexed right now on improving in our shines and our spins in our dancing. What can I say, we're destined to be friends. :)

About this theme... of being ordinary yet knowing my extraordinary value. The affirmation comes not (as you may think) by my boyfriend (as of now) but by the eternal lover of my soul who has placed so many wonderful people in my life. Suffice to say my posts about Him can be found here while this blog is a muse of ordinary events by an ordinary girl whose life is impacted by the people around her - as one blade of grass is related to all the organisms in the field.

Hmm... guess I'll let my entries speak for me... perhaps this entry would be beefed up when I am more inspired...

To Chantel, thanks for being in my life. It had really helped to be friends with someone whose current life stage is so similar to mine, who is also yet so different from me in character. Will be inspired by your example to overcome my natural shyness and be thick-skinned in the pursuit to become even better in salsa. ;)