The one on the Boxing Day

Today is Boxing Day and Christmas is over. Although the rain is still pouring, but I am sure everyone is still in the holiday mood as New Year is on the way.

I haven’t really written something long since I cannot remember when. So I decided to take a quiet moment and bitch about something.

It occurs to me one fine day when this young lady accepted my dance offer but pulled me into the darkest corner of Union Square that I don’t even know exists. She said, “Cannot dance there. That is where all the experts dance and people will see.”

Okay now, let’s slowly analyze this statement part by part before putting the whole puzzle together. Cannot dance there? Who set the rules that one cannot dance there? If I were to have a few more beers, I think I would even dance on the bar top. Care to join me on the pool table? And now you tell me that I cannot dance there? Yes, I only paid fifteen dollars for the entrance and I am only restricted to certain designated areas in Union Square. I need to find the yellow box to dance.

Next, where do the experts dance? And who do you classify as experts? I do understand that a fair bit of the better dances or the so called the better followers and leaders tend to flock around the entrance area. But please do not think that that is logical. I on the other hand would proclaim them as the more regular dancers. Because they have been in Union Square for decades now and got to know quite a number of people. Only because their friends are there, that’s why they tend to hang around together there. Assuming that I applied for an Actfa Certificate which shows that I am a qualified Mercury Level 255 salsa dancer, I will then be allowed to stand together with all the experts and dance with all the experts? Obviously, no! I will look like an idiot.

Lastly, people will see. What do people see? Like Mr. Bruce in Sixth Sense. You are scaring the shit out of me. Oh my god, people are looking at us and so we can’t dance. Frankly, I have been through that and I am laughing at myself now. But as one grow, one takes a very different perspective then one took before. Months ago, when I can’t dance for shit, asking me to dance on the main dance floor is a more difficult option then asking me to go to hell. There are multiple reasons to account for such imbecile behavior and I would raise them out clear and loud.

• There were only good dancers around on the main floor.
• If I dance there, I would mess everything up.
• I was not up to the standard to qualify to dance on the main dance floor.
• If I happen to dance there, the authority would call the zoo saying that a chimpanzee has run free and created a nuisance to the rest of the very hot eye candies around.
• People would see and laugh at me and mock me and insult my dance moves.
• I would bring shame to my school and further more shame to myself.
• I cannot dance on beat and people would think that I am practicing for the Deepavali for the fire stone ceremony.
• I was scared that I might knock into people and disturb their perfectly choreographed dance moves.
• I was scared that people would knock into me and I will disturb their perfectly choreographed dance moves.

Hey people, I have been there before and yes I know how it feels. I don’t know about you but sometimes I will focus on a couple dancing and observe. It’s quite obvious to see when a lady enjoys a dance. Sometimes I do see some ladies frown in such a way, I think both the eyebrows met with wrinkles making a way around Australia. C’mon, cut the men some slack. Rome was not built in a day, salsa not completed with one lesson. And you men don’t think you are all that great. Want to know what I feel constitutes to a beautiful salsa dance?

Women’s following and styling.

Men’s leading and creativity.

In order to lead is not that simple. Having a good lead allows you to be creative. Please do not skip that step and move on to the next. You will break some arms and make blood pour. Judge your partner to understand what moves to make or break.

I strongly perceive Salsa as a showmanship sports. It’s like gymnastic. Damn it but I cannot remember the term for it but I am sure you know which one I am talking about. I am talking about the one where ladies do somersaults and jump around in that box trying very hard to score a perfect ten. I find Salsa similar. Salsa is not like doing other competitive sports like swimming to see who is the fastest or neither boxing to see who is the last man standing. Salsa is an art to perform to others who will be the one to perceive whether you can dance. If one is not going to dance for others to see, seriously I will be mean and say it loud. You are committing murder to Salsa. You are killing an art. You might as well play chess and stay at home.

It’s a mental barrier that one has to overcome. Why do you think there are so many dancers out there who have been dancing for years, still enrolling themselves in classes? Why do you think there are so many ladies enrolling in styling classes? Why do you think you got that pair of dancing shoes?

I asked a friend that day on these questions. Her answers are simple but yet meaningful.

[Almost Virgin] Why are you still taking classes?
[Anonymous] I want to learn more from different schools and also to know more friends. I am still single you know?
[Almost Virgin] Why did you take up that styling class from XXXXXXXXX?
[Anonymous] People will look when you dance. If I don’t put some patterns in my style, people will get bored to look at me and my partner will get bored to look at me. I am still single you know?
[Almost Virgin] How many pairs of shoes do you have?
[Anonymous] Eh… I think I have four now.
[Almost Virgin] Why do you need so many?
[Anonymous] I need to pick the one to go with what I wear on that day. Although black is very safe but the whole world has it. Furthermore I cannot do without my dancing shoes. Firstly, I need them for lessons as that stupid XXXXXXX keep making us turn during lessons and secondly, I need those shoes so that I can turn better when I dance with guys. I am still single you know.

I believe many out there have made friends all over our little town because of Salsa. How many of you out there had spent this Christmas celebrating with your dancing friends. How many presents have you received from the friends you have met dancing on the dance floor? Have you ever imagine what your life would have been if you had not stepped onto this path?

I asked around that day on some people on the following questions. What do you think you would have been doing instead if you did not come to Union today?

[A] I guess I would stay at home.
[B] I will be watching a movie.
[C] I will be staying at home watching porn.
[D] Do my nails lor!
[E] Reading a book does not sound too assuring right?
[F] I would have been in a night club.
[G] I will be playing chess at home.

So what have you achieved by learning Salsa and coming to Union Square?

[A] I can meet my friends
[B] I can meet you.
[C] I can dance my night away. Oh yeah!
[D] I can enjoy the music and meet new girls
[E] The drinks are cheap and maybe I can get lucky.
[F] If not because of salsa, I would not have met her.

[Almost Virgin] If not because of Salsa, I would not have met you. And you would not have been reading this post. Unless, you happen to come across this post by my other friends who has been spreading it around and if you are my friend’s friends, you will also be my friend. So please get a life, and get that lazy bum of yours out of that comfy little chair and let’s dance.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.