Yesterday I had the pleasure of being a complete newb at a dance! Okay, maybe not a total newb, but definitely felt out of my depth attempting to lead the waltz at The Great Dickens Christmas Fair.
I did fine with my friend Aurelia Santos for the first waltz, which had set sections and moves that I could watch others around me and emulate.
But later when Aurelia left, I was by my lonesone and definitely felt nervous.
As I stood near the dance floor, an older woman in a riding jacket and leather gloves asked me if I wanted to dance. I admitted that I only knew two steps but would be happy to try.
She graciously followed my fumbling attempts at leading, even as I kept losing the rhythm and forgetting the footwork. I was clearly nervous and grew more and more anxious that my leading was getting boring.
After a few turns doing the same two moves, she asked if she might suggest other steps. With gentle instruction and feedback we were soon doing two more waltz steps. It was amazing!
At the end of the dance, she instructed me on the etiquette of escorting your partner off the floor. I thanked her profusely. Only in retrospect did I think to ask her if she wanted to lead me in another waltz when it came up again.
It’s always a profound experience to be a beginner at something and experience the anxiety, fear, and jubiliation of those first few attempts at a new thing.