- Our dancers speakBelow you'll find some contributions from Waltz etcetera dancers, words and images about our dance and our community.
How to contribute: Just send your words and/or images to me in an email or as an attachment (to waltz23 at gmail dot com) and I'll put 'em up on this page. Let me know if you want me to include your full name, just your first name, or if you prefer to remain anonymous.
My good friend and dance enabler Mickey and I both got the waltz bug in late 2004, and, with little waltz available on the west side of the sound, decided to make our waltz investment with Waltz etcetera in the spring of 2005. We learned to waltz alright (some would say we are waltzaholics!), but, what's more important is that we found a vibrant community of friendly, playful, smiling, gracious dance friends who brighten our respective lives in ways we didn't really know were possible.
Just being with all of you once a week is a blessing - a gentle gift in a world of hurt, and, in it's own way, a radical act --- of joy. :-)
- Rhonda
Somehow, much of what I know about partner dance came from hanging out at Waltz etcetera long before I ever took a dance class there.
After a lifetime of indifference to partner dance, in the Fall of 2005 I signed up for some waltz classes through the Experimental College. I had eight classes and then it was the holiday season, and there were no classes offered for more than a month. I knew that I would forget much of what I had learned if I did not practice for that length of time, so I stumbled into a Monday night Waltz etcetera dance in the hopes of getting a little waltz practice.
I knew that eight weeks of classes wasn't much, but was overwhelmed by the experience level of the dancers anyway. And I was amazed at the variety of dances being done, some of which I had never heard of. I also discovered that I had been taught to waltz in a way quite different from what was done at Waltz etcetera, which made my few waltz lessons somewhat useless.
Despite my discouragement I continued to show up at Waltz etcetera dances anyway, as I was so incredibly enchanted by the energy on the dance floor and the atmosphere created by the music. Some kind souls advised me where to take dance classes suitable for beginners, which I did once classes started up again after the New Year. Others suggested places to buy dance shoes.
Much education came as I sat on the sidelines week after week, hearing such a variety of music and learning what types of dances could be done to each. Sometimes I was asked to dance something other than waltz, and as I didn't want to have to sit out dances forever it prompted me to sign up for a number of different types of dance classes.
And when I wasn't on the sidelines observing, I had a chance to practice what I was learning in my dance classes.
For me, Waltz etcetera turned out to be an unexpected immersion into the enchanting world of partner dance.
- Leslie
Your classes have given me the courage to hit the dance floor with confidence; whether it be waltz, or hoofing it freestyle at a holiday hop.
Thanks!
- Chris
My Mondays have never been quite the same since I walked into the Masonic Lodge that evening a few years back. Here was Waltz etcetera, an enriching, enjoyable first of the week event all made possible by three wonderful people, Zachariah, Monica, and Henry who's love for social dance is so obvious in all they do as hosts and fine instructors making everyone feel welcome. Thank you!
Even if you have a bad weekend there's always Monday to look forward to. Warm, open, friendly, people...my official extended family. Ample verbal and non-verbal communication. The magic of orbiting in sync with a partner in three quarter time.
And just when you thought things couldn't get any better... they did .when Zachariah,Monica, & Henry hauled off and doubled our pleasure with the addition of Friday dances in an expanded dance setting!
Does anyone have the right to have this much fun?
As I see it the only downside to all these magnificent Mondays (and Fridays)
is the matter of taking Waltz etcetera for granted.
I hope I never do
- Anonymous
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