True to my word, I have left the house and done something every night this month. Most nights I just went to the gym, but I always met someone there, so I consider that going out. Last night it was cold, my couch was comfy, and I came close to staying in with a bowl of pasta and Keith Olbermann.
But I knew there was someplace else I should be. Someplace hopping and full of real people, not just two-dimentional liberal commentators on my TV. A place with young people, old people, and really good coffee. It was the second Tuesday of the month, West Coast swing dancing night at the Muddy Cup!
I’ve been going to these swing dance nights on and off for a few months, but not with much regularity. Every time I go, I need to re-learn what I used to know. When it comes to dance, I’m a quick learner, but an even quicker forgetter. But in West Coast swing, if you stay light on your feet, you can fudge it pretty well. And the folks who go to the Muddy Cup are really good about helping you refresh.
The way it works is that there’s a short lesson for a half-hour, and then it’s a free for all. (Oh, and the entire thing is free, it’s run by a bunch of people who get together to dance for fun.) You sit on one of the chairs around the perimeter of the dance floor and wait for someone to ask you to dance, or get up and ask someone on the chairs to dance with you. As much as that sounds like a middle-school nightmare, it actually works pretty well. The swingers are really friendly, and most of them don’t mind that I’m just making up stuff as I go along. And in turn, I don’t mind that the dudes who show up there and ask me to dance are like a batch of Mr. Men.
That is to say, I got asked to dance by Mr. Too Tall, Mr. Too Short, Mr. Too Stiff, Mr. Too Slick, and Mr. Way Too Trying To Re-Enact Dirty Dancing (aka my friend Pantsless). Each time I get a new partner, I have to learn to dance a new way. It’s actually more fun than it sounds. Because I’m so bad at it, I have nothing to lose. But don’t expect me to go on Wednesday night! That’s the Lindy Hop night, and those dudes are serious.
Posted by 3carnations on November 12, 2008 at 9:59 am
I went to a swing dancing instructional thing at a club quite a few years ago. It was lots of fun, but I guarantee you I’ve forgotten everything I learned.
It does sound like middle school…ugh.
At least I don’t have the same haircut as middle school.
Posted by Jennifer M. on November 12, 2008 at 10:04 am
I really admire you for committing yourself to going out and about. It’s just so darn easy to stay at home where it is nice and cozy. . .
It feels better to miss TV than to miss life.
Posted by stefanie on November 12, 2008 at 10:29 am
I have never been to Poughkeepsie, but I like to think it’s a bit like Stars Hollow. Stories like this just confirm that for me. I like to think Miss Patty was running the whole show, and Kirk was asking every girl to dance. Luke was curmudgeonly serving the coffee and waiting for everyone to leave.
This comment would probably mean more to you if you were a Gilmore Girls fan, and for some reason, I think perhaps you’re not. Oh well.
Uh, yeah, I didn’t get what in the hey-ho you were talking about there.
Posted by cadiz12 on November 12, 2008 at 11:42 am
that totally reminds me of when i interned in Minneapolis and went salsa dancing every night. it was so awesome and i’ve forgotten everything i had learned. unfortunately, when i’d go in chicago all the guys were just sort of slimy and after a lot more than just a dance, so i stopped going.
hooray for going out every night! i don’t think i could do it.
I’ve been Salsa dancing once! I want to do it again.
Posted by Allie on November 12, 2008 at 11:55 am
Oh, it totally sounds Stars Hollow-y.
And it sounds like a whole lot of fun.
It was fun. And I’ll take Stefanie’s word for the Stars Hallow thing.
Posted by mickey on November 12, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I hate that I completely understand every bit of Stefanie’s comment.
Question: Is there East Coast Swing and do its practitioners rumble with the West Coast-ers whenever they cross paths?
There is a rivalry! They each think their dance is better than the other.
Posted by RA on November 12, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I want to go to the Muddy Cup! Poughkeepsie totally has Kennett Square beat on this one.
You should totally come to visit the Muddy Cup. Although it’s a long way to go for coffee.
Posted by stefanie on November 12, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Both portions of Mickey’s comment are completely cracking me up.
Me? Still mystified.
Posted by Dutchess of Kickball on November 12, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Holy crap, now I’m all confused! The Teacher has finally convinced me to go to the Muddy Cup tonight, and now I don’t know which one he does, Lindy or West Coast? Are we going the wrong night? And should I be scared that he might one of those “serious” dancers?
No, you’ll be fine because he’s a Lindy dancer. As long as you know someone there, that makes it better. I don’t really know the Lindy people as well as the West Coasters.
Posted by apollocreed on November 12, 2008 at 1:01 pm
They must be serious – I don’t even know what the lindy hop is.
It’s the more “classic” version of Swing, and it kind of looks like what you would expect.
Posted by Ben on November 12, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I could really use this challenge in my life but I’m afraid I’d spend too much money. Or, go to the gym to often and get ridiculous-sized pecs.
Since I already paid for the gym and the swing dance is free, I haven’t really spent much money. And my pecs are HUGE!
Posted by MrsTwink on November 12, 2008 at 1:36 pm
They have something like that in Baltimore that I’ve never gone to (partly because it’s held in a Tex Mex restaurant… I still don’t get it).
I know a guy who can swing dance that goes and says it’s a great experience.
You should go, even if you’re just a little curious. It’s great fun.
Posted by nancypearlwannabe on November 12, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Ha! Mickey’s comment is hilarious. I’m picturing some kind of swing dancing West Side Story. Only hopefully not involving knife fights.
Pretty soon, there will have to be metal detectors at the gates of the coffee shop.
Posted by abbersnail on November 12, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I think that sounds SUPER fun!!!
It is!
Posted by courtney on November 12, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Ha! That does totally sound like Stars Hollow. (Apologies if you’re not a Gilmore Girls fan. If not, you probably don’t appreciate us filling up your comments with Gilmore talk.)
I’ve never learned how to West Coast swing OR Lindy Hop. Sounds fun!
I think I’m going to have to start watching Gilmore Girls, even if it means spending a night in November not going out.
Posted by lizgwiz on November 12, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I enjoy that you refer to them as “swingers,” as that puts all kind of pictures in my head.
Posted by Megan on November 12, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I used to swing dance in college with my best friend – I miss the dancing, and him! My husband and I took some lessons, but he wasn’t so into it.
Posted by rdl on November 12, 2008 at 9:55 pm
sounds like fun. sure would like to see a video.
Posted by deb on November 12, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I love it that you are doing this. I want to, but my partner won’t, and so maybe I should just do it on my own. I love swing music!
If Cloris effing Leachman can do it, I can.
I’m not sliding on any floors, though.
Posted by Kristabella on November 13, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I’m so not good at dancing with other people. I always want to lead. Even if I don’t know what I’m doing. It tends to annoy the men I dance with.
Posted by Aaron on November 14, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I really must be old, because pasta and Keith Olbermann sounds like a great night.