I haven’t done a lot in the way of posts about Life in Littleton, one of the categories I committed to when I started this blog.  I tend to think of Littleton as my character Kitty does–the “land of monotony and boredom.”

Of course, a place is only as dull as the person who judges it.  I need to rethink my “Little” attitude and see some excitement.

Ballroom glitz – This is Lindsey and dance partners at a comp

For example, I love to ballroom dance at the studio called Colorado DanceSport.  Here, I find community, fun, and great exercise that doesn’t feel like a sweaty, smelly gym.  On top of all this, I am gaining a social skill that is more complex than I ever thought, and am rediscovering new ways my body was meant to move.  In short, in many ways, I feel like a kid again (at least until I watch the videos of my dance-ugh!)

The studio is run by some world champion dancers, Robert, Harmony and Toby, and my own instructors are in professional competitions regularly.  I am very lucky and proud to be a part of all this.

The funny thing is, as enthusiastic as I am, my husband likes it more.  He reluctantly bought into taking lessons to help us prepare for an intimidatingly fancy cruise through the Caribbean on the Queen Mary II.  For six months we learned the rudiments of waltz, tango, foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha and hustle.

After the cruise, we found we were more engaged with our studio and the people there, than any vacation could compete with.  For my special man, the lightbulbs came on.  He got into the physics and competitive spirit and took off.  Now, four years later, he dances five days a week and goes to three to five competitions a year.  Of course it doesn’t hurt that his dance partner is Lindsey, our dance instructor, and Lindsey is vivacious, lovely to look at and pushes him to be the best he can in this true sport.

This year, I hope to take a private lesson with each of the 8-10 dance instructors at the studio.  This afternoon, I’m looking forward to working with Robert.  I have to admit, though, I am really engaged with my own private instructor, Mitch.  He is patient beyond belief, especially in dealing with yours truly.  I am not exactly the most focused student, and I struggle to find the extra time to get to the studio to practice on my own.  As a result, I am an average dancer at best, but I love to feel the youthful exuberance that moving to music brings.

If you’d like to hear more about how my year in dance goes, or about ballroom dance in general, please let me know.  To be honest, I’m toying with the idea of making up a dance studio murder for Daisy to solve one day.