The Dance Primer

I know you don’t want to hear it. You don’t read blogs to hear the authors whine and complain about how hard it is for them to keep up with giving you good posts to read and the rest of their lives… what with their own dancing to do, and families, friends, illnesses, funerals, etc.

You don’t want to read about how I planned on starting this blog for more than a year before it actually happened, and how gung-ho I was about it at first, and how I would spend several hours a day drafting articles, editing them, searching for good photos, reading other dance blogs, reading about how to write better blogs, and working on social networking and trying to get my articles “out there.”

You don’t want to read about how I’m already tired, and way behind, and it’s getting harder to get posts up each day. I have two interviews on tape I need to transcribe. I have to written out ones I need to edit and put together to share with you. I have stuff to do… it’s just, where did the motivation go?

AH! But you’ve recently started out dancing. It could be EXACTLY THE SAME for you! You thought about getting off the couch and learning to dance for ages. When you did, you were extatic. You bought dance shoes, signed up for lessons, and were at every dance and lesson you could find.

But then, life caught up to you. You get tired by 8, and dancing doesn’t start ’till 9. There’s always something that comes up and gets in the way. Every time you DO go out, you’re glad you did it, but that initial spark is gone…

Or maybe that’s not you and I’m just projecting.

But if it IS you, I’m going to tell you that it’s ok to take breaks when you need them. As much fun as dancing is… it’s about having fun. If it becomes work for you to go out, and it’s not balanced by the fun you have, perhaps a break is a good idea.

But I wouldn’t break for too long. Sometimes you just need to convince yourself to get out for a night and get moving again. Once you go, perhaps you’ll remember what fun it is, and perhaps your interest will spark again.

Be forgiving of yourself, and don’t expect yourself to be dancing at the same level you were at when you took a break. Sometimes it takes a little while to get back into the swing of things. Sometimes you get out of shape. Sometimes, the scene changes and the venues and people are not the same ones you remember. That’s ok. Please don’t give up. Just be nice to yourself and look at all the new opportunities you have.

So what are you waiting for? Break time is done, let’s get moving again!

–

Photo by malla_mi on flickr.