Dancing Energy

Last night I had a conversation with Inanna about the dance class. I confessed a certain amount of worry that I'll be awkward and/or inhibited. She pulled multiple threads of memory and awareness together in my mind and essentially told me to open myself to the energy of my partner and the music, to connect through the energy as much as through my physical body, and see if I wasn't surprised by how much easier that made things. Oh, and by the way: don't forget to practice good hygiene and shut down the connection with the other person after class.

That all seemed like a good idea, and I was pleased to have had the experiences that allowed me to have the framework for such an insight.

A little later, LM came to me and took me in his arms, and suddenly I was pulled vividly back in time to one of our episodes of dancing in the kitchen. I felt his hands on my body, felt my own awkwardness-that-didn't-matter because the man I loved was humming and grinning at me as we danced. It was so vivid, it was almost like my conscious mind truly did go back and inhabit those moments, at least in part, and I wondered if that was the case.

Later, doing my evening check-in/communion ritual with LM, he put his arms around my shoulders and started moving slowly and sensually behind me, with an emphasis on hip and groin against my back. In contrast to the earlier experience, this was very much in the present moment. I smiled and relaxed into it, and let him call up my sensuality in a relaxed and romantic way.

I spend so much time in my head with my rational mind activated, I have to be reminded, even with him, to let go and just be sometimes.

Panther Woman

I have always considered Dr. Juliette Burber a soul sister....

P-Con: Pombagira Experiences to Share?

Last year, my first at Pantheacon, I'd heard a lot about Pombagira. I even bought some red clothing to wear -- and then found out about the "locked door" policy and the late starting time, and realized my outfit was probably entirely wrong for the vibe of the evening.

I still am intrigued by it, but here's my issue: I tend to be an early to bed person, and I also tend to be easily overwhelmed by large groups of strangers and by loud music. I'm afraid that if I attended, I would get pushed into the exact wrong headspace and then have to endure to the end of the event or argue hard to be let out early.

Can anyone who has attended Pomba in the past give me a bit more info about what the experience is like, and whether or not it's actually okay for someone who ends up not enjoying it to leave early?

Thanks. . .

ETA: Just did a bit of googling. . . I really didn't know who/what Pomba Gira was before. . . Methinks I am simply going to have to gear up (mentally, spiritually, and garb-wise) and push my comfort zone a bit. . .

First Ballroom Dance

First, thanks to labelleizzy for offering the icon!

Second -- Wow. . . That was much easier, and much more fun, than I expected it to be. My teacher, Jeremy, was low-key, and explained things simply and with a sense of humor.

There's a scene in the movie Take the Lead in which Antonio Banderas' character has to defend teaching ballroom dance during detention. He gives a demonstration by inviting the school principal (Alfre Woodard) to "walk with me." They take a relaxed dance pose and he walks her slowly back, then forward again, then back and then forward. . . and simply and beautifully it's a dance.

That's what this evening was like. We started out by just "walking" -- but with his hand on the lower part of my shoulderblade, mine on his arm, our hands together, with just the right amount of framing tension, and it was easy and natural and comfortable and fun.

The merengue is just eight steps -- 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 -- but in only a few minutes I was doing spins and turns, and Wow! I'm dancing!

There was also a lovely woo moment. . . As I mentioned recently, Lohain (and Lee as well) used to dance with me in my tiny kitchen. As Jeremy was trying to explain the importance of keeping a certain amount of 'resistance' in my energy so we could stay in contact, he used the example of moving furniture: "You don't push the soft places, you push the hard places." Except that he first said, "It's like when you're moving furniture in your kitchen -" and he cut himself off. "Living room! I meant living room. I don't know why I said 'kitchen.'" I smiled and didn't say anything. I knew why he'd said kitchen.

In 45 minutes there's a one-hour merengue class followed by a dance party, all for $5. The shy introvert inertia says to stay home.

But I need to go back and dance some more. . .

My whole body feels light and energized, and I feel very happy.

First Ballroom Dancing Lessons

This evening I had my first ballroom dance class: a private 30-minute session.

It went so well, and I had so much fun, that I went back 90 minutes later for a group merengue class and their Friday night dance party.

I left early because I can barely do the dances I was taught today, much less anything else -- but it was a lot of fun, and I'm looking forward to going back.

My body and soul both like this a lot.