“If I didn’t know you I would have bought a caravan”
Like many swing dancers, I spend a lot of my time, energy and money on dancing weekends. I am always looking out for the next opportunity to dance.
Recently a dance friend and I were on a long journey to the Hen Do of, yes you guessed it, another dance friend, when she simply said, “if I didn’t know you I would have bought a caravan”. This got me to thinking, what did I do before I got into dancing? And what would I be doing now if I hadn’t got into dancing?
So, what did I do? I was a school teacher, so apart from working on weekdays and marking books & writing reports at the weekends, I used to play in musical ensembles and orchestras. I even did some housework and DIY!
I couldn’t wait for the school holidays, so I could learn to dance and meet like-minded people. In the early 1990s, before there were so many swing camps in the UK or local classes, I used to travel regularly to Edinburgh, London and Sweden to dance.
And what would I be doing now if I didn’t dance? Perhaps going to fitness classes? There again, would I have become interested in fitness if it wasn’t for dancing? Maybe I would do more D.I.Y, try some martial arts classes or go to the pub. If I hadn’t got into dancing perhaps I would sit on the sofa every night and watch TV, who knows?
I cannot imagine a life without dancing. I have met so many wonderful people, been to so many wonderful events, become a lot more aware of keeping healthy and enjoyed so much good music. Sure my social life is a little out of control, my house is not as tidy as I’d like it to be and sometimes I long to have a weekend off… but I wouldn’t change a thing.
So how about you? What would you be doing now if you hadn’t got into dancing? Email events@lindy-jazz.co.uk and let us know!