La Nuit Esanche: a free street party that only happens once a year, was on literally around the corner from my place. With Big Kick swing school an official festival partner, I was excited to see a large semicircle of pavement reserved for dancers, between the band and audience. It had been really good to write, do yoga and cook for a few days but I was also looking forward to the next dance ... to meeting people.
When the band leader introduced the lindy hoppers before starting their first tune, I realised that we, the social dancers, were "the dance show." Within one song the floor had filled with about 10 couples, and I found a partner by the second song. For most of my dances, it was I who asked... still it was a friendly scene. The Good Time Rollers played songs of easy tempo from 20.30-22h. Good work! The audience surrounded us, smiling, admiring. Kids and teens tried to copy us.
I danced every song, sometimes in solo. One great dancer had driven 200km for the pleasure of this one band set! And 200km home afterwards! There was also a dancer with a hip-hop background. I can always tell. The clothing style gives a clue, but also the dance has a suppleness, a different kind of creative energy. I want more of this in my dance! I enjoyed 3 dances with baggy pants wearing, skateboard-toting boy.
Close to the end of the set, the band played a blues song. The floor cleared ... blues-phobic lindy-hoppers! I went straight to the leader of the school and asked who would dance blues. He pointed to his friend... a tall, handsome guy, who said yes. We took to the empty floor. He lead a few tango-ish leg flicks, and also opened out to give me space to improvise. It was a beautiful dance, except for the unforgiveable moment when he pulled his phone out of his pocket. There's a first time for everything ... hopefully that's the last time too! Afterwards though, he was full of compliments.
After the band finished, I joined about 8 dancers at a local bar which served tasty snacks and fancy beers. La Modelo was a hip joint – flower-filled car tyres decorated the sky blue-tiled walls and there was a car cut in half, near the ceiling behind the bar. Sitting beneath a vintage motorbike, I sipped an alcohol-free beer: Clausthaler. Not bad. Next time with fresh lemon.
Close to the end of the set, the band played a blues song. The floor cleared ... blues-phobic lindy-hoppers! I went straight to the leader of the school and asked who would dance blues. He pointed to his friend... a tall, handsome guy, who said yes. We took to the empty floor. He lead a few tango-ish leg flicks, and also opened out to give me space to improvise. It was a beautiful dance, except for the unforgiveable moment when he pulled his phone out of his pocket. There's a first time for everything ... hopefully that's the last time too! Afterwards though, he was full of compliments.
After the band finished, I joined about 8 dancers at a local bar which served tasty snacks and fancy beers. La Modelo was a hip joint – flower-filled car tyres decorated the sky blue-tiled walls and there was a car cut in half, near the ceiling behind the bar. Sitting beneath a vintage motorbike, I sipped an alcohol-free beer: Clausthaler. Not bad. Next time with fresh lemon.
Making conversation was harder than dancing... sometimes it just doesn't flow. And it's hard to understand Spanish, much less the local dialect, in a noisy bar. But all in all it was an easy, social night of fun, and less than 5 mins walk home! Awesome!
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