I went to the CMU Ballroom Dance Club's first meeting of the semester last night and it was a blast. Though in form and nature it was almost identical to the UCBD lessons I took five years ago, but my experience here was completely different, because somewhere over those intervening five years I actually learned how to dance. Not necessarily specific dances, but just the general comfort of dance.

It's like learning to play the piano. Learning to dance isn't about learning one kind of dancing, say foxtrot, then learning another, say cha-cha. Learning that way is like learning to play the piano by learning one song, then another song, and another and so on until you're a pianist. No, it's far more effective to learn how to play the piano, then learn songs.

I suppose that's how general dance classes work, but sadly 'pick-up' lessons, like those taught in most clubs, have to cater to all points in the learning curve, so they just teach you the specific dance, like teaching a specific melody.

The good side of this is that nowadays I can pick up these dances in a snap. Lead/Follow ratio was about 1.2:1, which isn't bad, but if UCBD is any indication, it'll oscillate over the course of the semester.

In the absence of a dance-focused circle of friends (I miss Plough/Gaskells/Peers/FNW) I'm also planning on attending the Saturday competition team lessons. It looks to be a fun group, and though I've never tried competition ballroom, it could be a lot of fun.

Only they all do Rotary Waltz out here, not Viennese. We'll have to see what can be done about that.

That, and I'm considering teaching some Irish set dancing... (Ammy? Any advice on a lesson plan? It's been forever since I've spent time in the beginning class at Plough... Oh, and I might need my Starry Plough dance book after all! We'll see...)