Dance Like A Conductor

I suppose this is as good a time as any to talk about salsa dancing.

I don't think I've said much about it on this blog. What can you say really about something you like? With wrestling and comedy, I often talk about what I appreciate ABOUT it in an attempt to share why I like it.

But there's a difference between appreciating something and liking it. The former is something that you can express; the latter...forget about it.

So yeah, I like dancing.

I also find it frustrating. For the most part, I take mistakes in stride. I've learned enough new things in my life to realize any skill worth developing takes time and that if you put that time in, the results will come. As I used to tell my peers in martial arts so many years ago: "Tenacity trumps talent."

But one aspect of salsa dancing I take personally, and that's leading.

I'm not bothered by my footwork or timing being off--although as a former musician, you think I should be bothered by it. But a failure to lead properly really hits me hard.

Maybe it's because if I screw up a lead, it's my partner that looks bad.

Maybe it's because I've never really been comfortable leading in any other area of my life either. I can be assertive when I need to be, but my 'need' bar is set lower than many. It shouldn't bother me, but I do get sensitive about it in my less-confident moments.

So when I lead a move wrong when I dance, instead of just being a mistake, it's just another piece of evidence of how hopeless I am at taking charge or going after what I want.

I was talking me to Bastet about this, and she shared this link with me.

And something about it hit me really hard.

It helped me realize what I want to do when I lead, and knowing what you want to accomplish is a pretty good first step to getting there. Some might even say it's the ONLY step.

I'm sure I've mentioned in this space about how I want to "do comedy like a wrestler."

After seeing that clip, I know how I want to lead.