Week 7

Foxtrot

Week 7 consisted of more practice of a routine...

Practice was from the choreograph we learned the week before and consists of...

"Basic forward", "Basic backward", "Senior", "Sway", "Underarm turn", "Promenade".

This week we added the "Box" step and the "Twinkle" to the end of the routine. The Twinkle was really just a "half twinkle" so to speak. We then learned the full Twinkle where the Guy and Gal turn back, separate arms and do a step in the opposite direction. The release and turning back felt very awkward, but we gave it a shot anyway. Fortunately, or maybe more so obviously, is that when doing the Foxtrot, you can put together as many or as few of the steps that you want, and in any order you want.

For now, our (attempted) routine will probably consist of...

"Basic forward"

"Basic backward"

"Senior"

"Sway"

"Underarm turn"

"Promenade"

"Box"

"Twinkle".

That means that I have to remember all these steps. You will note that there are essentially eight different steps to remember, where as I have difficulty remembering three things much less eight, but I will try.

Linda does a much better job of remembering than I do, so she kind of helps me along... sort of like "semi leading". But then there are times I trip her up when I get out of sequence. It will just take me lots of practice to develop the

 "Muscle memory"

 as Will (instructor) calls it.

Next week we are off for Thanksgiving, and the week after Thanksgiving is our last session with the Foxtrot. After that we start with the "Swing".

 Oh boy... off to learn a new dance and at the same time still developing muscle memory for the Fortrot. I now have a much better appreciation of the amount of effort and work that is involved for the "Stars" (dancing with the Stars).

Hope all have a Happy Thanksgiving...

Week 6

Foxtrot

We are now into week 6 and have added two new steps; the Box step and the Twinkle.

Twinkle

Box Step

We started off with practice from last week's session, and then added in some practice on the Box Step and the Twinkle.

I am starting to get the hang of it... as Will (our instructor) calls it "Muscle Memory".

We almost were not able to make the session this week. Linda, who has been having neck and back problems, was at the Dr. Office Tuesday for an epidural in the neck. This was her second one in the neck. The first one went fairly well, so the idea of a second one would make things even better yet. Well, that did not happen. Somehow during the injection the Dr. hit a nerve which as described by Linda, as almost making her jump off the table. That was bad enough but things got worse from there. I thought she was going to jump out of the car window on the way back. Once home she went straight to bed. I try to consul her as much as I can but feel pretty useless. She described the feeling in her RIGHT arm as that of sticking her hand in a light socket, and described the pain as worse than delivering a baby. Never having delivered myself, I can only generally relate to that but being in the delivery room when the twins were born, I can get a good sense of how bad the pain must be.

By Thursday the pain had subsided some. It was still so bad that just to touch her Right arm or hand sent shock waves through her.

I suggested that we skip practice and stay home. Well she is just not that type. She is tough as nails, and I say that in a very loving way. It was her choice, so off we went to the "Y".

Now it is her right hand that must go to my left hand, while my arm is extended outward to the left. I know this was very difficult for her but extend she did, and I just kind of lightly supported/ touched her palm with my finger. Hand contact is very important in Ballroom dancing as that is where I give signals to the Gal as to what's coming next.

We rested the arm quite a bit, but were able to get through practice pretty well, but we did have to forgo the under arm twirl. We went through the routine and practiced the Box and Twinkle. I know she was really having trouble with the pain throughout the practice but did not let on. (After 44 years I can pretty much read her mind)

Ask her how she is and she will probably say "Oh, just hanging in there". That is short hand for "My arm hurts like hell". Today (Friday) the arm is a little better. Ask her if she will be getting another epidural in the neck, and I believe the answer you will get is...

 "HELL NO... NEVER AGAIN".

Week 5

Foxtrot

This is now week 5 of the Foxtrot, and things are getting complicated.

This week we were taught - notice I did not say learned, speaking strictly for myself - the "Zig-Zag" step and the "Underarm Turn".

Zig-Zag

We started out with practice tying together various steps, and then added in the underarm turn.

Underarm Turn

I am having trouble remembering going from one step to the next. I start out ok, but then my mind starts getting hazy as to what is next. Then I get frustrated and lose all concentration. I have been accused of overanalyzing, and that is probably true. My brain - as feeble as it is - has difficulty processing more than three things at a time. Guess what I need to do is just quit thinking.

Now, keep in mind, this is all me. Linda seems to have no trouble following, at least until I screw up. So at least one half of us are doing well.

Practice would help, and we have tried that at home, but the Foxtrot takes up so much space, and we just do not have that much space. We sort of rearranged the living room, but still not enough.

I think I may have to revert to the "KISS" (Keep It Simply Simple) concept and shorten the number of consecutive steps until I can get them down... WITHOUT THINKING, and then move on.

Not sure what's in store for next week. Hopefully not to difficult and we will have more time for practice.