Back in the fifties my brother used to jive dance with me in our living room. In the sixties, my sister taught me how to dance the Funky Chicken. In the seventies I did The Hustle with my friends. I’ve always loved to dance.

In my early twenties I took ballet classes for three years. Fast forward a few decades and now I’m learning to tap dance.

I suck. Seriously. I underestimated how difficult it would be to harness my brain to remember a step and then translate it all the way down to my feet. I have joked in class that I can’t listen to music and dance at the same time. When the song starts, instead of following a strict choreography, it is tempting to move in my own way, jive stepping with elements of the Funky Chicken still evident.

Professionals make tap dancing looks so easy. It’s not. Forget about moving my arms at the same time. I am one hundred percent focussed on my feet, one beat behind the other dancers the whole time.

The first few classes made me wonder what I was doing. In my mind I’m asking, ‘Why? Why? Go take a yoga class where you’re comfortable’. But that’s the whole point. I didn’t want yet another yoga class.

So far, when I’m tapping, I don’t quite feel like I’m dancing. Because I’m not. I’m concentrating. I can feel my brain burning new neural pathways while I struggle through a flap-heel-heel-brush-toe-heel combo. But…step by step, (intended), it’s happening. 

If you’ve thought about trying something new, I highly recommend… go for it. Give yourself permission to look bad while you learn. Worth it.

Have a wonderful summer everyone. I’m signing off for my annual break, I’ll return after Labour Day.

Keep your joy.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger, unless it’s a holiday weekend. Or summertime. Facebook or email.

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