Introductions

[rydra_wong]

Because I thought it might be interesting to see where everyone's coming from ...

Here's a thread to say hi, and say a bit about your interest in movement/embodiment/whatchamacallit.

What movement things do you do -- or not do? Or: what did you do in the past? Or: what might you be interested in learning more about, but haven't tried yet? Or: what do you love reading about even though you'd never want to do it personally?

I suggest that people feel free to jump all over each other and ask questions if you're curious about something someone else mentions (if you'd rather not answer questions, please just say so), or want to say "me too" or compare notes.

Comments

[alexseanchai]

This is a thing! I forgot!

I square dance. I would like to ballroom dance and archery. Too bad those are money.

[spiralsheep]

It's a pity you don't live over here (or Toronto*) because balfolk and related traditions are sorta folkie ballroom dancing and tend to be much cheaper to learn and attend than the Strictly Come Dancing competition variety of ballroom.

* Possibly also Quebec?

[alexseanchai]

I do hear Canada is a nice place to live, though. :(

[spiralsheep]

But square dancing isn't an official state dance anywhere in Canada! ;-)

[cesy]

I'm not sure where you both are, but Balfolk is available in many parts of the UK and a lot of Europe, as well as some of the larger dance festivals in the US.

[alexseanchai]

Ooh, hm. Thanks!

[spiralsheep]

I'm on the edge of the balfolky/Eurodance Eurozone but alexseanchai is in the US.

I was trying to brainstorm Things Like Ballroom But Cheaper (and easier for non-binary gender people) and came up with balfolk and open role tango. Someone elsewhere on this post also mentioned zydeco dancing, and I've done that and Cajun in England, but I was assuming those possibilities would already have occurred to alexseanchai if they exist locally.

[alexseanchai]

Bad assumption, honestly, bc I don't know much about dance, but now I have more avenues of investigation! Thanks!

[spiralsheep]

Okay, then I'll also suggest that if you want to dance *with* people but not necessarily partnered then "circle dance" is very popular over here, especially with hippyish or new age types, and I'm guessing the same is true in parts of the US. Local groups tend to be cheap but workshops can be very expensive if they have visiting teachers.

http://www.globalcircle.dance/usa.html

[alexseanchai]

:) thanks!

[cesy]

Contra dance may be another option in the US - there are several queer contra groups on the East and West coasts who do gender-neutral lead-follow stuff, and that's cheaper than swing/lindy-hop which is another option but some groups are more traditional about gender roles.

[lunabee34]

I would love to ballroom dance as well. When people dance well, it looks so effortless (even though I know it isn't). I also appreciate the costuming associated with ballroom dancing.

[teaotter]

Gosh, I haven't done square dancing since I was a kid. Where do you go?

[alexseanchai]

Informal gatherings, mostly. I haven't belonged to a square dance club since Pepper Steppers folded years ago. :(

[spiralsheep]

You might also find an "open role" tango group cheaper than competitive ballroom and more compatible with non-traditional gender roles. There's a partial list here:

http://www.nasspda.org/about/page/

The nearest group to you might know of others in the area who aren't listed.

/hoping this is helpful

[alexseanchai]

Oooooh, thank you!

Though another problem is time. I work weekday evenings. If they only dance weekday evenings? I can't go.

...and the link to the website for the looks-closest group goes to a page that's all in Chinese characters. wtf.

[spiralsheep]

You're welcome.

Expired websites are the bane of links lists, but now at least you have a phrase you can type into a search engine.

[alexseanchai]

That is true!