Dancing

One of the great disappointments of adulthood that I have found is that the opportunities for dancing seem to get fewer and farther between. When I was in elementary school, I took tap dancing at Mary Alice's dance studio, and while I never showed any great aptitude for it, I remember having fun.

In middle school and beyond, lots of opportunities for dancing came about: school dances, sorority and fraternity formals, going to clubs, the weddings of family and friends. It wasn't hard to find a group of people getting down! But now? I'm more likely to be chaperoning a dance than attending one, and the next wave of weddings I'll most likely be attending will be my children's and their friends' where I could be in danger of breaking a hip if I get too crazy.

While some people might be relieved that they are no longer called upon to bust a move, I am not one of them! 

A few years ago, when a new dance studio offering dance classes for adults moved into my neighborhood, I was intrigued. For years I followed them on social media, always thinking that I would sign up for a class, but never seeming to find the time. However, in September I finally signed up for the Dance Aerobics class and it has been absolutely delightful!

So, on any given Thursday, you might find me singing and dancing my heart out to Cher, Chaka Khan, or Britney led by an Italian instructor named Fili who might be yelling out, "Let's get hotter than we already arrreeee!!" and who is probably wearing something velvet or lace or cheetah print. The best thing about the class is that it doesn't matter what you wear or how good at dancing you are--everyone is just there to have a great time and work up a sweat.

The vibes of this class are just immaculate. And there's a good chance that you might hear a song from Madonna's Immaculate Collection. I'm just delighted that I have found a place where I have the opportunity to dance!