Photograph by Sara B. Healy
I love to dance, but I didn’t always love it. I never took ballet, but I did take ballroom dancing when I was a kid. I still lived in the age when girls and boys were regularly taught ballroom dancing.
For me, this “dance training” happened in the seventh grade, a time when I was still a gawky teenager, waiting to grow into her body. Dancing wasn’t my favorite sport, to say the least!
Dance nightmare
My dance nightmare began after we had learned the basics of a dance. Then it was time for practice!
The boys and girls were separated with the girls on one side of the room and the boys on the other side, facing us across the dance floor.
When the music started, the boys came across our teenage divide and had to pick a girl to dance with. Of course, there were never enough boys for the number of girls.
The left over girls ended up with the assistant instructors. All too often, I was one of these girls. Later, I would appreciate this because I learned to dance with men who both loved their job and didn’t step on my toes:~)
Favorite dance
I hated dancing during this time, with the exception of one dance, the waltz. This dance made me forget I was not the one chosen.
There is something about the grace and beauty of dancing a waltz. Even in my awkward body, I could flow when I danced the waltz.
Recently, JC and I decided to take ballroom dancing lessons. This means I get to waltz again and waltzing with JC makes this dance even more magical.
I pretend we are Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, even though we still look at our feet and count aloud the waltz tempo of “one, two, three” to stay on track:~)
Flower dance
I picked the above picture of a Camilla from my garden because it reminds me of a woman waltzing.
The flowers petals are her long pink and white dress with petticoats. I see them swept up by the sway of a waltz step as she moves gracefully across the floor. It makes me sigh.
Your challenge
Your picture challenge today is to think about dancing, music and flowers and what they mean to you. Then choose and answer one or more of the following questions in the comment box:
1. What is your favorite memory about dancing? Remember it can funny, happy or even embarrassing. Share what you want to share.
2. What type of music makes you want to dance the most? Feel free to list a band’s name if you have one that makes you “shake your stuff!”
3. What is your favorite flower and why? You are welcome to include a link with your comment to a picture of the flower you love!
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Peonies always remind me of ballerinas.
You and JC learning to waltz sounds so lovely and like so much fun.
Daisies are my favorite flowers. They never fail to make me smile.
.-= talon´s last blog ..Always… =-.
@ talon — I had to look up Peonies as I don’t see them very often where I live, but I agree with you that they DO look like ballerinas!
Dancing is fun, but warnings should be issued about learning a new skill as a couple. We approach dancing in different ways. I like to just feel the music and not worry about the steps so much. JC, on the other, has a need to get the steps done correctly, which is very good because as beautiful as the waltz is…it had a lot of steps to learn:~)
I looked up daisies and they mean “innocence, loyal love, keep a secret and love that conquers all.” Well deserving of a smile:~)
I don’t know that I have a favorite flower, they’re all beautiful, but I particularly love yellow roses.
@ Linda — I agree with you about yellow roses are beautiful…good choice:~)
KC and the Sunshine Band…”Shake Your Booty” is the type of music that gets me going, or Chumbawamba’s “I Get Knocked Down”. My favourite memory of dance is from my public school days when I studied jazz; being up on stage moving to the music.
I don’t think I have a favourite flower. Right now the cherry blossoms are in full bloom and I’m admiring them… I guess my favourite flower would be the one that Mister Right brings me
.-= Davina´s last blog ..On the First Day of Spring =-.
@ Davina — I like your choices of music, especially “Shake Your Booty.” Now that’s a song that gets you moving!!
BTW: I’m putting an order into the Universe today about your Mr. Right!!! It’s time for you to have a favorite flower:~)
http://www.donegalgardensociety.net/images/novembertalkfiles/tulip%20queen%20of%20night.jpg
The above is the address to an image of my favorite flower, the Queen of the Night, or “black” tulip. They have a richness that is so beautiful and deep, with a hint of dark mystery as well. I love them.
The kind of music that makes me want to dance is 50′s rock n roll. That music just makes me happy. I was non-existent or just a baby when those songs were new, but I had two (much) older brothers. They left their records behind and they fell into my happy little hands! Now I have a huge collection of those old songs on cd.
.-= Fireblossom32´s last blog ..The Secret Lives Of Birds =-.
@ Shay — I love the picture of the black tulip and I think this is a perfect flower for you, especially the “hint of dark mystery.” I looked up the meaning/history of a black tulip. According to one source, these flowers symbolize power and strength. They are royal flowers that make you think of misty novel stories, with big castles and foggy graves. I think they are fascinating!!!
Regarding the music, how can you not love rock and roll. This kind of music just demands that your feet get up and move. You are lucky that your brothers left you their collection.
BTW I loved your poem, The Secret Lives of Birds:~)
I love the notion that the flower is a woman dancing. As I look at the photo I can really imagine it. This week I’ve been out taking pictures of my garden, and this morning I was writing about the act of waltzing through our days. So we are harmonizing today, Sara! I have so many favorite flowers and joyous memories of dancing. Especially just bursting into silly dances around the house for no reason. Last year I had such a thing for my morning glories, so maybe that’s my favorite flower. And perhaps my favorite dancing memory is yet to come, the one where I waltz around my garden draped in morning glory vines. What do ya think???
@ Patty — That’s what’s so special about blogging — the connections that are made on an energy level…even though we are far away from each other. Countless times, while visiting friend’s sites, I find similar themes that have picked up. I think this is comforting:~)
I was sure what morning glories are so I looked them up and they are beautiful flowers, especially growing up the side of a house. WOW:~)
Hey, I say go for the dancing with the vines. It will be FUN dancing “in all your morning glory.”:~)
1. What is your favorite memory about dancing?
Alas, I don’t have a favourite memory. I too learned to dance in school… well, whenever I did get to dance. I was always one of the boys who never got picked. That and I’m all shambly, turned-inside-out, left feet! Sniffle!
2. What type of music makes you want to dance the most? Feel free to list a band’s name if you have one that makes you “shake your stuff!”
Probably the closest I get would be when Cass gets me up to sway with her to a love ballad every so often. Oh, and I tried headbanging to a heavy metal song once… never again. I’m sure I nearly gave myself whiplash, brain damage, and nearly threw my back out. I just listen to it while sipping a nice cup of tea these days.
3. What is your favorite flower and why? You are welcome to include a link with your comment to a picture of the flower you love!
I guess it’s not a flower technically speaking but I’ve always loved daffodils. Their obvious wildness and the fact that most people consider them a weed just makes me love them even more. We used to have them at home (at my parents’ place) all the time. I would run through them and give myself hayfever every time. Fond memories.
.-= Tony Single´s last blog ..Normal Man Goes Super =-.
@ Tony — Try dancing by yourself. When Cassy is out and you are all alone, put on some real “shake your booty” music and see what happens. I bet your feet will drag you up and you’ll starting dancing. It’s FUN and no one has to see you! Oh, it is a good idea, however, to close the blinds or your neighbors may wonder about your sanity:~)
You’re so funny. I never really got how headbanging is dancing. It just looks so FEROCIOUS:~)
I like daffodils too. I think I like the name most of all. It always makes me think of Daffy Duck:~) Daffodils are known for symbolizing friendship. I think they are lovely flowers!
Hi Sara, terrific post and I just love your point about dancing with the instructor — nightmare gone right!
I’ll have to say anything by Bob Marley or Earth Wind and Fire gets me moving and often without knowing it. I don’t know if you’ve seen Lance from A Jungle Life’s video on car dancing…anyway, that’s what I end up doing when “Boogie Wonderland” plays on the car radio!
@ Belinda — I once saw Earth, Wind and Fire in a live concert. It was so cool. Nobody was able to sit down during the concert:~)
I tried car dancing and almost freaked out the person next to me. I mean I was really into it and turned to look out my window only to see this burly man in a moving van staring at me like I was crazy:~) I must confess, I now confine my dancing to my home, but all the more power to those of you do car dance…I think it’s a great idea!!!
Hi Sara! Oh you are so right about that flower waltzing! How poetic of you!
My favorite, and earliest, of dance memories goes back to being 3 at my aunts wedding and my dad had me put my feet on his and we waltzed around the dance floor – it was a magical moment for me. I learned to dance the waltz and polka very early on, still love both! My grandmother gave me ballet lessons early too since I had poliomyelitis at 2 and had to learn to walk all over again. She helped to strengthen my legs and I’m forever grateful. I danced all thru childhood, taking “modern dance” in high school. I wanted to BE a dancer but my dad wouldn’t hear of it!
Every music makes me want to dance – and this is NOT a cop out. I listen to a lot of classical music at home and often I’ll ballet my way across a room. My toe is tapping to the beat like it has a mind of it’s own whenever I hear any music. I sing a lot too! haha!
As for picking my favorite flower – gosh that’s like picking your favorite child! Can I just love them all?
I’m so glad you are having GOOD times with dance now! Every woman should have that Cinderella at the Ball experience! Dance on, girl!
hugs
suZen
@ SuZen — I always wished I had taken ballet as I do love dancing so much! I think it’s really cool that your grandmother was so creative in finding a way to help you strengthen your legs…she gave you two gifts…stronger legs and a love of dancing!
Sorry about your dad not letting you follow your dream. I think you and I are close in age. We grew up in a different time…one of certain “old fashioned” expectations for women. Fortunately, with dancing it never really leaves you once its taught you to listen and move:~)
AH…another singer???? Any chance for a video? Maybe one of SuZen dancing and singing????
You captured exactly how I feel when I waltzing…it does feel like being Cinderella:~) Dancing at home has become my favorite exercise. It really is very aerobic!!! And thank you…I will dance on:~)
Hi Sara .. beautiful picture .. gorgeous .. and waltzing. Love that you and JC are learning together .. that’s so great. I am hopeless .. no sense of rhythm – that doesn’t help. I actually learned the piano – but that wasn’t much good either!! However the best dance I learnt at school (all girls) was the West Side gang dance – that was fun and I coped. We had a ballroom dancing competition .. and I & whomever my partner was (girl) .. won a prize (I’m sure consolation!) .. but it was a little porcelain/ceramic ornament with some dainty flowers on .. can’t say I was too impressed either way – winning or the prize!!??
So 1) and 2) .. aren’t easy .. I do like all sorts of music and watching dancers is mesmerising when it’s done well .. re 3) flowers .. all, scented ones, delicate ones, full blown ones .. so from the tiny snowdrop, to the forsythia just pushing its lemony yellow out, sweetpeas, tulips, you name it .. I love it and as per my latest post – Passion Flowers – beautiful.
Interesting isn’t it .. Morning Glories in South Africa were resplendent too .. but here they’re weeds! I must have a look at the Queen of the Night – as per Fireblossom (lovely name!) .. peonies – always loved them, roses, and on ..
Thanks Sara – love that picture .. enjoy the other blooms ..
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Spring Cleaning and Passion …. =-.
@ Hilary — You got me. I searched for the West Side gang dance. Hey, don’t knock winning a prize. Ballroom dancing isn’t easy. It used to be very common at school for girls to dance together. Not necessarily easy as one has to learn the guy’s part, however:~)
I was interested in reading about the Passion Flower as I knew nothing about it. You are right they are beautiful and their history is fascinating. I’m glad you shared that information on your site:~)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this post. I AM enjoying all the flowers. I look up each one someone mentions and include a link to that flower:~)
One of my memories of dancing is kind of funny and kind of embarrassing. There was a girl I knew when I was a freshman in college who kept inviting me to ballroom dancing classes, and for some reason it didn’t register with me that she wanted to get to know me better — I was so oblivious back then that I thought all she wanted was a dance partner.
@ Chris — Isn’t getting mixed messages often the case when we’re young? I imagine you must have wondered about participating in ballroom dancing. Then again, I believe ballroom dancing has the most close contact of any dancing I’ve done. Even the fast dances have moves that require the partners to be very intimate. I bet she choose ballroom dancing because she thought you were really HOT:~)
Hi Sara
How fun again!
Well, I love dancing! But I didn’t know it until my late, late teens when I started going to clubs. In my childhood years, I did do some dancing when no one was watching, and kicked and screamed no when my mom tried to sign me up for ballet. Go figure.
Anyhow, you know what music makes me always want to dance – latin! Ooo the Salsa and the Merengue and all, just melts me. But I actually also love ballroom dancing, even though I did like 1% of it in my life.
As for favourite flower, too hard – I love them all! But forget-me-nots always did have a soft spot in my heart!
@ Evita — I agree about the latin dancing!!! We haven’t started those dances yet, but they are soooo much fun!!! Ah, forget-me-nots are great flowers…good choice:~)
If I’m to dress for the ball, it’s hyacinths and a gardenia I want to take with me. If I’m dancing around the house to 50′s and early 60′s rock and roll, give me a bouquet of white daisies with a sprinkling of dianthus blooms.
What young girl didn’t love a dance! And in the 7th grade I think we were all awkward! I know I was. I was too short and looked like I was still in 4th grade. (NOT a good thing at 12, to look 9 when everyone else looked 12, if you know what I mean.)
I so enjoyed this post. I haven’t danced in years. My husband doesn’t dance. So of course, we don’t go… But it’s all good. I’d rather have him than not.
The most embarrassing moment on the dance floor was my freshman year in college. My jitterbug partner was a fabulous dancer and took me along for the ride. We drew a crowd, and there we were, middle of the dance floor, the only couple dancing, I in 4 inch heals and a skin-tight sheath dress — yes, I’m that old. And I fell. Oops. Not a fun feeling…
.-= Barb Hartsook´s last blog ..Do We Recognize Opportunities as They Soar Over Us? =-.
@ Barb — I have this vision of you dancing around the house with daisies in your hair. Also, I have to admit the 50′s and 60′s had some great dancing music….you have to move when you hear those songs. Who could forget Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On or The Twist, which was one of my favorite dances as a teen!!
Regarding your embarrassing moment, I hurt for you about that one. I did something similar, except we weren’t the center of attention, with a guy I really liked. I fell right on my butt. Such is life, eh?
Hi Sara,
What a fun post. And reading of how you and JC are taking dance lessons make me smile. It sounds so romantic.
I remember dancing as a kid. In those days it was the twist and limbo. OooooooH, I’m dating myself. Those were fun dances since they were ones girls could do without a partner. It’s funny because to this day if I hear any type of music that reminds me of the twist, I’ll still do it.
Flowers – right now my favorite is lilacs; my lilac bush just started showing buds and I’m excited for when I can go outside and cut some for a bouquet. I LOVE how they smell.
.-= Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Warning! Online Bullies Hide Behind Their Words =-.
@ Barbara — We must be close in age because the Twist was a dance I well remember. Did you ever learn the Swim…now that was a funny dance. One move required to hold your nose and wiggle your way down to floor and another you had make swimming motions with your arms.
Lilacs are beautiful flowers. I looked up the meaning of lilacs and they represent springtime. Purple lilacs also represent the first feelings of love and white lilacs represent youthful innocence (big surprise there:~)
Whoops! Did I really type daffodils? Sorry, Sara. I meant dandelions! Just wanted to set the record straight there…
.-= Tony Single´s last blog ..An Atheist in Sheep’s Clothing =-.
@ Tony — daffodils, dandelions…hey they both start with the letter “d.” Now, I have to admit dandelions are one my favorite flowers. They are what I call very persistent flowers, determined to grow wherever they can!!! While many call them weeds and see as a nuisance flower, they actually mean happiness and faithfulness…perhaps we shouldn’t so quick to pull them from the garden?
The record is set straight:~)