Put On Those Dancin’ Shoes and Join the Fun

Twice a week, as I haul my carcass across the gym pool in a feeble attempt to dodge the one-two punch of age and gravity, the thought floats into my head: Frankly, I’d rather be dancing.

I love to dance. Half the people I know love to dance. The other half claim to hate it, though I’m convinced most of them would be flailing, spinning and gyrating with the rest of us dancing fools if they only knew how.

In Ventura County, it is easy to learn the moves. With a variety of dance instruction available, even those with floundering feet can acquire the skills needed to propel themselves gracefully across a dance floor.

Besides lessons in country Western, salsa, hip-hop and jitterbugging that are available locally, there is a burgeoning folk dance scene.

“Brazilian, Balinese and flamenco instructors have all just begun teaching in the county,” said Leo Smith, who wrote today’s cover story on international folk dancing. “And Scottish country and other social dances are pretty popular throughout the area.”

While many of the groups cited in today’s story welcome newcomers, Smith--who does a fair amount of folk dancing himself--was daunted by some of what he saw.

“Much of it looked quite painful to me. I don’t bend like most of them,” he said. “In particular, the Scottish Highland dancing is quite impressive. The speed and precision that it takes are incredible.”

Overall, he was surprised at the high level of dancing at the classes he attended. And he said he was amazed to find that international dancers form a tight, cohesive community.

“It was through the African dance instructor that I found the Balinese dance instructor,” he said, “and through the Balinese instructor I found the Brazilian dance teacher.”

All the world is our dance floor.

While some people kick up their heels this week, others will be lifting their voices in song, a logical thing to be doing during the holidays.

This week’s holiday story by Barbara Tone is about Judy Bascue, a Camarillo resident and sign language instructor who is bringing the sounds of Christmas both to those who hear and those who don’t through her program of “Christmas Carols in Sign.” Two performances are scheduled, one for the Tri-Counties Greater Los Angeles Awareness on Deafness Christmas Party, the other for the general public.

Carols, as much as Santa, gifts and sleigh bells, help define Christmas. And, certainly more than lines at the department stores, they speak to us of joy, faith and beneficence--the season’s best offerings. Let’s share the wealth.