I just loved this so much. I, too, danced with abandon at the age of 60 at my commitment ceremony to my true love, but in the summer of '23. I felt like a whirling dervish - and didn't care who saw. The only way I could truly express the joy I felt was through my body - it was an unearthly feeling.
People would be surprised to know that your experience in the advanced dance class is actually more like how the world works. As someone who has kept dance the central focus of my life for nearly all of my 44 years, I can say that confidence in your own body is the most important thing. Dance is self-expression, so when you see someone authentically expressing themselves with joy and abandon, it deserves respect.
So many quotable lines in this piece, but my favorite is: "Dance like the whole world is watching, and they should, because everyone who dares to flaunt their effervescent swagger and rattle those skeleton bones is a goddamn hero." Thank you for this!!
A person who can dance is forgiven many sins I’ve been told 😇. I’ve become increasingly interested in writing about the impacts of recording devices in dance classrooms, but hadn’t thought about how they’ve also changed social dancing. Going to investigate now…Thank you for sharing.
This made me want to get out of my chair and move without overthinking it. There’s so much permission here to be visible, awkward, loud, and alive all at once. It reminds me that joy doesn’t need polish to be real. Being willing to look a little foolish suddenly feels like a kind of courage.
I just loved this so much. I, too, danced with abandon at the age of 60 at my commitment ceremony to my true love, but in the summer of '23. I felt like a whirling dervish - and didn't care who saw. The only way I could truly express the joy I felt was through my body - it was an unearthly feeling.
People would be surprised to know that your experience in the advanced dance class is actually more like how the world works. As someone who has kept dance the central focus of my life for nearly all of my 44 years, I can say that confidence in your own body is the most important thing. Dance is self-expression, so when you see someone authentically expressing themselves with joy and abandon, it deserves respect.
So many quotable lines in this piece, but my favorite is: "Dance like the whole world is watching, and they should, because everyone who dares to flaunt their effervescent swagger and rattle those skeleton bones is a goddamn hero." Thank you for this!!
“…Love is rude, love is nude, love lives with its robe open. Love wants to be looked at.” Like dancing. This essay has me energized!
Whoever doesn't dance for these ridiculous reasons is a fool.
C. Cox danced for Springsteen, plucked from the crowd, did her thing on stage, in front of thousands. Look what happened to her.
As a child my mother laughed, shamed me, and called me crazy. So I danced even more.
I've been dancing ever since with no plans of stopping....
A person who can dance is forgiven many sins I’ve been told 😇. I’ve become increasingly interested in writing about the impacts of recording devices in dance classrooms, but hadn’t thought about how they’ve also changed social dancing. Going to investigate now…Thank you for sharing.
This made me want to get out of my chair and move without overthinking it. There’s so much permission here to be visible, awkward, loud, and alive all at once. It reminds me that joy doesn’t need polish to be real. Being willing to look a little foolish suddenly feels like a kind of courage.
Sad