dancing – Kelley Eskridge

We’re no angels

There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good. — Edwin Denby

I don’t expect heaven when I die, but I’m getting a little Heaven right here in Seattle — the new location of my part-time dancing gig.

Dancers are on summer hiatus — things typically slow down in July and August, and the Hot Flash schedule is variable because of Mariners’ games (baseball in Seattle = parking hell). But the dances and the dancers will be back on a regularly scheduled basis in September.

In the meantime, I’m making noises with the management about a volunteer schedule — hey, I’ll be there dancing anyway, may as well do it on stage — but we’ll see. Either way, come dance with me on July 26 (Hawaiian shirt and bikini night!) and August 16. (Sorry, guys — Hot Flash dances are for women and transgendered people only.)

My dancing schedule…

…has changed. I will dance next on Saturday, May 24 (not tomorrow, for those of you who are using the blog to keep track), and after that on the 3rd Saturday of the month.

If you are new to this blog and wonder what in tarnation I’m talking about, find out here and here. And then come dance with me!

Dance to the music

So I did my dancing thing last night and had a blast.

The club was packed, the dance floor was heaving, and people were having a great time. DJ Stacey played Frankie Goes To Hollywood just for me. In my two sets, I got everything from “We Are Family” to “Sexyback.”

My mother was there. With her video camera and her tiger t-shirt. She got an unexpected treat when one of the other dancers dropped into her lap and started to wiggle… It was wonderful to see her smile and laugh and move to the music. She remarked on how much she loved seeing an entire room full of women who all looked so happy — and for me, the gift is that she was one of them.

And Nicola was there, which made it all the more special. She looked gorgeous, she told me I was fantastic, and she didn’t blink when other women stuffed dollar bills down my bra. (Is she a keeper, or what?) I feel very lucky indeed (no pun intended) to have such unconditional, confident love.

And good friends came to cheer me on. Thank you, thank you to Sue, Vicki, Alsia, Elbereth, Kate, Liz, and Luey for being there. Thanks for dancing (you all looked beautiful!). And thank you especially for the goodwill, and for letting me share with you some of the particular joy that dancing is for me.