Thirty Dancing — Tokyo
I’m trying out 30 dancing styles, seeking and saying yes to cheap dancing opportunities with others. Here I chronicle why, where, when and how, and the life lessons learned through these experiences.
I love music. I feel music. I got rhythm. I am a gold medalist dancer in my bedroom, kitchen, a deserted beach….anywhere alone. My preferred dancing style involves spinning LED or fireballs — poi — that also serve as offensive weapons.
I lay my weapons down and stand in the arms of a dance partner — I’m a wooden-legged wreck. When I was approached to dance in a salsa club, I proposed my mum instead so they could both enjoy a proper dance. At my first swing dance class, I took time out in the toilet with a massive lump in my throat and tears filling my eyes. One leader sternly advised me, “Accept input”. Profound.
Each weekend I retreated to Usami — my sanctuary. I tried to learn to accept myself. I trained myself to listen to my demon, which said “People only hang around with you because they feel obliged to, not because they want to”, “You’re not good enough” and the final blow, “You are a burden”.
I swam in the sea, I bathed in the sky, I breathed in the stars — I started healing. Eventually, I became ready to venture out and try to accept myself in the company of others. I realised that dancing in couples lasers through to my core, leaving me raw, no longer alone with my dance partner.
Let’s face the music.
Let’s dance.
0. Salsa — Thursday 02/08/18, Otemachi, https://otemachi-jazz.localinfo.jp
I started because I couldn’t say no — a free salsa event less than 5-minutes from my office. This was the warm-up to the 30-dance challenge. My goal was to go to the event and stay for at least 45-minutes, dancing was optional. I hovered around the edge for a while, watched dancers, and enjoyed the music. I wandered away from the dance area with that lump in my throat again. Dancing Queen led me onto the dance floor with Henry — great dancer, relaxed fun, he didn’t seem too troubled by my wooden legs. Video showed me smiling while dancing. Dancing Queen and I brainstormed a list of 30 dances for my challenge and I went home to bed by 9pm.
- Bon 2. Awa — Saturday 04/08/18, Monzen Nakacho
I had spotted this local festival on my way to a restaurant so I returned to dance off dinner. I have previously attempted bon and awa dances with friends while drinking alcohol. This time I forced myself to join the circle — alone, tall white girl: sober. I did my best to follow the arm movements and steps and became increasingly comfortable looking like an idiot. We repeated the same dances around and around and around — I started memorizing the easy one. When the music finished, everyone in the dance circle was rewarded with a free shaved ice and I chatted with my dancing neighbour. Win!
Life lesson — community festival dancing brings people of all ages and backgrounds together.
3. Salsa 4. Bachata 5. Kizomba — Saturday 11/08/18, Roppongi, www.upndance.com
My goal for this afternoon class was to stay for at least an hour. I met an environmental scientist who is researching the Antarctic and an introvert composer who enjoys Norwegian symphonic metal. Rob’s lessons are perfect for beginners and people with wooden legs or multiple left feet. We started the class with some simple warm ups involving (attempted) isolations of different body parts. My hips felt like rusty hinges — I think these exercises work like WD40.
Salsa — is just like walking (forwards and backwards)
Bachata –stay in the line
Kizomba — from Angola. Start slow and develop the connection.
When I saw people dancing kizomba at Otemachi dance event, I felt that was way too close and sexy for me. Thankfully, Rob taught ‘connection training’, the lady puts her hand on the other’s chest to practice feeling and following their intention. I closed my eyes. Sometimes I went the right way. Sometimes I went the wrong way. Sometimes I stood on my partners’ feet. Sometimes my feet were stood on. All feet survived.
I stayed the whole time and really enjoyed dancing with many dancers in class, especially those taller than myself including Rob-sensei. I congratulated myself with a falafel and made it home for 9pm bedtime.
Life lesson — “HUG. This is what connection feels like. When you lose it, take your time to reconnect.”
4.2 Bachata — Tuesday 11/08/18, Roppongi
http://www.elcafelatino.com/?page_id=97
I’d spent the morning stressing about a meeting and the afternoon lamenting the direction of my professional life — I needed to turn the day around. I was proud that I’d projected myself out of the house so made no further goal. Dancing Queen suggested “enjoying myself’ — fair point! “Pick a boy you want to dance with and go ask him” she said, but I’m not ready for that yet! There were amazing dancers flying around the floor and moving sensually together. I let myself be led by various kind dancers including one older Japanese guy who pushed on my shoulders for a while. I thought this meant I should stop moving my shoulders but Dancing Queen explained that this was a signal to move down somehow. Amazing Jamaican apologized for being sweaty which I hadn’t noticed because I was enthralled and honoured to be his dance partner! Fun Spanish-speaking Japanese guy playfully led me to swoosh my hair around! While taking a break, I had a flashback to my primary school leavers’ disco — the first time most of us 10-year olds tried to slow dance in a couple — I was at the edge of the dance floor alone. Back in 2018 Roppongi, the lump in my throat jumped up to surprise me and tried to force tears out of my eyes. I danced two dances more after saying I’d had enough and went to bed after midnight on a weeknight! I set my alarm for 5am.
The experience revealed that I rate my body confidence at about 1.3 out of 10. Viewed positively, that figure should be pretty easy to improve.
Life lesson — signals can be misinterpreted.
6. Tango — Monday 20/08/18, Komagome https://www.facebook.com/events/385326428654540/
I felt much more comfortable going to this class after my previous dancing experiences. I was not worried about the close contact nor the prospect of being led. We began the class practicing how to walk — 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4. My understanding is that in tango, you are either on one foot or the other — never on both. There must be a certain level of tension in the arms to be able to communicate and the chests of the two partners should remain a consistent distance apart. Dancing Queen translated Shouhei-sensei’s instructions. I danced with a Malaysian, Chinese and a number of Japanese. Finally, sensei tried to introduce a sequence involving a pivot and side steps. He used me as the model in front of the class but I didn’t get it. He explained again and I still didn’t get it — it was clear to the whole class that I didn’t understand what to do. I felt sorry for sensei that I was a failed example. I practiced the steps across the floor with various partners and eventually got it, I think. Afterwards, sensei explained that the point of this exercise was to confirm the leader’s intention before moving onwards. I recommend teachers explain the purpose of exercises before doing them, not after. After class, there was a brief time for free dancing. I sat down and watched beautiful people move gracefully around the room and admired ladies’ heeled back-kicks (which probably have a real name)
Life lesson — expect not to get things right at first.
7. Cuban salsa — Saturday 25/08/18, Roppongi http://www.danza-cubana.com/
Studying hard all weekend for an interview I wanted to schedule in fun. Thanks to Florent I spotted this event and he agreed to teach me some basic steps. I was mildly nervous on the way and had a brief vision of turning away just before I opened the door. Cuban salsa seemed like a somewhat triangular step to me, with plenty of turns, spins and not-quite-tying-your-arms-up-with-your-partners’. Avoid guillotining your partner’s head with your arm. A Japanese guy complimented me on my Japanese, which should not be taken as an insult though all Japanese learners know that it is. I can’t coordinate my legs, arms, and music, let alone speak at the same time. In couples dancing and poi dancing too, I find closing my eyes helps me feel. I am learning to be led.
Life lesson — don’t multitask.
8. Belly dancing — Wednesday 26/09/18, Sarah Amira, Minami-Sunamachi, https://www.facebook.com/saramiraorientaldance/?ref=br_rs
The first solo dance style within this challenge. When Sarah is belly-dancing, her soul shines, she radiates joy — a joy to learn in this energy. Sarah explained the deep femininity of belly dancing movements which train women for giving birth. We can move all body parts in circles (the universe) and in a figure of 8 motion (infinity). I said a pleasure to meet you to unfamiliar muscles at the top of my belly and their neighbours at the bottom of my belly. Once again, I heard the word isolation — consistently used across the dancing styles I’ve tried, because we aim to control each part of our bodies.
During a recent vipassana meditation retreat, I realised that the simplest way to start loving my body was to give it careful attention. Dancing builds upon this — by focusing on individual muscles we awaken their consciousness and endow ourselves with fresh powers to express and experience through the body. Sarah can control her shimmy from head to toe, on toes, while walking — a level of muscle mastery requiring persistent training.
Life lesson — love is giving attention.
9. Tahitian — Friday 12/10/18, Shin Ochiai, https://jmty.jp/tokyo/les-dan/article-89pd8
A beautiful light high-ceiling studio hiding on the second floor in a quiet residential area. Worries of the working week evaporated as the drums kicked in — I was transported to the Pacific islands which are soon to become home.
I thrust my hips front, right, back, left, front, right, back, left, now fast, now faster! Now the other direction. Sweat flowed early in this class! We practiced to Te Vaka Logo Te Pate from Moana, which Dancing Queen and I had danced to on repeat earlier this year in Usami Seaside Mansion. Tahitian dance requires incredible leg muscle strength and control I lack.
Sensei arranged us beginners as the middle of three rows, allowing us to watch and follow the front row and see ourselves in the mirror. She regularly switched the front and back rows — a superbly simple way to change the class dynamic and perspective for all participants.
We did some stepping, turning, bending knees, and different drills in teams of three from the back to the front of the studio. I smiled my way across the floor enjoying the beat and supportive friendly atmosphere. I look forward to enjoying more island dancing and saying it’s my first time every time!
Life lesson — train in techniques to allow your body to be a movement-medium of music.
I am updating this blog as I go — if you have any suggestions for cheap dancing opportunities around Tokyo for styles not currently listed, I welcome your recommendations!
