Swingy Adventy Sunday
Trip Start
Aug 28, 2011
1
29
63
Trip End
Jun 30, 2012
Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Some people are surprised about how much I go swing dancing. It seems that I am on the road many a weekend going to some workshop or party. The question many ask is this – why? This question crossed my mind, after spending €12.20 for a train ticket to Hannover for an evening of kicking it on the dance floor to the tunes of Ella, Ol' Blue Eyes and others.
I don't really want to bore you, so I'll keep this short, but I got the fever because of...
The Music - One newbie to the swing scene commented that everyone looked so happy at the Swingy Sunday dance. I ask you-how can you be sad when you hear a song like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qrjtr_uFac As one wise swing dancer told me "This stuff will renew your faith in life when you start letting it get a hold of you."
The Challenge - I guess Forensics left a big hole in my life that needed to be filled. Swing dancing turned out to be a perfect artistic outlet for me. As I discovered at my first workshop, I have a lot to learn about swing dancing. For me, using and mastering a new move for me is just as thrilling as using a new German idiom in conversation. I guess I take a walk on milder (and nerdier) side...
The People - Still, the topping on the cake for me is getting to know people who are just as crazy...erm...enthusiastic about dancing as I am. I was so excited to find that the swing scene in Hannover is just as welcoming as the scene in Milwaukee. This is fantastic, considering I had to seriously revise my strategy for making friends in Germany.
This made the Advent-themed edition of Swingy Sunday all the more memorable. I had a fantastic time cutting a rug to gospel swing songs and even had the chance to lead-fight with another dancer. After the dance, a group of dancers headed to the Christmas market to enjoy some music from a live swing band. While dancing to the music, it was one of those "Am I dreaming" moments. Luckily, it was real life. When I had to leave for my train, there were handshakes and hugs all around. I'm very thankful to get to know these great people-they certainly make life in Germany much less lonely.
Normally, Germans don't smile in public and thus, I try to limit the whole smiling-at-strangers. That night I threw that social norm out the window and smiled the entire trip home, even though my train was delayed.
Lebe lang und erfolgreich,
Whitney
I'd like to give a shout-out to the dapper swing dancers in Hannover! I look forward to many more Swingy Sundays with you!
