If There is a "Dancing Gene" it Must Be Recessive

Most people like to dance. Many people, when I tell them I can't dance and that I don't really enjoy it, think I'm weird.

But, you know what? I swear, the not-able-to-dance thing has got to be genetic.

Because I come from a family of non-dancers. On both sides.

I've got rhythm, but I lack coordination. When I dance, I resemble Elaine Benis from Seinfeld. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, I dare you to click on the link.) The difference between me and Elaine, though, is that I am aware that I'm a bad dancer.

I'm not terrific when it comes to slow dancing, either. I know, I know, all I have to do is follow the guy's lead. But do you want to know something? I do not think I can be led! (Maybe it's a good thing that all most guys in high school just sway in circles at high school dances...because I can do that. Geez, I could probably lead, if going round and round in circles is all that I'm required to do.) But I digress...

The fact remains that I cannot dance.

Therefore, when Brooker gave me a 10-punchcard for Zumba last Christmas, I was less than enthusiastic. And I felt bad about it, because I love Brooker, and I wanted to like her gift, I really did!

So. On the morning of January 1, 2011, I went to my first Zumba class with Brooker. And I went with an open mind, really I did!

I wanted to stand in the back and dance  wiggle around the way the awesome Zumba instructors were. I was very uncomfortable. Times ten.

But I stayed the entire hour, and I wiggled with the class. (I decided that the most important thing, since I didn't know the moves AT ALL, was to just keep on moving. After all, Zumba can be a fantastic cardio workout!)

Yes, I stayed. And I wiggled. And I didn't hate it.

I DIDN'T HATE IT AT ALL. Something about dancing with the Zumba Sisters and Brooker...well, it was kind of fun.

I've used up that 10-punchcard, and I've purchased new punchcards for myself.

BECAUSE I LOVE ZUMBA. Especially with those Zumba Sisters! (I went to Zumba once at my gym, and I didn't really care for it. Just sayin'.)

Me, Chelsie, gal in the middle, Brooker & Jill with butt tassels.

Oh! And that's not even where the craziness ends, people!

I've never really cared for "dance music" for my entire life. Because dance music is for dancing. But...

I've gone ahead and purchased a LOT of the music we dance to at Zumba.

Seriously, before Zumba I'd never have given Lady Gaga a chance, and I had never even heard of anything like "Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)" or "Prrrum" (among many other songs!).

As it turns out, my Zumba playlist on iTunes is stellar to listen to when I clean.

Who says people can't change, huh?


*Disclaimer: I still reserve the right to say I don't love all dancing. I'd rather do just about anything than go to an actual dance. And I still think I'm un-leadable (not a word?).