Absolute Beginners

Well, I survived last night. Think “The Kids from Fame” - but set on the Orkney Islands. If I go back I might invest in a head band and some multicoloured leg warmers. Nobody else would be wearing that, but I think it would give off an air of professionalism.

So it was a beginners class for Scottish dancing but I was immediately suspicious about how many people were actually beginners based on the number of people who were there wearing proper Scottish dancing shoes. I was even more suspicious when during the first dance the chap opposite me asked what the music was going to be and then gave a knowing nod of his head at the answer. I think there are a number of people who have done the beginners class and just keep coming back year after year. I’m not sure if that is a sign of success or failure.

Anyway, I managed to keep up with most of it and there was this one old chap who was just so off the pace and people were constantly having to direct him that he helped to cover up any errors made by anyone else. He seemed like a really lovely chap and he persevered. I did also get asked to dance by a boy of about 12, which I thought was really sweet of him. After each dance you had to find someone new as a partner, which was not something I relished but fortunately it wasn’t too traumatic and not like being at a school disco with people awkwardly sidling up to someone and asking them to dance and then getting turned down and lurking by the wall all the rest of the evening.

Will I go back? We shall see… I reckon if I don’t go back next week, I won’t go back at all, as I will worry that I am too far off the pace, but it was quite good fun once I got over my initial reservations. It certainly is not my first choice of things to do on a Wednesday night but there is a part of me that thinks it is probably good for me to do something that makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. I enjoyed it far more by the end, but the jury is still out on whether this is ever going to be something I truly enjoy.