And 5,6,7,8, slow...

"Why do you dance, Sarah?" my partner asked me once over a year ago, before we started dancing together when I was still just dipping my toes into this new and exciting way of life, as it has turned to to be for some of us.

I can truthfully say that for me dancing is about dancing, about the joy that two bodies moving as one in response to the rhythms, melodies, and harmonies of music can bring. No ulterior motives here truthfully, and though I think the dance world is fraught with them, that is all part of the path we navigate as dancers, whether it be on the social floor or in the competitive circuit.

About two months ago, Jeff and I made the decision to pursue our dance goals together. We were good friends already, have a couple of very successful and committed coaches, and the willingness and dedication to practice on a regular basis, besides the added bonus of both having a musical background, having been piano students for a number of years and approaching dance from that perspective. We also like to brag that we never fight and never will; you'll get to watch that played out here perhaps. Respectfully or teasingly, argue we do, we maintain, but never "fight." Our coaches and competitive dance friends roll their eyes...they think our day will come.

All of this has led to a basic routine of working out at the gym daily, mainly to get and stay in shape for dancing, and then practicing together for 1-2 hours most weekday evenings and social dancing on the weekends. In the ensuing weeks we found that our lessons and practice sessions have given rise to a number of ridiculous, interesting, awkward, and just plain fascinating situations and discoveries. We thought that this blog would be a fun way to share those experiences as well as chronicle our progress.

And in case anyone was wondering, we dance international style ballroom, a.k.a. international standard, comprised of waltz, tango, Viennese waltz, foxtrot, and quickstep. It does not include samba, merengue, or bachata, thank heaven! No, we do not perform shows (yet), no, we are not preparing for a wedding, and finally, yes, we have heard of Dancing with the Stars and no, we don't watch that show.

Ditto what Jeff said about the title. Dance is fascination; it's one of those things that draws you in and will not let you go...