Gotta Learn Shim Sham

7:39 AM Edit This 11 Comments »
I learned the Shim Sham yesterday!



I've been watching these youtube videos for four MONTHS trying to figure the dang thing out. To no avail. So, immediately following a two hour Charleston workshop, I took a two hour Shim Sham workshop. And the minute he said, "It starts on the 8 count." The lights went on, the heavens opened and doves flew down to light upon my head.(Really, it was the rivers of sweat coming down that I was feeling, but no matter.)Then it was a piece of cake. That's the part I've been missing. DUH. So, thanks to two hours of sweat and the Number 8, I now know the Shim Sham and I did it all last night in my sleep.

And it's all in preparation for Cowtown Jamborama that's coming up next weekend. Three days of dancing in Omaha with people from all over the place - and SUPER GOOD dancers, too! I'm slightly intimidated, but no matter. I'll walk through that just like every other time I do something new. Kind of like going to the Sidewalk Arts Festival on Saturday. I wanted to GO. But I couldn't find anyone to accompany me. So, I shored up my guns, got in the car and went down there By. My. Self. And even though my hands were shaking as I parked the car, I kept saying to myself, "If you don't like it, you can just leave." And guess what I found at the very first booth I went to?



And all was right with the world. Because dancing has given me some sort of self confidence that I never knew I had. And if it means that I can go do things in BIG CROWDS BY MYSELF, then I guess I better keep doing it.

11 comments:

carrster said...

Whohooo! Awesome. Don't you just love 'signs' like that??

Jules said...

Good for you for facing BIG crowds by yourself! I'm still not there yet, but some day.

Anonymous said...

I mastered my Turbo Jam routine this weekend. I'm pretty proud of myself.

I'd like them to make me a sign that says "I do not punch myself in the face doing Turbo Jam anymore."

melissalion said...

Shim Sham!

Oh my god, those are a lot of steps to remember. A lot.

You know what I love? Going to the movies alone. You should try it, if you're not already a fan of this.

Anonymous said...

I keep telling myself that someday I'm gonna learn to dance. It's on my bucket list (you've seen my bucket list, right?) But I keep putting it off. Dang, if only there were 30 hours in a day I could get so much more done.

Good for you, Kate...for learning to dance, and for facing your fears, and for all the other stuff you've accomplished since starting your new life. Good for you.

J

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

I love that you love to dance. I hope this hobby opens up doors for you to meet new people!

Peder said...

Yay!

Sparkling Red said...

Nice! And I love that old dude on the mike. He's got all the moves.

Jen said...

I need to get into dancing again, I actually miss it. Good for you for taking a go at it solo. It's not so bad, after a while you get so use to it, you actually miss doing things all by yourself, I know I do.

Dingo said...

*sigh* You make me miss dancing.

*Akilah Sakai* said...

That looks like one of the most AWESOME dances to learn!

I keep staring at the guy in the black shirt and jeans in the right corner. He's got some slick foot moves.