I Never Left, I Just Needed A Break
So, it's a break that lasted over 10 years, but less than 11. A few things happened. And I may need another break from one of those things.
I revisited an activity I started, but dropped in the 1990s - American Contra Dancing. The reason I dropped it in the 90s may be the reason I'm considering dropping it now - people suck (me included).
The pandemic forced me and everyone to pause it March 2020. I've participated in two contra dances since March 2020 during what I call the vaccine honeymoon period -- Spring/Summer 2021. While I enjoyed the moment of both of those instances, I also felt regret afterward. Contra dance is way too intimate for a pandemic even if you think for a moment the pandemic is over or about to be over and obviously it was/is not over.
I became so immersed in contra dance the 20teens that I became interested in calling dances. I went to workshops and would meet with other callers and calling aspirants like myself monthly. I even wrote (mostly stole - it's a rampant not necessarily frowned upon practice in the industry) a dance that doesn't work, but someone made the mistake of verifying it did work on one of the contra dance databases - it was not me, I did not do it.
I came to the conclusion I was not very good at being a caller. And I was fine with not being good at it. I wasn't doing it for the right reasons - but I won't say it was for the wrong reasons. It was just for my reasons. I did it so I could be on stage and tell people what to do which has always been a hobby. I hate the rehearsal, but I love the performance regardless.
Click to viewObviously, a lot of dance communities have not been dancing over the past 2 years. It's caused a lot of anguish amongst dancers across the country. I've avoided posting about it on other social media platforms as I have witnessed when others post about the situation I've come to the conclusion they are "asking for it." I don't think I have any dance connections on Live Journal, but I don't filter anyone out so they could find it, comment, and maybe even have a moment in which I'm sure no parties will be swayed. There are about a dozen hard core consequences-be-damned groups that are still gathering - https://www.trycontra.com/list. The list was double that size back in January, but omicron culled the field.
Back in August my local dance community had an opening on their board because one of the members rage quit. The person that quit wanted to dance NOW and could not convince enough of the other board members to open back up. I don't know if this is the reason they quit, but I know their stance was in the minority. And unless you can get a majority to agree then dancing will not resume for this community. I said I would take the position if they wanted and I also disclosed I had no desire to return to dance until the instance rate map turned green. I have since found that most people would settle for the map being yellow or even orange. Regardless, I was voted in. Since then I've gotten a taste of how what a small percentage of the community thinks as it relates to returning to dance. And while the number of people is relatively small that want to return to dance, they are very loud. You know who they are and you will know how they feel.
I've offered to everyone that complains they may dance. If they feel it's safe they should have a dance, but the local official organization more than likely will not be sponsoring those dances in the near future. By near future I mean next week. I've named resources, suggested locations that might be available for rent, etc. I've not screamed at anyone to wear a mask or what to do to protect themselves from the virus. At this point I'm going with we all have the same bad and valid information. There were periods of time where schools were closed but bars were open which pretty much sums up how America has handled the pandemic. I'm not going to be solving any problems by telling people they shouldn't have a private party.
Back to the loud people...it has at times gotten ugly. After a recent vote in which one of the organizers of a private party asked the organization for a "donation" so they could fund their private party (pay a hall, a caller, and musicians) was denied by a board vote, I was told in 2022 we would find ourselves with "less friends." I know I was supposed to be devastated by this, but I just shrugged and replied "I'm good."
What all this has led to over the past several months is my thinking my dance, calling, and organization trustee career is over. The term ends in May and I don't plan to renew for another term. In fact I'm encouraging loud people to step up and put themselves on the slate to be voted in so they can take on the responsibility of opening dance back up. I might be able to travel to other communities when it's safe again, but I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around dancing with my local community. Contra lines involve interacting with every other person in that line. And while I loved most every dancer I came in contact with in the before times and could tolerate the ones that I might not have loved so much, I'm just not sure I can see myself fake smiling at or even making eye contact with this population that I think has made some rather not so great decisions or unreasonable requests. Never say never, but that's where I am right now as it relates to this subject.
I need a new interest. I should read more. Reading doesn't depend on other people, right?