I had my first dance lesson. Ron Putnam, who has been a long time dance instructor with Dancing with the Athens Stars, has agreed to take me on. We met at the “Y.” He’s taller than I, three years older, and has wheat blond hair. He moves like someone who knows how to dance. He smiled as he crossed the large wooden floor to shake my hand. During the next hour we talked, which I liked. He seemed to genuinely want to know who I was. He told me about his work and background. Then we began with the “twinkle.” After three or four demonstrations, he acknowledged that I looked terrified. And I was! Excited and terrified at the same time. I had always wanted to learn to dance the waltz but I was running out of time and walking around on bad knees. I also knew the waltz was more difficult than most people made it look when they were dancing.
Ron shared the leg alphabet exercise with me that I was to do every day to strengthen my balance. He suggested that I video tape him, but I don’t learn that way. I learn by writing things down. I will take a small notebook on Wednesday. I did write the twinkle movements down, sent them to Ron and he was helpful in revising them. I am now practicing. I’ve done the leg alphabet exercises and broke the count down into a 1 and 2 and 3 and count because I have to go up on my toes in a half beat.
My take away for the day: I have to practice–a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of beginning something new. And, as terrified as I may have looked, I know that if I persist, if I practice, if I listen to my dance teacher, I can do this. Some one told me recently that Fred Astair refused to take dance lessons but could mimic his sister’s movements. I am not a Fred Astair so I must take lessons to learn to waltz in five and a half months. I am excited that Ron Putnam has taken me on.
Leara Rhodes 