Dance Steps

Mandy and I have just returned from a two week cruise visiting (some of) the Baltic ports. This was a long-overdue and much needed break for both of us.

As always, we found ourselves challenged in several ways. It always takes us a few days to settle into a holiday; it's such a contrast to and difference from our normal home/work/life routines, but we have grown to recognise the signs, cut each other some slack and be kind to ourselves and each other. Our dining arrangement turned out not to be to our liking and it took us a few days to recognise that and to adjust our routines accordingly.

And then there was the theme of the cruise - "Strictly Come Dancing"! Yes, we chose this cruise not only for the destinations (only one of which we had not visited before) but also for the SCD experience and the opportunity for us to get some refreshed/better ballroom and Latin skills under our belts (feet?).

Several professional dance couples from the show were on the ship and ran some open 'Masterclass' workshops, and there were also other professional dancers offering open and private lessons. We were very excited.

Another part of the experience is to participate in the 'Passenger Edition' Competition, in front of the full theatre (nearly 1,000 seats!), and judged by the celebrity panel headed up by arch-villain, Craig Revel-Horwood, on the penultimate night of the cruise!

Mandy was initially keen that we take part, whilst I had some (several) reservations. But it  wasn't until the process, procedure - and commitment required - was explained by the Entertainment Manager and SCD Producer at the first of the 'couple heats', that the reality kicked in. Did we really want to spend half our leisure time on board creating, choreographing and endlessly practicing a 90 second routine, to face a huge audience and acerbic comments at the end of it all? We were also under some pressure from friends before we left, and from people we met on the ship who had seen some of classes, to enter the competition. Which was very flattering and which our egos could very well have walked us into participating. Don't we all love to be thought of as good at stuff? But again, should we - literally  - be dancing to other people's tune, to their wants and expectations? Did we need that kind of additional obligational element? Did we want to risk getting stressed, frustrated and potentially falling out when we were supposed to be on holiday and achieving exactly the opposite?

Well, actually, no, we didn't. So we chose not to compete. We mutually - and very quickly - agreed that it was in our own and mutual best interest not to put ourselves into that kind of situation, but instead, to enjoy some open and private lessons just to improve our own skill levels a bit, do some social dancing in the evenings and generally have a much more relaxed 'Strictly' experience. So that's exactly what we did, whilst also enjoying all the different ports of call, excursions and self-managed wanderings, and as a result, we had a lovely holiday.

But we did go along to watch and support those brave couples who did reach the 'Passenger Finals', many of whom we had got to know over the two weeks at the other classes, but who always seemed to be just that little bit more stressed and focussed than us when we did. And funnily enough, the winners were a couple a young men on their honeymoon, who danced the most fun and enjoyable salsa, to the delight and approbation of both the audience and the judges. Craig R-H even got his '10 Paddle' out for them! We enjoyed being part of their experience from a different perspective than if we had been competing with them to lift the Glitter Ball Trophy.

Just because you think you should do something, and may very well be fully capable of doing it by putting in the commitment, energy and time required, doesn't mean that you have to. Sometimes you need to listen to your own inner, physical and emotional voices, and to what others are thinking, feeling and saying about it too. Exercise some self care. Try to 'break the busy'. Spend some quality time with those you love and who love you. Particularly now.