Love at first Sight
Do you remember the third lesson in my previous post about being a dance addict ? Here is an example of what I meant:
2008 after I was dancing cuban salsa for about 3 years in addiction mode, I got into a relationship and decided to adapt my dancing pattern to the needs within the relationship. In 2014 after being together for 6 years things weren’t going so well and my relationship was moving into a regular on-off pattern.
Well, OFF time in relationship meant ON time in dancing to me. I got in contact with Kizomba early 2014 and I was fascinated with it.
IMHO, in cuban salsa there is a lot of action in the upper body. Fancy, crazy figures and they are mostly arm work – I have very flexible shoulders and used that advantage extensively. But compared to Kizomba and Semba there is very little leading required in regards of stepping and rhythm. The follower supposed to know her steps and stay within the rhythm.
Kizomba (and Semba) on the other hand seemed different. I could see it in the videos I watched. Leading of the steps, direction and speed. and some artist did basically lead figures with the legs. I thought this was a total different league of dancing. And started to feel the challenge.
I took a few classes, there weren’t much options available in Zürich at that time.
Love or Romance, the Future will show
After a short time my relationship shifted towards an ON phase and boy…. Dancing salsa is one thing but dancing Kizomba did cause some serious stress. We were living distant from each other and after an off phase the trust level wasn’t mature enough for Kizomba.
I was still (or again) in love and wanted to make things work. So I made a decision I wouldn’t repeat today, not for Kizomba nor any other dance…
I stopped dancing Kizomba.
I had my insecurities and didn’t realise changing myself wouldn’t help fix the problems in my relationship. Apparently I needed more time to learn that lesson.
My relationship ended in 2016. I needed some time to process the events of that phase and didn’t feel energy nor desire for dancing till early 2017. Some spontaneous salsa dancing here and there awakened the dancer in me again.
Middle of 2017 I decided to take on the Kizomba challenge. I had to start from zero again but hey.. I said I like challenges
Looking back I have to admit I didn’t even know what Kizomba really was.
Hmmm… I guess some people are still struggling with that topic.