Break Down

The square, that is.  Not me...well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Five months ago my husband and I began Mainstream Square Dancing lessons and in 4 days, we graduate.  The caller said "This isn't the end, it's the beginning."  Ain't that the truth.  Learning the calls is just the beginning.

A couple of weeks ago we went to a council dance.  It was the biggest dance we've been to so far and without a moment's pause, we squared up with dancers we didn't know to dance to a caller we didn't know.  The square broke down when an unusual setup was called to a simple column circulate.  Ah well, it happens.  Being new, we looked to the more experienced dancers in the square to help us recover and though it took awhile, we were eventually back in the game.  Then it broke again.  We scrambled and recovered somewhat, only to break again.  The best thing I can say about the tip was that it came to an end and we were all still in the same square.  We said "Thank you" and walked away glad it was over.

Unfortunately, the following three tips followed suit and on the fourth tip, I lost it.  I committed the cardinal sin of square dancing - I rushed away from the square instead of staying to see it through another repair.  My husband was able to get another dancer to step in in my place, but I was done.  I was crying and wanted to go home.  I came home and googled "online support groups for square dancers" and found nothing.  I've been skittish since then..afraid to step out of my comfort zone, gravitating to people I know and shy of larger dances.

Last night we enjoyed a good dance until our last tip.  I royally broke the square by doing something stupid.  I tried to "fix" it.  When the tip ended, I was upset and again wanted to leave.  I'm really in distress over this!  I LOVE square dancing!  When it goes well it is SO much fun, but when it goes badly...it is oh so bad.

So again this morning I renewed my online search for help, googling "how to handle breaking a square in square dancing" and other similar themes.  Nothing.  I can't be alone in this!  I can't be the only Type A perfectionist who struggles to shake it off when the square implodes.  I went looking for help..for answers.  Well, I don't have any, but I thought maybe I'd use this blog as a way to chronicle my struggles and hopefully my progress toward learning how to break a square and get on it with it; how not to get frustrated when others break the square; how to just let it go and move on.  I have a feeling there are some really good life applications available here, some real opportunities for growth.  But like anything worth doing, it is going to take a lot of effort on my part.

So learning the calls was the fun and easy part.  But as our caller said...it is only the beginning.

Gotta go..were late for a dance.  Wish me luck!