It's been a crazy year for me personally (leaving my job, going to a coding bootcamp, a trip to the ER, job searching, a car accident that ruined the right side of my car, part-time jobs, and more things), so I'm really thankful to have been able to do as much as I did this year. Dancing every week has been the only routine/regular event in my life and knowing I could dance out all of my stress at the end of the week made it a little easier during the hard parts.
2017 Stats:
-Went to just over 50 social dances, most of those times at Eastside Stomp
-Completed the last level 1 Lindy Hop class at Eastside and took a Followers Technique class. I got soooooo much amazing teaching and feedback from the followers class and has improved by leaps and bounds. Seriously, if you ever have a chance to take a class with Elaine and Stefan, do it.
-Attended Emerald City Solo Jam, Jitterbug Weekend, B'Ham Swing Jam, some of the dances at Camp Jitterbug and Seattle Lindy Extravaganza
-Had the opportunity to dance to over a couple dozen different bands, most of them from the Seattle area.
How did I do on completing my goals for 2017?
- Learn an get comfortable with tandem charleston
Between looking up the footwork on YouTube and doing it on the social floor, I'm at least comfortable getting in and out at moderate speeds. Sometimes even fast if I realize it's coming. But tandem variations? Eh, not so much.
- Enter my first Jack and Jill competition
Done. Competed at Eastside Stomp in March.
- Improve at asking people to dance and being more social at dances and events. My quiet introvert side is definitely holding me back a bit, but I want to fix that.
Definitely made big improvements and don't mind asking people to dance anymore. Success!
- Get a video clip of me dancing (everyone from friends to family to co-workers wanna see how good I can dance)
I finally did that!
- Get comfortable doing outs and ins in BalboaMy outs and ins are better, but honestly all of my bal has improved a bit. I only took one bal workshop this year, but between that and dancing it socially I definitely feel more confident and comfortable now.
-Go to several dance events (Emerald City Solo Jam & Jitterbug Weekend are already paid for!)
I'm really happy with what I was able to go to, considering that money's been really tight this year. Beyond Emerald City Solo Jam and Jitterbug Weekend mentioned above, I went to The B'ham Swing Jam and some of the dances at Camp Jitterbug and Seattle Lindy Extravaganza.
2018 Goals:
- Go to Big Sky Weekend and The B'ham Swing Jam. I'd love to do Lindy Bout and Camp Hollywood as well, but I doubt it'll be in the budget this year.
- Become more comfortable at dancing to slower tempos. If I'm following someone who keeps in closed a lot more with slow songs I do alright and don't mind, but when I'm with someone who gives a lot of space I never know what to do.
- Learn more styling and variations
- Improve my solo jazz skills. Even though I know different moves, stringing them together without freezing up is a real struggle for me right now
