One of my favorite people to step with is Sharvin Whitted. He helped me with one particular fear without knowing it. When I saw this video with him in my Facebook feed last week, I thought, “There he goes again.” I smiled as I remembered the times I could not get over the edge.
Most times I danced with Sharvin at the Capital City Steppers first Saturday sets in Raleigh, NC at TJ’s Night Life. Every time we were on the dance floor he danced at the edge of the floor. At TJ’s there is a small step down from the dance floor and I always danced in fear of falling as I struggle with balance at times. I never fell, but I always thought Sharvin danced with me at the edge to help me stay in my lane. Eventually as my dance improved, I thought “Why doesn’t he ever dance with me somewhere else on the floor? I know I’ve gotten better.” Despite my fear, I never said no to dancing with him and worked on my balance. One day I finally got the nerve to ask him.
“Sharvin why do you always dance with me at the edge of the dance floor?”
He replied, “I don’t have to think about or watch out for people bumping into us on both sides, just one side.”
Hmm. I laughed out loud. And when I watch him more I realized that he danced at the edge with many women not just me. How mistaken I had been all along! I fed my own fears with my imagination. Thank you Sharvin!
I know a lot of people can’t get over a crowded dance floor and might not be on the same page with me on this one. When I prepared for my very first trip to Chicago years ago, that was all I heard. “The floors are much smaller and very crowded in Chicago. Stay in your lane.” However, in this case, I was so excited about the trip I looked forward to anything new I would experience. I saw crowded floors as a new challenge in my steppin’ journey. I practiced day and night and in Chicago I stepped up to every request to dance with no hesitation and yes every floor was jam packed and crowded. I actually enjoy every moment on a crowded dance floor and if my dance partner points it out or complains about the crowd I smile and simply say we can do this.
In this dance, Chicago Style Steppin’, every step forward to improve my dance was a step over a fear I conjured up in my head or that someone else told me. The only way for me to take that step was to face the fear, practice and believe in myself. Now I live on the edge and the crowded dance floor is my friend, because in those moments on the floor I know I shine.
I also heard from a legend in this dance that men dance at the edge because everyone sees you and is watching, so that is the time to give the best show. In the middle of the dance floor a couple is lost in the crowd.
Acknowledgement(s): Sharvin Whitted, Capital City Steppers
