Friends, this was a moment of truth about remembering to finish out the song.
While in Chicago earlier this year, I stopped by The Entrance to indulge in many more dances. If you haven’t been to The Entrance on Wednesdays already, you’re missing a great steppers’ party. Seriously!
I was steppin’ with a gentleman that I have danced with for many years. Every time I am out on the set in Chicago when he is there, he asks me for a dance for two or even three songs in a row. I can’t remember the song that was playing this time, but we were jammin’. Mid-turn, I realized some steppin’ legends enter the set and walk across the dance floor. I was distracted and kept looking over to see where they were going and to wave hello. My dance partner became annoyed because I was not paying attention as I should.
The song playing was one of those songs that “fake end” on a stepper. You know a song that seems to end but wait .. pause; there’s more to dance to before the song finishes. Hearing the apparent winding down of the music, I stopped dancing with my partner and was ready to jet across the floor to meet and greet. My partner was not having it and said, “Sonji, the song has not finished! Can you at least finish out the song? We are still dancing.”
I said, “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t realize it. I was distracted. Oops! Those folks never come out to the set.” I snapped back to the current situation and stepped into my partner’s embrace. He was not happy and not smiling either.
I said, “Can we at least smile at each other for the remainder of the song?” He did not smile, and the song ended. He dropped his arms and I took off. Well, ladies and gentlemen, this gentleman has not asked me to dance again since that night at The Entrance.
The moral of the story is, “Finish out the song.” Dancing on a single song is usually only 3-4 minutes with someone else on the floor. To learn from this moment, I remind myself how important it is to make every minute on the dancefloor blissful for my partner and me until the song really finishes. I am working on this diligently and intentionally now!
“Give your full attention to your dance partner even if he or she doesn’t dance as well as you do or if you’re tired or distracted or if you just need to move on or if you see someone else that you know.”
Can you name some song(s) that steppers dance to that have a “fake end?” Post your answers in the comments.
Image Source: Google – Arkansas Democrat Gazette – All White Steppers Delight
