The latest project that I’m working on. This is my part. This was written after I had an impromptu interview with Daniel last Thursday. (Nothing like shoving a microphone in someone’s face and asking him to speak!) This project has been pieced together in non-linear way, so it’s fun hearing it come together.

The parts have been recorded, and each track has been edited. I took out all of the hmmm’s and ahhh’s and any other lengthy pauses on words like, “soooo.” I even included audio from a video I recorded a few years ago. (I needed ambient noise.)

I’ll post the final version audio clip later this week.  The narrative below also includes my audio cues. There are photos and videos of this dance, but this is an audio project not a video one.

On the Dance Floor

{Clip: Fade in. Group class}

2… 3….4…. and 1  March. March. Side. March. March Side. Or step step step step. There is a lot of this when learning to ballroom dance. It’s fun, but after dancing for a few years, I wanted to do more.

I was  intrigued with the idea of competing in a dance competition. I figured it would be a great way to challenge myself. I could pick any song and it could be any dance and it would just be me and my dance instructor in the spotlight on the dance floor.

{Clip: Fade out}

{Silence}

It couldn’t be just any song, though. I wanted to tell a story. I wanted something that would be interesting. 1, 2, 3… dance patterns… not interesting.

{Music: Fade in}

So I started listening to all of my music. And, then it hit me. {In music: Wah wah} Maroon 5. Through with You.

I had this killer song. I could only describe it as heavy. It had feeling. It told a story. Daniel, my dance instructor, told me it would be an awesome Argentine Tango.

{Clip: Daniel on Argentine Tango}  

As my dance partner, he would become my rival. The other person.  Adam Levine was singing his thoughts. And, so, the dance was on.

I created a character for myself. The flirt. I’m the tease. I’m manipulative. And, I have this guy wrapped around my finger.

Now, the task was to create the choreography. Create a routine to display my dance skills. Convey the story. Impress the audience and the judges.

{Clip: Daniel on judges}

There was no way that I would do the “same ol’ same ol’.”  It was more than just the choreography. It was a feeling. I listened to this song over and over again. I began to understand the feeling. I began to feel the emotion. How it felt to have a heartbreak and not admit to it. How it felt to be manipulative. How it felt to want revenge.

On the dance floor, I was lost in the moment. Vulnerable. My emotions were out there for everyone to see, and everyone felt them.

{Music: Fade out}

Other studio instructors approached me after Daniel and I performed the routine. They told me that they felt the dance. That it was heavy. That emotion filled the room. And, that’s exactly what I wanted. It wasn’t just a dance. It was drama.

{Clip: Fade in. Group class.}

After my dance competition, it was back to learning new steps and patterns. But, I had achieved what I had desired. The spotlight on the dance floor.

{Clip: Fade out. Group class. “Nice job”}

If you’re unfamiliar with the song, here is a live version…