[nabs-l] CanI dance if I want to?

Tue May 14 03:35:43 UTC 2013

I really want to hear from more women about whether the purse-cane
stash is a viable option.
Arielle

On 5/13/13, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
> true,
>  In some   cases though, I feel like you are going    to have to get someone
> with vision to show you some dances  like "Gangnam  style" or Douggie"
>  It's not critical if you don't know, but is always helpful If the song
> comes on and you want to dance  to it (darn catchy songs).,
> On May 13, 2013, at 7:00 PM, Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I've been to quite a few dancing functions, (wedding receptions,
>> homecomings and prom, formals and semiformals at my university, etc).
>> I think as long as you're moving to the beat and you're having a good
>> time it's not a huge deal.  A lot of the time the other people around
>> you will be so caught up in their own dancing or socializing that they
>> won't really take much notice if you're doing something slightly
>> unconventional.  When in doubt you could always step from side to side
>> and just get your shoulders into it.  For guys leading a slow dance
>> mainly involves putting your hands on the girl's waist or shoulders,
>> (whichever she's comfortable with), and just swaying as you step in a
>> circle.  It can be a little awkward the first time you do it, but it
>> is for most guys from what I've seen.
>>
>> Guys have the advantage of having deep pockets.  When I went to prom
>> my boyfriend had a straight cane and I had a folding one, so we left
>> his at our table and I lead with him holding onto my elbow until we
>> got to the dance floor, then I folded up and he put the cane in his
>> tux pocket.  At the last formal we went to I had a telescopic cane and
>> a purse which handily enough had metal rings between the top of the
>> purse and the ends of the straps.  I was able to slide the cane
>> through the loops and because the rings were the right size it was a
>> pretty secure fit.  It was kind of annoying wearing the purse after a
>> while though, and I think I eventually just put it on the table with
>> my coat and went without it.  I strategically chose my table, so it
>> wasn't really an issue of knowing where to go to find it when I needed
>> to during the dance.
>>
>> I've been trying to figure out better ways to go about stowing the
>> cane myself, especially when wearing formalwear like a prom dress as
>> opposed to just a nicer homecoming-style one.  I like taking smaller
>> canes that fold up or telescope for situations like this, so I
>> probably won't ever bring a straight cane to something like this and
>> save eit for more day-to-day use.  I think just finding n easily
>> locatable spot is key not just for your cane, but so you can find all
>> your other stuff when your done dancing.
>>
>> On 5/13/13, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Yes that does sound pretty funny, now that you mention it, Arielle.  But
>>> it's not like guys (not  many  of them at least), rock a purse so…
>>> hahahaha
>>> On May 13, 2013, at 6:12 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Right, but if I'm going dancing I'm not going to be wearing anything
>>>> that holds a belt! How can you stow a cane on a dress? Just thinking
>>>> about it is kind of hilarious!
>>>> Arielle
>>>>
>>>> On 5/13/13, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> HI Arielle,
>>>>> I've seen those funky cane holster thingies that attach to a belt
>>>>> loop or something, maybe there are versions somewhere for telescopic
>>>>> canes?  I think they look kind of silly, personally but I suppose it's
>>>>> an option.
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Kirt
>>>>>
>>>>> On 5/13/13, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>> I was fortunate to grow up among many Jewish kids who all had bar and
>>>>>> bat mitzvahs, (Jewish celebrations of coming-of-age that happen at
>>>>>> age
>>>>>> 12 or 13) and most had dance parties for their bar and bat mitzvahs,
>>>>>> so I became comfortable with dancing and potentially looking stupid
>>>>>> at
>>>>>> quite a young age. :) I'm sure some people taught me how to dance,
>>>>>> though I can't remember who and honestly, by now I've forgotten most
>>>>>> of my formal instruction. I do remember being told that dancing is
>>>>>> mainly about having fun and just moving your body to the beat of the
>>>>>> music. I'm sure I don't dance perfectly but I've always had fun and
>>>>>> nobody has ever criticized my dancing or not wanted to be with me on
>>>>>> the dance floor because of my dancing. So I don't think you need to
>>>>>> worry too much about how you appear to others. If the group is doing
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> line dance like the YMCA, and you don't know the moves for that
>>>>>> particular dance, there's no problem with sitting it out or just
>>>>>> moving off the dance floor to talk to people, or go get a drink or
>>>>>> snack or whatever, during that song. If you want to learn some
>>>>>> things,
>>>>>> you could ask a friend or family member who has lots of dancing
>>>>>> experience to teach you or just to watch your moves and tell you
>>>>>> what's good and what you could change or improve on. Also, slow
>>>>>> dancing is easy for girls who are just supposed to follow the man,
>>>>>> but
>>>>>> if you're a guy and want to learn how to slow-dance with women you
>>>>>> may
>>>>>> want to get a little bit of formal instruction.
>>>>>> One thing I haven't quite figured out yet is where to put my cane
>>>>>> while dancing. When I was younger I would just go with a sighted
>>>>>> friend and stash my cane at a table while my friend and I danced. Now
>>>>>> I'm less comfortable being with the same person all night and I'd
>>>>>> like
>>>>>> to be able to keep track of my cane myself without having it on the
>>>>>> dance floor with me. If I go to a dancing event I usually am not
>>>>>> wearing clothes that allow for storage of a telescoping cane, unless
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> bring a purse and keep it on me while dancing, which I suppose is an
>>>>>> option. I'm curious if others have found good ways to manage this
>>>>>> issue. The best solution I've used is to find a sound landmark of
>>>>>> some
>>>>>> sort like the bar or music stand and put my cane in a corner near
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> spot. But this doesn't work as well in large venues.
>>>>>> Arielle
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 5/12/13, justin williams <justin.williams2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>> Get a guy then; it's cool.  That works.  Longg as he can dance a
>>>>>>> little,
>>>>>>> and
>>>>>>> is a good teacher.  Tell him to move you your body for you at first
>>>>>>> so
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> can get the movement.  In japah, that is how the black belts teach
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> white
>>>>>>> belts.  That is how my instructor instructs me.  Also, if you don't
>>>>>>> drink,
>>>>>>> then that is fine too.  That is just a trick I use.  You can do the
>>>>>>> same
>>>>>>> thing with a cup of water, or a soda; it should work the same way.
>>>>>>> If
>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>> don't want to hang onto a cup like that, then any of the other
>>>>>>> methods
>>>>>>> will
>>>>>>> work just fine.  You just got to mix and match my man.  Mix and
>>>>>>> match.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darian
>>>>>>> Smith
>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 13, 2013 8:10 PM
>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] CanI dance if I want to?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hi listers:  should gender matter  in who teaches you?
>>>>>>> and  what would you suggest if you cannot or  choose not to  partake
>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>> alcoholic  beverages?
>>>>>>> I think these are very interesting points indeed,  Just curious as
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> other
>>>>>>> ways you might go about it?
>>>>>>> Thanks Justin!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Darian
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On May 12, 2013, at 3:59 PM, justin williams
>>>>>>> <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Get a friend, preferably a girl to teach you how to dance.
>>>>>>>> Sometimes
>>>>>>>> keeping a drink in your hand will give you an excuse not to dance.
>>>>>>>> Personally, I avoid dance clubs like the plague if at all possible;
>>>>>>>> however, there are just times in social situations where you just
>>>>>>>> have
>>>>>>>> to shake a leg.  Do the best you can.  Just move your hips and try
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> keep up with the beat.  There are a lot of other people out there
>>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>>> you who can't dance either.  They also look terrible.  If you
>>>>>>>> drink,
>>>>>>>> it loosen's you up just a little.  It doen't make you better, you
>>>>>>>> jus
>>>>>>>> think you are.  Smile just a little even if you don't like dancing,
>>>>>>>> or
>>>>>>>> aren't very good at it.  The appearance of enjoyment, or hopefully
>>>>>>>> you
>>>>>>>> are actually enjoying your self, lets everyone see that you are
>>>>>>>> confident; you can't dance and you know it, but you don't care.  It
>>>>>>>> helps.  I feel you man; I'm in the same boat as you accept I have
>>>>>>>> learned a few tricks to fake it until I can get off of the dance
>>>>>>>> floor.  I get fairly drunk on nights like that if I go out with a
>>>>>>>> group of people because I am using trips to the bar as an excuse
>>>>>>>> not
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> dance.  Remember, if possible, get a friend, especially a girl to
>>>>>>> teach
>>>>>>> you.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Darian
>>>>>>>> Smith
>>>>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 13, 2013 6:36 PM
>>>>>>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>>>>>>> Subject: [nabs-l] CanI dance if I want to?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hi all,
>>>>>>>> Please  excuse  the slight 80's song reference,  but I am curious
>>>>>>>> about how you all go about attending social functions where dancing
>>>>>>>> is
>>>>>>>> a part of the atmosphere?
>>>>>>>> Do you decide to not  take part in it because you don't know how to
>>>>>>>> dance?
>>>>>>>> are you too shy?   Do you just get out there regardless?
>>>>>>>> On Dancing, how do you learn how to dance  if you can't do what a
>>>>>>>> lot
>>>>>>>> of folks do and watch it  on television  or the internet?
>>>>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Darian
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>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Kaiti
>>
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