Post by drummie on Nov 5, 2011 21:40:51 GMT -5
Hello all, I am an old dancer, I started tapping in 1954, probably before most, if not all on here were born. I tapped until my early twenties when working, getting married, raising a family etc. got in the way. I kept up with ballroom through the years though. My wife and I competed in a regional dance, along the coast of the Carolinas called SHAG. It is a cross between east and west coast swing with a little bit of Lindy thrown in. We "retired" from competing almost 8 years ago. I have missed dancing and with grandchildren that are now dancing, I decided to get my shoes back out and get my legs back in shape. One of my granddaughters turns twelve next month and has been dancing since she was 4 or 5. My teacher and I are going to work on the choreography for a duet with the grand daughter. We are going to use Robbie Williams' version of Mr. Bojangles. I have done Bill Robinson's step dance in the past and am going to try to do it again. I want to do a dance that sort of "passes the torch" to the younger generation along with my Bowler (Derby) hat. I will give that to my granddaughter nearing the end of the routine and I will dance up the steps and off stage, leaving her as the latest in our families line of dancers. Two out of three sons studied dance as well as both daughters. The older daughter (mother of 12 yr. old) works at the studio where granddaughter dances and still taps some herself. I will not quit after doing that duet, and hope to do some performing and teaching. It is a great way to stay in shape. I started about a year ago working toward this and have dropped about 35 pounds so that I am back at the weight I was when I graduated from high school. One problem though, back then I had a 34" waist and now it is 40". Working on strengthening the legs and hope to have this duet ready for spring recitals. I look forward to chatting with the folks here, so hello again. Oh, the name drummie? I am an old drummer too and I am the drum major for the police department's Pipes & Drums. Yes, I wear a kilt quite frequently, but not for tapping though.