Once a week I go dancing. But not just dancing. I go Folk Dancing!

Last time I folk danced, I was in third grade, once a week, in the long pause. It was for whoever wanted to join. Now I am 30 years old, again it came my way. At the beginning I just sat there to listen to the music, you know keeping up with time. Then I looked at the people’s faces as they were dancing, so happy, content with the movement and the music, floating their way to happiness. Come to think about it, folk dancing is a good way to enjoy the culture of your country.

Old and modern music are mixed to suit everybody’s style, plus a bit of your own. Dancing with the stars (in this case you are the star). I couldn’t understand how one can enjoy this, when in fact 99 percent of the people are ladies who are kissing up their forties, and more over, they were always fighting for who dances with who when there is a couple dance. Still until this day it’s beyond my understanding how stupid it looks, chatting up a lady so that you could enjoy a dance, (if only there were more men, who would like to join us, and that is a mission, to get men to enjoy this).

Oh, I forgot to mention: only 3 percent of us are actually lady-like. It all changed when I followed the first lesson, rusty with two left feet I survived. And, oh my god, how I enjoyed it in every bone of my body! Dancing to the music I grew up with, including all the styles that exist in the world, waltzes, steps, belly dancing, R&B and many more. I get excited only writing about it!

People, if you like music and dancing, folk dancing is what you should do! Now I am one of the fanatics, who can’t miss a lesson. And still I can’t ignore the challenge of being one of this group, because I am one of many women, who is extremely aware of being watched. How I dress, my shoes, hair, smell (that is a big issue), gained weight or lost weight, and that is only the tip of the iceberg, if you know what I mean…

So I decided to go with the flow, although outside of the group I try to avoid gossip! I must admit here I can’t get this judging version of me that I am trying to hide so hard in my everyday life; after all they say that in Rome you should act like a Roman. Second hard thing, in some cases, once you found someone to dance with she can’t let go, as if once you are coupled with them you have signed your soul for life, only a divorce license will get you off the hook. More ridiculously, as a matter of the fact, is that those dances are actually meant to be for a man and a woman, although you find yourself “shaking that ass” to a woman!

(I am not trying to hurt the gay people, God forbid, but the fact is that I am straight.)

All the above doesn’t stop me, and still you can catch me every week same place same time, dancing away proudly to the sound of my country’s music!

• Dancing in the Moonlight
• A Rwandan Folk Tale
• Are You Still Dancing?

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