Experienced

By Franklin Coiner, Foster Village

After having been recently grabbed at while dancing with strange women, I am motivated to record here some concepts I use as a dance club regular. What I write here is the result of dancing for quite a while, longer than the average person does in life.

"You are meant to be whatever you dream of becoming.”

Suffice to say, I started dancing in the late 50’s and never stopped. I danced right through the different American dance crazes, including Rock and Roll, Surf dancing, the Monkey, the Jerk, disco touch dancing, the Freak, Rap gestures and now Salsa and Bachata. There were, of course, many other types along the way. There’s also the background of some ballroom dancing familiarity, such as the Cha Cha, Rumba, Mambo, and Waltz.

“Fame” By David Bowie

Worried at 40 and at 50, waiting for the slip in energy, in muscle strength, and in ligament and tendon elasticity. Sure much of that is now gone at 70. But most amazingly to myself, I feel that at the moment, which I know cannot last forever, I truly feel blessed to be, as a street dancer, “at the top of my game.” What I have lost in sheer power, stretch and speed I more than make up with smoothness, overall body gesture and presence, and advanced integration of combinations due to decades of practice and the fulfillment of dance expression.

"With A Song In My Heart" by Frank Sinatra

Sometimes it is apparent out there on the floor that I may be the last, at least locally, to perform certain moves, a couple generations removed for those now frequenting the clubs. As such I then feel a sense of responsibility to keep the dance styles alive, as long as I can continue to perform it with the required energy and dignity, and not make an old fool of myself. Only then shall I hang up my dancing shoes.