From Kevin: Lombard Street in San Francisco
In San Francisco, where I was born, there is a famously winding and scenic destination named “Lombard Street.” You may have seen pictures or videos over the years, because the street draws thousands of tourists to either gaze, drive, or walk from the top to the bottom.
Winding for only one city block, the early engineers designed and built the street in this manner due to the high degree of grade. Believe me, if you’re driving from top to bottom (it’s one way - down only) then you will be riding your brakes all the way down. If you walk, you may wear out the heels of your shoes. I’ve also seen videos of people attempting to skate board the length of Lombard Street without stopping.
In my life experiences, I’ve been forced to brake to avoid accidents – delayed by stop lights and rescued despite my own ignorance. At times these winding roads have saved my life, because I could not see the danger right in front of me. I tend to be a bit driven and overly focused on my goals, and I often don’t want to stop – for anyone or anything. With humility, I’m very thankful for those who have cared for me enough to wave the warning signs and yellow flags on my life’s journey. These people know me, love me, & care for me and will wave the flags of caution to get my attention. I know it’s because they are concerned about my best, long-term interests. They know my tendencies and wish only for my best possible life.
As a social dancer and instructor, I’ve learned to carefully watch and study the tendencies of our students. At times I have to wave stern warning signs because I’m deeply concerned about their best, long term social dance experience (including the impact they have on a room full of dancers). At times I have to allow the student to fail and learn from mistakes (as we all have). This can be necessary to break old habits and to bring out the best in the student. At the same time, I must recognize and be sensitive to the student’s body language in order to facilitate a newer, and hopefully positive, direction for their best long-term dance experience.
Learning social dance is like a ride down Lombard Street, San Francisco. There are many turns that often must be navigated at slower, cautious speeds. There is also the element of having to wait for other cars ahead to continue to move down the street to the end destination. Completion of the brief journey and then looking back up at Lombard Street is a beautiful thing. It's the same thing when you take lessons and have been practicing, to one day realize you actually know how to blues dance with a partner.
What’s prevented you from dancing (other than Covid-19 enforcement) in the past few years?
Keep dancing,
Kevin