Sunday 5 June 2011

Move Over Fred!


Strutting our stuff! Daughter took this from the audience
(I'm at the front right, about to turn!)
 
Well all those weeks of tap dancing for fun ended (for this session) in our debut show routine on stage in front of a few hundred people! Fortunately, most of them were there to watch their darling wee girls in the other routines, but we knew the theatre was full. My dear husband and daughter came to support me, or maybe to laugh. It was funny being the only adult dancers in the changing rooms and, believe it or not, all those little girls of various ages were wearing more make-up than us!


The oldies: I'm second from the right!
So what was it like? Honestly, we had last-minute nerves just before we went on, not least because we were in the spotlight on a strange stage area after months of dancing on boards in a church hall. But the music is everything to me, which is why I love to dance. As soon as I heard the opening bars, I was ready to roll, if not rock.

There were six of us and we did a little routine to Dean Martin’s catchy ‘Aint that a Kick in the Head’. You can click on the title to hear him sing it on YouTube. It’s amazing how much difference the music makes. I had difficulty practising without it, as every step came at a certain point in the song – that’s what dancing is all about to me, and the notes make me dance!

So was it worth it? Oh, yes! I always used to sing and dance as a child but I just never got the chance to do it on stage. And one of the best things about getting older is the inhibitions lessen again. I read in a glossy magazine that if an older woman wants to know what her real personality is, she should think back to what she was like as an eleven year old, before puberty. And you know what? That seems to be perfectly true!

For a complete change of pace - I'm talking about Regency dancing on my other blog.

Rosemary

21 comments:

Chris Longmuir said...

I admire your bravery. Rosemary. I've done a lot of things in my life but I couldn't do that.

Julie Eberhart Painter said...

Wonderful fun. You've got the rhythm, it shows in your writing.

As to your 11-year-old revelation, it sounds right to me. I wanted to be Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly's partner, so I'm with you in the music.
Julie

Frances Garrood said...

I'm soooo envious, Rosemary! I've always fancied tap dancing, but have never got round to it. Glad you had such a good time.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Chris - bet you could!

Hello Julie - thanks for coming over. Might as well do these now if I get the chance, before it's too late!

Hi Frances - you should look for a class!

joanne fox said...

You are so brave to tap dance on stage! Well done, it sounds fun if terrifying. x

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Joanne - thanks! It's a bit easier when there are six of us - I don't think I could do it on my own. And we got the biggest cheer, so they took pity on us!

Arabella said...

That's wonderful! Y'all look like you're having so much fun!!

Melanie said...

Well done! Looks like you had a lot of fun, too.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hello Arabella - thanks so much for coming over to visit! It really was fun, once we got over our nerves.

Hi Melanie - thank you. Hope we get to do it again one day, before we're completely past it!

Vikki said...

It was great! By far the best performance of the show...and I'm not just saying that because I'm your daughter:)x

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Oh, you are so sweet, daughter dear! Thanks for managing to get that great shot of us on the stage (I think)!

Carolb said...

Well done Rosemary, you clearly deserved the applause and cheering you received.

Diana said...

Good for you. Looks like so much fun.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Carol - thanks for that!

Hi Diana - thank you! It certainly was fun.

Talli Roland said...

That looks like so much fun, Rosemary! Glad the concert went well.

Jude Johnson said...

Well done, you! I admire anyone who can move their feet and not fall down. Looks like you had a grand time and really, isn't that what it's all about anyway? Don't stop, keep going! :-)

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Talli - thanks for leaving a comment. It was a big relief after performing!

Hi Jude - thanks so much for your interest. At least it's good exercise!

Joanna said...

Fantastic! You look wonderful and I would love to have been in that audience. Also, I love that song.
I'd be thrilled to dance on stage as an adult! I adored ballet as a child and performing on stage was the one time I didn't feel shy. I love that feeling of losing inhibitions and trusting in your ability to entertain because you know and love the routine so well. It's one of the few times when the nerves are composed of excitement and joy, rather than fear.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Joanna - thank you. You sum it up beautifully!

Devon Ellington AKA Annabel Aidan said...

As someone who worked backstage on Broadway for many years, I can tell you, the best always get butterflies before their first entrance. Every night.

Congrats on your dancing!

And thanks for stopping by my blog to wish me well on my release day!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Devon/Annabel- thanks for coming over to visit! I'm glad everyone gets those nerves and I guess we were bound to be even worse doing it for the first time. But when I hear music, I just want to dance!