JIVE TALKING

Have you ever felt in awe of a performer and wished that you could emulate them? To act like Humphrey Bogart or Lauren Bacall maybe? To sing like Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald. Perhaps you have more modern singers and actors who you would hold up as icons?

For me its dancing. I sometimes find myself watching dancing programmes on TV and find myself green with envy and wishing I could dance like that. As for films, who wouldn't love to dance like Fred & Ginger, or Gene Kelly singing in the rain, or maybe as part of the Jets in West Side Story?

Surely most of would love to dance like the couple in 'Dirty Dancing'. Actually I know this is true from the vast numbers of newly weds who choose this as their first dance track!

I have tried to work out why I love dancing so much. I know that part of it is the vibrant feeling you get when you move in time to a good strong music beat. The element of creativity as you anticipate what's coming and decide how you are going to respond is great fun. Mainly though, in my case, its showing off! I love having an audience. It gives you such a buzz! I did have a few lessons in my youth. I remember learning jive and rock. This must have helped but I think that a lot of it just comes from within me. My memories are probably embellished with time, but I seem to recall attracting a number of girlfriends from my performances on the dance floor as a teenager!

Most people when dancing just shuffle around the floor. Many give the impression that they hope they won't be noticed; as if they've been caught in an embarrassing situation. Of course I am the opposite! With me its more a case of 'Hey - check this out!' Luckily for me, my wife enjoys dancing too and does a great job of letting me fling and twirl her around on the dance floor. Hopefully, we look a little better than the couple in the statuette above, which sits on a shelf in my study.