CDC Easter Ball

[jack]

I haven't danced for ages, but it went fairly well. I spent most of it with sonicdrift, lark_ascending and crazyscot, and atreic, and it's always nice to have a group to be part of, instead of *just* dancing with random but nice people you know separately.

sonicdrift was stunning in her third formal dress in seven days. She also hadn't danced for ages, but seems naturally very good at following, which works very well with me because I tend to lead steps that aren't quite the ones I'm supposed to. ("accidental improvisation")

Apparently I quote Miles Vorkosigan a lot, which is weird because I would, but hadn't noticed that I did. Relatedly, I need to figure out when I'm teasing and when I'm being obnoxious :)

lark_ascending was ever so sparkly (and cuddly), which sort of rubbed off on me; the whole evening people kept seeing glitter on me. It made me wonder if women wearing glitter always mean to be, or just had a dress like lark's once. I decided to pretend it was supposed ot be there, because it didn't come off.

The other satorial innovation that appears to be missing from the standard cambridge wardrobe is waistcoats with geeky slogans on ("If this is in red, you're dancing too fast" etc).

I spoke to crazyscot, which was nice, as I know I've seen him around before, but can't recall ever axtually *meeting* him. I feel a bit guilty for several times helping force him to dance with people he didn't know, but everyone seemed to enjoy it, so I think it was good in the end.

I saw atreic for the first time in ages. She was lovely: she said she'd noticed that I'd lost weight, and was a nicer person that I was in the first year. Which I'd sort of hoped for, but hadn't thought anyone would notice. She dances nice too.

One man foxtroting sadwiched between two women amazed us in technique and daring, and inspired from the kinksoc pubmeet we speculated on which other dances might correspond to what. The three men dancing in a circle together was obvious, but we amused by the can-can (a long line of women arm in arm doing high kicks) and the beat barn dance (you swap partners ever 24 beats.) Apparently I have kissed more men than I've danced with, and apparently this is 'an interesting fact' about me :)

I met and often danced with a lot of people I hadn't seen recently, or in some cases for a year or something since I last danced regularly, including Stewart, Gabi, Ed, Megan, and other dancing types.

When sonicdrift had relunctantly left to grab a few hours sleep before the next morning's demonstrating CMS's physics to investors, neighbours, and three year olds spontaneously generated by the existance water and delicate stuff, and atreic, lark_ascending and crazyscot had danced their feet off and driven home, I took the opportunity to dance as with everyone I recognised until the end.

I was again very flattered, now by Camilla, who complimented me on my on my improvisational dancing. I was pleased to find out I can dance well at least sometimes. Admittedly she was a particularly perfect partner, as dancing with Henry has taught her to follow really extreme and exciting steps she doesn't know, so my insertion of random whirly, embracey and parambulatory bits of salsa into the rumba didn't phase her at all. I just wish I could smoke at will, rather than, metaphorically, having to wait to find The Mask :)

[1] Odd, I haven't needed any footnotes at all in all that. I feel naked without them.

Comments

[sonicdrift.livejournal.com]

Aw. My theory is the guy you're dancing with can't see your feet, so so long as a) he doesn't have to drag you and b) you don't tread on his toes and c)you don't fall over he's not going to know what you're doing. The long skirt helps.

Sorry, I thought you were deliberately quoting, or it could just be I'm re-reading them at present. I keep on finding more little details that tie in!

Just to confirm Cambridge is way to small, is the Kadia mentioned earlier the one from Pembroke who used to sing in Queens' choir?

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Aw. My theory is the guy you're dancing with can't see your feet, so so long as a) he doesn't have to drag you and b) you don't tread on his toes and c)you don't fall over he's not going to know what you're doing. The long skirt helps.

Yes... but that still requires you to move your torso in synchronisation with him; not everyone is anywhere near as good as you at being in the same place without a lot of pushing and pulling and kicking and struggling to catch up...

Sorry, I thought you were deliberately quoting, or it could just be I'm re-reading them at present. I keep on finding more little details that tie in!

Don't apologise; it's entirely likely that either I've absorbed the series subconciously or that I'm just naturally vor-ish, and either is good :)

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Just to confirm Cambridge is way to small, is the Kadia mentioned earlier the one from Pembroke who used to sing in Queens' choir?

Oh, probably. But I in know way know her, you'd have to reply to Liz's post for her to tell us :) (How do you know her?)

[sonicdrift.livejournal.com]

I don't, but my office mate and Evil Martin were surprised to find out they both did.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

I thought you'd wangled a private office by some fit of beaurocracy?

Does *Martin* read my lj? :)

[sonicdrift.livejournal.com]

Hmm, good question. He denies all interest in LJ but given his general evilness I can't see him not looking you up out of sheer nosiness (I would/did). I have access to his home computer so I could check but he has this annoying habit of clearing his history etc. Strange that.

Ex-officemate. I do indeed enjoy the luxury of an office to myself, it makes lunchtime naps so much easier!

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

LOL. I suppose that makes sense. I'm not sure why evil geeks are so against lj, it must be all the pictures of kittens :)

I have access to his home computer so I could check but he has this annoying habit of clearing his history etc. Strange that.

I've changed my mind and you may no longer sleep in my spare room if you find yourself houseless next year :)