A Dance Journey Continues

Rolling on the Dicesong Article Generator 2.0, to get "Create" + "Dance"!

Longtime Dancer

Although I've not blogged much about it, dance is one of the two big things / hobbies in my life (along with gaming).

In an old article I established my love for dance, with that continuing in the years since. In Porto I continued with bits of salsa-bachata-kizomba (SBK), tried a year of lindy-hop (and related dances) and found my latest dance, the Brazilian dance of forró.

I've continued with a habit of dancing to 2-3 random songs every morning, often integrating stretch bands, kettlebells and other bits into them to help with strength training.

One Step Back

It was hard to come back to Devon last year and not have access to so many different types of dance. I've coasted with some SBK in Exeter, mostly with our local bachata teacher Marianna and her outfit Luna Latina.

But I've danced SBK in different forms for many years, and am a little bored of it currently. There's a strong lindy scene in Exeter, but it's been clashing with other events and I don't really want to do 3 dances at once.

Because, unexpectedly, there is a small group of forró dancers in Devon. Based in Totnes, the Devon Forró group has been sporadic for over a year, with weekly lessons now occurring since September. We have an international teacher in Felipe Abreu, and a small group of dedicated dancers.

Two Steps Forwards

I've been waiting for a chance to start forró in earnest again, and it seems that time has come. Finances are a bit more stable again, and forró seems to be building again around here.

The nearest place with an established scene is Bristol, and it's an effort to get to from Exmouth. But I'm going to try going once or twice a month, in addition to trying more regular forró at home, learning moves at home and listening to more forró music.

The main opportunity is combining a trip to Porto and it's regular forró with a festival in Sevilla in Spain. It's a chance to bring together threads of travel, dance, connections, Portugal and language!

Hopefully that's enough to bring dance back to a place where I'd like it, and have the impetus to keep it somewhere I'd like it to be.

To other festivals and new friends in England and Europe. And maybe a trip to Brasil in the future!

Finishing Up

Things always have a rhythm in life!

What has a rhythm of down and up in yours?