Do Your Co-Workers Know That You're . . .

[Vince A]

. . . a dancer?

Do you brag about being a dancer?
Have you ever been caught dancing in your office or cubicle?
Have you ever brought a video of you dancing as Show and Tell to your office?
Do you have pictures, of you dancing, on the walls of your office?
Do you play music (especially the music to the dances that you do) in your office all day?

I can answer yes to all the above . . .

Tell us about your experiences!

[Phil Owl]

They do indeed. Whenever they ask me what I do on weekends, it inevitably comes up., as do a lot of questions like where to go, is it hard to learn and all. I'm all too happy to answer.

[Vince A]

Waaaaaaay to go Phil . . . you make us proud!

Any experiences that you can share. Just recently, I gave lunchtime Salsa dance lessons to three of the girls here in the office.

[SwinginBoo]

Last summer when I was first learning Lindy I used to practice it whenever I got the chance. So at that time I was working as a receptionist at a law firm and people would stop as they went by whatever room I was in and be like "what the heck are you doing?"

So everyone knew what I was doing. It got to the point where people would be like, "So what's going on in the dancing world this weekend?"

I just got a job working as a teacher at a middle school. I tend to keep to myself, so as of yet no one really knows that I'm a dancer. It's kind of wierd because I feel like that's how I associate myself in reference to the rest of the world. (I'm not sure how much sense that made. :doh: )

[dancersdreamland]

. . . a dancer?

Do you brag about being a dancer?
Have you ever been caught dancing in your office or cubicle?
Have you ever brought a video of you dancing as Show and Tell to your office?
Do you have pictures, of you dancing, on the walls of your office?
Do you play music (especially the music to the dances that you do) in your office all day?

I can answer yes to all the above . . .

Tell us about your experiences!

Hmm...my answers:

Yes
Sometimes
Don't think so...possibly someone has seen my feet wiggling.
No...don't have any videos...bummer
Yes...I do have a picture of me and tons of general dance pictures plastered to to my cube
Yes, definately

[dancergal]

Most people know I'm a dancer. I don't walk around the office dancing or practice any moves in the office, but if anyone talks to me or asks about my weekend, vacations or such, they find out I'm a dancer and word gets around. All my bosses know when I ask for time off to attend a dance convention. They usually ask me what dance I'm going to this time, etc. No one else in my family dances, so they all sort of think I'm a little crazy too. :wink:

[youngsta]

Oh yeah they know! I talk about it a lot, my military callsign is salsa, and I'll practice moves at work in a minute without a care :wink: When I was in San Jose last month I took one of my co-workers to the club with me and he had a great time watching.

[Vince A]

All my bosses know when I ask for time off to attend a dance convention. They usually ask me what dance I'm going to this time, etc.
Do I know that feeling . . . I usually save all of my vacation times, other than a week for Disneyland, just for events. Everytime I ask for a Friday and the following Monday . . . they ask me the same thing . . . "Going to a dance event?" Then they ask me when, where . . . not to check on me. They're just curious!

[dancergal]

Oh yeah they know! I talk about it a lot, my military callsign is salsa, and I'll practice moves at work in a minute without a care :wink: When I was in San Jose last month I took one of my co-workers to the club with me and he had a great time watching.

Which club in San Jose did you go to younsta? That's where I used to live and I'm still in San Jose a lot. I haven't been to any clubs lately except country because the dance floors are so small, there usually isn't much room to dance.

[SDsalsaguy]

Sheesh, life's been busy! I can't believe it's taken this long for me to finally getting around to answering this. Well, in a nutshell, YES! All the grad students and profs in my program know that my research is on dance and, in the past, I've even dragged a few out to local salsa clubs. Similarly, everyone in the program I teach for (I don't teach for my department) knows – and they too want to know where I'm going, etc., when I trade sections, etc., with other TAs.

[youngsta]

Which club in San Jose did you go to younsta? .
The Agenda. It is easily the best floor I've ever danced on. Smooth like butter, but not slippery. I went on Weds (which is their big salsa night) and it was packed. The floor was a little to crowded during the peak time, but for the most part it was a great night! I'll be back out there real soon :D

[Taita]

Great story guys!

As for me.....

No, my co-workers have no idea. It's almost as if I am living in two different worlds sometimes. However, there was one time when worlds collided....


A few years ago, I was working at a company which would have a great holiday party every year. That particular year, the party was held at a great banquet facility at a glitzy hotel. I greeted my work buddies at a table with their wives/girlfriends and proceeded to enjoy a great meal surrounded by about 400 co-workers. One of the girls at the table had a second job as a jazz teacher and had heard I knew how to dance (not sure from where.... beauty salon maybe? :wink: ). Naturally, she playfully threatened to take me out onto the dancefloor throughout dinner.

As they opened the dancefloor, the band switched from dinner music to swing! At that point, I had already had several years of training with world class teachers, including competitions and showcases, but I still felt awkward getting out there in front of my co-workers. The music started and naturally, I got pulled onto the dancefloor. I closed my eyes for a second and took in the moment. I could hear the music pulsing through my body, feel the atmosphere, and the connection with my partner. I quickly got into rhythm and just effortlessly took her through a couple of songs....

I had nearly forgotten we had an audience when we returned to the table. I was a bit embarrassed when I was greeted with mouths left gaping, a stunned silence, followed by applause. Needless to say, things were never quite the same at work.... :wink:

[SwinginBoo]

Wow, what a story Taita! That sounds incredible. :D

[Vince A]

Taita,
Now that's a kewl story!!!

Thanks for sharing that with us . . .

[SDsalsaguy]

Not to self: keep dancing a secret for stunned apreciation down the line!

Question to self: How do I pull that off when everyone knows that my research is on dance?

Response to self: :?

[dancergal]

Which club in San Jose did you go to younsta? .
The Agenda. It is easily the best floor I've ever danced on. Smooth like butter, but not slippery. I went on Weds (which is their big salsa night) and it was packed. The floor was a little to crowded during the peak time, but for the most part it was a great night! I'll be back out there real soon :D

I've heard of the Agenda, and I may have been there years ago, but I can't remember what it looked like. I'll have to check it out when my Salsa gets good enough to dance with someone. Thanks for letting me know. :D

[MissAlyssa]

my co-workers even if deaf/blind would still know I was a dancer LMAO :lol: (I'm such a smarty pants)

[Spitfire]

I've mentioned it to co-workers on occasion.

[danceguy]

Actually, it was a person at my job who told me about my current dance school...had known him for years...knew he danced but had never seen him on the floor.

Like Taita's story...it happened in reverse for me. Seeing a somewhat shy and older gentleman I'd known for years get up and twirl his partners around so effortlessly...I was blown away and nearly speechless! It gave me so much inspiration to continue dancing...and a whole new respect for my friend.

Heh, a while ago I actually signed up for a dance class at work (I work at a college)...and two of my erstwhile co-workers decided to try and spy on me. I came out of the dance room to find them standing there like they just "happened to be in the neighboorhood", those jerks!

I told them hey, our class has almost 20 students...there's like 6 guys and the women are all gorgeous! GET YOUR LAZY BUTTS IN HERE!

They chickened out though...cowards. :)

I think its fun to have a secret dancing identity that most peole don't know about though...computer tech by day...dancing fool by night. :P

SG

[mellody43]

My boss and a few of my coworkers know I go out every weekend to dance, and my officemate hears about my shoe sole woes, but I can't really listen to music in my office (without headphones) so they don't have to be subjected to it. I have people coming in an out a lot (I work in HR) and jump up and down all the time from my desk to print/deliver paperwork/meet people, etc., so it's not a conducive environment for music playing anyway. I do that at home - -wonder what my upstairs neighbors think when I blast cumbias?

:-)

I have brought a few coworkers without dance experience to a salsa club a few times, and they enjoyed it but it didn't really "stick" with them. My longtime friend and now and again roommate does enjoy it a lot and is my frequent companion, though.

Most of my coworkers now are not really dancers, or have a spouse who wouldn't be interested in coming so ... *ShruG*

[Swing Kitten]

My co-workers know that I dance. They really haven't seen my do it. One guy took ECS lessons for his wedding (which he is pretty proud of) so some day I may get him to dance with me during lunch or something.


... I really want to go dancing!

[peachexploration]

. . . a dancer?

Do you brag about being a dancer?
Have you ever been caught dancing in your office or cubicle?
Have you ever brought a video of you dancing as Show and Tell to your office?
Do you have pictures, of you dancing, on the walls of your office?
Do you play music (especially the music to the dances that you do) in your office all day?

I can answer yes to all the above . . .

Tell us about your experiences!

For me, it started with listening to Salsa music in the office. Everyone was shocked when they heard the pulsing rhythm come from my office. :shock: Six months later, we were sitting in an office luncheon. I mentioned that couldn't hang out after hours because I had to go to Salsa class. Now here comes the double-shock looks. :shock: :shock: . I looked at them with a disturbed expression and asked "What's the problem". :? :?: And they were like "but...but..you're a computer person!" :!: Okay, so I understand their puzzled looks and say "So computer people don't have passion, rhythm or the desired to do something else besides COMPUTERS?" Pretty funny and interesting. Now, they're asking "Hey, where can I take classes?" and every once in a while I pull them in to practice a step. :wink: :D

[Swing Kitten]

It's great that your co-workers are getting involved a bit! WooHoo!!

Has anyone ever had bad experiences? People seem very accepting of it... does everyone here find that to be the case?

[peachexploration]

It's great that your co-workers are getting involved a bit! WooHoo!!

Has anyone ever had bad experiences? People seem very accepting of it... does everyone here find that to be the case?

This wasn't a bad experience but I do get questioned quite a bit. I had posted partially the following story in one of my other Salsa groups a while ago:

Posted September 2003 :
I was speaking with one of my colleagues at work this week and I mentioned that I was taking Salsa Classes. Since his wife likes to dance, I mentioned to him that it might be fun if they took a class or two together. Almost immediately I saw a frightened look come upon his face. I asked, "Oh my, what just happened!" He said, "I don't see how you do it." I said, "Do what?" He said, "Listen to all those instruments at one time and dance to it!" Okay, now I'm a little ticked because I'm extremely passionate about the music of Salsa and it's much more than just playing more than one instrument at a time! So I say to him, "Don't you listen to Bethoven?" He says, "Yeah." So I'm like "What's the difference, didn't he use more that one instrument?" Well, as I drilled him a bit more, it turns out that it's more of a rhythm thing. He was afraid to dance because of it.

So yeah, when people are made aware that you dance, it can be a little intimidating. He hasn't signed up for any classes yet but he doesn't question it anymore. :D

[KevinL]

Most of my co-workers know that I'm a dancer, and I even think that my boss knows, but I'm not certain.

Do you brag about being a dancer?
Brag? No, I don't think so. I am a dancer, it's much of who I am, so there is nothing to brag about. It's just who I am.

Have you ever been caught dancing in your office or cubicle?
I don't recall specifically, but I think so.

Have you ever brought a video of you dancing as Show and Tell to your office?

No, but several people at work have seen the cable access show that I'm producing, so I think that counts.

Do you have pictures, of you dancing, on the walls of your office?

No, the environment isn't conducive to that. It's hard to attach anything to cinderblock walls.

Do you play music (especially the music to the dances that you do) in your office all day?

The radio is usually on, and it's good music that I would dance to, but not at work.

[tsb]

they found out at the first xmas dinner. i brought a date who dances and we had the whole floor to ourselves during cocktails while the three piece band played light jazz/showtune stuff and laid it on thick with a lot of release moves & dips & cortes. i had been working on an individual project and hadn't really interacted with a lot of co-workers at that point & i think they had tabbed me as the typically (?) quiet asian who toils away in his cube. ha! my boss definitely started treating me differently.

[ShyDancer]

The question Id have to ask myelf in response to this would be "Does anyone NOT know that I dance!"

I talk about it every chance I get, to anyone who will listen :lol: :lol:

I guess its safe to say that yes everyone knoews :D

[Sagitta]

I'm pretty passionate about dancing too. So I do tend to blab quite a bit about it. Now people have started asking me, "Anything new with dancing?", rather then the "What's up/"...etc sort of questions. :)

[dancin_feet]

All my coworkers, friends and everybody in my life knows about my dancing obsession. I don't generally physically practice at work, unless I know I won't be caught! But I practice in my mind 24 hours a day. I don't have any videos or pictures as yet, but that will change in a few months. Won't push it down their throats, though. If they express an interest I'll be all too happy to show up on their doorstep with a bucket of chicken and video in hand (you think I'll be letting it out of my sight?). :lol:

I have never even seen myself dance, so the video should be interesting! I have been watching dancing for years and critiquing everything I see. I may shock myself and have a lot more to work on than I thought!

[pygmalion]

Everybody in my life knows about my dancing. Everybody!

[Vince A]

How about when you go to church?

I play in one of the bands for the church . . . when I'm not playing, I help with anything I can at church. And when I'm not helping, I'm in the seats . . . and when that music starts playing . . . I am the most moving person at church . . . I CANNOT STAND STILL.

My wife, Carolyn, then starts . . . everyone smiles at us . . . and pretty soon, many others are at least swaying back and forth. Everyone there knows we dance . . . we've taught classes for them.

[tsb]

How about when you go to church?

i've been introdiced to people i've never met before (we have three separate services, maybe 600-700 per service?) and they'll invariably say "you're the one who throws all those dance parties" (i converted my family room into a studio, mirrors, bar, etc.). (you'd think with that many people from my church who are interested in coming to my parties i'd have a girlfriend who dances...)

we've got some world-class musical talent in our congregation & a contemporary service to boot (our worship leader plays electric guitar and often riffs during bridges, supported by rhythm guitar, electirc bass, drum set, congas, sometimes justo almario plays sax...) last xmas the band did a latin number as the processional so some of us starting doing salsa in the aisles...

[Vince A]

How about when you go to church?

i've been introdiced to people i've never met before (we have three separate services, maybe 600-700 per service?) and they'll invariably say "you're the one who throws all those dance parties" (i converted my family room into a studio, mirrors, bar, etc.). (you'd think with that many people from my church who are interested in coming to my parties i'd have a girlfriend who dances...)
That's cool about your family room. We've done the same thing in our third-car garage . . . cushioned dance floor, mirrors, lights, fans, and sound. No bar, but there is a refer in the garage that only holds beer and sodas.

We also have a rear opening garage door that goes right out to the pool for those who want to dance or swim. Since I park my truck outside, I'm debating about adding another eight feet to the floor.

You just haven't met that "right" girl yet . . .

we haveworld-class musical talent in our congregation & a contemporary service to boot (our worship leader plays electric guitar and often riffs during bridges, supported by rhythm guitar, electirc bass, drum set, congas, sometimes justo almario plays sax...) last xmas the band did a latin number as the processional so some of us starting doing salsa in the aisles...
Wow . . . I'd like to hear that! Can't say that I haven't been playing with footwork at the back of the church . . . I envy your dancing at church. Now that's religion!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tsb]

You just haven't met that "right" girl yet . . .

i've broached this topic in other threads. but basically, up 'til now i've been fishing in the wrong ponds.

Wow . . . I'd like to hear that! Can't say that I haven't been playing with footwork at the back of the church . . . I envy your dancing at church. Now that's religion!!!!!!!!!!!!

actually, part of the reason i started going to this church is because my teachers & most of the people from class i was going dancing with were also going to this church.

[TemptressToo]

Most definitely...half of them want to go with me...but most of them are guys that still think it is "stupid" :roll: :kiss:

But they sure should know I like Swing. My computer plays a mixture of swing music (at present it is singing..."walk right in, walk right out...").

[tsb]

I envy your dancing at church. Now that's religion!!!!!!!!!!!!

i forgot to mention that i take it for granted nowadays. but my last church was a lot more uptight about it - you know, the "we forbid sex standing up since it might lead to dancing" mentality. i can believe i stayed at that church for seven years!

and i should mention that even my mechanic knows i dance - when i had to leave the car in the shop the only thing i took out of the car (besides the garage door opener) were two pairs of dance shoes.

[Vince A]

[quote=Vince A]and i should mention that even my mechanic knows i dance - when i had to leave the car in the shop the only thing i took out of the car (besides the garage door opener) were two pairs of dance shoes.
I carry mine with me at all times too!

I guess I should learn to take mine out of my truck . . . there is always several dance shoe bags and shirts in there . . . hope I never get the thing broken into!