I got some photos on Friday during the beginner's class for that night's contra dance. It was "open band night", with about 40 musicians on the stage - pretty impressive! The floor is great - well maintained and smooth and huge. I saw lots of people I knew from other dances and had a wonderful evening.

On Saturday (after Peter, Daniele and I took a trip out the "the farm" (photos later)), I returned for a swing dance. The lesson ahead of time was interesting but pretty useless, since they showed us the Lindy - which is way too complicated to learn in 45 minutes. But I did okay during the dance itself, using what I'd learned at other swing dance workshops. I also got some free lessons from an old dance teacher who lurked along the sidelines and offered help to any woman who was standing around after a dance got well underway. He was a little sleazy - but I learned a lot! I just might make swing dance a regular part of my trip...

Sunday is the better Glen Echo contra dance: fewer beginners, better music, more serious dancers who are willing to come out even with work the next morning. I invited Daniele and Peter to come along, but only Daniele agreed, and she wasn't sure she'd like it so came in her own car so she could leave early. But, I was right: she was naturally good and had a blast - and so did I. The guy on piano also plays for the Baltimore Symphony, and the fiddler was an old-timer with a good sense of what dancers want to hear. They did one song that really pulled at my heart, so I asked for the title. I thought the guy said "Rush Hour", which made no sense, given how happy and sparkly the music was, so I asked again at the end of the dance. Yep: "Rush Hour". I've iTuned and found lots of songs with that title, but none that match what I danced to that night. Maybe I'll figure out his name and email to get a pointer...