Nancy Edwards: The Dancing Grandma

More Publicity!

The editor of the Lakeshore Weekly newspaper just finished interviewing me for its quarterly magazine due out May 1st. Unlike the Strib article, there will be high-gloss color pictures and, I'm pretty sure, a
much meatier depiction of my evolving "second career".

This man was laughing the whole time because when I'm excited, I tend to be rather funny, not to mention that I had rock music playing the entire time and had to jump up a few times to show him some moves. I even got him to dance before he left. He said he'd never ever "had an interview like this one". No doubt.

I'm feeling a bit restless and wanting more to happen as soon as possible although I sure don't pretend to know what the "more" would look like! The "Dialogue & Dance" group started here last Saturday and more women will join us the second time. It seems they all loved dancing at one time and need this group to reclaim the joy of it.

The editor was particularly interested in what I wrote in a recent post about the difference between dance classes and free style dancing. He agreed that "Dancing for the Stars" may be somewhat off-putting to everyday folks (even though we love the show) because it only shows the finest, most dazzling dance moves. Even I tend to compare myself unfavorably to these professionally-taught
celebrities.

At this writing, I'm waiting for the manager of my favorite rock band to follow up on his interest in
having me along for private gigs to be a somewhat official "party-starter". I need more patience - or at least SOME patience! I feel all of this going on around me but can't know the shape it's all taking or where it will go.

Stay tuned, though!

Working the Room Last Night

I can never get enough dancing, so yesterday, when the lead singer of a popular soul band emailed me to crash a party (private gig) at a local hotel, I said to myself, "WHY NOT?!"

I donned my cutest slinky salsa outfit and heels and took off for this adventure. I walked into a crowd of over 1,000 people and learned that this was the annual bash for the Chamber of Commerce!

Not to be discouraged by the sheer enormity of this gathering, I marched out onto the dance floor even though no one else was on it and began doing my thing. A few others then came to join me. Then more & more.

I worked the room by scoping out the wall flowers, the old men, the singles, and just about anyone who had the misfortune of meeting my glance straight-on. I inserted myself into couples and made it a triad. I did the cha cha with several solo female party-goers. I strategically placed myself toward the outside edges of the dancing crowd so that I'd be noticed more.

Yes, I know. I'm shameless. When I was little no one gave me any attention; here I am - almost 62-
and garnering more attention than most people get in a lifetime! Here's the "thing" though: people are
coming to life with energy and delight as a result of me finally finding a way to heal my wounds from the past.

It works for everybody. Today, the manager of this great band emailed his interest in me coming along as the band's "Extra bonus". I'm asking - after only this one experiment - to be introduced as the "Dancing Grandma of Navarre" at future gigs. I guess I'd prefer that people know who I am and what I'm doing at the affair?

It's hard to imagine anyone but me doing what I did last night. In fact, it's hard to believe that I did this myself! I'm thinking that there simply isn't enough joy out there for people to respond to. At this point, I'm quite uninterested in making money and VERY interested in expanding my venue for FUN.

After 3 hours of this high-energy experience, I still hadn't quite had enough and headed into Mpls to a
dance bar that had another good band. Here I danced with a John Travolta wannabe, several 21-year old boys, and a host of nice-looking men who were there with their dates. I don't suppose these dates appreciated my enthusiasm?

As I share this story, it occurs to me that this is the first time I've actually described an evening in my current life. It's been said to me over & over that my energy is unfathomable. I awoke early today and put on "She's a Brick House" and started all over again. My new roommate Al thinks I'm crazy.

Maybe I am, but I don't know of another person who's having this much FUN :)

LEARNING CURVE

Wow! All of this is so new, so foreign to me!! One month ago or so, I didn't even know what a web site or blog was, and here I am sharing my experience, hopes & dreams with thousands of people I don't even know. Wow.

This all started when I was fortunate enough to discover the Awesome Women organization. I had no clue that my energy was attractive or "usable" in career development because the only place where it was exploding and being treasured was the local tavern where I've danced this past year.

I'm constantly being encouraged to keep sharing as though you and I were sitting in a coffee house talking away the hours. And so, I will keep writing as this is just one venue for putting myself
"out there". So far, nothing even remotely negative has resulted and it's FUN :)

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in my journey. The stats indicate that, in just one week, over 1700 people have discovered this weblog. The only bothersome aspect to this for me is that it's 95% "one way" communication. Please do drop a line from time to time!

Get Ready World!!!

Last Sunday, the long-awaited Star Tribune article on my dancing appeared.  In preparation for this mass exposure, I'm offering the first of many "services" to follow and encourage my web site visitors to email me with feedback and/or a desire to participate.

My initial format will be pretty basic:  a group of women coming together to dance and talk. With my therapy background on tap, I envision all of us sharing some of the issues we face in middle years before experiencing the joy of releasing and moving to music.

My goal is to elicit and invite the little dancer inside each of us - you know, the one who danced with no self-consciousness and with outright abandon BEFORE our parents put us in formal dance classes!  There's a tightly held secret just waiting to be freed:experiencing unadulterated JOY.

I will dance with you, share with you, and honor your own individual journeys.  If it's a small group, we'll meet in my home on Lake Minnetonka; if it's a larger group, I'll arrange for space near by.

We may even take a field trip once a month to a local dance bar and try on "being ourselves"! The first group meeting is tenatively scheduled for March 4 from 2 to 3:30.  Seven women who are in their fifties have already signed up.  If you're interested in participating, just email me at: crystalbaycottage@mchsi.com

I enthusiastically look forward to meeting you and being part of re-shaping your mind, body and spirit!

Nancy

Update: In just three days, a dozen women, all in their 50s, have emailed their enthusiastic interest in joining the very first "Dialogue & Dance" group! It would seem that they have an inner dancer who's not figured out a way to be expressed. Women think they're too fat, too uncoordinated, too old or too something to dance in this stage of life. They will soon discover none of these reasons need to prevent them from the joy they each deserve!  If you're interested in being a part of this group, send me an email!

A VISION UNFOLDING....

My "vision" is transforming almost as fast as I am!  I've decided - along with tremendous encouragement from my fans - that I am a WOMAN UNCORKED!   My dancing is but one delightful vehicle for filling some needs I see in the universe.  Writing and speaking are also venues I plan to pursue. As to "what" it is that I'm pursuing, it is anything and everything I can do to exchange life energy with people in ways which can free them up to break the rules, be themselves, and have a lot of fun!

Update

The Startribune is running a feature in its Sunday "Signature" section on February 19. The regular column is called "How I Got This Body" and will chronicle my one-year loss of almost 40 pounds and 10 dress sizes through dancing free style. The reporter interviewed me last week and there was a photo shoot two days later. When she came to interview me, I tried to get her to dance with me - to no avail - but at least she tolerated a few minutes of watching my antics! She later emailed that watching me dance brought the story to life and enabled her to really "get" what this is all about.