My Dancing Skill

NOTE: Ito ang ika-limang speech ko sa Toastmasters' Club. Hindi ko nailathala ang ika-apat dahil hindi ko 'yun masyadong napaghandaan (kaya't nasa utak lang lahat), at hango rin ang speech na 'yun mula sa isa kong post dito ('yung "Lengguwahe").

Ang pamagat ng assignment na ito ay "Your Body Speaks". Nangangahulugang kailangang samahan ng body language ang aking talumpati.

Sayang nga lang at hindi n'yo makikita ang aking body language, na kadalasa'y pagsasayaw. Pinaghandaan ko pa naman siya ng todo. Kahit ngayong isinusulat ko ito sa Blogger, naiiisip ko ang aking ginawa at natutuwa pa rin ako.

(entrance background song: "I want nobody, nobody, but you! I want nobody, nobody but you...!")
My dear fellow Toastmasters and friends. Good evening!

That sure was a very enjoyable induction last Saturday. I would like to congratulate everybody for working hard to make the event very successful. We all deserve a round of applause!

While practicing for the presentation, a lot of people thought that I was a natural dancer. That wasn't so many years ago. I , then, had three left feet, which makes me clumsier than someone who had two. I would stumble on my partner, or, worse (action: as if stepping on partner's foot) ...OOPSSS! Sorry.

I didn't learn those “in” dances in my younger days. I cannot dance the Hustle ("Do The Hustle! Doot dit doot di root di rit doo rit...."), El Bimbo ("El Bimbo! Bailamos El Bimbo, Bimbo, Bimbo...."), or even the “Maski Paps” ("Said, Looking fer' job in a city. Said, Working for a man every night and day...."). “Maski Paps” is short for “Maski Papano”, meaning, just move your body and you're already dancing. So, I just concentrated on learning two styles: the Sweet ("Wise men say, looks like rain today...."), and the Very Sweet ("Let her cry for she's a lady....").

(Background: "Last Dance")
I remember when I was in 4th year High School, our school had a dancing party. There was a batchmate whom I had a big crush. All through the night I was so shy going to her and asking her to dance. On the other hand, she would dance to whoever asked her, even those in the lower years.

I realized that the night was getting late. My father is about to arrive and fetch me. A slow music was played and I thought that this could be my last chance to dance with her.

I glanced to her left, then to her right. No guy within ten feet was approaching her. That's good. I slowly went to her. She was looking at the dance floor, where many couples were now dancing. Her gaze did not even go to my direction. She is like a Toastmaster while I'm the Table Topic Master.

I glanced around her. No guy within twenty feet was approaching her. And that's very good. But before I can say, “May I have this dance?” when...SNAP ("So let's dance to the Last Dance....") ...the pace of the music went fast. Oh no! I could not dance to that! I backed off, turned around and walked away. I looked back and saw a swarm of guys walking fast towards her.

However, I believed that I had the genes of a dancer. My grandfather was once a Dance Instructor. Actually, he was the third husband of my grandmother so I cannot claim any blood relation with him. But two of my uncles became DI's. I watched them during family reunions as they danced so gracefully with my aunts. I imagined I could do the same.

They also earned good money. I thought that being a DI was a healthy and profitable second career. If only I can convince my wife...!

A few years back, my boss, who also liked to dance, hired a DI so we can learn ballroom dancing in the office. I learned the cha-cha ("Oh la ruz, Cha-cha-cha, Oh la ruz, Oh la la...."), the Salsa ("Tall and tan and young and lovely, the girl from Ipanema goes walking...."), and, my favorite, the tango ("La Cumparsita" - "Pam pa ra ram, pam pa ram pam pa ram, pam pa ram pa ram, pam pam!" - with matching dip of partner). Luckily, she's not heavy.

I now reflected how I, once having three left feet, am now down to one an a half. I don't think I'm that good enough to dance with a sexy girl competing in Dance Sport. Still, I know that I gained some skill in dancing, and I learned that skill by observing those who danced very well, believing I could dance, visualizing myself dancing, and did dance, correcting any mistake along the way.

Then, I thought, this could be a good technique in learning a new skill, whether it is to dance, to execute a back hand, to speak in public, to lead a group, or to be honest. First, observe, and, if possible, get a mentor. Second, believe that you can attain that skill. Anyway, whether you believe that you can, or believe that you cannot, you're right. Third, visualize yourself already having that skill. Fourth, actually do it. I think it was John Maxwell who said that even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you don't move. Fifth, correct any mistake and remember that mistakes are not failures but are learning opportunities. Finally, repeat the process until you have mastered that skill.

And to show to you my dancing skill I would like to invite someone to dance with me right now. Anyway, I've already prepared my five pesos just in case I go on overtime.

Music please... (ending music: "Last Dance")