I can dance, I can!

This song always brings back a memory from elementary school when I hear it. Somewhat embarrassing now, at the time I was positive I was going to be the next Fred Astaire because of this tune. I was in the top class of elementary school and we were organizing a performance assembly for the younger classes. Our teacher asked for anyone who wished to do a dance routine to bring in a vinyl of a song and he would pick the best four routines to add in to the presentation.

I was an enthusiastic youngster, and I wanted to do a dance for the younger kids. I picked a record of my parent's, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life. I began to create my routine, which was a combination of roly-polys, stretches, and funny moves that I had seen on old movies starring such as Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire. Once my practice was perfected, I picked up the vinyl, full of hope and enthusiasm.

I was quite boastful in my early days, and had showed off the routine to my parents first. I do not recall my father's reaction, but my mother had mentioned something along the lines of the ideas being wonderful, but my rendition being somewhat awkward. She had praised my choreography skills and tried not to mention my lack of dancing skills. Looking back, I was probably a sight that made it very hard for my mother not to burst out into incontrollable bouts of laughter at my performance. I was in the habit of wearing very bright clashing colors over my overweight body at the time. I can just imagine what it must have looked like to see this multi-colored blob rolling about the floor thinking herself in the same class as professional dancing stars from the classic movies! I knew no better, as I felt great.

I was extremely disappointed when the teacher announced my routine would not be amongst those chosen. I had really wanted to perform, just like the TV stars. Luckily, my parent's record somehow survived being taken to school and was brought home in one piece. I recall playing it continuously for a few days, adamantly working on my dancing skills, positive that I was just as good as Gene Kelly, really