So, I’m learning to lead, or as they continually annoyingly say at my local class I’m learning to be a man.
I’ve gotta say, the amount of resistance I’ve received from the teachers and some of the men has been bordering on unacceptable. Funnily enough, the women I’m dancing with seem perfectly fine with it and some have said I’m the best man in the room. (I think that’s supposed to be a compliment).
To name a few, these are some of the comments I’ve received from teachers and men.
Week 1
Male demonstrator “Why are you learning to be a man?”
Me “Because I’m bored of following and wanted to learn something new…by the way, I’m not learning to be a man, I’m learning to lead”
Male demonstrator “Of course you do realise that all the women in the room think you’re a raving lesbian”
Me “Have any of the women actually said that?”
Male demonstrator “No, I just know that’s what they will be thinking”
Week 2
Female Demonstrator “You’re on the wrong side”
Me “No I’m learning to lead”
Female demonstrator “Why do you want to be a man? If you lead they’ll be men over and they’ll get all confused”
Followed by unnecessary tutting and huffing as she has to move ONE man round.
Week 3
Men over again so I’m sitting down waiting for the rotation to take my turn as a lead. A man comes over and offers me his hand, thinking I’m a follower waiting for a leader.
Me “It’s men over, not women, I’m leading”
Man “Well get up then and then you won’t have to be a man, you can be a woman”
Me “No thanks, I’m learning to lead, you’ll have to join me in the queue”
Man looks at me with disgust “Oh suit your bloody self then” and sods off to the bar outraged that for the first time in years there are men over and refuses to join in.
Even the organiser is looking at me with suspicion. Gav thinks the organiser suspects I’m using his classes to learn to lead so I can be a dance teacher elsewhere. I’m not, but even if I was, what difference does it make?
I don’t want to give up learning to lead. I’m really enjoying it, but I’m starting to get the hump with the ignorant comments. Hopefully they’ll stop when they realise I’m not giving up trying.
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