Talk Healthy

Hey Guys

I just got the following email from a neighbor I met not to long ago in the elevator. She is Asian American and we started talking about race/diversity issues. Check out what she emailed me:


It was nice bumping into you on the elevator the other day. It doesn't seem like our lives have slowed down any, have they?

Anyway, I recently saw Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Have you seen it? In any case, I'm dying to learn how to do the electric slide (I think that's what it's called) and I was wondering if you knew how to do it (and could teach me). This guy I work with told me that it's a "black thing" (is that probably why I've never heard of it?) but it looks so cool. Do you know what I'm talking about or does this sound like jibberish to you?



I told her I would teach her

At least she ASKED if you know how instead of completely assuming!

(I can do the electric slide too!)

Crystal Meth wrote:

(I can do the electric slide too!)

Yeah I told her that I don't think it's just a "black thing" anymore. I mean, it started out as something to do at weddings, family reunions, etc. It's like our version of the hokey-pokey or the chicken dance

People do it to the Boot Scootin' Boogie at weddings... Leave it to country music to lame something up

People do it to the Boot Scootin' Boogie at weddings... Leave it to country music to lame something up

THAT'S what that dance really is?? I had no clue.

It's either that or the Macarena.

curvyred wrote:It's either that or the Macarena.

Yikes - I totally forgot about that horrible dance!

Hey LB, speaking of dancing...

*coughtapupdatepleasecough*

LOL!

Nothing really to report. I haven't been as diligent as I'd hoped and I've only made it to two lessons so far. (Thank goodness I prepaid the semester, though - otherwise I probably would've stopped going.) I really enjoy my tap lessons and I plan to keep them up for a while. One thing I'm realizing is how much my own insecurities factor into the process. It's like I'm so afraid of making noise and drawing attention to myself that I barely make any sound with my taps! I have to force myself to really "let loose" and dance. But, I enjoy it - I am not the best, but I'm having a lot of fun and learning. I really think I want to keep up dancing lessons for a while - I've always wanted to be a dancer anyway

Yes, dancers are cool.

I like my class. The teacher is really nice, and I like actually being social one night a week. I think I'm even getting sucked into their June performance.

Keep it up! You'll be a one-foot-winging fool before you know it! And don't be afraid of making noise either, if you can't do the exact sounds at least try to do the motion.

oh god, the electric slide. i was at my best friend's family's 4th of july barbeque one year and was the only white person there. that song came on and i got dragged out there and tried to fake it. *dies of embarrasment* i think i did ok; i don't remember getting made fun of too much.

LB, that is REALLY funny!!!

The best part of this story is that someone you just met already has your email address...


I didn't know that electric slide was a "black" thing.

I didn't think it was either, and why is country line dancing lame?

You cannot go to a black family function without doing the Electric Slide....followed usually by the Cha Cha slide. There are specific songs for both dances.

The Boot Scootin Boogie is an actual line dance apart from the Electric Slide. Yes, they start out the same, but the Boot Scootin Boogie is a variation and has a few different steps then the Electric Slide including a little one legged hop.

BTW, I was doing the Boot Scootin Boogie at a wedding and I boot scooted right into this lady standing on the sidelines! My mouth was, oddly enough, open and I bit her bare shoulder! I ate her shoulder!!!

Aly wrote: I ate her shoulder!!!

And, that, ladies and gentlemen, should be the new tagline.

Beana wrote:You cannot go to a black family function without doing the Electric Slide....followed usually by the Cha Cha slide. There are specific songs for both dances.

I don't know how to do the cha cha (Don't swipe my black card, 'kay? It came out after I graduated from high school . . . and I didn't go to a lot of parties in college!)

Well, they wouldn't play the cha cha slide in college. It's a family function type of thing.

I barely know how to do it either. I have to follow the directions in the song. LOL

I call the Cha Cha Slide "Dancing for Dummies." They TELL you everything to do!!! How can you not know how to do it?

"Five hops this time..."

"How low can you go? Can you go down low? All the way to the floor?"



I hate the Cha Cha Slide btw. I refuse to do it.