July 10, 2006

Since no one was knocking down our door for an exclusive first–time interview, we decided to interview each other. This way we could not only answer but also ask all of the most revealing questions about ourselves . . . ourselves.

David: So, is that your cat?

Diane: What? Maybe this is a bad idea.

David: Okay, sorry. Let's get back to the topic at hand: us, our company, and dance. Why DO you dance, anyway?

Diane: I feel the most like myself when I dance.

David: So how do you feel right now, since you're not dancing?

Diane: (Laughs) Muted. Subdued.

David: Speak up, I can't hear you.

Diane: So are you less of a punk when you're dancing?

David: I hope so. When I dance, I'm much more in the moment, much more authentic, and less interested in teasing other people.

Diane: Actually, that makes me think of something. I feel more like myself when I'm dancing because my thinking brain, or my judging brain—that part of me that second guesses—is turned off.

David: That sounds wonderful. How do you survive the moments between dances?

Diane: With music or with the sounds that are around me. I like listening to birds, the leaves in the wind. By tuning into them, I can sometimes quiet the mind.

David: We're sounding very philosophical now, aren't we? Maybe you should ask a question.

Diane: Is it true that most men get into partner dancing because of women?

David: Eight years ago, my girlfriend at the time dragged me into swing dancing. Is that what you mean?

Diane: Yeah. It's either because of a woman that you have, or a woman that you want, right?

David: Well, it took a month to learn the stupid basic step—my girlfriend just kept dragging me through it. Then it clicked, and suddenly I was in love with dancing. Then, after we broke up, I not only loved the attention from new women, but I loved expressing myself as well.

Diane: Plus it didn't hurt that you met me through dancing. (Laughing)

David: I'm still bruised! But it's true—we danced that first night away, and we're still going strong! Now I have a question. If dance is so great, why don't more people do it?

Diane: It's a cycle. If you grow up seeing everyone around you dancing, you're more likely to dance yourself. If you don't, you don't!

David: So then most people around here, ah, didn't? (Chuckles)

Diane: When you say that most people don't dance, you mean people in North America. Maybe that's because the only examples they see are people who have been trained in schools to dance a certain way, so they think that if they haven't learned to dance that way, then they can't dance.

David: Aren't we going to train people?

Diane: We're not going to train people to dance a certain way, or to dance like us. Hopefully we'll help them to discover their own styles by drawing out what's already in them and showing them how to build on that.

David: True. I think anyone can dance if they want to. I also like to think that we're going to contribute to our community by sharing something that gives us joy. Hopefully we'll help people connect with each other while also making them feel more confident about their bodies and how they move.

David: Maybe we'll ignite something in them. A passion for dance. Oops, sorry, I took your turn and your words.

Diane: I'd like to think we will start them on this voyage of discovery which they will continue on their own.

David: That's great! Let's stop there. For today.

Diane: Coolidge!

David: What?

Diane: ...

David: For our fans out there, that meant "that's cool" in Dianespeak. Good night.