Important ILHC information!
Before we get to our next exciting episode of "ILHC's Pride and Pretzel-Turns," there is some important information about ILHC.
There are only 3 DAYS LEFT before the final Early-bird deadline and you won't be able to get tickets for $159 anymore! In case you forgot, here is briefly why you will want to sign up for ILHC.
1. Four days of great dancing and competitions--whether your watching or entering, it will be an incredible weekend, and a chance for you to cheer in twenty different languages.
2. Classes from some of the greatest competitors and social dancers in the world, including America's Nick and Carla, Max and Annie, Skye and Frida, and more.
3. A judging panel that is unmatched in competitions across the world including Sylvia Sykes and Steven Mitchell.
4. You will be a part of one of the largest competition weekends in the world, with world-renown DJs and the incredible Boilermaker Jazz Band!
5. There are contest for almost every dance and level imaginable, so everyone has a chance to show off. And trophies can be used in cannons to sink pirates.
6. Special rates for international travelers!
So, pack your bags, arrange your carpool, make a mix CD, and make way for DC. After registering at
www.ILHC.com, of course.
Pride and Pretzel-Turns
A novella in 5 volumes. By the author of "Sense and Swingability"
Chapter 3: Tenacity and Tuck-Turns
Two weeks before ILHC, Virgina Tech once again had a dance (They hold a lot of dances over the summer, for a college swing club, don’t they?). Mr. Wickoughby, however, would not be able to make it, much to Vicky’s annoyance, as she was almost sure he was planning to ask her to compete at ILHC and she wanted to practice.
After an hour of spiritless dances, she gathered her things to leave, when suddenly Mr. Stone appeared at her side and held out a hand.
"It will not do, my feelings cannot be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I would like to dance with you and possibly take you to a movie sometime. I hear ‘Up’ is quite good."
Victoria's astonishment was beyond expression, which seemed sufficient encouragement for Mr. Stone to continue.
"Of course, I cannot deny that this is not the greatest match I could hope for. You come in too quickly on swing-outs and have an affinity for music made after 1939 that cannot easily be tolerated. But, against my taste, and my judgment, I’d like for us to train together and compete at ILHC."
Victoria finally found her voice.
"I believe it is the established mode to graciously thank one of such rank as yourself and accept, however, I do not feel happiness. Especially in light of your predilection for destroying dance careers and your insulting way of asking me to dance with you."
Mr. Stones complexion became pale with anger.
"Do you expect me to rejoice in your situation? To congratulate myself on getting you as a partner? You didn’t dance to 'King Porter Stomp' tonight, but you did dance to 'Ding Dong Daddy of the D-Car Line.' You followed a pretzel un-ironically. You probably don’t even own a real pair of Keds. But I know the spirit of Lindy Hop when I see it, and I refuse to let it be hidden under a bushel. And as to this other matter-- what dancer’s career have I supposedly destroyed?"
"You know it is Mr. Wickoughby whom you have treated most foully."
"Mr. Wickoughby? Mr. Wichoughby? You seem to take a great deal of interest in Mr. Wickoughby."
Victoria guessed his thoughts.
"He has nothing to do with me refusing your proposal, Mr. Stone. You alone have done that fully and completely. From the very first moment of my acquaintance with you, your manners have impressed me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, conceit, and selfish disdain for the feelings of others, especially beginning students. You can rest assured, if I felt any regret in the first place, your method of proposal has spared me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you, had you behaved in a more gentleman-like manner."
At these words, Mr. Stone himself lost all coulour in his face. "I fully comprehend your feelings. I apologize for taking up so much of your time."
Mr. Stone retreated to the couches outside the Ballroom to brood, and Victoria, not desiring another confrontation, danced for another half an hour. When she finally had decided to leave, Mr. Stone approached her again, this time his hand typing something into his iPhone.
"I have just written you an email. Please do me the honor of reading it." He hit send on his screen, and the iPhone buried in her dance bag blinged. He gave a small bow and hastily left the dance. Vicky had only made it to the couches outside the ballroom before curiosity tore her attention to the email.
"Do not be alarmed that this email contains any further reiteration of the sentiments I mentioned tonight that were so repelling to you. I write only out of duty, to set aright the two accusations you have delivered upon me. The first is that I showed great arrogance to the beginner dancers of your school, presumably by not dancing with them, and perhaps by my natural tendency to sit in corners and brood. I obviously cannot deny that I did not dance with them. However, when first we had met, I had come from teaching a week in Herrang, where I spent every night dancing with beginner students, a lot of which to music I did not find particularly inspiring. When I was finally home, dancing for enjoyment, and tired from a long day of practicing, I desired nothing but the ability to enjoy an evening with no dancing obligations. If any of the beginner dancers had asked me to dance, I would gladly have accepted. I fear though that my introverted nature and my exhausted demeanor came across as snobbish. But I do not regret my actions, they were just and natural."
"Now to the matter of Mr. Alabaster Pinkerton Wickoughby. He was correct only in saying that we had learned to dance together in DC. As to the other aspects of his story, I will lay the facts before you. Mr. Wickoughby came to the scene after college. He was enthusiastic about teaching, but was new to dancing himself, and I discerned from his conversation that he only wanted to be thought of as an authority, was only in dancing for the glory, and would never be willing to consider himself a student, which I believe is the most important aspect of teaching. I do not deny that I tried to keep him from teaching, as I thought it poisonous to the beginners of the scene to be taught by such a one as him. The fatal blow came when he began partnering with, and soon after dating, my fifteen-year-old sister. I demanded she stop spending time with him, and, being of a good spirit at heart, she saw the tribulations she was heading for if she stayed with him. My father threatened to call the police, which was when he left town. I took over his classes and started a weekly dance. For proof of all this, you need only ask Mr. Bingle, who was present as all of these events occurred. Though, not when Mr. Bingle and my sister made-out, to my knowledge. All the best."
--Remington FitzHerbert Darcy-Bassington Stone, XII, Esq.
Sent from my iPhone."
That night, on the car ride home, Victoria revealed the night’s events in detail to her eldest sister Jane.
"At first, I was incensed that Mr. Stone had such terrible excuses for his action. But, upon second thought, I began to understand, at least partially, where he was coming from with the beginner dancer’s thing. As for the Mr. Wickoughby part, I denied that Mr. Stone’s side of the story could be true at all. But then I began thinking: Mr. Wickoughby himself never dances with anyone but me and Lydia, and he was only willing to tell me all about how Mr. Stone destroyed his life after only knowing me for a moment, and only after he found out I disliked Mr. Stone. There is something strange in that."
"Mr. Stone does say Mr. Bingle can testify to the events, and we have never known him to lie."
"True, true. Tis sad, Jane. It appears that, though Wickoughby has all the charm, it is Mr. Stone who has all the facts. It’s a pitty they can’t be combined."
Next week: Chapter 4: Flips and Floppy-Hairness.
written by Bobby White