By Catherine Beveridge

As a 1L, you might think the torrent of information coming your way will start to slow after orientation. We covered the major bases like the academic success program, experiential learning, the job search, and even heard an inspirational talk with Fr. Jack Butler. However, when classes start, it ramps up even higher. Every club has an introductory meeting, networking events pop up, and the career office promised to leave you alone but here they are with a resume workshop right as you want to go home on a Friday afternoon. 

After another day of classes, introductory meetings and workshops I found myself on my bed, exhausted and staring face-up at the ceiling. That was when I discovered a way to step back. 

I started scrolling through Instagram and saw a reel showing line dancing. This was interesting. In undergrad, I did Scottish country dancing, and I had been itching to get back into the dancing scene. But I wanted to try something new. Line dancing seemed to be friendly for dancing newbies, yet more technical than I originally thought. Even with all three of my doctrinal classes the next day, I just had to check it out. One Google search and a bus ride later, I found myself at Loretta’s Last Call on Lansdowne Street on a Sunday night.

At first, I felt silly. I was sitting at this bar waiting for the instructor to come on stage and talk us through a dance. Who was going to show up? But soon the bar filled with other twenty-somethings, all eager and with a good variety of experience levels. Through the evening, only three dances were taught, and the regulars danced in-between to more intermediate and advanced songs. There were many kinds of steps, but they were all technically simple. There was no first position or third position, like in ballet. It was more sliding left and right, toe taps and heel taps, shuffling forward and back, and even a good bit of kicks. The difficulty was in the geography of the dances: some had you face a different wall of the room each time through, like the Macarena. For others, you faced the front or the back wall, while still others involved the diagonals a bit more. But it all felt doable. More importantly, it was crazy fun. 

I started to get the hang of a few dances quickly, and even had a few favorites. Some will definitely take more practice–like any hobby–but just observing everyone that night was invigorating. I could start a dance by watching, but then hop in halfway through. There were no expectations of prior experience and no judgment. It was also an incredible workout. Many regulars brought hand held fabric fans to cool off. The music is worth a mention too. If country is not always your vibe, some of the dances are set to pop and rap music. I owe Nickelback a serious apology because I have never had so much fun doing a high kick clap than when it was set to “Burn it to the Ground.”

The most important thing was that dancing gave me the stress release I needed and the healthy rush of adrenaline that I missed. I found that flow state I reach when I ski or meditate or go running, and it was just the medicine I needed to keep perspective and reframe these past few weeks. A lot has happened! I moved to a new city, settled into a new apartment, started classes, began networking with attorneys, and it was all more dizzying than a rodeo. But for a few hours Sunday night, I found a little time to let go and do something that would ground me in my new surroundings. 

So if you’re interested in a hobby–something new you have been itching to try, or an old favorite to pick back up–this is your sign to go for it. I found the relief had a real and lasting impact, and I felt recharged and ready to tackle the next week of readings and events. Maybe you even want to join me at Loretta’s for line dancing! It’s every Sunday from 7pm-10pm and Tuesdays from 8pm-11pm for free.

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Catherine Beveridge is a first-year at BC Law. Contact her at beverid@bc.edu.