I've got to start learning to mind my own business. As it got closer and closer to our performance last night, I wasn't worried about forgetting the steps, but I was all stressed out about the person who didn't line up right, and the person who wore the wrong shirt, and the person who had missed the last two weeks of rehearsal and was trying to learn the routine half hour an hour before we went on. As a teacher, I've spent years being in charge and keeping track of the details, but this time it was not my problem, and I couldn't do anything about it.

That said, we were great, and I had a blast. I made no mistakes, and neither did any of the partners I was with. I hammed it up for the crowd. Our teachers told us to show our joy in dancing. I did a lot of grinning while I shook my booty.

The crowd was huge. I was really surprised to see that many people still around at 10:00. They had the real spirit of Folklife going—that joy in music, dance, and learning about new cultures.

I can't wait to do it again next year.