In 1994 I moved to New Haven, Connecticut to attend law school. One weekend a month there was no local dance, so I’d drive up I-91 and dance at the Friday night contra dance David called in Greenfield. The first time I did this I arrived to a smallish crowd of mostly men. I was an experienced dancer but knew no one but David.
People partnered up for the first dance. I did not have a partner. I asked each of 4-5 guys still sitting down—and they all turned me down. David saw this. He jumped off the stage and asked me to dance. I agreed, and he called the first dance from the floor. I thanked him after the dance and told him what a pleasure it was to dance with him. David’s response was that he liked dancing with me too, but asked me to dance to set an example for his community.