Occasionally someone at a contra dance will mention, "you've done this before." I always answer, "once or twice."

It all started in 1981 at a Halloween party for a University of Montana student group. For a while, a bike club buddy had been encouraging me to attend the dances. When I heard Sandy Bradley and the Small Wonder String Band on the radio that morning, I decided it was a go. Jim, another bike club chum, was the caller. A few folks were in costume, and I'll never forget the student in a tuxedo with a gorilla mask, hands, and feet. My then-BF was a Shy Person and he stayed in a corner huddled under his hoodie. I think I danced every dance. In short order I found myself back home, attending the monthly dances put on by the Detroit Country Dance Society, then driving to Ann Arbor and Lansing for their events. I moved to A2 so I could dance every week. Just about nine years after that first event, I took a caller workshop.

It's forty-three years later, and 34 years into my dance caller avocation. Still the thing I do best, and the best thing I do. Jim started it. This week someone in Missoula made a FB post about calling his first dance there, and that reminded me of that Halloween event,  and brought me here. Sad to learn about Jim. For his family and friends, colleagues, and fellow dancers, I am holding you in the light.

My deepest condolences to friends and family of Jim. I just found out on FB about the Estate Sale. Can anyone fill me on his cause of death?

I met Jim on that bicycle trip when he came to Seattle and came to the Second Saturday Contra dance. He was,  still is, my most favorite dance partner.  What a fabulous lead! He made me a better dancer, and every dance was magical. We shared a sweet and deep connection, with heart to heart conversations. He was a joy to know. Always, always,  in my heart. 

Jim was my dance friend for many years! I live in western colorado so we didnt see each other often.  Many yrs ago he used to come teach in Aspen & thats where our friendship began!!!

Soooo very sorry for such an awesome dance organizer& creative person❣️💃🕺❤️. Now I understand why I havent heard from him.  Very sad indeed.

Dance away Jim….. freely& openly🕺🕺

Your friend forever

Rosey

In Remembrance of Jim X. Borzym

(Text to accompany posted photos)

I met Jim in the autumn of ‘81 at a weekend dance camp on beautiful Suttle Lake in Sisters Oregon.

He immediately attracted my attention - tall, dark and handsome; with a witty flirtatious line of Long Island patter and a mischievous smile.

Love at First Dance:

(pic of Jim dancing)

Jim’s enduring style, grace, and smooth, attentive lead sparked a 4 year-long whirlwind of traveling and living together in a Santa Barbara dance/romance partnership.

He came into town to check things out and after easily landing a job with a local Santa Barbara HVAC engineering firm, relocated from Montana into my tiny studio cottage enclosed in what we dubbed The Enchanted Garden.

Almost immediately we began to fantasize about creating a weekend pleine-aire dance festival in Santa Barbara’s beautiful Oak Park.

We sounded out others on the newly formed SBCDS Dance Committee - plans rapidly evolved and the 1st SBCDS Harvest Moon Dance Festival was up and running - brought to fruition through the enthusiasm and devoted help of a multi-talented crew of volunteer dancers,

(pic of parachute crew volunteers)

musicians and others;

(pic of multi-talented musician, Dance Committee member and Parachute Crew Coordinator - Carl Magagnosc)

Here is how it looked in the evening on the dance floor in romantic Oak Park below the full moon and billowing parachute at our 1st SBCDS Harvest Moon Dance Festival.

(pic of dance floor decor)

Here is how it felt to us after the last waltz of the weekend - basking in a sense of accomplishment and the hope that the festival  might continue many years into the future as a lasting legacy for the SBCDS community. 

 (pic of Jim and Lily at end of festival)

Although Jim and I parted ways a few years later, we renewed our friendship in the early ‘2000’s, and kept in ever closer contact by phone and email during the Covid years.

I miss Jim daily, it’s hard to believe he’s really gone. I console myself thinking of him reunited with members of his much-beloved dance-loving family and Dance Community members whom I imagine waltzing together, beaming their warmth and love down on those of us temporarily left behind.

Dance on . . . Dear Jim,

Remember us as we remember you . . . with enduring Love,

Lily 

Happy Birthday Jim,

The world lost a very special person when we lost you. I will miss you every day for the rest of my life.                         Trish

Jim was a good friend during our grade school years (Camp Ave School, NY), before I moved away. I was saddened to read about his passing and saddens me further is, as faith would have it, we both moved to Colorado in the 80’s and I never knew it.

My sincere “Thank you” to all the tributes for giving me an opportunity to see who Jim became.