Time to get dancing! My plan for 2018 is to have at least 18 new kinds of dance adventures. As this photo reveals, I am no serious dancer. My son's wedding in November was a reminder of how much I love to dance, even though I have few opportunities and little talent. I did take some ballet, jazz & tap classes as a teenager, but rarely could I be persuaded to get on the dance floor at a party. Now is the time to get out there, lose those inhibitions and have some fun with all kinds of dance!
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But before long I was upstairs, in the lit up meeting room (dance hall) being greeted by smiling "regulars", ready to begin 2.5 hours of dancing.
I was the only new one, but luckily a few "teachers" took turns guiding us through new dances. Most dances had us in a circle or line, holding hands. (I was corrected right away to have my left palm down, right palm up.) After a bit of stepping, gliding, tapping and clapping, we put the steps to music and the room came to life. It was impossible not to smile as I moved (and often fumbled) with this group. Irish music, Serbian, Israeli and Greek! So many kind of sounds and steps. Everyone graciously put up with my mistakes. At times my ab muscles got the best workout, from laughing at myself. |
There was no instruction. Each couple was on their own. Thank goodness a sweet man, (a bit older and much more confident) got me out on the floor. "Lean back!" He insisted. "Hold your arm out more firmly."
I always thought I knew how to polka, but this guy had it down. When I finally stopped trying to lead and trusted his palm on my back, I leaned back and we were suddenly spinning. Woohoo! That was a hoot! What a great and welcoming bunch. Some brought snacks to share, one man even brought his sweet dog. Then when everyone put their $4.00 into the jar to pay for the building rental, I was told no. "It's your first time." I slipped mine in anyway. 2.5 hours of fun for 4 dollars! A bargain! |
Since I live in the Houston area, there is no excuse for not giving this kind of dance a try. There are Bollywood Dance classes available all over the place. I decided to play it safe and start with a fitness class, using Bollywood style music and dance movements. I found "Infused Performing Arts Studio" on the internet and called up. That evening I arrived to try out a complimentary class.
I wore comfortable clothing, but forgot to think about shoes. My flip flops came off and I did the hour class, (which involved lots of jumping) in bare feet. Ouch. I also did something that I learned from being the "new kid in school" many times. I made a buddy quick, by introducing myself to the first person I saw. |
Mardi Gras First
Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) and Valentine's Day were back to back this year. My hubby and I stayed home both nights and celebrated without crowds. On Tuesday, we blasted a little New Orleans style music and Don made Hurricanes. The music made me glad I was home and not out with parade crowds in the French Quarter. I'm the kind who gets quiet when crowds get wild. At home I let the music inspire some whacky dancing. It's hard not to do a little crazy dance/marching and singing when you hear, "Oh when the Saints, come marching in..." By the way, this photo was taken before I even took a sip of my hurricane. |
At the age of 15, my friend and I found a ballet studio in the Yellow Pages and we called up about classes. Jenny and I used babysitting money to buy leotards and ballet slippers and to pay for classes. We loved it.
At 16, my family left Tallahassee and I found another studio in my new town. The Ann Arbor studio was rigid and thrilling. There were strict color rules for leotards and tights. Hair had to be worn in flawless buns. I loved the tiny, ancient woman who played the piano for the class, while our instructor demanded perfection from her students. I was delighted to be in higher level class. I was in awe of the more experienced dancers, who kept their chins lifted and walked in "turn out" even when they left the studio. . |
I recently learned there was a classical Indian dance class, available in my neighborhood. I communicated with the teacher by email, about trying the class. Shashi suggested I wear some kind of tunic and loose pants. I also needed a dupata to tie around the waist.
Luckily I had an Indian outfit, purchased from Goodwill a year ago. I wore a long cotton shirt instead of the stiff tunic, but the pants and dupata worked fine. I headed 1 mile to the neighborhood clubhouse on a Saturday afternoon, ready to learn. I had no idea what was involved. |
Finding the studio was tricky. I followed my GPS and it took me to a closed tutoring business. Hmmm? There was a dance studio two doors down, with some kind of jamming party class in progress. It looked so fun, I almost just joined in, but my floral skirt gave me away. I was pointed towards another studio, in back.
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They belonged to the women who were getting ready to take the adult class. For a moment, I felt like I was an intruder at a Young Mom's Club. I could have been the mom of any of these young women. But that didn't last. Suddenly Kanoi, the teacher, was introducing me to the others. Next, I was following along, with lots of encouragement and smiles.
Kanoi started class, seated on the floor beating the rhythms on a hollow double gourd. We went through some basic footwork exercises and that wasn't too bad. Now and then a mom would attend to the kids. A few times, the smallest of the bunch wandered up to stand at the mirror or give the drum a few beats. |
The class progressed, adding arm movements to the feet. There were flowing movements for falling rain and mountains and shivering from cold. But my feet and hips were only beginning to catch on. I realized quickly, I was better off doing arms or feet, not both.
Ending Pose Thank goodness for repetition. Each dance ended with the same pose. That was something I could do! It was like giving a loud Amen! at the end of a prayer you can't remember. I jumped in at the end of each fumbled dance, with a bent knee, pointed toe and extended arms. Very satisfying! I also added an extra big grin, as if that would make up for all the hand movements I left out. |
I showed up at 7, with a sash tied around my waist, as if that would make me look like I knew what I was doing.
Dee, the instructor was getting ready to start up class with 2 gentlemen. She assured me, the first dances were easy. Without discussion, we 4 suddenly began circling to the right, then center, then kick, then pause. The minor key music encouraged me, with an easy, slow rhythm. I was feeling pretty giddy that my feet could follow so well. I was impressed when I heard voices, singing along in Hebrew. Wow, I wish I could do that, too. |
The dances were no longer easy, but I trotted along, usually in the correct direction and sometimes not. Dee kept the flow of the class going, yet offered a few tips along the way and encouraged me to stay behind her, to follow. Eventually I backed out and got water and watched, until I was ready to jump in and stumble along some more. I wanted so badly to just know the dances so I could let muscle memory take over and just enjoy like the others.
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After 2 hours, I was pooped. The group was going strong at 9, but I offered a huge thanks and headed home. By that time I had chatted with nearly everyone in the group. Dee had given me a CD of music and others had invited me to return and try out some other groups and camps.
As I drove home I laughed at my own bumbling attempts to join in. I also sighed that I had been welcomed and included so graciously. |
We paused to watch and I was mesmerized by the smooth twirling and light footwork. It wasn't exactly a performance, but these people knew what they were doing. The song ended, so I approached the dancer with white hair, to ask what this was about. He handed me a card and I could see this was a club... one I just might have joined, if I lived in Burlington! |
We were in luck! They offered free line dance lessons on Thursday night and Don was game. But when we got to the floor and saw a couple of camera men, I got a little nervous. Luckily, the TV crew from Norway was done pretty quickly, filming a well-known Norwegian chef and comedian, on the dance floor. Then the floor was open to the rest of us.
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But, Don and I suddenly decided to take advantage of our masks and we got down on that dance floor. We already had a ticket to be silly, since we didn't know anyone. But, something about wearing a mask is incredibly freeing! I think we did a mighty fine job, but there was no spotlight on us! The dancing monk and the nearly topless mermaid, stole the show.
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