Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Dance Log 2
(would be three but I skipped town last week--more to come on that. )

I was so excited to go back to dance class and see what more there was to learn! And I looked pretty cute. Anywho, the best/funniest/truest thing I learned tonight was this:
Cheri "This is not your grandmother's ballroom dance... where she went to the dance and waited for a man to ask her to dance and she got twirled around and then dropped off and waits for the next guy to ask her to dance. No. This is the modern woman's take on ballroom dance, Equal Partners!"
I really thought it was funny and so applicable, and kind of cool to see that just as the world has changed and roles have morphed a little, ballroom dance takes part in that, and we both must do out parts to make the whole work. I think that is one thing I love about partner dancing is that it takes the two of you trying and putting forth this effort for it to work out the right way. Active participants I suppose.

Anywho, I don't have much else cool insight on the matter, but I love dancing. :)

Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Dance Log 1

(I still don't know how to make a title.)
My beautiful, talented, and dear friend Alyssa is taking a dance class, inwhich her teacher said it would behoove the students to have a dance journal.

Interestingly enough, I read that today... and then I went to a dance class.
During the class I thought, man it would behoove me to be like Alyssa and have a dance journal too!And since it is less painful and more fun to write on a computer and post it online, I thought, this blog would be a great place!
So... it might be painfully boring to begin with, but wait til the end, I promise it'll be good!
First hour, 6:30-7:30... American Fox Trot. At first I though, uuuuuuuuugh Fox Trot. But I was determined to have a good time, so I plastered on my Fox Trot Smile (it's real, I have a particular smile just for Fox trot and boy is it cheesy!)Just like this lady, a big cheesy smile, yet it is elegant and refined!

It is also similar to what my face looks like in this next picture... in which I am indeed dancing...Fox Trot!Notice the smile? Notice how it is full of joy, ease, elegance, grace...

all while my shoe is falling off and I am trying to figure out how to get my foot back into my show! (Dear Alyssa, this is a show or two after the unfortunately hilarious incident of my dress being tucked into itself and me dancing this number with my shorts showing. How I wish I had pictures taken DURING that show!)
Anyway. Back to tonight, Fox Trot. Some things I learned/relearned/want to note: Heel Leads. Stand on supporting leg, compress, bend supporting leg with pulls other leg through, extend heel, push on to heel, and release back leg making this the new supporting leg, repeat.

I may have had other thoughts, but lets get back to entertaining you.

Second hour, 7:30-8:30, Jive! AKA, East Coast Swing.
Lots of fun, I keep smiling and pulling faces as I normally do in dance, especially swing.
What I learned/need to actually work on since I kept forgetting to do: put heel down on rock step.
I thought class was over at this time. Turns out there was a third hour! I was contemplating leaving since I start work tomorrow at 6 am... but I heard it was Viennese Waltz. I had to stay! So, from 8:30-9:30 I did just that.
And boy, is it Tuesday again yet?! It was the best hour of my life.
I couldn't stop grinning, I loved the combinations! I loved the movements, the routine is amazing!hold for three, burst, wheel in shadow, canter rhythm to outside partner, natural turn, three step to outside partner, natural turn, check, pivot, hold, whatever this step is called with the ladies arabesque to same foot lunge! Hold, swivels to turn to over sway, hold.... spin to hip check and turn to reverse/basic!

I felt like I was flying, floating... something amazing! I felt so graceful, the movement felt so natural. I felt like this:

(an oversway)
I want to video tape it next week to see if I actually look more like the ugly duckling... you know how your perception can be off? well... haha

Either way, I am SO excited for next Tuesday!!