Hip Hop Ballerina

photo © 2008 LMAP , Flickr

I am by no means a dancer but I do love a good Hip Hop class. I love when the music is cranked up so loud that your whole body moves. Not just the outside that everyone can see, but the insides too. The sound moves from the speakers to your ears and flows all the way down to your toes. You body can't help but move with the beat. Aah!

Since being gone a year, the Hip Hop class I was taking got replaced with Ballet. Ballet? How can you go from hard hitting, dig into the floor tunes to soft, delicate classical music? Now don't get me wrong, I am a classically trained pianist but I don't want to dance to it.

My friend sent me a reminder last night that class was from 7:30 - 8:30 and she expected to see me there.

Why not give it a try? I'm a bit of a klutz as it is...why not just make a fool of myself. I'm usually good about giving things a good first try before making a decision. I went in with an open mind. This could be really good for me. I need to do some toning of my core and legs...ballet will be the perfect match for that.

I was met at the door by one of my favorite students. I've had her for 3 out of her 5 years of schooling. I'd keep her as my own if I could. She barreled in to me and began telling me foot positions. I contorted my feet from first through fifth position. That wasn't too bad. My knobby knees sure feel funny though and I can't seem to remember where my arms are supposed to go.

The door was opened and class was to start. I gave M a hug and headed into the studio. I nestled myself next to a bar and began to immitate the other dancers. Arm up, leg out, toe pointed.....arm to the side, leg to the side, toe pointed....arm arched in front, leg to the back, toe pointed, head tilted to the side and back. Piece of cake.

Then the combinations started. I felt like a new student entering at the end of the school year. Moves went from one to the next....quickly. I did my best to follow along but felt like I was missing something. The joy that I get when I hip hop dance wasn't there. I couldn't flow through the moves like those passionate ballet dancers.

By the end of the class, I was twirling and pretzeling my legs with the best of them. My friend asked what I thought. "It's not Hip Hop!" was my response...."No it's not!" was her reply. I'm not sure what I will do about next Friday when ballet class rolls around. I may need to give it a few more tries or maybe I'll need to find a Hip Hop class that takes grown-ups with a young personality. I'll have to wait and see how sore I am tomorrow.