Friday, March 9, 2012

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.

13 comments:

  1. I've heard you need to give something 3 tries before you decide if you like it so . . . Next Friday?

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  2. Pretzeling your legs is a good description of some ballet moves. I took toe dancing for years. Loved it. But I'm not sure it is an acquired taste. I think you have to start out loving it...but I may be wrong. Try three times like Juliann says! Good luck walking later today.

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  3. You are an open-minded risk-taker. I wouldn't have even gone to the first lesson.
    It is hard to enjoy something that you don't know how to do. When my husband and I started ballroom dancing we were frustrated at first, but continued going because we wanted to learn and needed the exercise. We have been dancing for 9 years now and enjoy it. There were other couples who finished after the first 8 lessons. Give it a try, but if there is no enjoyment, give it up. Or if you find a hip-hop class before next Friday, you know what to do then.

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  4. I am very late commenting, but wanted to see what you wrote, so here I am. What a vast change it is from hip hop to ballet. I know that both must be good for your body, but I understand it isn't quite what you seem to need, Elizabeth. I do wonder why they didn't give you more support too. Isn't it risky to try to keep up; the body might not want to (te he). Anyway, I guess I might say 'glide on' & see where you end up! Really interesting to hear, especially, like Donna said, 'pretzeling your legs'.

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  5. Boy, are you ever brave to try something new...good for you!

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  6. Bravo Elizabeth... This experience just makes you a better teacher and a happy one.

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  7. I felt like a new student entering at the end of the school year. Beautiful!

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  8. Because you described it so well I felt like I was right there with you. Ouch! You are in a wonderful position - the choice is totally up to you, whether or not to go back. You win either way. Let us know what you decide!

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  9. I hear your frustration and your courage. A couple of weeks ago a young man has been teaching a Hip Hop class after school for our students. I have peeked in for a glimpse. Wow he is an amazing teacher - I have new "respect" and admiration for people who do this amazing dance.

    If you can master hip hop - you will master ballet. But I agree you need to have joy - life is to short spending it where there isn't joy.

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  10. Good for you for being open enough to try it at least once!

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  11. I give you lots and lots of credit for even trying! Good for you! Love the description of your pretzeling legs. What do you have to lose? Try it again!

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  12. Seems like two ends of the spectrum to me. If you are "out there" in your personality this may actually work for you! I think three tries sounds just right.

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  13. I am proud of you! I flunked out of ballet when I was five. Some clumsiness is just too ingrained to dig out from under!

    Good luck!

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