Easier said than done.
Last night I went to my first dance class in a bajillion years. The last real class I took was at Jazz N’ Motion in 2003…I was 17. Since then I danced on the Uconn Tap Team (back in 2004-2005) and took a random Jazz I class at UT fall 2005 (which was sort of a joke)…other than that, if you call shaking your booty around your living room on a Friday night before your fiance gets home “real dancing,” I haven’t done anything. I have been too afraid to set foot in a dance studio…I bet you are wonder…WHY??
(Let me preface this post with the fact that when I left the studio I almost felt euphoric – I was happy, dazed, out of breath, and my limbs hurt in ways they haven’t hurt in forever. I love dancing and am so happy I got the first class back out of the way.)
Anyways, last night’s experience is precisely the reason why it has taken me 6 years to take a real dance class. I walked in thinking that I was going to learn some cool music video dance moves at MV Funk with Tay. Here is the class description:
Once described by Simon Cowell of American Idol as “absolutely phenomenal,” Antavious “Tay” Baker is precisely that. Having “defected” from years of classical dance and theater training, Tay’s showy style of dance incorporates a full spectrum including the latest moves from the music video scene. Dance, sweat and leave feeling like you’ve just experienced the thrill of being in a music video. His passionate instruction focuses on building skills and style, while allowing room for freedom and expression. This beginner level hour-long class begins with a 10 minute warm-up, followed by 50 minutes of pure music video fantasy. source
Sounds like a great time! Right?? WRONG.
Let’s start with the fact that the class is supposed to be beginner level. LIARS!!! The class was for people who know how to pop, lock, and drop it… not little ole me. Freestyle dance has never been one of my talents. Tay was amazing – sassy, creative, and definitely an awesome hip hop dancer. And most of the girls in the class were pretty great too. Not me though.
Maybe it’s because I was trained to be a competitive dancer who had to have every little detail right…or maybe it’s because since I graduated college I have become an old lady, in the body of a 12 year old boy, with no rhythm…but I definitely could not move like the girls in my class moved last night. I do have hips and I can sure as heck shake them, I can move my body like a snake, and I can still do a triple turn – but I can NOT dance hip hop like my idols on So You Think You Can Dance.
The next class I try will probably be Pop Jazz or something a little more technical. I am sure I will embarrass myself again, but I have been out of the dance loop for a long time and it’s going to take me a bit of time to warm up my sweet dance skills.
The best (or should I say worst) part of the night was that since I left dance school, the ‘dress code’ has changed. No longer do girls wear tights, spandex, or jazz sneakers. Now its all sweat pants, trendy knee high socks, street sneakers. and crazy t-shirts. I need to go shopping before I go back to the studio. I felt like Drew Barrymore in Never Been Kissed on her first day of school.
Wish me luck at my next attempt at dance class….
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