I brought neither the noise nor the funk
I took a dance class tonight, and I didn't like it!
It's easily been 20 years since I've taken a dance class and 14 years since I had to learn choreography along with a group (high school musicals!). So I wasn't expecting to be very good. However, I also wasn't expecting to be so terrible. And man was I terrible. Terrible to the point where it just was not fun. I don't need to be the best to have fun, but I definitely need to not be the worst. Character flaw? Maybe!
It was a beginning hip hop class. I vaguely approximated the movements the instructor did so that I would end up in the same position as everyone else. But really I just sort of shuffled around in between movement sections and shook my butt like some kind of misguided bumble bee communicating its location.
I was the only person who was new to the class. And while I appreciate the fact that the instructor didn't single me out for not getting it, I do wish she had acknowledged that I needed a little help. There is no way she couldn't have noticed that I wasn't getting it.
I have to ask Stephanie (who recently rocked performing with Loose Change dance company) if there is some dance reason to favor the left side, as in starting moves on the left and ending up left-foot dominant after a move, because everything we learned was left-dominant. I am very much a righty, so this added to my confusion.
Also, there were all these codes and hand signals I didn't catch on to right away! So, she touched the top of her head, pointed to the left and shouted "front!" What does that mean? It took me an unusually long time to realize that meant start from the top, lead with the left foot, facing front. Well, I'm only sure about the first two. She may have been yelling something other than "front." Perhaps, "pump" or "frock."
It's easily been 20 years since I've taken a dance class and 14 years since I had to learn choreography along with a group (high school musicals!). So I wasn't expecting to be very good. However, I also wasn't expecting to be so terrible. And man was I terrible. Terrible to the point where it just was not fun. I don't need to be the best to have fun, but I definitely need to not be the worst. Character flaw? Maybe!
It was a beginning hip hop class. I vaguely approximated the movements the instructor did so that I would end up in the same position as everyone else. But really I just sort of shuffled around in between movement sections and shook my butt like some kind of misguided bumble bee communicating its location.
I was the only person who was new to the class. And while I appreciate the fact that the instructor didn't single me out for not getting it, I do wish she had acknowledged that I needed a little help. There is no way she couldn't have noticed that I wasn't getting it.
I have to ask Stephanie (who recently rocked performing with Loose Change dance company) if there is some dance reason to favor the left side, as in starting moves on the left and ending up left-foot dominant after a move, because everything we learned was left-dominant. I am very much a righty, so this added to my confusion.
Also, there were all these codes and hand signals I didn't catch on to right away! So, she touched the top of her head, pointed to the left and shouted "front!" What does that mean? It took me an unusually long time to realize that meant start from the top, lead with the left foot, facing front. Well, I'm only sure about the first two. She may have been yelling something other than "front." Perhaps, "pump" or "frock."
I think I left before the class was over. The instructor said, "Thanks girls, that's it," but then no one left and someone started pulling weights out of a box. Look, I had already haphazardly dry humped the floor and jumped around in circles because she told me to. I wasn't about to be confused and jump around while carrying things. So I left what turned out to be a half hour early. (It was an hour and a half class.)
I'm giving up on this particular class, but not on taking a dance class. I thought she was a fine instructor, but aside from confusing me, she also did things like shout at us to sweat and other jocky things to turn me off. She wanted us to yell nonsense words to help us remember things. But all that did was give me a string of nonsense words to remember in addition to a string of moves. I don't mind being bossed in this context, but I don't like people yelling at me that they want me to feel uncomfortable.
Surprisingly, I'm not in as terrible shape as I should be, considering my usual level of physical activity. I got a little sweaty (she ordered me to!) but I was not out of breath or unable to be as flexible as everyone else. Granted, I did most of the moves improperly. But I did them as enthusiastically and wholeheartedly as I could muster. So good for me at not falling down like an old lady!
Conclusion: I will try again with a class based on performing and start at the beginning. I do well under pressure, and this will also ensure that we are learning a particular routine rather than a random series of moves strung together to make me sweat. I know that logic is weird: I suck, so next time I'll focus on performing. But I trust me, it makes sense.
I'm giving up on this particular class, but not on taking a dance class. I thought she was a fine instructor, but aside from confusing me, she also did things like shout at us to sweat and other jocky things to turn me off. She wanted us to yell nonsense words to help us remember things. But all that did was give me a string of nonsense words to remember in addition to a string of moves. I don't mind being bossed in this context, but I don't like people yelling at me that they want me to feel uncomfortable.
Surprisingly, I'm not in as terrible shape as I should be, considering my usual level of physical activity. I got a little sweaty (she ordered me to!) but I was not out of breath or unable to be as flexible as everyone else. Granted, I did most of the moves improperly. But I did them as enthusiastically and wholeheartedly as I could muster. So good for me at not falling down like an old lady!
Conclusion: I will try again with a class based on performing and start at the beginning. I do well under pressure, and this will also ensure that we are learning a particular routine rather than a random series of moves strung together to make me sweat. I know that logic is weird: I suck, so next time I'll focus on performing. But I trust me, it makes sense.
Ha! re: left stuff... No not really. Usually it's more the right foot/leg/arm. But it looks like you stumbled upon the only lefty dance teacher in the whole Bay Area or that she wanted to be "challenging". That would be stupid, considering it's a beginner class.
I say, try someone else!
BTW... thanks for saying I rocked ;) Glad you liked it!
Posted by
Stephanie |
9/18/2007 2:24 PM
The idea of you dancing around like a bumble bee sounds adorable! What do you need a class for if you can do that?
Posted by
Joy |
9/20/2007 1:56 PM
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