|
Refining the Basics
Tuesday, January 12, 1999 I remember walking home in the snow, a year ago! My poor feet were so cold! What a great feeling it was to be home, warm and cozy We've been pretty fortunate in the weather so far this winter, and even last year we really only had this one bad storm, I think.
In addition to my regular Thursday night dance class, I signed up for a one-shot workshop (say that three times fast!) with Jen and Chris of Hepcat productions, called "Basics for Advanced Dancers," or "Refining the Basics," depending on which brochure you are looking at. This was a smaller group than the continuing classes I take, so there was actually time for some individual attention from the instructors, which was good. The class was held at the University Heights Community Center, a converted old elementary school. We were in a different room than the last class I took there in December, slightly larger, with mirrors on the wall. Of course, I was the first one there, after Jen and Chris. I was familiar with most of the leads that were there, including Brian and my buddy Joe Ross. We had a few extra follows, so one of the other women wanted to practice her leading skills when both she and I were without partners. I was ok with this, to some exent, but as a lead she was just a beginner (as am I). This made it difficult to put into practice some of the things we were supposed to be working on, since she was still struggling with the mechanics of it all. The class covered topics like suiting the style of your dancing to the style, tempo and energy level of the music, smoothing out the basic, cleaning up footwork, preventing bad habits that can develop (lead jerking the follow forward on counts one and two, lead or follow bouncing their hand connection up and down or waggling it like a windshield wiper) and more. The class lasted an hour and forty five minutes, and I think we were worn out mentally by the end. A lot to think about! Good reminders, all of this, though none of it came as a revelation to me. Now I need to work on it all until it's as natural to me as a Charleston step.
I stayed home from work yesterday, since I was feeling fragile. This is not a good time to be missing work, but it couldn't be helped. I slept most of the morning; I needed the rest!
|
