Lets Dance! - True Story Tuesday

I have stated here before that I was a dance teacher.  I want to elaborate on that for a moment. When I was 6 years old I attended my first dance class and fell in love.  From that moment on I knew that without a shadow of a doubt I wanted to be a dancer when I grew up.  As I got older I decided that I wanted to teach dance, own my on studio and dance from dusk 'til dawn. 

When I graduated high school I knew I was going to teach dance, but I wanted to get a degree in accounting and business management so that I would better now how to run my business. I had a plan, I set out to accomplish my dream.  In that dream nowhere was I the mother of a beautiful little boy that liked sports.  I didn't think about children and where my life would take me once I had them.  I just assumed I'd have little girls that loved dance as much as I do.  Low and behold, I have one child, who happens to be a little boy that likes sports.  So 5 years after opening my dance studio I closed it and started a new journey in life.

Making the decision to close the dance studio was easy, cleaning it out and giving up dance all together was hard.  I lost myself a little, I had been a dancer all my life I was struggling with my identity now and what to do with myself.  Dance had been my outlet, if I was upset I danced and just loose myself in the music.  I was never a great ballerina (although I love pointe) but I was an excellent tapper.  I LOVE TAP.  Putting my tap shoes up was the hardest thing I have ever done (well not the hardest - but it ranks in the top 5 below burying my best friend, burying my grandmother and living with an abusive spouse).

A couple of weeks ago I found out my old teacher now offers a "PRO-AM" competitive dance class for her old students.  Which means that a group of mothers (12 to be exact) get together late during the week (after 9) and dance like old times, and compete.  I can't tell you how exciting this was.  I immediately called to get the class information and found out that a new class was starting and Saturday (last week) was going to be the first class.

On Saturday I was very excited,  I rushed around all day counting down until I got to go to my first class. I was like a kid waiting to buy a new toy!  Finally 5:00 rolled around and it was time for me to leave for my class I rushed out the door and sped up the road!  Here we go!

Walking in was like old times!  The same faces, just a little older ;), and talking stretching walking around getting to know each other again.  The the music started.  I realize now why I have hearing difficulties.  Seriously it's a wonder I'm not deaf, and no wonder why I have hearing problems. (My audiologist says that the reason I only notice problems on the phone is because I am lip reading in person) Seriously the music was so loud that my organs were jumping to the beat.  Once the shock of the volume wore off, we got down to business.

"Let's start going across the floor Chaînés, 1 in plié, 2 in relevé all the way across"
I can do this, I'm a great turner.  I WAS a great turner.  Now I have glasses that flew across the floor after my first turn.  So I put those away and started again.  Spotting is essential in turning.  If done correctly you will not get dizzy.  I evidently didn't do them correctly because when I made it to the other side of the room and stopped, the room continued to spin around me.  I grabbed the wall, hoping the turning would stop before I had to go back again.  No such luck, I started my turns back and ran into the woman in front of me.  Not only was I dizzy, but I can't see either so I was a complete and total mess. 

The turns didn't stop there.  Oh no we did a variation of chaines paired with pirouettes and piquee's across the floor and back for no less than 20 minutes. I seriously thought I was going to vomit from the spinning of the room, not to mention the spinning of the Kelly!  Let's just say that my spotting technique needs some work.

Finally we moved on to leaps and jumps: OH GOD!
We went into a series of grande jete's, scissors, calypso's and seconds.  All with and without turns.  By the time we finished the last of the jumps I thought my legs were going to collapse under the weight of my body.  We were only 45 minutes into the class and it was 2 1/2 hours long!   Thank GOD we started the dance after that and got some rest time!

Then we learned a new jump, at least it was new to me.  It's called a "C" jump, I call it the bust my a$$ in front of everyone jump.  I named it this right after I got up off the floor upon completion of this jump.  (or attempted completion). 

All in all I had a great time, and I will be back on Saturday for more punishment.  Let's just hope that my sore muscles have healed by then!

Have a good Tuesday!
(for more trues stores link up with Rachel & Mr. Daddy)