4/26/2012 0 Comments Tears of Joy After my two year old son climbs into my husband's lap and plops comfortably in the nook of my husband's elbow, he smiles at me as if there's nothing more in the world he needs - and I'm sure there's nothing more in the world I need. Then he snatches the hat off my husband's head and proceeds to put the rather ill-fitted hat on his own head. He covers his face with the brim and says, "Where'd he go? Kai?" and I almost cry.
Everything about the moment - his small hands on the big hat, his adorable pronunciation, his sense of humor - they all have the power to bring me to my knees. Sometimes I feel like the Grinch when his heart grew three sizes too big. My chest heaves, my breath catches, and a sonic boom of gratitude emanates from my body. I get this feeling at least once a day. Whether it's from seeing my nine month old daughter's dimples, my son carry his bowl of food to the table using both hands and tiny steps, or my personal favorite - Kai making Naya laugh by doing something silly and then they start laughing at each other laughing. One time, Naya actually fell over she was laughing so hard...and then she kept laughing! By the end, we're all red faced and crying for no reason at all... Did you feel that boom? Now here's my confession: my son was a total Oops! I freaked out when that plus sign appeared on the stick. I'd never even really held a baby before (I did the whole, sit down and put a pillow in your lap, then gingerly place your arms between the baby and the pillow, thing) yet alone planned on having one...or two. What did I know about raising kids? Nothing. Let me rephrase that: NOTHING! Suffice to say, "terrified" would have been an understatement. I actually wanted to move back to KY where we could be close to family and friends who knew what to do with these little dream suckers. We'd have been gone if my husband, always the wiser, gentler of the two of us, hadn't calmed me down (not an easy task, I assure you) and convinced me we could do this kid thing. He was right, as usual. The "dream suckers" turned out to be dream fulfillers and happiness personified. The "kid thing" is really the coolest, most satisfying ride of our lives. And not only can we do this - we can't imagine a day of our lives not wanting to do this. I tell you all this, not to make you run out and procreate (because to be honest, I'm still very new at this mothering thing and I'm sure I'll have lots of epiphanies, not all of them exploding with gratitude;), merely to illustrate - sometimes life throws you a step you don't know. You'll freak out. You'll stumble. You'll want to move to KY. Stop. Breathe. Most importantly: stay on the floor. That step you feared at first, may turn into your favorite dance! See you on the hardwood:)
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4/19/2012 0 Comments Ironic Life has a great sense of humor! Just as I'm becoming immobile, my eight month old daughter is learning to crawl. It's adorable to watch! At this very moment, she can't figure out why the sliding glass door leading to our patio is an obstacle. She's nothing if not persistent as she's repeatedly bumps her head into it - and I am nothing if not amused. Hey, I never said I was a good mom!
Watching her learn to move warms my heart as I'm reminded of new dancers. Wobbly, unsure, excited... a wonderfully dangerous combination. The first time she made it two knees before collapsing. The next day was three. Today I saw her crawl eight knees before falling to her belly once she reached the object of her desire, (what is it about computer chords that make them baby crack?), and I was nearly moved to tears. It's a milestone when a person learns to move. And when a person finally gives in to their lifelong dream of learning to dance - it's an equally important step. Don't laugh. I'm serious:) Once you learn to dance, you have that gift for the Rest of your Life! If you're serious about training your muscles, you'll remember the steps when you're 80! And you'll be half of the cute, old couple dancing at the wedding that everyone talks about afterward. Who doesn't want to be that?;) It's not as easy as we think it's going to be. But I guarantee you, it's worth the work. I would caution you not to get so frustrated you cry (Naya). We're all going to step on ourselves, trip, and even fall. It's part of the game. We should be grateful because it's an opportunity to better ourselves. So as Fred and Ginger used to sing, "Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Start all over again." Don't waste time worrying who saw your mistake and what they thought of it. If they're on the dance floor, it's either happened to them already, or is in their immediate future. And when it happens to them, be gracious - share your embarrassing moments so they don't feel so alone. If you're reading this, you've probably already accepted the wonderful gift of Dance, and my heart sings for you! If you haven't, you know you secretly wish you knew at least one kind of dance. Find a local class or teacher and make the time already! Our time and health are our most valuable assets. So instead of answering the question "What did you do last night?" with some half-hearted TV guide review, why not say, "I went to a Tango class!" I guarantee you won't be sorry you did. And though my daughter might remind me of you, please don't bang your head into a glass door repeatedly and remind me of her. (Or if you do, call me first so I can come over and laugh at you, too;) At least she's not giving up. Why should you? Fight the good fight! I'll see you on the hardwood. (I have to end with it. Nothing else feels right. Eventually it will be true:) 4/13/2012 4 Comments Just Breathe In and out. Innn and Ouuutt. Innnnnnnn and Ooouuuttt. OK, stop - I'm light headed;) Such a simple task and yet, one we commonly overlook, both in dancing and life. One of my students recently confessed she was waiting until she messed up to breathe. Sounds both painful and unfair, yet sadly, it's our first tendency when we're nervous. I still do it when I dance with people who challenge me. What are we, eight?
Breathing is our most basic human right - why do we take it away from ourselves in situations where it would be most helpful? Besides providing that ever so convenient element, oxygen, breathing relaxes our bodies. When we're relaxed, we make better dancers, better wives, and better mothers (sub husbands and dads OR lovers and friends as you see fit;). We've all seen the movies where Lamaze is exaggerated for the sake of a few laughs. But it's true, breathing correctly can help you cope with pain (something I need to keep in mind in the immediate future). We're supposed to breathe into our diaphragms and allow our bellies to rise and fall. Now, I recently received a lecture from my chiropractor that basically said since women want to appear thin, we don't allow our bellies to move. Instead, we breathe into our chests. As a tomboy, probably until my dying day, I challenged his theory. Now I challenge you: Right now, I want you to breathe in and out from your chest three times. Then breathe in and out from your diaphragm, that tiny space between your rib cage and belly, three times. Feels better, right? Now let's go all yoga on ourselves and try to breathe all the way through our bodies to our toes, then release. At this very moment, if you really did that (if you didn't, DO IT) I'll bet money you feel calm... almost surreal. And you're probably breathing more deeply right now without trying. So why don't we do that all the time? Because our coworkers will think we've lost it! I know. But, we can train ourselves to breathe into our diaphragms without looking too suspicious. Besides feeling better, we'll improve our singing:). When we breathe deeply, we can handle what life, or leads, throw at us with more grace. If you're a lead reading this, you take the tension out of your body with proper breathing, which makes for a better conversation between you and your follow. Start with exhaling. In moments you tend to tense up, exhale slowly and evenly, and watch the tension melt out of your body, (esp. your traps). Then observe the effect that has on your partner. Aaahhh. Yes, you can say it out loud if you want to. It's easier said than done, I realize that. But we have to fight the good fight. Start once a day, focusing on your breathing. Then progress to three times a day. Maybe you can breathe before meals. You'll probably eat slower, which most of us would benefit from. Or just breathe before you fall asleep. It should be easy to find times to sneak in this Vital part of our day. Let's not get so distracted we forget;) Since I won't see you on the hardwood, I need a new sign off. I think, until I'm recovered, I'll go with: fight the good fight. That's sure as hell what I'll try to do:) Join me, won't you? 4/5/2012 2 Comments The Rainbow Don't you love those moments when the perfect song comes on your radio at the precise moment you need to hear it? That happened to me today on my way back from the chiropractor's office. It was my first visit to the chiro, and truth be told - I was apprehensive, if not skeptical. But on my way home, even though I was still in pain, I honestly felt (and I apologize for the cliche) that a weight had been lifted. For the first time in two days (maybe a bit longer) I thought, "I'm going to be OK".
Then I heard the lyrics, "Hold your head up high... I know it's hard...there's always a rainbow after the rain...". Sadly, I don't know the artist or song title (comments here would be appreciated;) but I've heard the song before and never paid attention to the lyrics. Now, here they were, lifting me up just when I needed the push. It was amazing! In that moment, the wind blew through my hair with more vigor, the air felt fresher around me, and my car got better gas mileage. It could happen;) You may be wondering, why a chiropractor? I thought you hurt your knee? You'd be right. But as it turns out, the left side of my body didn't agree to relentless overtime. There was a riot - leaving me completely incapable of even the simplest task: standing up straight. Go ahead, let your imagination run wild with the fun I had mothering two small, very wonderful, yet needy, children in that condition. So when I woke today with the same excruciating pain, I decided it was time to seek professional help. The treatment starts tomorrow, and I have to say (since I'm using cliches) I'm giddy as a school girl! For a wife, not being able to move is inconvenient and unromantic (to say the least). For a mother, it's extraordinarily daunting. For a dancer... it's torture. My mind has been warring against itself since I hurt my knee last Monday. I try to stay positive, my pain kicks me in the hope gland. I try to test the waters, my incapacity scoffs at the naivety. I try to watch a dance movie, my sorrow darn near overcomes me. (Or maybe it was that it was a really bad dance movie, which is encouraging because I write good dance movies! If bad ones get made - mine's in the bag!;) I think it's safe to say, I could use a rainbow. Not just any rainbow - I'm requesting one of those gigantic double rainbows! Not because I deserve it. I think, as a society, we've gotten downright insane about what we think we "deserve". I know there are a lot of people out there who have it leagues tougher than me. And I'm not complaining. I have a fabulously capable and generous husband, two outstanding kids, and a budding writing career that has only benefit from my gimp-ness. I merely ask for a double because I like to Go Big, Baby! (And I find them fascinating. How do they even scientifically make sense? And why did we never have those in KY? Are all things cool reserved for high altitude? Again, comment;) So, if it's been raining on you recently, hold your head up high - even if it's hard - and join me in my rainbow hunt. Heck, I may even let you have the pot of gold. Until then, take a spin around the hardwood for me. And don't worry, I'll be seeing you there soon. 3/29/2012 1 Comment Never take it for granted! Ah walking...such an easy thing to do until Monday afternoon. That's when tragedy struck on the CO slopes(OK, really it was more like stupidity and pride, but who's pointing fingers). It was my first time skiing in three years, and probably the fifth time skiing in my lifetime, and it was the first run of the day. I wasn't trying to be ambitious, I was on a "learning area" run, (Schoolmarm at Keystone, for the ski buffs).
It was a fun route, and funny too, since they kept suggesting Slow Down seconds before you hit what I now affectionately call - the death drops. "Sure!" I yelled, "I'll be happy to slow down." As if that move was in my repertoire. Then it happened. I came to a death drop scattered with kids and lingering adults, and panicked. For the record, I'm an OK skier. It's stopping that's my weakness. Specifically, stopping on a dime when a newer skier falls in front of me. I'm also not the best Pole Position player on the slopes (though I rocked that game when I was a kid;) so weaving in and out of slower skiers makes me nervous...for both parties' well being. Yet there I was, speeding downhill with my worst ski fear looming in front of me. I think my thoughts went something like this, "oh, Oh, OH!...OWWW!... F*^#!" Call me nothing if not honest;) I feel I should warn those of you who have never been skiing - even though the snow is soft, at high speeds, that shit hurts! After the pain induced nausea passed, I was able to attend to the throbbing in my right leg. I quickly removed my ski boot and began stretching and rubbing what's left of my knee. I say "left" because most dancers are lucky to have anything resembling that particular joint by the time they're my age. (For my age, do the math on the aforementioned Atari reference;). It hurt. Really badly. I sat for at least five minutes rubbing my knee. Finally, the ski patrol showed up and asked if I was OK. "I'm not sure," I confessed. "Let me see if I can put my ski back on." When I play this back in my mind, this is when the patrol says, "Don't Risk It!!" But, for better and worse, we have free will - and who is the ski patrol to take it away? The nice lady instead said she would ski behind me to make sure I was OK. In three more feet, we had our answer. Going two miles an hour, I attempted my first turn. No sooner did I twist and put weight on it, than a loud "POP!" taunted me as I collapsed. This time, after my scream, my thoughts went a little like this, "SSSHHHIIITTT!" The genius skiing behind me came back with, "That didn't sound good." Really!?! I couldn't tell because the pop is still shaking my very existence, but you didn't think it sounded "good". Well, there we have it...it must not be good...if you say so. (They say hindsight is 20/20 - apparently mine is also bitter and immature). As the genius kindly towed me down the mountain (an impressive bit of skiing, I must admit) - I silently harangued myself for my gross stupidity. Why didn't I let them take me down after the first fall? Why did I put my livelihood on the line? What a*^holes invented skiing in the first place?! Seriously, who thought this was a good idea? I can hear them now: Guy #1: "Darn, we're stuck at the top of this mountain. How are we ever gonna get down in time for the square dance?" Guy #2: "I know! Let's take these broken limbs, tie 'em to our feet, and slide down! We'll get down in a jiffy!" Guy #1: "Heh, heh, heh. OK. You go first and I'll go behind you to make sure you're alright." Side note: if anyone knows the actual origin of skiing off the top of their heads, write it as a comment to this blog. I'd love to know how close I am to nailing this one;) Back to reality, somewhere between chastising myself and admiring the ski patrol's mad skills, it hit me - the most important part of skiing is stopping. I'd like to say, in that very moment, I related it to dance (because the most important part of turning is stopping) - but that would be a crock of shit. The only thing I was thinking that involved dance was, "When will I be able to dance again?" Sadly, I don't have that answer. So, never take it for granted, the gift of dance. Hell, even the gift of walking. I went to the park today on crutches. I sat and watched as my husband and son had a blast together. Not that I'm complaining - I was happy to be outside on a gorgeous day with the people I love the most. But I'll be happier when I get to join in the revelry. Unfortunately, for now, I won't see you on the hardwood...but I hope you'll be there. 3/22/2012 0 Comments Perfect Practice... Let's clear the air, shall we? The purpose of a group lesson isn't really to teach you to dance. Sorry to burst that bubble. A group lesson is to help you fall in love with a dance, so you find a way to take private lessons. Private lessons are where you really learn to dance.
That said, my favorite instructors incorporate a bit of technique in their group classes for those few devoted students who actually care. It's not as easy as it looks, because the glaze is so thick over the eyes of the students who don't care, instructors sometimes get lost in it, never to be seen or heard from again. I try to fight the good fight, but teaching technique to a large number of people is next to impossible. Technique is best absorbed when you can physically move the student's body. I don't write this to pump up my teaching schedule - though, let's be honest, I wouldn't be mad if that happened - I write this because people often confess frustrations to me that they don't feel any improvement, even though they come to every lesson. Let me throw a little perspective your way. A weekly lesson is 45 minutes long. A day is 24 hours. A week is 168 hours. How is one 45 minute blip, out of that many hours, even supposed to cause a dent? But Allison, I dance after the lesson, too. For how many hours? One... two, max. It's not enough to see or feel real improvement. Dance is like any sport. If you took up golf and only played for three hours a week, how quickly would you get better? If you're answering, "pretty quickly", you're lying to yourself. A lot of life happens in that other 165 hours to help you forget what you learned in a 45 minute lesson. Dance is muscle memory. You have to train your muscles so your mind can take a back seat. To thoroughly train your muscles, you have to repeat the combo you learned - I like to say - 30 times. If you didn't "master" the whole combo during class, just do the part you learned. It's better to lead half a combo correctly than a whole combo desperately. We all know the saying, "Practice makes perfect." Let me burst that bubble, too. (Wow, two weeks ago I loved bubbles, now look at me?!;) In truth, practice makes permanent. So if you practice it wrong, you'll do it wrong. Trust me, I play a hideous "Moonlight Sonata" because I was young and impatient when I "learned" it. My Tae-Kwon-Do instructor used to tell us "Perfect practice makes perfect." Unfortunately, in a group setting, you don't get perfect practice. You get to meet a lot of dancers, be introduced to a new pattern, and hopefully have a few laughs. For the record, I am in no way dissing group classes! I love teaching group classes - (of course, I'm a middle child, so it's probably in part due to my hunger for attention;). But they're vital to the survival of dance. Most everyone starts in a group class. I know I did. I still remember what we learned, and that was 14 years ago... talk about a great instructor!! So keep enjoying your group classes. It's where you get addicted. Then, when you want to go to that next level of understanding dance, find a way to take private lessons. I know dance is expensive - why do you think I became an instructor?! A seven-time champion dancer once said, "Always remember your students are smarter than you. They can afford lessons. You can't!" True. True. But there are ways to make it work. You can take half lessons. Or you can find a small group of friends who want to get together and take a private group (this is super fun, by the way!) so the instructor still has a chance to give everyone a little one on one time. Or if all else fails, call the instructor and see if you can work something out. I sometimes do lessons on trade. Again, my goal isn't to boost my roster... it's to get the world addicted to dancing! You can call any instructor. Just don't be frustrated by the "group class plateau" if you've stopped retaining information. Change. Adapt. Overcome. See you on the hardwood! 3/15/2012 0 Comments Arms: those confusing appendages Without fail, in every lesson I teach, whether public or private, I surprise someone with what I want them to do with their arms. And though that sounds really wrong when I re-read it, it's true. The amount of tone you should have in your arms is highly subjective - especially in the salsa world - so today, I'm explaining my take on it.
My students have heard me tout "tone without tension" more times than they would like, I'm sure. But let's be honest - every physical activity or sport demands this very distinction. Tension slows you down and often causes injury. Think of downhill skiing with tense legs... I'd rather not. Or biking with tense hands - Ouch. Or, since it's March (Go Big Blue!!), shooting a free throw while tensing your arms. It's not even an option in other sports, yet we try it all the time on the dance floor. Which, if you think about it, makes even less sense because we're not only affecting ourselves - we're hindering our partner. So let's all say it together: tone without tension. Honestly, life itself begs for the distinction. We naturally hold tension in our traps, which as we all notice when we're lucky enough to get a shoulder rub, sucks! Our muscles want to help us. All we have to do is engage them.. .then breathe. Harder than it sounds unfortunately. Start with engaging your center - your core, your powerhouse, your abdominal muscles - I don't care what you call it as long as it's not hanging loose over your belt buckle. Then relax with it still engaged. Breathing comes in ever so handy in dancing, I've noticed. Now radiate that tone down your relaxed arms and out your finger tips. Next, relax your shoulders. Breathe again. Re-engage your center. Lastly, relax again. Notice the importance of relaxing?! If not, I'll mention it again - I'm not scared;p When you have subtle tone in your arms, you're giving your partner a great gift, so you can relax knowing s/he will relish that gift. For my guys, you have to relax even more because you're naturally stronger in your upper body. So, for kicks, let's all say it together: Relax! For the record, I'm definitely not advocating noodle arms. One of my pet peeves is when women don't give you anything in the arms. If dance is like a conversation, that would be like ignoring everything your partner says (and in my opinion, grounds for a good shaking). That being said, more often than not, people err on the side of too tense, which is why I've written the blog the way I have. It boils down to the this: connection generates from your center. The arms and hands are merely the channel we use to communicate - they are not the message. Tension in the channel is as useful as static on your TV. If you have questions about this or other dance topics, call me for a private lesson, 303-895-0655. Let's all say it together: See you on the hardwood! 3/8/2012 0 Comments Pure Joy I realized recently, with the help of my almost two year old son, that I've been doing the dishes with entirely the wrong attitude. I blah through them because it's a chore I'd honestly rather avoid. Clearly, it's the best part of the day since you get to play with a sink full of bubbles and move water from one container to another to another... does life get more fun than that?! If so, consider yourself lucky.
I've always taken pride in the fact I'm easily amused. Laugh all you want, but it makes my days genuinely fun. Some people say I'm childlike in that way (and/or naive) but I've gotta tell ya' - I've got nothing on children. Kai (my son) can laugh 'til he's red in the face if I give him a certain "I'm gonna get you" look. I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard - though laughing at him laughing comes pretty close. I won't even tell you how excited he is to brush his teeth everyday, for fear you'll be bummed you weren't invited to the party. My point is, having kids helps you see things with a fresh pair of eyes. Let me save you the cost of diapers and tell you what I've learned: 1. Chase is the best game ever. 2. Hide-n-seek is second. 3. When mom or dad gets home (from work, or the store, or taking the dog for a walk) it is an event worth Celebrating! 4. We all started out as "morning people". (Can't say I kept that, but they're doing their best to help me remember.) 5. It's important to say good night to everyone. Even the dog. 6. Bubbles are AWESOME! (They really are...even at my age). 7. Sometimes we just want to be held. 8. Vacuuming is fun and should be done daily. 9.You don't need a reason to go outside. Being outside is reason enough. 10. Someone is always watching... and learning. They are all important, though only a few can be related to dancing. #7 Guys. Read it out loud. Embrace it. Do it. (Yes, I'm still talking about dancing). And #10 obviously. Someone is probably watching you dance (even when you don't want them to). And what will they be thinking? Will they think, "Wow, they suck!" - let's hope not. (If you're that audience, try not to be so negative - you're bringing us all down). Could they be thinking, "How does s/he do that?" Better. Or maybe it's, "Damn, they're having the time of her lives!" Aah, now we've hit it. Honestly, what other people think shouldn't effect your dancing. But we are human, and when we see we have an audience, we want to put on a good show. Know a good salsa show (or any social dance) is always a two person gig. You and your partner. And it's only going to look good if you're in the same show. You can't put on a romantic comedy if you're partner is thinking thriller. Watch each other. Learn from each other. And most importantly: play with each other. Now, I have some dishes and bubbles to play with. Eat your hearts out! See you on the hardwood;) 3/1/2012 0 Comments We all started somewhere My brother is in town from Miami, and he's recently begun his foray into Salsa. Watching his beginner glow is indeed adorable. His smiling, his laughing, his obvious thinking... he's got "just learning" written all over him. Every time he visits, he practically demands lessons - or do I force them on him? Details. So, this week I'm inspired to give my brave (and fantastically naive) beginners a leg up. For those of you who aren't new to Salsa, keep reading - you may discover some habits you want to drop after reading this;)
The first thing you should do is forget everything you think you know (and see) about Salsa dancing. Dance is very deceiving. What people are actually doing isn't what it looks like they're doing. The perfect example of this is moving the arms. New people are always circling their arms emphatically because they see better dancers "doing that". In truth, the arms shouldn't move if the rib cage isn't moving. You never want to circle the arms for the sake of circling your arms. It's confusing to the woman. If the arms are going crazy, and not connected to the rest of your movement, we can't tell when you want us to turn. Plus it feels silly. Keep your arms and hands in a neutral position. For my ladies, don't try to move your hips when you're new. I cannot adequately express to you how silly it looks when you "try" to move your hips, but trust me - it's not as hot as we think it is. Get your feet right first. Work on your turn out and landing on bent knees, and the hips will come. I spend so many lessons correcting bad behavior with hip movement. So, if you never learn the wrong way because you are diligently staying neutral with your hips, you'll save yourself lots of money (and embarrassment;). Back to my guys - don't rush into learning lots of moves. Women would rather dance with someone who can lead four moves well, than fifteen moves poorly - I promise you!! Take your time and get it right. Dance is muscle memory, so if you learn it wrong, you dance it wrong - for a long time! Slow down and get it solid. Ladies, do not step before the guy! Our job is to follow. If you step before him, you're not doing your job. You're back leading - which makes his job near impossible. I know you're trying to help, but it's infuriating, literally. Don't believe me? Try leading someone who does it. You'll never do it again:) For both guys and gals, keep your shoulders quiet! I call it the "white man's shuffle" when I see shoulders shrugging up and down with each step. I know you're excited, (believe me, I've cornered the market on excitement) but it's not Salsa. It's not any dance actually, (save maybe a touchdown dance) so stop. Basically, less is more. I know that sucks to hear when you're new because you're intoxicated by this new world of dance. You want to throw caution to the wind and rules be damned! Like I said, I get it. Let me offer this: dance in front of a mirror at home (yes, you too guys). Play with different ways to move your body. Watch what you do when you're dancing and see if you like it. If you do, Great! If you don't - call me for a private lesson:) I still remember my first dance lesson. I still remember flinging my body through space and Loving It! I'm not hatin' on beginners. I'm proud of you! My brother included. I love when people finally get up and dance!! I want the whole world to be that brave and free! I only offer these tips because I wish someone had given them to me sooner. On the dance floor: less really is more. Which, if you think about it, makes dance that much more enjoyable because now you can relax and have fun! See you on the hardwood!:) 2/23/2012 0 Comments Why Dance? People often joke that I have a one track mind. Before you get excited, let me confess, that track is Dance. It's often my answer for everything - and when it isn't a viable option, I often substitute that other more common track;) But, I digress. In an attempt to spread joy, I dedicate this blog to those who haven't discovered the ultimate joy of dancing!
Edwin Denby said, "There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everyone a great deal of good." And who doesn't want to go completely crazy every now and then? If you're saying "me" right now, you probably need to more than anyone. There's a release in dancing you can't find anywhere else. (Even in the throes of passion, those fleeting thoughts of, "Damn, he just grabbed my love handles. Does he think I'm fat now?" or "Please just turn the lights off." or "Wow! This position is not flattering!" can creep in when you least expect them). Where was I going with this? Oh yes, release;) I'm not saying dance is all simple and perfect. There are times you feel totally naked in the room and probably wish the lights were off, but if you let your fear go, it can be amazing! (The same is true for that other track, btw;) The glorious thing is, the musical element to dancing can be our oh-so-necessary escape. Especially with Salsa, where the lyrics are exotic, the rhythms complex, and instruments new - for most of us. If we allow it, we can be transported! Who doesn't want to spend an evening where the palm trees sway whimsically as the salty air brushes your hair off your neck and the margaritas go down like sugar? I'm about to buy a plane ticket! Or I could just go dancing this evening:) And it doesn't have to be Salsa. Every dance has the power to transcend our daily blah's. Waltz can make you feel like a member of the royal court (without all the paparazzi and stress). Foxtrot can transform you into one of the Rat Pack. Tango...well, if you've done tango, you know. If you haven't - you should! I could go on, but I think you get the picture and I'm really craving a margarita now. For a professional, it's easy to forget the romantic quality to dance because we're so busy trying to perfect them. I'm as guilty as anyone I know. I use the excuse that for me, it's fun to look good and move with every part of my body. And this is 100% true, but when I perform, somehow magically (or maybe just naively) I get as carried away as the first time I danced with that hot Latin stranger. I stop thinking about "perfect" and focus on the intoxication of the moment. You can tell when there's no joy in a performance. If that day ever comes for me, I'll stop performing. The same is true for social dancing. When it becomes more work than fun, you should change dances. NEVER stop dancing! Besides the emotional release, dance is a phenomenal physical work out. Studies have shown it's also the only sport that reduces the risk of alzheimer's! The music and element of physical touch (whether with someone we love or a hot stranger) feeds our souls. And in a world where we're becoming more plugged in yet sadly tuned out - we need touch. Who cares if you don't know the steps. Or the rhythm. Or even the name of the dance. Stop making excuses and dance already! I don't remember where I read, "Kids. They dance before they realize there isn't anything that isn't music." but it's completely true. So get in touch with your inner child and I'll see you on the hardwood!:) |
AuthorAllison loves to write almost as much as she loves to dance, so no one had to twist her arm to get her to write about dancing! Archives
March 2018
CategoriesAll Dr.Seuss Life's A Dance Oh The Places You'll Go See You On The Hardwood |