Missing In Action

I have seriously been missing MDB and ballet classes. I was in New Orleans for one week but it feels like a full month. I talked to Ali (of N.O.madic tribal) about the ballet sitch in Nawlins - she said there was a waiting list to take class!! Only one location teaches beginner ballet in NO. And as my student and friend, Nancy, would say, "apparently in Chicago, we have an embarrassment of riches" in regards to the arts.  You could have ballet in the morning, jazz in the afternoon, a gallery opening in the evening - and still find a bar to have a glass of wine at 1am - on a Monday if you so chose. A waiting list for ballet was quite a shocker, but I guess I'm spoiled....maybe rotten??

Anyway, class begins with 6 women and MDB. And while most of my physical interactions with MDB involve her pointy little fingers and me cry assing about how much everything hurts - I actually hugged her when I saw her tonight. Don't worry - she hugged me back :) - she missed me too!

So I'm in my usual position at the front of the barre and MDB pulls out a NEW ASSORTMENT OF GOODIES! Instead of 'regular' tendus in all the necessary positions - she begins a combo that alternates front foot and back foot. 

Side Bar: Ummm...MDB is deviating from the pattern here...

Menty: Well, you know sometimes teachers have to mix it up.

Side Bar: But we've been gone for a week

Menty: Maybe this is her way of missing us??

Side Bar: I'll let you know when I think that shit is funny...

And OH! The fun doesn't stop there. She adds in petit battements with frappes that also alternate front foot and back foot - and degages and battements.....

Side Bar: WHO THE HELL HAS SHE BEEN HANGING OUT WITH? Mr. Heinz???

Menty: FOCUS! Shut up Side Bar!

Physie: Damn it everybody - I'm trying to work here!

We finish with the barre and move to floor combos and that's when I notice IT....the notebook paper with writing on it....sitting carefully on top of the piano. MDB has started crafting lesson plans for class. Cue scary movie music......

Side Bar: Menty, we have a problem. It's one thing for her to be in class making this stuff up on the fly - it's another for her to be organized and methodical in her torture...umm...teaching technique. 

Menty: I think our ass is in trouble.

Physie: You two suck. My ass has been tight all day just worrying about this class - AND NOW you two are getting a clue - UGH. I'm telling you it's all about the GUT feeling - day ONE - we shoulda been OUT HERE - but NOOOOOOOO

Side Bar: Wait, Physie - let me get you the world's SMALLEST violin.

I make it through the floor combos alright. My balance needs some work, but I'm not sure what I can do to improve it. The floor combos change regularly and don't really have a pattern - we cycle through the moves. Then we move to the flying circus part of the class - the traveling combos. Sometimes I feel like I would do better with a harness attached. I did alright for the most part of the traveling combos, but not my best - but definitely NOT my worst. 

After class was over, beginner jazz class students starting streaming into class. One of the ladies that I don't see in beginner ballet anymore, told me I should take beginner jazz class. So I had to inform her my philosophy about dance classes - I can ONLY SUCK at one thing at a time - my EGO can't take being bad at TWO things at once. And while I definitely suck at more than one thing at a time every day - I like to pretend otherwise.... And then this random little woman gave me a compliment - she said I had regal head posture. I'll take what I can get - she didn't say I was beautiful - but who needs beauty when you've got a regal head posture, right? :)