Still in Awe

So I roll into Beginner Ballet with a few minutes to spare and class is full. The new WTF face owner is there as well and I'm glad that I could encourage someone else to stick with it. I don't know how encouraging I can be when I'm still in class screwing up, but maybe I'm not nearly as bad as I think.....BUT DO NOT TAKE MY WORD ON THAT!

Being less afraid and intimidated to go to class does NOT directly relate to improvement of skills per last night! There are just nights when my focus is screwed, but I knew last night was going to be difficult because a close friend is in the hospital. However, I went to class to stay present and in the moment and not worry about things I have no control over.

MDB isn't in class yet because she teaches another class right before. It's about 5 minutes past the start time so I go MDB hunting and find her right outside her last class talking. I walk up behind her, hook her around the waistline and pick her up. I'm wrong - she's about 90lbs soaking wet - not 100. I put her back down because she's still in fact talking to someone else - but she gets the hint ;-).

Class was 8 people and MDB. We even had a guy last night. The men have been falling off, but that's ok - I'm less likely to get accidently hit that way.

I make sure I'm at the front of the barre - right where everyone can follow me in screwing up :) - and we start with the plies. I'm pretty good at NOT screwing up that combination of things after that it goes downhill fast!
MDB has turned into a Master Chef in the Ballet Pastry department and we lowly apprentices are scrambling eggs with spoons instead of forks!! ACK!

Our 'usual' tendus now include demis and flexes that didn't happen with regularity. Our 'usual' degages have rhythms and I'm just going to skip all the NEW SHIT in the rest of the combinations. Needless to say, anyone following me is equally screwed, but I'm screwing up with confidence and vigor!
Side Bar: Oh hell! It's going to be one of those classes!
Menty: Well, we can't be ON every night.
Side Bar: We haven't been ON ANY NIGHT! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??
Menty: We are only 6 MONTHS into class - cut us some slack.
Side Bar: At what point are we going to be GOOD?
Menty: Clarify Good....
Side Bar: Oh Shut Thee Hell Up.

In a rare turn of events, I'm actually happy to step away from the barre. I'm not great at center floorwork or travelling floorwork, but I'm less afraid then I use to be. But I can FEEL THE ANXIETY rolling on the new WTF owner and I can sympathize. Because I have encouraged her to continue, I also feel like I should help her - in a BLIND leading the THE BLIND sorta way.  

The adagio and petit allegro are kinda "every woman and man for themselves"  deal - only MDB is going to be able to assist, correct and answer questions. I stay on the same end of the class and MDB moves me forward because I'm trying to stay in the middle-ish - in no man's land - not front -not back. She moves me forward because WTF girl has long legs. WTF girl has got spunk -she says yes - move forward because I might kick you :-) - I say that's ok - because I'd kick you back ;-) - MDB confirms that I indeed would kick her back ;-) - DAMN STRAIGHT!

When we move into the travelling combos (grand allegro?), I partner with WTF girl and CLARIFY or FURTHER CONFUSE WTF girl. I'm just teacher's pet - not teacher - I can imitate very well - see MDB for questions! We make it through without slamming into each other - or other people - or the wall, mirror, barres or piano. I consider it a small success :)

But throughout class, MDB will do something that is so easy for her and so amazing to me - like hold her leg in high arabesque, or a grand battement that is high as her head, or an extremely flexible chambre back, or grand jete that's a split in the air.....and I think one day I want to be able to do that - even if it's just in class.

I'm still in awe - even if I'm less afraid. See you tonight MDB :-) I'll bring you an apple!