I called this time. It was a high of 10 degrees today and I thought - to hell with showing up and going home.
I sent a message to MDB and looked at her response - stuck outta town due to blizzards in Chicago, Lil Red as replacement. And still I called. David answered confirmed and away I went.
I walk into class and warm up my legs because they are feeling a little stiff. The Young One, Tall Black Chick (TBC), and the Swan walk in as Lil Red rounds the corner and gets in and starts us into our plies. A lone male shows up and moves to the back of the barre line. Lil Black Chick drops her stuff off and I put her in front of me. Lil Red isn't MDB - no need for me to be front tonight.
Lil Red is calmer tonight. Apparently, tonight she was drinking water andNOT liquid crack!
Side Bar: I like her more when she's not so cracked out.
Physie: So does our legs!
So we move through our plies, tendus with port de bras in all directions, degages - two slow, three fast crossed, rond de jambes with more port de bras (ass tucked under - not sticking out), frappes with rond de jambes en l'air, petit and grande battements. And frankly, my grand battements are high degages for now.
Now Lil Red has her own visual imagery that she likes to use but all of it is hip hop related. And while I like to WATCH hip hop, I can keep a beat and shake my tail feathers in the clubs - I'm fluent in belly dance terminology! I am STILL MAKING REFERENCES to my ballet book. I don't know JACK SHIT about battles, crews, etc.
Additionally, Lil Red likes to say "we can all count" -sssssshhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttt!! Maybe she hasn't taken a good look around this class. Now most times, I would say black folks got rhythm (just like black women don't do swimming)- but seriously the LONE male and (Tall Black Chick)TBC - they either can't count or their timing is ALWAYS OFF! That being typed, different forms of dance use music differently - where you prep, when you're moving, how your moving, etc. Part of learning how to do a particular style of dance also means learning HOW THEY USE THEIR MUSIC. Ok, I'm off the soapbox.
We move away from the barre and do the 'not adagio and not petit allegro' thingy and Lil Red asks us if we want an adagio. And having been through TWO OTHER Lil Red classes, Side Bar immediately speak up - HELL YES, PLEASE!! THANK YOU! UMMM HMMM!! We go through an adagio, jumps first (no echappes), and then we do the running exercise that makes jetes, assemblages and sissones less mind bobbling and more user friendly. We make it through the petit allegro, grande allegro and finish with a reverence.
Lil Red announces that there will not be beginner ballet for two weeks. I have a flyer with alternate classes listed. None of them are beginner. The other classes are Ballet 1/2. I mention this to TBC. She tells me she's going to go anyway - and just tell the teacher she's having an off night if they say something......
Side Bar: Apparently TBC has been smoking weed laced CRACK! NO BALLET INSTRUCTOR in their RIGHT MIND would look at her and think she was having an OFF NIGHT!!
Menty: Typically, I'm the friendly supportive one - but I'm with YOU on that one!! She's been in classes for TWO WEEKS!! SERIOUSLY??
Side Bar: She doesn't know a plie from a pas de bournee, a tendu from a fondu pot or a chasse from a damn chaise lounge. But good luck anyway.
So I actually say - which ones are you thinking about going to?
TBC didn't know just yet. I was just asking so I can pull up a chair, some popcorn and a soda. I just know it's going to be funny as hell.
Ok, I'm off my soapbox.
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