F**kin Friendly Hormones!!

Originally posted on Tuesday March 22nd

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I took today off because I was sick. And like a bad patient, I can't sit still all day, so I go to class. 

I decide I will just stay through barre if I'm feeling to unfocused, but I wanted to see MDB because I haven't seen her in a week or so. 

I walk into Joel Hall and four people - 3 tall thin women and 1 tall man are at the desk. They are staring into the fish bowl where Miss B is teaching a pointe class. I, too, am in awe, but I must register.  As I register with David, he says "they are going to your class." and gestures to the two thin women to my right. I laugh. "My class? That's funny." I gather my things, walk back to Studio B and start the winter strip tease. 

Within moments of my sitting, the two thing women round the corner and sit down RIGHT BESIDE ME!! 

Side Bar: UGH! F**KIN FRIENDLY HORMONES!!

They start talking to me as if we've been taking classes together forever. 

Thin Chick 1: Are you really good?

Side Bar: Why, bitch? 

Menty: Side Bar!

I actually say: Depends on what you mean by good. 

Thin Chick 2: How long have you been taking classes?

I say: Since last May.

Thin Chick 1: This is my first dance class ever and I'm nervous, but my friend's a dancer. 

I say: Great. 

Missy rounds the corner and we walk into class. Missy introduces herself and we get started at the barre. 

I tell them that the barre is typically the 'easy' part, if there was ever an easy part of ballet. The Swan has joined the group and we both kinda laugh at that. 

Missy is kind tonight. She loves to make us releve, but she goes very slow tonight because there are only 5 of us and two are very beginner. We move through our two tendu and degage combinations before the newbies cry mercy.

Thin Chick 1: I can't remember the combinations!! I know I'm not doing it right, but I can't remember WHAT I'M SUPPOSE TO BE DOING!! I have to keep watching you. 

She says this while looking at me. I tell her that's ok. I was in the same boat - and I STILL DON'T remember all the combinations. 

Side Bar: Oh! Just wait for the floor combinations! Those are the real ass kickers. 

Menty: No kidding. 

Physie: Like you two do ANYTHING!

We move onto the rond de jambes, fondus with coupes, and battements.  At this little break, Thin Chick 1 confesses that she's just been watching me the whole time. To which I apologize for leading her astray several times during the combinations!

We move to the floor. We handle a short adagio with tendus, coupes, chasse, and a pirouette turns. We jump and then we start the traveling combinations. Our last combination is hops, skips and a grand jete. Missy is trying to explain this to the newbies which pretty much have WTF face the whole class.

Thin Chick 1 now refuses to go with anyone else across the floor because she wants to go with me so she can watch me. Again, I apologize for leading her astray and promise to do better through the hops, skips and leap, because I actually really like this combination. 

We move across the floor once and she struggles. Missy tries to explain another way and we go again. She struggles some more. Finally, I just say: Think of it as a hop on one leg, a skip on the other and then a running leap. We go again - she got it. She thanked me for explaining it that way. Hopping, skipping and leaping - all American - that "French" stuff is too complex!! LOL

So we finish class on that note. As we dress and prepare to leave, they talk about being nervous coming to class. They wondered if the people in class would be competitive, snobby or impatient. I told them this is a BEGINNER BALLET CLASS - none of us are auditioning for the Joffrey or River North. And this isn't really 'that' kinda place. I've never had a class where everyone was frustrated because I didn't do something right. But you still need to be open to correction - even if you are embarrassed. Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn -they talk about being uncomfortable in their bodies, creating the movements, etc....

Side Bar: Don't make me kill you.....I was just starting to like yo skinny asses. 

I jokingly tell them NOT to start. We all have our issues. 

Mine happens to be these fuckin friendly hormones that make skinny women think I'm approachable - but that I keep to myself....