Means You Take Up Less Space

So yesterday I packed up my tush and drove it to Joel Hall dance studios. 

It was fairly empty in the hallways because there was an untimely heat wave that blew through the city. 

David is behind the front desk and asking for my card, but I don't hand it over. I don't see anyone and I'm thinking class will be cancelled. David said there was 7 people in class last week - chances are good that class will go. 

I hand over my card and stare into the fishbowl where more than 15 people are being tortured...ummm instructed by Ms. B. I see looks of frustration, confusion, concentration, concern and even a few gazes at Ethereal. I see Lil Red demonstrating a combination and I'm not surprised. 

As the first and second group rotate in and out of the combination, I continued to watch Lil Red. She is watching Ethereal. She is neither flustered or frustrated - and if she is - she's got the best damn game face ever -note to self - never play poker with Lil Red. 

Between rotation, Lil Red winks at me and waves. I wave back and smile. She's fantastic which is why MDB let her sub anyway. As I watch, a voice from my left starts talking to me. I turn my head to see the skinniest woman alive. 

Side Bar: I think she's talking to us.

Menty: Why?

Side Bar: Fuckin' friendly hormones...

Yes, she is talking to me because she remembers me from her first class. And yes, she is here to take ballet fundamentals. I almost forget that MDB will not be teaching class tonight, but then I see Miss M and I remember. So not only will I be in class with Tall but Tiny Tiffany -there won't be any comedy relief either. 

Miss M introduces herself again and only the two of us line up at the barre. I'm tempted to put as much space as possible between us, but it would have been too obvious. I put a barre length between us and settle in for the plie combination. Miss M is kinda bubbly in that 'I teach small children all day way' - because she does. 

We make it through the plie and tendu combinations with compliments all around. I'm tempted not to believe her because she probably compliments all the kids in her classes too. TTT apologizes to me for screwing up the combination when we are facing in her direction - I tell her it's fine. 

Side Bar: It's fine because I'm not watching you!! 

Menty: Cool it - she probably watches us when we are the first in that direction and she assumes the same. 

Side Bar: she'd be WRONG!!!

We move through another tendu combination, degages, rond de jambes, frappes, and battements. Throughout the combinations, again, Miss M is nothing but compliments. She doesn't make us repeat combinations that have been clearly screwed up. We do barre and floor stretches before moving into an adagio. The adagio was simple and complex - as most adagios go. The she followed it up with a balance combination which was quite fun. She asked us if we wanted to do jumps or turns.

TURNS PLEASE! If I can avoid jumping - I'm all for it.

We do pique turns twice in each direction and finish class with a reverence.  

It was a good class. I was happy with my skill and technique when I was done. 

And I remembered something very basic that I know when I'm belly dancing but forget when I go to ballet: Being thin does not make you a better dancer - it just means you take up less space.