I arrive to Bikram Ballet with moments to spare. The parking sitch is getting tougher because the new boxing ring gym has opened half a block away - and people that really can kick my ass - are also looking for parking.
Avoiding parking drama aside, I rush in, sign up and line up at the barre behind a newbie. Legs and the Swan are in class - long and skinny surrounding me - but I've just decided that I'm just more graceful than the both of them. And more important, it's not about them - it's about me in this moment.
Miss M is still subbing for MDB. I take a deep sigh and settle in first position. And then I notice that the newbie isn't wearing any shoes or socks.
Side Bar: Ok, now I know we didn't know everything...
Menty: And we still don't.
Side Bar: Dually noted, but we knew about ballet slippers.
Menty: Finally - us - 1, ballet - 0!!
The plie combinations don't require a lot of footwork, so the newbie is safe there, but the moment we move into tendus....it gets interesting. The tendu combination requires two tendus, one coupe, one passe in first, fifth and second. Newbie is totally having issues and I'm sure I'm missing WTF face, but I keep my eyes up and on ethereal.
The degage combination is just a faster version of the tendu combination. We move into rond de jambes and frappes - and I was pretty sure the newbie wasn't going to do that part right. I couldn't even remotely imagine striking the floor with my barefoot.
We stretch and hit the battements and tonight it's easier to fling my leg through the air. Wheeeeee!!!
When we move to the floor for our kinda adagio, it's nice, neat and clean -so of course, I screw it up. I have at least two more times to save it - and the last time it was as close to perfect as I can get at any moment in time.
And now - it's jumping time!! I manage to stay on the floor and on my feet instead of going to the barre. We jump in first four times, then changement four times, then echappe twice - right side, then left side. Miss M makes us do it again - apparently she also believes jumping keeps you young.
Side Bar: Assuming that's true - we should be turning 20 on our upcoming birthday.
Menty: Amen, sister!
When we move to the side for traveling combinations, I stay away from both the Swan and Legs. The Swan prefers to go first or last. Legs will typically go last - I prefer to go in the middle. I want to watch it first, then try it. However, I'm also of the opinion that teachers typically watch the first and the last more closely - the middle sorta falls to the wayside anyway - unless you are great.
We do two piques, then two pique turns and then we practice lifting the leg in the front and back while turning while alternating - it sounds complicated - trust me- IT IS!
Side Bar: One goal - stay on feet.
Menty: How about two goals?
Side Bar: What's the other?
Menty: Ass over legs!
Side Bar: Two goals....
I don't have an epic fail, but it's touch and go on that second goal....
We finish with hops and skips across the floor and bow to our instructor for her patience and ability to control her laughter.
Legs wanders over and tells me how she thinks she can jump really high, but when she looks in the mirror she's less than 6 inches off the ground. I laugh. I know the feeling.
Miss M overhears us and tells me that she thinks I get up high enough, but what she notices most about me is my carriage. She says I have great upper body placement and I have great stage presence.
Now who doesn't love a compliment? Whheeeeeeeee!!!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Adventure Continues: Ballet I - No MDB
I almost skipped class on Monday because I knew MDB wouldn't be there. Miss M is more than a worthy and amiable substitute, but they have two very different demeanors.
For all of Miss M's expertise, you can tell she teaches small children and teenagers. Always ready with the praise, completion of the actual combination can bring on a short burst of applause, big smiles and 'yeas' from Miss M. Apparently, teenagers are in constant need of eager encouragement.
MDB likes to embarrass twice, hurt you once and tell you to try again next week. She smiles, too - but it's not the same. She doesn't hand out compliments or lots of criticism - but when she does, you know it's intentional and specific.
Class has 9 women in class. The Swan, LBC and Legs are in class. We have collected at least two new regulars...I've decided to name them Braces and Tiny Tot. They are about the same size, but different shadings - both come with and without point shoes. Legs has decided to wear her pointe shoes again, which make me want to cringe. I avert my eyes from her whenever she is on pointe. It's an accident waiting to happen.
I line up at the barre in Studio D and move from behind the Swan to behind LBC because her barre isn't as wobbly. Miss M gives us plies with some bouncing business and I'm almost right beside Legs. I try my best not to give an audible sigh, but LBC catches me as I roll my eyes. We move into our tendu and degage combinations with coupes and passes in first, second and arabesque. Miss M tells us after we finish that she wants the emphasis on the 'flicking' part of the degage - not the closing snap. I does make a difference. She makes us do it again.
Our rond de jambs include two slow rond de jambs with fondus and then four fast, one en l'air and arabesque - then reverse. We move through this combination working out the proper arm placement.
Side Bar: When do I throw my arm over my head?
Menty: You don't throw it - and it's only when we reverse.
Side Bar: Never mind.
We move to frappes and there are three front, one beat, one frappe a la second, three back, one beat and another frappe a la second, then crossed, followed by petit battement - then repeat on releve. Overall, should be simple. I think I just did my best not to make faces during the small beating (i.e petit battement). Miss M always encouraging, had us do this combination to Beauty and Beast instrumental. Nothing like a little Disney to make me feel demented.
We swing our legs in attitude, then we swing them straight, then we actually have to do it with some control (HA!).
Our first floor combination was actually quite lovely and while we all struggled with the simplistic and elegant beauty of it - it was really the timing of the music that made me want to scream.
Then we jump - and thank goodness we alternate between the pointe people and the slipper people. Three in pointe for floor and six in slippers - YAY! So we alternate and even get to bunny hop :)
After we butcher the two traveling combinations, Miss M thanks us again for coming to class and lets us know when MDB will be back.
I like Miss M for sure, but she's no MDB.
For all of Miss M's expertise, you can tell she teaches small children and teenagers. Always ready with the praise, completion of the actual combination can bring on a short burst of applause, big smiles and 'yeas' from Miss M. Apparently, teenagers are in constant need of eager encouragement.
MDB likes to embarrass twice, hurt you once and tell you to try again next week. She smiles, too - but it's not the same. She doesn't hand out compliments or lots of criticism - but when she does, you know it's intentional and specific.
Class has 9 women in class. The Swan, LBC and Legs are in class. We have collected at least two new regulars...I've decided to name them Braces and Tiny Tot. They are about the same size, but different shadings - both come with and without point shoes. Legs has decided to wear her pointe shoes again, which make me want to cringe. I avert my eyes from her whenever she is on pointe. It's an accident waiting to happen.
I line up at the barre in Studio D and move from behind the Swan to behind LBC because her barre isn't as wobbly. Miss M gives us plies with some bouncing business and I'm almost right beside Legs. I try my best not to give an audible sigh, but LBC catches me as I roll my eyes. We move into our tendu and degage combinations with coupes and passes in first, second and arabesque. Miss M tells us after we finish that she wants the emphasis on the 'flicking' part of the degage - not the closing snap. I does make a difference. She makes us do it again.
Our rond de jambs include two slow rond de jambs with fondus and then four fast, one en l'air and arabesque - then reverse. We move through this combination working out the proper arm placement.
Side Bar: When do I throw my arm over my head?
Menty: You don't throw it - and it's only when we reverse.
Side Bar: Never mind.
We move to frappes and there are three front, one beat, one frappe a la second, three back, one beat and another frappe a la second, then crossed, followed by petit battement - then repeat on releve. Overall, should be simple. I think I just did my best not to make faces during the small beating (i.e petit battement). Miss M always encouraging, had us do this combination to Beauty and Beast instrumental. Nothing like a little Disney to make me feel demented.
We swing our legs in attitude, then we swing them straight, then we actually have to do it with some control (HA!).
Our first floor combination was actually quite lovely and while we all struggled with the simplistic and elegant beauty of it - it was really the timing of the music that made me want to scream.
Then we jump - and thank goodness we alternate between the pointe people and the slipper people. Three in pointe for floor and six in slippers - YAY! So we alternate and even get to bunny hop :)
After we butcher the two traveling combinations, Miss M thanks us again for coming to class and lets us know when MDB will be back.
I like Miss M for sure, but she's no MDB.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The Adventure Continues: Ballet I - It was perfect, right?
I arrive at Joel Hall Dance Studio 15 minutes early. Whenever the 'Not Davids' are manning the desk, I can never know if it will be a quick registration or a trial of my patience.
Normally within minutes of entry, I spot MDB. Not today. Not David tells me she's having car trouble, she taking the bus and will probably be late - but there will still be class. After talking to her directly, Not David has confused the issue by trying to multitask - FAIL!
We start about 10 minutes late and 6 women in class - and then 4 more join late.
Kipper - Barbie's younger, flexible, blonde sister comes to class late and tries displace me from my spot at the barre. I'm also 5 inches taller and about 100 lbs heavier than her. MDB moves her behind me for her own safety and winks at me in the process. MDB is infinitely nicer than a kick in the ass from my size 9.5 ballet slipper, but some people like to learn the hard way - and WHO AM I NOT TO OBLIGE THEM?
As we move into our third attempt at su-su's, Not David comes in to do a count while we are taking artistic and 'crasi' license with that combination. When the music ends, MDB turns to us and says, "It was perfect, right? Let's do the other side."
To which she watches in HORROR of the various butchered combinations we can create from a simple four count.
"Um...ok. Let's try this instead."MDB says with the WTF face and a giggle. We try the new combination - rond de jambes - without too many complications. Our frappes combination doesn't hit all the highlights either, but we manage to get some of the finer details right.
We stretch and do splits....... Ok, we stretch and they do splits and I..umm...stretch some more. Then we move into battements - flat footed is hard enough, but she's throwing in the third and fourth set in releve. I don't tip over and take out Kipper, but I did let me slipper get real close to her bony ass.
When we move to the floor combinations, we have an adagio with tendus, balance, pas de bouree, pique, plie, and su-su - but the timing is a little wonky. MDB is a little leery to give us 'creative' license seeing as we demolished a simple 4 count move in 0.0 seconds flat, but she gives us a chance to work it out. I ignore the majority of the class that wants to spring up and hold the su-su for minutes at a time and work my plie until I felt it in the music. I was the last to get into su-su but I also didn't have to worry about the 'twins' having reverb as much either. Pick your poison I always say.
We head into jumps in first, fifth and second (echappe), but Bitchy (my left knee) is feeling fine, so I stay in the center of the floor and jump for it. I'm still struggling with the royale part which looks like a leg flutter from front to back before landing. I'm working on it. It's right next to glissade, assemblage and sissone - ugh.
We move into traveling floor combinations - 4 pique turns, tombee, pas de bouree, glissade, grand jete. I finally got it after I stopped forgetting the glissade.
It was perfect, right?
Normally within minutes of entry, I spot MDB. Not today. Not David tells me she's having car trouble, she taking the bus and will probably be late - but there will still be class. After talking to her directly, Not David has confused the issue by trying to multitask - FAIL!
We start about 10 minutes late and 6 women in class - and then 4 more join late.
Kipper - Barbie's younger, flexible, blonde sister comes to class late and tries displace me from my spot at the barre. I'm also 5 inches taller and about 100 lbs heavier than her. MDB moves her behind me for her own safety and winks at me in the process. MDB is infinitely nicer than a kick in the ass from my size 9.5 ballet slipper, but some people like to learn the hard way - and WHO AM I NOT TO OBLIGE THEM?
As we move into our third attempt at su-su's, Not David comes in to do a count while we are taking artistic and 'crasi' license with that combination. When the music ends, MDB turns to us and says, "It was perfect, right? Let's do the other side."
To which she watches in HORROR of the various butchered combinations we can create from a simple four count.
"Um...ok. Let's try this instead."MDB says with the WTF face and a giggle. We try the new combination - rond de jambes - without too many complications. Our frappes combination doesn't hit all the highlights either, but we manage to get some of the finer details right.
We stretch and do splits....... Ok, we stretch and they do splits and I..umm...stretch some more. Then we move into battements - flat footed is hard enough, but she's throwing in the third and fourth set in releve. I don't tip over and take out Kipper, but I did let me slipper get real close to her bony ass.
When we move to the floor combinations, we have an adagio with tendus, balance, pas de bouree, pique, plie, and su-su - but the timing is a little wonky. MDB is a little leery to give us 'creative' license seeing as we demolished a simple 4 count move in 0.0 seconds flat, but she gives us a chance to work it out. I ignore the majority of the class that wants to spring up and hold the su-su for minutes at a time and work my plie until I felt it in the music. I was the last to get into su-su but I also didn't have to worry about the 'twins' having reverb as much either. Pick your poison I always say.
We head into jumps in first, fifth and second (echappe), but Bitchy (my left knee) is feeling fine, so I stay in the center of the floor and jump for it. I'm still struggling with the royale part which looks like a leg flutter from front to back before landing. I'm working on it. It's right next to glissade, assemblage and sissone - ugh.
We move into traveling floor combinations - 4 pique turns, tombee, pas de bouree, glissade, grand jete. I finally got it after I stopped forgetting the glissade.
It was perfect, right?
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Adventure Continues: Ballet I - 1:15 seconds of your life
As I take stock of my mental, emotional and physical state while putting on my dance pants, I think back on my Sunday class.
I think back to those people that are blissfully clueless and I wonder one of two things:
1) Are they so unaware of self that they believe they are doing great?
2) Or are they satisfied with doing what they can until they can do better - so nothing really bothers them?
If they are 1, I am happy to be aware. If they are 2, I wish I could be more like that. Insert deep sigh.
I head off to Beginner ballet/ballet I with every intention to have my head 'in the game'. As I wait to register, MDB rounds the corner and gives me a hug. She said she read my Sunday adventure. I explain that I don't have a comfort level with Missy, so in addition to being overly self critical, I'm wondering if she is criticizing me as well. And unfortunately, I'm starting to think this says something about me.
At any rate, there are 5 women in class including MDB. The two blondes were in pointe shoes. The three non-blondes were in slippers. And MDB and I were both in black pants and purple tanks....with light colored slippers.
We warm up with our usual plies and I'm falling into my comfort zone. Demi, demi, grande, port de bra forward, releve, plie, into second. I feel safe. Then MDB decides to shake up the routine. The tendu combination has some tendus with a bend lunge position, returning to plie.
Tendus - 1, Me - 0.
The degage combination comes - degage front four times, degage back four times, degage in second with beats. Degages - 1, Me - Zero squared.
The rond de jamb combinations comes and Menty and Side Bar start prattling:
Side Bar: Where is our focus?
Menty: I think it's broken.
Side Bar: We are turning into a one trick pony!
Menty: Well, at least we aren't turning into an ass.
Side Bar: Hmmm...I got nothing...
I try to get the rond de jamb combination which has some l'air action and piques, but fail on the right. So I focus on the left and still miss two rond de jambs before the pique. Rond de Jambs - 1, Me - triple O.
I take a deep breath and let out the frustration. The frappe combination doesn't go any better. MDB is encouraging and smiling and I let the tendus, degages, rond de jambs and frappes go. Battements are next - and seriously how badly can I screw up throwing my leg in air?
The battement combination involves two flat, two on releve, and every other set has the accompanying arm positions. I ignore everything but the combination - I stay flat and get in the arm positions where I can. Battements - .5, Me - .5 :)
When we move to the floor, we have a short but strenuous adagio. After we all struggle through it twice (once on both sides), MDB reminds us that we are DANCING and to find something we love about it. "Use your imagination." MDB says. "My imagination is busy." I say.
I try not to make faces. "It's only 1 minute and 15 seconds of your life." MDB says.
"And they are the longest seconds of my life today." I say.
But this time we 'dance' instead of 'practice'.
We move into sissones with a jumping beat. The second part of this is my nemesis - glissade with a pique to the back both sides. I feel my frustration rising again as the music gets faster and I'm struggling. I try to shake it off. I'm starting to think that after hurting my knee, I'm afraid to jump - especially fast or high. I'm always hesitant with jumping.
MDB promises to come back to this so we can get in the traveling floor combinations. None of us ace the traveling floor combinations. There were varying degrees of correctness, but we did better at dancing then practicing.
Class was only 90 minutes of my life today. They were the best used 90 minutes of my day - with the exception of petting my cat :)
But seriously, I'm going to get those damn glissade, assemblages and sissones!
I try not to make faces. "It's only 1 minute and 15 seconds of your life." MDB says.
"And they are the longest seconds of my life today." I say.
But this time we 'dance' instead of 'practice'.
We move into sissones with a jumping beat. The second part of this is my nemesis - glissade with a pique to the back both sides. I feel my frustration rising again as the music gets faster and I'm struggling. I try to shake it off. I'm starting to think that after hurting my knee, I'm afraid to jump - especially fast or high. I'm always hesitant with jumping.
MDB promises to come back to this so we can get in the traveling floor combinations. None of us ace the traveling floor combinations. There were varying degrees of correctness, but we did better at dancing then practicing.
Class was only 90 minutes of my life today. They were the best used 90 minutes of my day - with the exception of petting my cat :)
But seriously, I'm going to get those damn glissade, assemblages and sissones!
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