I know I haven't written in about two weeks. I've still been taking ballet classes at Joel Hall.
I just haven't been writing about it. My apologies to my regulars and my 'sporadic' readers.
I haven't been feeling like myself for months now and now I sorta re-emerging into myself.
One of my major indications that some things aren't right in my life is withdrawal and negativity. I'm not an optimist by anyone's standards, but I do believe in laughing everyday (most times at myself) and finding joy in the little things. And when I can't find the joy - I find my inner dissatisfaction...and it's self directed and self destructive.
I will skip all the details, but I will say that I'm getting back to myself. I'm never one to harp on something wrong and do nothing to fix it. I'm a thinker and doer by nature and nurture (thanks, Mom!).
So I interrupt this 'radio silence' with a ballet update.
I've been skipping Sunday morning classes for various reasons for several months now. Last year at this time, I think I was up to 3 ballet classes a week. Now I'm averaging once a week, but I feel the difference. So I'm getting back into my ballet groove.
I walked into Joel Hall Studio yesterday morning to be greeted by "Not David" 5.0 and registered for ballet 1. In the process of registering, a young, thin, blonde walks up beside in a rush and says, "I haven't missed ballet 1, have I?"
I smile, "No, the class in the fishbowl is Ballet II." "Oh, great. I've never been here before and...."
I temporarily zone out as she starts speaking a million miles a minute.
I wasn't quite awake yet and before the smoke started coming out of my ears, I said, "You register here." I pointed to Not David and ran off.
This little blonde slip of woman had me second guessing my decision to come to class, but I gave myself the choice - ballet or gym....and oddly enough, the idea of being surrounded by fit talented women (and men) didn't seem so intimidating - but that may have been the liquor talking (I got in at 4:30am on Sunday - don't ask).
Two regulars from Monday night class, two newbies (to Joel Hall but not ballet), one guy and myself line up at the barres and begin our plie combinations. In MDB's class, I mostly remember the combination so I can sink into my breathing and the movement with ease. In Missy's class, I have to focus even her plies have some 'funny' business.
During our third tendu combination, I start to wonder if this class is longer than usual...
Side Bar: Maybe this class is all barre?
Menty: I hope not - these combinations aren't getting any easier and we haven't had COFFEE this morning!
Side Bar: Are we still drunk?
Menty: Let's not think about it....
Side Bar: Ok
In that little mental side bar, I've missed the degage combination, but I'm not on an end so I'm not leading.
Missy says, "You guys got it or do you want to see it again?"
I say, "Let's just fumble through it."
Side Bar: That's just wrong...hehehehe!
We end up having to do it twice...Missy wanted us to do swinging degages instead of static....I told her she could have the combination or the swinging leg - but not both. We all laughed. We have such greedy teachers - they want musicality, technique and coordination!! It's Sunday!
We make it through barre in tact to find we have to do battements in the center.
Side Bar: Oh, shit...
Menty: Pretty much....
We all manage to stay upright and then the floor combinations come. We don't excel at it but I think we are all struggling with the music - not the actual combination, which made me smile. After the first pass in both directions, I think we just all mutinied and did the combination. I already said she needed to pick what she wanted.....she was warned.
All in all, it was a great Sunday class. I promised I'd go next Sunday. So I will :) - with COFFEE!
I followed this up with watching the Bears beat down the Lions and followed that up with watching Momenta in Oak Park because MDB was performing. It was a great production and MDB sat down next to me after her performance was over to watch the rest of the show :)
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