So recently I've been teaching hip-hop at a studio here in Austin. The girls are all trained in classical ballet and I'm SO impressed at how well diciplined they are and how quickly they pick up choreography. So naturally I start getting intimidated. What? I know, they're only 12-14 years old but they're also only like 12-14 lbs each and they whip those skinny legs into extensions like nobody's business. (**As a side note I ran into my old ballet instructor back home in MD and she said to me, "I thought that was Kasey Wheeler, but you had hips!" All the sudden I was 12 again and she was telling me that fries won't make my jetes* any higher or my pirouettes any sharper. When she wants to get into your head there's nothing you can do but submit and pray that she didn't see you sneak that Moosetracks milkshake).
Anyway, moving away from insecurities that still haunt, these girls are good, but they're still bean-pole ballerinas. As part of my class I decided the best way to lighten everyone up and merge back into my comfort zone, would be the blast the song Shake It and have a 3 minute dance party. Unconventional? Yes? Did it make me feel better about myself? Def. Did it help the girls? I think so, but you know, if your instructor's self esteem isn't intact you've really got nothing now do you?
On a serious note, they did awesome after our "exercise" and I have decided mini dance parties are officially an effective technique.
*See photo
2 comments:
I would kill to take a dance class right now. Of course I would really suck right now but oh how I miss it.
Hips? Was she referring to that joint absolutely necessary in jetes and plies? Or was she trying to be derogatory about your perfect figure? Because really--who needs her if she was.
And "dance party" sounds like amazing teaching technique to me.
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