Back to Ballroom

Blending my research with my resolutions, I have started attending ballroom practice regularly. Last quarter, I tried it a few times, but there were too many people, most of whom had never danced before. While I love me some newbies, it's not great for learning or even crowd control. Also, practice was scheduled after my Pedagogy class, which was the last class of the week, after which I was always pretty tired/burned out.

In case I didn't miss it enough, I have the double incentive of a professional instructor AND a partner! Last night we had a 90 minute lesson in bronze-level international waltz. Learned more than half of a routine that combines some cool elements. Little bit of technique. I danced with one of the team members who is nice and tall, and has this freakish ability to grow another 6 inches getting into frame. Then one of the alumni (who is currently competing) taught the fan in rumba. The waltz was awesome, but I keep wrecking the timing on the fan. Intelligently, I have a good idea how it works, but my timing is utter crap, even with the best lead.

It is so striking to me though how very out of practice I am. Rusty doesn't even begin to describe it. It's like the super-rusty bike frame in the shed that you hope will not disintegrate under you. I haven't competed in 6+ years, and I haven't even taken lessons in 4. Also, my training is primarily American-style, which is less rigid than International. The timing is different, just a little faster, which is throwing me.

My partner is a science guy, again. Which makes for some fun, since I am arts/humanities-oriented. If I will be dancing alot and competing again, I now have a reason to buy new ballroom shoes. The old Latin shoes are dying, and I may have lost my smooth shoes in the many shuffles. I really want these fabulous purple shoes, but I know I should get sensible tan satin. *sigh* And the purple shoes wouldn't match my old costumes, but then again, I don't know I would still fit into those costumes... I see major spendy-bender with sparkles in my future.