Who Me? Shimmy?!?

[qos]

This entry is brought to you in significant part by moonborn, who, when I mentioned a week or two ago that I was going to start a Tribal Bellydance class, immediately responded with "Welcome to the sisterhood!"

To tell you the truth: without that, I might not have dragged myself away from the computer this evening, where I had been having a marvelous time wandering through this marvelous collection of LOTR and other films/stars photos. (Seriously, if you are an LOTR fan, or a fan of any of the stars, go there. There's a lot of stuff there I've never seen before. I must have right-clicked on 50 images! There's a whole series of pages on the different films.)

But I decided that I really did need to get up and go, since this class is supposed to do several things for me: contribute to my improving fitness, help re-awaken my sensuality, and give me something interesting to talk about. I've been feeling very boring again lately.

What a pleasure to get there and find an old friend, who also - it turns out - is on LJ as pathdancer.

The class itself was a challenge. I have enjoyed square dancing and contra dance, but that's all. I was a hopeless ballet student, worse at jazz, and have only had fun "free dancing" when tipsy. That has happened twice in my memory. (raptures_shadow and gothic_coop were there for that memorable night at the Vogue. stucco33 and topherius were there for the "Our Pomona" cast party. In fact, it was probably topherius who was mixing the drinks that night!)

How hard can it be to swing your hips back and forth while gracefully moving your arms and walking forward? Don't ask me! I felt like I was trying to rub my tummy and pat my head at the same time - while not tripping!

But it was fun, and by the end of the hour we all found ourselves doing an improvised combination, following the teacher's cues, and actually knowing what we were doing - even if some of us were far from perfect in our execution. (First night, first night, I have to keep reminding myself. Yes, I tend to be a perfectionist. It's damned inhibiting!)

But, like I said, I had fun, and having pathdancer there makes it even more likely that I'll end up going back next week.

I need more new experiences.

There was an amazing moment early on in the class. We were in two circles, one inside the other, just stretching and moving gently to reach one arm up and then the other - and I suddenly felt a thrill of wonder to be in this circle of women and moving like this. It is a completely different experience from my other fitness activity: the one-on-one weight training with a very masculine trainer, striving to be tough and strong. It's hard to put into words how wonderful it was to experience that moment this evening. Neither experience is better than the other; I feel so fortunate to be able to participate in both.

Comments

[toesontheground.livejournal.com]

That all sounds very positive! I'm glad for you :)

[moonborn.livejournal.com]

*takes a bow* ^-^
I'm glad you enjoyed it - it does take some practice to actually feel graceful, from my own experiences and those of all the dancers I've known. I still generally feel like a klutz (I relate to the hopeless ballet student bit). Generally, the agreement is that at some point down the track things will suddenly just seem to 'click' and this whole new way of moving your body will seem to be entirely comfortable.

striving to be tough and strong
I've never seen American Tribal veil-dancing, but a two-hour stint of it is the most strenuous workout I've ever experience, in or out of the gym. When rehearsing a veil piece last year every week, I had actual arm-muscles by a month!

[qos.livejournal.com]

I'm sure that dancing will continue to improve my strength and endurance! That's one of the reasons I'm doing this.

What I was experiencing last night was a very different mental state from what I'm used to when being physically active. It was much more connected, gentle, and classically feminine than what I experience at the high-intensity gym.

[qos.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[justbeast.livejournal.com]

Wow.. :)
That sounds like an awesome class.

[queenofhalves]

yay!

that makes me want to get back into dancing again...

[gothic-coop.livejournal.com]

That was a great night for dancing. We should do it again. I think it would be fun.

[rocket-jockey.livejournal.com]

There is regular contra dancing in the sme place you had your tribal class: it would be fun to get people there and dance a few patterns (and before you fall down, I'm actually dancing now...)

[qos.livejournal.com]

Glad to see you made it over!

Maybe we all should go contra dancing together.

[qos.livejournal.com]

Know anyone I could borrow appropriate clothing from? ;-)

[gothic-coop.livejournal.com]

Umm? Sure! What size are you and I will make it happened.
Really all you need is some black pants and a dark top and some black shoes you can damnce in.

[rocket-jockey.livejournal.com]

In my circles, "all" can be a pretty big number!

Yes, I had intended it to be a few of us, some subset of you, me, pathdancer, our friends L., lumiere and saturnalia17, and maybe a couple more. Of the bunch, there are only a couple experienced contra dancers.

[qos.livejournal.com]

Black pants. Check.
Black shirt. Check.

Black shoes. . . maybe.

I should do this before the end of the summer.

This week is booked. Friday or Saturday nights are really the only times I can go out late. Care to propose a date?

[gothic-coop.livejournal.com]

Friday August 6th? How does that sound to you. I like to go out and dance on Fridays do to the fact the music is more what I like at the Merc. Plus, more people I know go out on that day. You know we could pick you up that way you don't need to drive after having a drink or two Mar can be our Designated Driver, Because she will not be drinking for baby reasons.

Let me know.