The Flamenco Diaries: Week 7

Class was cancelled because everyone was watching legendary Manuela Carrasco perform in Berkeley.

The Flamenco Diaries: Crazy

I was practicing turns in the garage until 2am last night. I woke up the next morning at 7:30AM and practiced footwork on the backyard deck. I probably woke the whole neighborhood up too.

It's Eva Again...Dancing Like She's Possessed (As Usual)

Brilliant! I can never get enough of her!

The Flamenco Diaries: Week 5

Teacher walks up to me after class and says...

Teacher: You've danced before!

Me: Yes, but I haven't danced in 4 years.

Teacher: How long were you dancing flamenco?

Me: About 5 years.

Teacher: I can tell. You need to move up to a higher level.

The Flamenco Diaries: Week 4 - Zapateo y Marcaje

We did footwork which is getting a bit more complicated and faster pace. She has finally thrown arms into the mix.

She's also had us do some marking to Allegrias.

Everything was a piece of cake and I felt good about everything.

After class, I hung around to observe Beginning II class, where you start doing choreography. It doesn't look that complicated and I would have probably been better off starting at that level. I notice that some of the people from my class stayed on and are taking that class. I think by the end of this session (which ends in June), I would have enough review of basic techniques to move on to Beginning II. Usually, it takes at least 6 months to a year in Beginning I to move up to Beginning II. Thank goodness my muscle memory has kicked in and I don't have to wait that long.

Ballet and Tai Chi

I woke up early to practice Tai Chi at the park. Every morning 5 days a week, a group of elderly chinese men and women do Tai Chi. It was beautiful and serene. They were very nice and welcoming too. I love Tai Chi it's so graceful and relaxing. I think Tai Chi at the park will be a regular event for me.

After Tai Chi, I went to my first ballet class. It's very basic ballet. I decided to take this class because I want to strengthen my core for when I do turns in flamenco (turning is my weakness), to improve my balance and become more fluid and graceful. After class, one of the students asked if this was my first class. I told her yes, I've never taken ballet before. She was shocked and said that I picked up the choreography really fast, it took them months to learn it. I thought that was flattering but then again it wasn't really rocket science and it is a beginning class.

I had a half hour break, there was another Tai Chi class right after ballet. Different teacher. I've been taking Tai Chi from this teacher for a month now. He showed us practical self defense application from the poses we were doing. I thought it was really neat. He used me to demonstrate some moves, I felt like a rag doll being flailed about.

So 2 hrs of Tai Chi and an hour of ballet. Now 5 hours of study. Finals in two weeks.

My First Dance Class in Ages

I attended a zumba class this evening. I was surprised I still have coordination I could get the complicated footwork. The only thing is that I can't maintain it for long because I have no endurance. Boy it's a real workout. I have forgotten how hard dance was. It's much different than running on an elliptical trainer or a treadmill. With dance you use your entire body. On top of that, you have to think about rhythm, coordination, choreography, artistic and emotional expression.

This is my first zumba class and it's really fun. I like the fact they incorporate a lot of latin, hip hop, and BELLYDANCE moves. The class runs twice a week. Hopefully by 6 months I will have fulfilled resolution #4: Be smoking hot!