Wednesday night’s Experimental Contemporary class with Nina McNeely took place on a cold, rainy night. I just wanted to head home and snuggle up in sweats, but knew I would feel better after class.
The warm-up offered a HUGE surprise. The splits! I forgot about the splits and haven’t done them in years! Because the room (and my muscles) were still cold, I didn’t do the stretch, but it inspired me to do some stretches on my own time. It reminded me that the progress I used to see in my fellow dancers was largely gained outside of class. Right after class wrapped, if a student would go to the mirror and practice a specific move, within a few weeks or less, that new skill would be mastered. In dance, it is just as important to be aware of your own personal strengths and weaknesses and to take responsibility to grow as a dancer. It is not the responsibility of the teacher, only yourself.
The choreography was so much fun! It was also pretty hard. The beginning focused on popping: one arm up and pop, the other arm pop, two arms pop, then kind of pop your upper body to the side. Then pop your neck to the right and left while twinkling your fingers, pop your neck to the right and left while twinkling your fingers... confused? We were too. But it evolved into a little more modern-y style movement, and we are off and dancing.
Luckily, the choreography is repeated for two weeks, that means next week, we get to do the same dance! Until then: practice, practice, practice!!
PS. Jess talked to one of the best dancers in the class, and asked advice: don’t look in the mirror, focus on how it feels. I asked Nina re: tension in the upper back, and she recommended pilates. So... here’s to strengthening and focusing on the feeling.
