Four Guys

OMG dear readers, we were one guy short of being a hamburger chain last night. (For those who don’t know there is a hamburger chain called Five Guys, I don’t know just who the five guys are, but there are five of them. Oh, and they are damn good too.)

I’ve never been in any ballet class with that many guys before. This isn’t my first rodeo either, I’ve taken class for awhile even a few advanced classes that I mistakenly took in the past. You might think you would find more guys in those classes, but no. I’ve never been a part of a class with more than two other male dancers. It would have been perfect if this was a partnering class, we were totally even-steven, four guys and four girls.

The normal vibe was way different too, I’m not sure if I could enplane just how it was different, it just was. You will have to trust me on this.

I’d like to go back next week to see how the numbers shake out and see how many of them return but I don’t normally have my Monday nights open and I won’t be able to go again until May. The other guys were all beginner types, two were there for the first time ever. Despite your skill level it’s amazing to see just how much you have learned when you see people taking class for the first time ever. Was I ever that clueless? Was I stumbling around with steps you now can do with your eyes closed and one hand tied behind your back?

Gross

So I haven’t been to class on a regular basis in the last several months, thanks to holidays and injuries, yadda yadda yadda. I always have a water bottle in my dance bag, ya gotta stay hydrated. I pulled it out before class began and felt it still had some water in it and it was cold too, thanks winter. I took a couple of swigs and noticed it wasn’t fresh tasting, but not horrible.

Then the third drink was worse than before luckily we reached the point where we get set free right after barre and I thought I’d go dump it out and fill it with fresh suburban strip mall water fountain water, mmm delicious. I dump out the old and I notice even in the dimly lit hallway behind the studio that the inside of my water bottle is yellowish orange, almost like the color of orange juice pulp coating the entire inside of said bottle.

This got me thinking of two things, one how long has this bottle been in my bag and two, how sick am I going to get from drinking from this third-grade science experience? Well I’m sure it’s been in there since mid-December, I forgot to get it out of my bag last week. I’m not good at math but that’s well over a month, plenty of time to grow god knows what that shit is. And for number two, it’s a waiting game. I feel good right now…

Oops I Did It Again

As one of Americas most wisest and profound artists once said, “Oops, I did it again.”
I truly did it again, I crashed in another cyclocross race, just like I did the first race of the season, except I landed on my left knee, not the right like I did in September.

The original crash sidelined me from both ‘cross and ballet. I was about over the ankle issue I suffered in Cali and was chomping at the bit to get back into the studio. Then blammy, not so fast there bike boy, doctors orders.

Flash forward, I was feeling good, and had classes circled on the calendar once again, counting the days until my grand return. Then, like I said above I went and did it again, same type of crash with nearly the same results.

So, I thought about going to class a few days ago. I was feeling good and getting little signs all day long that ballet was in my future. Ran across the schools dance team doing pirouettes to warm out before their practice. So I did one of my own to try to show them I wasn’t just some stranger oggling them. It was pretty good actually. There was a link to some great video on YouTube and then a clip from The Nutcracker on the ARTS network when I flipped on the tv when I got home.

Dear readers, I was feeling good, finally, I got my shit together, and thought hey let’s warm up here before I head out. It was at that point when I discovered that things were not as ready as I had earlier thought. The knee wasn’t having any of it, even the simple stuff, a simple plié for one. It felt good walking, running and even cycling, but not this, no sir.

Ggggrrrrreeeeaaatt (complete with eye-roll), now how long will it be? Well, I have four or so more local races, then nationals in Madison, WI and then UCI world championships in Louisville, KY of all places in February. Hopefully I’ll survive until then. I’ve already promised several that I’ll stop crashing, I guess it’s as ugly to witness as it is to be in them (I actually have little to no memory of either of them, which I almost prefer). Can’t wait to get back, hopefully soon, see you then.

Have Tights, Will Travel

I love to travel and I try to travel as much as I can. This time out, Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area, hellz yeah motha’ trucka!! This trip was loosely scheduled, I had a few airline reservations to meet but aside from those it was completely unscheduled. Go ride the bike (which came with me) ok, hang out in seedy bars, all right, find an open ballet class, okey dokey… I f’ed up in Chicago several month ago, missed a train and missed my class. I was hell bent to not let this happen again, fingers crossed, knock on wood, whatever it takes.

Luckily enough, I found an Int/ Adv class in Portland, and I was able to take the class and still make my train to San Francisco. It was fun, but strange. First off it was at 9:30 am, never seen any class that early. The strangeness crept in when we began doing barre work with our right hand on the barre, that was enough to really throw me. I know there isn’t that much difference between hands, but when you do something for years the same way everyday and then you switch things up it might mess with your head, I can say it did for me. She was so casual about it that I didn’t catch it at first, then it just was really odd and slightly disconcerting.

Then I had all the time in the world in San Francisco, (btw dear readers, don’t call it “Frisco,” they will loose their shit.) however I was never in the right part of town when I needed to be or if I was I didn’t have my magic bag o’ tights.

Not having what you need can really put a cramp in your plans, I suppose I could have just shown up in my jeans. Sure they are tight and stretchy but I can’t imagine wearing them in class, but more importantly I didn’t have a dance belt which means no class regardless of jeans style. There was a girl in a class a year or so ago who wore jeggings to class for quite awhile. And yeah yeah, I know my jeans are snug, some say tight, that’s the way I like them, and I rock the shit out of ‘em, but that’s beside the pointe.

Even if i had made it to a class my legs were already cooked. I had been riding hills (super serial steep grades, crazy steep, like nearly straight up steep) it’s hard not to in San Francisco. I can’t image how awful a class would be with legs that were completely dead and all noodle like. I’ll never bitch about steep streets again for I have met and bested the steepest of streets.

Plans were kinda made to meet up with some fellow ballet bloggers but that didn’t quite workout. It would have been fun, but that’s how things work some days. I will be back to the City soon enough, and hopefully our schedules will work out better next time.

If you should ever find yourself in Portland you have to visit Powell’s Books, it fan-fucking-tastic! It had the biggest dance section I’ve ever seen. The whole aisle, not just a shelf.

I apologize for the less than stellar photography here today, both of my cameras died days into my vacation and I ended up having to rely on my cell phone to record my journeys. Not happy about this at all. All I see are $$$$$ in my future to hopefully get them back up and running. Plus both have been with me more than half way around the globe and are there for me 24/7, pretty bummed.

Please, a moment of silence for my seemingly dead cameras.

Thank you.

 

Yeah, I Know…

Pointe Shoes: Hey dude, what’s the deal, you haven’t worn me in class since like December. Where’s the love, I thought you liked to dance with us.

Me: Well, I did, but the more I wore you the more my ankle hurt.

PS: Hey dude, don’t try to blame that on me, you’ve have had that problem for years.

Me: Yeah, but I’m good at blaming others for my problems (laughing).

PS: You totally threw us under the bus.

Me: Yep, I sure did. But, I discovered something. I had forgotten what it’s like to dance in my soft shoes, it’s a completely different experience that I had nearly forgotten. No offense to you guys, but I felt like I was clomping around with you, like when you try to walk in ski boots, less than graceful. The softies felt like I was dancing on clouds.

PS: Oh yeah, blaming the tools are you? I’d say you should blame the operator.

Me: Easy there, I love ya. I pulled you out and wore you tonight, the first time in months. And do you want to know what? It was great, not even a twinge of pain. Probably not the best idea right now, but what the hell.

PS: Oh, I know, it was fun. It seemed like you knew what you were doing.

Me: I know, it was fun. You can thank a couple of the girls in class one of which also en pointe and were wondering why I wasn’t wearing you lately. We will do more, I promise. As long as the ankle feels good, we will be good. Meanwhile, back in the bag, see you soon.

Me: BTW, you were famous for a few months, your photo was used on an online dance wear site.

PS: Yep, I did know, I’m quite good looking. I can’t believe you made them take that photo of me.

Recruitment Effort

Long story short, I discovered that one of my students was quite a dancer in her pre-college years. She picked up on something I was saying, and looked me and asked if I was a ballet dancer.

Um, yeah… I’m like the best ever (heavy on the sarcasm). Why do you ask?

I then look down and I’m standing in fifth. I forget what I originally said for her to question me. It may have been something in unnecessary French. I really should ask her just what it was.

Anyway, she says it’s been years since she last she was in leotard and tights but had an urge to at least give a class a shot, or take the plunge and buy a class card. She threw in the towel in high school when she discovered that it was nice to have a social life. Nearly her entire life was wrapped up in ballet, with seven of those years en pointe. (Maybe I should ask her for some pointe tips.)

I’m all like, that’s f-ing cool, I like Big City Fancy Pants Company School.. yardda, yadda yadda, you should do it. Come to the Monday or Thursday night class, you’ll like them. Plus your first class is free. You know, the same way crack dealers get people hooked.

Sure enough dear readers she did show, no point shoes, but hey at least she came. It went well for not doing anything in years. Hopefully she will come to ballet tomorrow.

I Want You...

Hey, I Know Her!

So I get home from class, exhausted I fall into the couch, flip on the tv and who do I see? It’s my newest and very cute barre-mate telling us why she “chose red.” It took a second and a quick trip to Youtube before I put two and two together.

Anyway, I’m like holy crap, that’s Cali. That said, I remembered her name, a uncommon event for me. I was almost positive it was her, but the commercial ended before I knew what was going on and if in fact that was her. Thanks YouTube. I’m sure I’d have recognized her quicker if she was wearing her leo and tights, the only clothes I’ve ever seen her in.

 

Wouldn’t you know it dear readers, I’d hear a radio version of the tv add on my way home from class last night. BTW, if your wondering, she’s the girl wiht long brown hair, which is now blonde.

Kneel Before Zod

Zod at Prix du Lausanne (photo from Prix du Lausanne)

Kneel before Zod!

OMG, It’s Been A Year

I just realized while driving myself to class this morning that it has been one year since I began ballet 2.0. While it is not the first time I’ve ever taken ballet, yadda yadda yadda, you’ve all read this before.

Q. So, it’s been one year, are you having fun?

A. Duhh, yeah. Next question please.

Q. What has changed since you quit ballet in grad school and now?

A. Well for one, I’m several years older, I live in a different time zone, tax bracket and I’d like to think I’m a bit wiser as well. But honestly, ballet has become such an important part of my life, I can’t imagine what it would be like without it, aside from having a lot more free time and money in my bank account.

Q. Like how much money and how much free time?

A. Classes really add up, I don’t remember them costing as much as they did when I was still in school. I’m afraid to do the math, I’m sure I’ve spent way more than I should on classes and other assorted dance crap.

As for time, I take between three and four 90 minute classes a week, most in the evening. Factor in driving time, it really eats up the time. But I’d probably be on the couch watching TV if I wasn’t in a pair of tights and leotard skipping around a studio (that is how ballet was once described to me by a person who has never taken ballet, or any dance at all).

Q. Well then where are you doing all of this skipping around then?

A. I split my time between two schools. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I’m at Big City Fancy Pants Company School, and Saturday morning I go to the Urban Upstairs School. I actually attended Urban Upstairs School while in college for one term. The two schools couldn’t be more different, but I enjoy both. It’s a total apples and oranges situation, unless someone developed appnges or oraples.

Q. What classes are you in then?

A. Well at Big City Fancy Pants Company School (I was once scared of BCFPSCS, thought it was only for really good dancers, I’ve found out they have classes for all typed of dancers, even those like me who are not that good.) I’m in two beginner level / open classes. The Teach gives us more challenging options if we want to do them, and several of us do. Then there is Big Tex’s int/ adv/ open class which is fucking hard, but he let’s us dumb it down if we so choose, several of us do. And then at Urban Upstairs School I’m in a intermediate class, just about where I should be, challenging but well within what I can do, usually.

Q. Do you have a favorite class or teacher?

A. Yes on both. The favorite class has changed a bit, but I’d say it would be the Thursday night beg/ open class. A bit laid back, but still serious, and fun. The super hard class is fun too, much like a scary movie is fun. Ms Perky Blond Company Member and Ms The Teach tie for my favorite (they both allow me to indulge in my attempts en pointe) Big Tex is fun, hearing his French is a trip with his pronounced accent, plus he always give us trivia questions.

One class led me to two, then three and eventually four, it’s crazy.

Q. Well that brings me to a good question. Pointe shoes, what’s up with that?

A. Well about six months ago the idea that guys could and have worn pointe shoes seeped into my head, and I couldn’t get that notion out. People who didn’t know better kept asking if I’d ever danced on “tippy toes.” I thought they were just for the ladies, turns out it’s not always the case. So I eventually got up the nerve to ask if I could try, and to my surprise The Teach agreed and told me to go for it. I wouldn’t say I’m any good at pointe, I’d say I’m god awful, but I’m trying. I do barre and and on occasion I’ll also do bits of everything else when the mood strikes.

One surprising side effect of pointe, I’ve discovered how much fun it is to dance in plain ol’ soft ballet shoes.

Q. What have you learned this year?

A. Omg, tons of stuff, some things important other not so much.

• Muscle memory is amazing. That first class back, the music starts and everything just starts to happen, f’ing amazing!
• The other adult beginners are amazing people, we have busy lives, but find time to humble ourselves learning the same thing as the studio below us full of 6 year olds.
• Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are beautiful shoes, and f’ing expensive. They were the only shoes to fit my weird feet.
• Ballet is beautiful, regardless of the dancers experience. I love watching my classmates dance, even in class.
• Twitter, YouTube and blogs opened my eyes to things I never thought possible.
• Doing the same thing over and over hoping for a different outcome is stupid. You gotta take control of you life homes.
• I had a personality conflict with a teacher, then I realized she’s not going to change so why do I keep throwing my hard earned money at her class hoping for her to magically change.
• Thought destroying my feet would be fun and thought pointe might be cool to learn. I had to take control and ask about it, they would never asked if I wanted to try pointe in a million years

Q. What are you struggling with?

A. Where do I begin?

• Pirouettes, the second I think I have them, everything goes to shit!
• I can’t spot to save my life.
• Splits, they just aren’t gettin there.
• Bettering my developes and getting crazy high extension has been tough. I did find a great video clip from Ballet Babble using Thera-bands. We’ll see how that goes, fingers crossed.
• My right ankle is a mess, I need to really work on it, or have someone look at it too.
• I need to stretch way more than I am.

A Years Worth

Holy crap, what a difference a year can make. It wasn’t all that long ago that taking part in ballet hardly ever crossed my mind, I thought I was done with it. It’s not like I hated it and had no interest in continuing, I was burned out, and sick of nagging injuries, I was done, retired, moved on, donesky…

Ballet was totally off my radar, for years. Then snowpocalypse 2011 struck and canceled classes, with nothing better to do I went to the movies, Black Swan. Something shook awake that long dormant part of my brain where ballet lives. Within a days of seeing the movie I had enrolled myself into the school I once attended years ago. Luckily I still had all my stuff in a old gym bag in the back of the closet.

I can’t explain what happened in those early classes in January, it was no different than all of the classes I had taken years ago, but there was just something that made me feel completely different. I fell in love with ballet, it quickly consumed my life and imagination. I couldn’t get enough, one class wasn’t doing it for me. That one class became two, it would have became more, but honestly I was too afraid/ intimated to even look into classes that would easily fit into my schedule at Big City Fancy Pants Company School. I thought it was for people who knew what they were doing, girls in buns and point shoes, and guys who could touch the ceiling with every jump. Eventually BCFPCS would become my favorite place to be. Sure there are plenty of girls with buns and pointe shoes and guys who can jump higer than anyone should be able to, but there are plenty of others who are there for no other reason other than they love ballet regardless of how well they dance.

Now, I enjoyed my time taking ballet throughout college, but it didn’t seem to be that important, of course I was working my ass off to finish my degrees and the other assorted priorities a red-blooded college student has, mostly seeing how many brain cells one can kill in a good weekend or finding new ways to sneak booze into the Kentucky Derby (that is a story of it’s own). I had fun, but I could take it or leave it, if I missed a class I didn’t think much of it, there would be another seven days later.

I was astonished how much I still remembered. Sure there was much to relearn but at times it felt like I was on auto-pilot. I’d hear French French French, and my arms and legs would somehow end up in the right place, without thought. Muscle memory is incredible thing, now I understand why we do the same thing over and over, in every class for years on end, it had become ingrained into my thick head.

Possibly the biggest thing I have learned has nothing really to do with ballet at all. I’ve learned that my time is more valuable than almost anything else which I posses. I can’t wait around hoping a situation might change, I have to take control and make the changes myself. If that means changing schools, ok I’ll change schools. If I want to try pointe, and The ‘Teach says it’s OK, hell yeah I’ll give it a shot. If I find myself not enjoying a class, why should I continue to throw my hard earned money at it hoping that if I keep going the teachers personality might change (that term ended and I haven’t taken another class with Ms Leggy Blonde). I only wish that I had learned this earlier, but I suppose you have to make these mistakes to eventually learn these lessons.

So yeah, it’s been quite a year, a year that I never could have imagined before buying that ticket to see Black Swan. Things have changed, eyes have been opened, yadda yadda yadda…