Guest Teachers = soliloquy time

I take a 2 hour dance technique class ever week day: ballet - Monday and Wednesday, modern - Tues, Thurs, Friday.  I love me some technique class... in fact, it's my favorite class, and by far the hardest part about grad school. It wears my bones to dust and my mind to a fine pulp. I am not bored with class, in the least. Just MYSELF in class. My body, my lines, my tights, the Lycra  the spandex and plastic that holds me together... all in plain view under the perfect lighting of the mirrored dance room. It is hard to do this, to put oneself under such scrutiny every damn day. I hate myself but I love myself but I hate myself... etc etc... alas and alack.

But, today felt different. We had an amazing guest teacher, Desmond Richardson,

Artistic Director/Co.Founder/Artist-in-Residence of a company based in NYC, Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

This gent was golden inspiration. He made us take the barre away and just start moving. Pure movement and unadulterated breathing and life and freedom. Ugh, I sound like a new-age needlepoint. But my point is this: I didn't stop to worry about myself or my body, or any of the other detailed issues that I usually let get in my way during class time. Today, I was gettin' busy on the dance floor... but not in the 'get it, gurrrl' kind of way... but kinda also like that too. Am I making sense? I was getting busy by pushing myself and trying to really dwell inside this class, but also I gave myself the freedom to relax and mess up, and move like moving was still fun. All things Desmond Richardson kept reminding us today in class. Like I said, this man was a brilliant teacher... salve for my boredom, chicken soup for my soul.

 Occasionally, I would catch my eye in the mirror, and my refection would arch an eyebrow as if to say, "Have you forgotten all about me already? Why aren't you freaking out? Where is thy furrowed brow and hunched of back? You don't get enough protein! Think about your metabolism! Think about your triceps! Think about the babies in Africa with flies on their faces!" My refection was trying really there at the end. I'll give it props for dropping the Olde English while it was still ahead. But moments of distraction fell away easily, and, OH, I danced.

Check out Complexions Contemporary Ballet THIS Tuesday evening (TOMORROW) at Kingsbury Hall... or check them out on the web: Complexions Contemporary Ballet