Today I went to an aerobics dance class called Body Jam, at the local gym. If you know me, you know I’m not known for my dancing skills. Last summer at my sister’s wedding I danced with my Pop, which is probably one of my favorite memories of us, but anyway when we were dancing I realized whom I inherited my two left feet from. We were quite the pair. I blame my dancing phobia on my childhood; I can’t ever remember dancing around. I think I was too busy kicking a soccer ball or going camping. Now, as I’m getting older I realize I need to get out on the dance floor because I only have sixty or so years to get my groove on and deep down I love dancing. Usually I just need a little coaxing via alcohol, friends or other substances. Today I was completely sober. It was my friend Esmee that did the coaxing. She asked me if I wanted to be her guest at the gym for the day so I happily agreed. I knew we were going to take a class together, but I thought it was going to be Body Pump or hot yoga or something. We got to the gym a few minutes early, stored our stuff in the locker room and made our way to the workout room. It looked like any gym’s group fitness room, but then the class started.
The lights started flashing different hues of blue and pink and in ran the dance instructors. Two ladies and a man all dressed up in their dance gear, which consisted of bright shirts, mesh over shirts, sweatbands and a polar bear hat, just like my leopard one from a previous post. About fifty Thai ladies of all ages and a few younger men and Esmee and I all spread out and began stepping back and forth. The music was blasting, lights flickering and the instructors yelling excitedly. It was the best kind of overstimulation I’ve had in awhile.
I was pretty uncoordinated during the first dance, but I started to get the hang of it by the last song, an hour later. I had no reservations during the class. I was spinning, bouncing and busting out moves like it was nobody’s business. We danced to hip-hop, trance, electronic and pop music. Believe it or not I did best during the hip-hop songs. Most of us weren’t nailing the moves, but we were all trying our hardest while wearing a smile the entire time. A couple times I had to laugh hysterically at myself, but mostly at the fact that at 22, six months after graduation, this is where I’d ended up, in a Thai dance class. It was awesome. Definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had here although I’m starting to realize I classify a lot of my experiences here as “the best.” I think I’m slightly addicted to new experiences hence why they’re all the best.
I also came to the realization that I had put myself in the shoes of my Kindergarteners without even knowing it. For the past three weeks I’ve been teaching 19 Kindergarten kids a choreographed dance to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for their Christmas presentation. It has been one of the most tedious, mind numbing and frustrating things I’ve had to do at school. They all stare at me with blank faces of confusion and for the first two weeks there was no progress, none. Now I understand what it feels like to have to take instruction in a different language and from someone that is more skilled than you. I think the dance is simple, but to an uncoordinated little 5-year-old that would rather be coloring, I guess I can see how it could be a bit tricky. I really thought they were never going to learn the routine, but finally this week, the week of the show, they’re doing it with little help from myself and the two other teachers. I can even hear a few of them singing quietly to themselves. I bet I looked how they did on week one and two. The only difference is I chose to be at Body Jam, they had no say in their participation of the Christmas show. I’m a little bit nervous that they’ll freeze when they’re on a new stage in front of a couple thousand students; lucky for you I’m going to record it so you can judge the results.
