Sunday, February 21, 2010

Bellydancing is Hard

Although I have never taken classes or been in any performances, I've been known to get my groove on. In high school, I did the appropriate dancing at school dances (I think the common term is "freakin"). I was never the girl in the middle of the dance floor on top of some guy, but I didn't sit on the sidelines. When I got older, I went to clubs and had a good time shaking my stuff and grinding my hips like most kids in their early 20s. And once I pledged a sorority, instead of one one one dancing, I joined my sorors in "strholling" around the party.

Then about 6 or 7 years ago, I retired my dancing shoes. I decided when I went out, I cared more about socializing than dancing. So if I went to the club with my friends, I would be the one posted up by the bar, accepting free drinks and flashing my smile rather than my dance moves.

This all goes to say that had I not retired, bellydancing would not have been so hard tonight.

Besides the fact that everyone was experienced, the instructor didn't use a mic and I didn't have one of those jangly scarves to wrap around my waist, this class was challenging because of the moves. And honestly a lot of them reminded me of some of the freak-dancing in high school, the club moves and the strholls I did while in college. It's all waist-based and had it not been awhile since I popped my pelvis or rolled my hips, I might've done better.

After class the only other woman who seemed to be struggling like me, said a few kind words.

"It gets easier," she said.

"Man, I sucked!" I told her.

"My first few classes I had a hard time, but I did feel it in my muscles after," she said.

"I guess that's good," I commented.

"Hope to see you next week," she called as I tied my shoes.

"Me too, " I replied, "I hope I get the courage."

Maybe if I get one of those little jangly scarves it'll help.

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