Wanna dance?

A couple of months ago some people I know who are involved in the Performing Arts Industry coerced me into coming to one of their rehearsals and learning some choreography to be in one of their performing groups! It took MUCH encouragement on their part, for my dancing shoes have been hanging in the closet for about 17 years. (Of course, I don't really have dancing shoes, because I danced in the era pre-jazz shoes, gore boots, and heaven forbid Jazz Sneakers!) I do have one pair of white jazz shoes that my little sister gave me after she retired them so I could take a little Adult Jazz class a few years ago, but I digress.

My children's performing group director, Danny, assured me that I would be welcome among his group whatever my ability level, and although I didn't believe him, I felt somehow compelled to try out the rehearsals. I think it had more to do with my need for fun and a creative outlet than anything else.

Oh the soreness of my muscles after that first rehearsal! My legs hurt, my neck, shoulders, back, feet, arms, and every other muscle hurt and ached! I took heating pads to bed and popped the ibuprofen like candy and thought to myself, "Are you crazy!? You can't do this! This is insane! You are not 22 years old, like half the members of the group! This is undeniably crazy and there is no way you are going to be able to do this!"

So after that little pep talk, I decided to go back again, because after all, I'd had a lot of fun, even if I did feel so inferior and actually quite dorky among my new dancing 20 year old friends. After the next rehearsal, I decided that learning more than one count of eight was going to be impossible for me. I simply could not follow and remember the combinations being taught!

In competitive style, I returned, determined to learn something and not walk away with my head hung. I think more than anything I wanted to prove to myself that I wouldn't give up. I just didn't know at the time how to discern between accepting the reality that my flexibility is just gone after 17 years of non-dance and 4 babies and following through to prove I wouldn't give up! Where was the fine line! I never found it, and hey, I'm still not giving up!

And I'm having a riot of a time! They even convinced me to perform with them! I even sang the first solo of my life! Holy smokes! And I can remember combinations that last more than one count of eight. In fact, I learned 8 or 9 songs in their entirety for our concert! Some jazz, some lyrical, some line dancing, some hip hop (holy cow, that's a stretch for me). And it's SO MUCH FUN! I'll have to include some pics soon from our show. I think I'm going to need pics to prove to myself that I actually did it. Maybe this is all a dream.

My favorite comment was from my daughter (12) who said: "I can't believe my mom did a body roll. That's just WRONG!"

You got it, baby! Mom's doing body rolls, and you better get used to it!

In the beginning

Why a blog? Why me? Why now? Okay, so I'm almost 35 and life ain't over yet. I find that I don't usually take the time to write down my thoughts, not even in a journal. In fact, I think I never even accounted for the complete births of all my children in my journal. Maybe I'll do it here. Maybe here I won't feel the pressure of relating each account in its entirety before I close the book for the night!
There is so much to who I am and I add a little on every single day, making me feel a little more complex, and somehow a littler simpler at the same time, if that makes any sense. I love to write, and I love to talk, and hopefully I'll make a little sense. If I don't, then hopefully I'll be loved anyway!