While You’re Dancing
February 27th, 2008 by Kateastrophe
Back in a previous life (aka college) I spent an average of three hours a day dancing. I was never very good at it, with my over-arched back, thick legs and awkward appendages called arms. I would excel at the warm-ups and bar work and then get out on the floor to do choreography and fail miserably. Despite all of that, I loved it. I loved the workout, the muscle tone, the freedom, the music and the expression. I’ve taken ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance and dabbled a bit in ballroom.
When I graduated I figured I’d find a way to take a class here and there to keep in shape and keep up.
Cut to six years later. Not a single class has been taken and I’ve donned my dancing shoes ONE time for an audition for Oklahoma. (Let me just tell you, attempting to go on point after four years off is not a pleasant experience for the ankles.) I’m out of dancing shape, cellulite has appeared where there used to be muscle tone. My once extraordinarily defined calves have started to droop and dimple . . . I work out often, but it just doesn’t seem to produce the same results as it did during my dancing days.
I’m in another play now and we have a scene where we have to waltz. Last night we worked on choreographing the scene for about three hours. CAN I JUST TELL YOU HOW BADLY MY FEET AND LEGS HURT??? Leaps that used to be easy pulled muscles that I forgot I had. The balls of my feet are screaming in pain. The arches of my feet which used to point without a care are cramped and achy. AND THIS WAS JUST A WALTZ. It wasn’t even the intense dancing that I used to do. I’m a big, fat wuss.
I must be a masochist at heart or something because I’m actually kind of loving the pain and I think I’m signing up for a dance class. I’m going to force this pain on myself more often! I’m looking forward to muscles so sore you can barely walk, blisters on the balls of my feet from turning on hardwood floors and the endless piles of dance tights, leotards and worn, stinky dancing shoes.
Watch out, body. It’s about to be “broughten.”
- Posted in Malnutrition and Jazzercise
February 27th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I know this perfectly. I danced for almost nineteen years, and stopped when I graduated college. I took a dance class this weekend with Taye Diggs and Andrew Palermo - three hours of dance, and I could barely walk afterwards. My thighs have gone to shit - hello cellulite, and I miss having strong calves. I never realized how much dancing did.
If you figure out a way to get those muscles back, do let me know!
YOU MET TAYE DIGGS???? I envy you more than you will ever know.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I LOVE that you used the word ‘broughten’. Dance baby, dance! “The best things…happen while you’re dancing…things that you would not do at home come naturally on the floor….”
Yes, leave it to me to use such a delightfully awful word. Haha.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I love you and your masochism! I’m so excited for you.
My masochism might be the best part about me! Wait . . .
February 27th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Dancing… soon becomes romancing…
February 27th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Oh man I wish I was a dancer, that’d be awesome.
Well it’s painful. And your feet look like crap. Haha
February 27th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I used to be a gymnast and a dancer; have not done either to any real degree in years, except for one show where I thought I could still flip with the same dexterity as before. Yeah right. And so, I totally feel your pain…
I tried the gymnast thing. I really, really sucked at it. Like, REALLY sucked. I envy that you were even able to do it!!
February 27th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
oh my gosh i know what you mean… i took a dance class at USU and i felt like a total idiot… do you remember when i was a good dancer… well i think all the creative and gifted juiced left my body! good luck sis… your braver than i
Yeah well you’re a naturally better dancer than I. Hate you. Not really.
February 28th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Hey….if you want to take a BEGINNING dance class, I’m so in to take it with you!
I’m pretty sure that’s where I need to start again . . . let’s look into it!! You’ll look cute in a black uni and pink tights!!
February 28th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I danced nearly every day from age three to age 18. I miss it all the time and keep saying I’m going to get back into it and never do. Sigh…
February 28th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
ps- I sent you an email
I love email! Now I have to wait until I get home to check it
Stupid work restrictions. hahah
February 29th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Enjoy your new masochistic hobbies !!!
March 1st, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Just wanted to let you know that I got Mr Linky Love up and running on my blog for tomorrow’s SOS.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
So jealous of you dancin’ again, I might have to get back into singin’!
Love the new site BTW. It really is you!! And great that you have your own domain name. It will server you well when you become famous!