Quasimodo

I felt like the hunchback of Notre Dame today at my lesson. I need to keep my shoulders DOWN! Apparently a decade of chiropractics and massage therapy hasn't made a dent.

Stage fright

The hours of grinding my Dove deodorant into Michael Paul's black sleeve have finally paid off. I danced the jive in front of people!

Last night started off with a group lesson. Ryan even joined in! I must say, people from all walks of life show up to these sorts of lessons/events. Its neat to see how everyone interacts and comes together...perhaps with absolutely nothing in common aside from being here to dance.

After the lesson music started for social dancing. About a half hour or so after the "foxtrot mixer" and "steamy bolero" it was time for Michael Paul and I to dance. I was chewing my Winterfresh into a pulp and I stood there listening to our introductions. "Please don't screw up," I begged in my head.

Then the music was starting and without a whole lot of warning we started our "rock step." After about 10 seconds I hear Micheal Paul say something to the tune of "We are slightly off beat, lets pause." Pause? Oh sure...I'll pause. Me pausing looks a lot like a woodland creature facing a 4x4 with one headlight. But, watching the video getting back on beat went over without much of a hitch...why did I ever doubt him?

Next thing I know its time to end! He gives me "the signal" and I come in, jump onto his thigh with my tibia, and we spin around, giving an unparalleled view of my nude-colored Spanx.

All joking aside...I had a really good time, there were no major mishaps, and I'm really thankful to have Michael Paul as an instructor. Ryan took some video, I'll see if I can post it.

My Jive - you'll have to settle for the link. Blogger is giving me problems.

How do you solve a problem like...Ma-rhythm?

Well, the cha cha has been scrapped in favor of a jive for the showcase. We are also planning on doing a waltz...which I've had frighteningly little practice with.

I ordered a dress online with the cha cha in mind...but now that we are doing a jive I'll either send it back or keep it for later. That is if it fits at all. It's a one-shoulder style. I tried on a one-shoulder dress at the mall earlier and it felt like a serious wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. I think it takes a certain shape to pull the look off...and my shape (I mean lack of shape) up top isn't conducive to holding anything up.

That said...I dove into my closet and fished out an old polka-dot dress from college that still fits. It's good for the waltz, but a little long for a jive I thought. I took it to get hemmed up a few inches. I think the cost of the alteration was more than what I paid for the dress, but whatever. I hope it comes out ok. I now have to focus on trying to get my hair to look sleek. I remember it looked sleek one time as I came up from underwater in a pool...but thats the only time I can think of.

If I may rant for a moment... I am starting to seriously hate Sam's Club. I ran in to buy peanut-butter today and it took forever to get checked out. They only had a few lanes open and all these people were lined up with carts full of bulk toilet paper and pretzel sticks. I was told to go check out at customer service...but that line was just as long! I finally wised up and checked out at the snack bar.

Ok..off to make dinner. Peanut satay noodles with spinach and chicken tonight!

On the spot

Yikes, OMG, wow and whaaa?

Michael Paul suggested that it is time for my student spotlight. This means at one of their Sunday night "parties" we will do one of the dances I've been working on for all the world (room) to see.

AHHH! I'm so scared. I'm excited, but really nervous already. What happens when, I mean if, I mess up? What if I get my feet mixed up and can't un-mix them for the duration of the dance? What if there are constant stutters that make even my mom want to look away?

I still have a couple of weeks till this happens, thank goodness. Michael Paul suggested that I have a friend help with my hair/makeup/dress. I think he's worried I'll show up in my prom dress from 2003. Just kidding...I really do need help on figuring out what I am supposed to look like for this whole thing.

I'll keep you all posted on my progress.