One thing that keeps bothering me is that I seem to be one of the very few in partner dancing circles who warms up before dancing. When I go dancing, let it be a dance class, practice or dance party, I want to prepare my body for the dance floor. Even though I don't regard dancing as doing sports, there is a possibility for something bad to happen if my body is not warmed up. Especially Zouk can be pretty challenging for the body, and there have been couple of occasions I have actually hurt my lower back or neck when I've just hit the dance floor without warming up.
I think here in Brisbane I have never seen a dancer stretching or warming up if there wasn't a dance class which contains that. People seem to give me really weird looks if I start stretching before dancing. I have got comments like "what, are you stretching?" or "wow, someone is actually warming up!". Yes I am, and I think many others should do that also! Why am I feeling ridiculous doing something I should do to keep my body healthy and protected?
I feel the most horrible in dance parties; it is almost embarrassing. What am I supposed to do, go outside behind a corner and do my warm up there?! What I then usually end up doing is that I dance the couple of first dances really carefully. But you know, sometimes dancing, the music and good partner just makes me forget everything.
The last thing I want to do is to hurt myself in any way. I want to take good care of my body or else I won't be able to dance at all! When I was sitting in a bus today I started to think what would be the worst thing to happen while in Australia. Getting injured in a way it would limit or prevent me from dancing would most likely to be it. Almost all of my friends here are dancers and I meet them in dancing related events. I also spend almost all of my free time to dancing. If I wasn't able to dance, where would I meet my friends or how would I spend all my evenings? What a horrible thing to think about.
Why then is warming up is so uncommon? Why is it not socially acceptable? Or do everyone else just warm up on the way to dancing? Beats me.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 29, 2013
Mysterious Lust for Dancing.
Happy International Dance Day everyone! Even though I didn't celebrate today in any special way, it showed me, once again, how a successful dance class can light up my day just like that. So what I had to run my lungs out to get to the class because the public transport in Brisbane sucks, or that after the class I managed to get myself embarrassed in the supermarket by exploding a carton of milk all over me. No, nothing can ruin that after glow I have after great dancing! The story would have been quite different if I missed the whole class though, as you might be able to imagine.
Anyway, what I wanted to write about was that I started to think my current relationship to dancing the other day, and noticed that it has changed while I've been here in Brissy. I'm so much more relaxed about everything related to dancing and for a long long time I do it just for fun. Well, at least this goes with Zouk; West Coast might be a bit different story because of the approaching festival. No pressures that I should do better and better all the time. No pointless worrying if I'm not giving the best I can in the dance floor that particular night. So what my spins were not perfect? So what I failed to follow one lead? I had heaps of fun and so did the others.
I'll tell you a secret: I love this feeling. Its so liberating, so carefree!
Yes, a good dancer needs a constant urge to explore, learn and improve, but does that have to be the dominant feeling? Why am I spending so much time (and money) to dancing? To improve? To get better? To steal the attention in the dance floor? No, if I wanted just to get better or improve, I could be doing anything, but I don't want to do anything. I want to dance. I need to dance. Sure, it is great to see own improvement and hear how good a dancer you are but that is not the reason why. Getting better gives only an ability to get more out of dancing, an ability to fulfill that mysterious and never ending lust for dancing.
So, sorry you guys back home who might think I'll come back as super improved dancer. To be honest, my technique has suffered, I have forgotten many things I shouldn't have and my biggest weakness of unbalance has gained strength. However, dancing is something I do for myself, for my enjoyment and fulfilment, and at the very moment that fulfilment means just enjoying and simply having fun.
Anyway, what I wanted to write about was that I started to think my current relationship to dancing the other day, and noticed that it has changed while I've been here in Brissy. I'm so much more relaxed about everything related to dancing and for a long long time I do it just for fun. Well, at least this goes with Zouk; West Coast might be a bit different story because of the approaching festival. No pressures that I should do better and better all the time. No pointless worrying if I'm not giving the best I can in the dance floor that particular night. So what my spins were not perfect? So what I failed to follow one lead? I had heaps of fun and so did the others.
I'll tell you a secret: I love this feeling. Its so liberating, so carefree!
Yes, a good dancer needs a constant urge to explore, learn and improve, but does that have to be the dominant feeling? Why am I spending so much time (and money) to dancing? To improve? To get better? To steal the attention in the dance floor? No, if I wanted just to get better or improve, I could be doing anything, but I don't want to do anything. I want to dance. I need to dance. Sure, it is great to see own improvement and hear how good a dancer you are but that is not the reason why. Getting better gives only an ability to get more out of dancing, an ability to fulfill that mysterious and never ending lust for dancing.
So, sorry you guys back home who might think I'll come back as super improved dancer. To be honest, my technique has suffered, I have forgotten many things I shouldn't have and my biggest weakness of unbalance has gained strength. However, dancing is something I do for myself, for my enjoyment and fulfilment, and at the very moment that fulfilment means just enjoying and simply having fun.
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| Photos by Alex James Jackson, www.facebook.com/alex.j.photo |
Thursday, April 18, 2013
More Than Dance.
It feels like forever since I last time sat down to write my blog, and yes, its been a while and a lot has happened since. Actually a lot has happened since I left Helsinki in the beginning of February even though you might not see it from here. It always seems to happen that when my life gets busy for some reason or another (because of dancing in the best case of course) I can't find enough time to write, whether it is this blog, an email to mum or something else. Frankly, I rather pack my dance shoes and head to the dance floor.
Ever since I decided to get active and do things I have been doing lots. My mid-semester break was crazy: I spent Easter camping with dancer-friends, moved to a new house (located conveniently next to the WCS classes), studied big time to complete some assignments and had an awesome trip to Vanuatu's beautiful islands. I couldn't fit much of dancing there but it was great to do something else than dancing for a change. Besides, going back to the dance floor after a short break feels great. Its like coming back home: a safe and familiar place where you don't have to be nothing else than yourself.
Talking about home, that is what Brisbane has started to feel like, and getting into the dancing circles have actually much to do with that. What I have always loved about couple dancing is that dancers have kind of formed my other family. When going to a dance party I never have to worry about being alone even if I didn't want to spend the night on the dance floor; those are the times I can catch up with my friends. When I got to Brisbane and knew no one, going to a dance party was really exciting and I never knew what was going to happen. Now I know where to go and who I should try to grab at least for a one great dance, so the excitement has kind of lost its intensity. But what I like more is to feel like stepping into a room full of friends rather than mysterious strangers. I can relax, have fun until the end of the night or leave early, dance or hang out, whatever I happen to feel like that time. It is not just dancing that brings me there; its the people who I want to see and spend my time with. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to make as many friends here as I have if I didn't dance. I no longer have to search for suggested events in Facebook to fill my "social time": now I have difficulties even to choose from everything what is happening!
After the short dance break, I have to admit, I felt uneasy going back to the West Coast classes. I felt like I was not improving at all and that I wasn't getting into the circles over there. I even started to regret that I got that stupid pass to the festival happening next month. Having a constant feeling that I have to get better fast is something that can put down the enjoyment part of dancing too easily. I'm no West Coast dancer, what was I thinking! came to my mind over and over again. But when I got to the class, I had such a warm welcome back and had so much fun that it totally changed my attitude. I also was finally brave enough to ask someone, who I have actually been wanting to ask ever since my first class, to have a practice together to receive some feedback and tips, and he said yes (insert jumping up and down here)! This is something I have been missing: to have a proper practice with a good dancer who can point out those small things I non-knowingly do wrong. I'm exited to get to work on those on today's class to see if I can get my over-moving hips into control.
I am also really looking forward the coming weekend which will be basically devoted to dancing - and dancers. Big Zouk party on Friday, three house parties on Saturday (including dancing of course) and a boat trip with dancers on Sunday. Oh, Mr A., remember warning me that dancing will change my circle of friends to include only dancers? Really, it shouldn't have been a warning, but one more good reason to keep on dancing.
Ever since I decided to get active and do things I have been doing lots. My mid-semester break was crazy: I spent Easter camping with dancer-friends, moved to a new house (located conveniently next to the WCS classes), studied big time to complete some assignments and had an awesome trip to Vanuatu's beautiful islands. I couldn't fit much of dancing there but it was great to do something else than dancing for a change. Besides, going back to the dance floor after a short break feels great. Its like coming back home: a safe and familiar place where you don't have to be nothing else than yourself.
Talking about home, that is what Brisbane has started to feel like, and getting into the dancing circles have actually much to do with that. What I have always loved about couple dancing is that dancers have kind of formed my other family. When going to a dance party I never have to worry about being alone even if I didn't want to spend the night on the dance floor; those are the times I can catch up with my friends. When I got to Brisbane and knew no one, going to a dance party was really exciting and I never knew what was going to happen. Now I know where to go and who I should try to grab at least for a one great dance, so the excitement has kind of lost its intensity. But what I like more is to feel like stepping into a room full of friends rather than mysterious strangers. I can relax, have fun until the end of the night or leave early, dance or hang out, whatever I happen to feel like that time. It is not just dancing that brings me there; its the people who I want to see and spend my time with. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to make as many friends here as I have if I didn't dance. I no longer have to search for suggested events in Facebook to fill my "social time": now I have difficulties even to choose from everything what is happening!
After the short dance break, I have to admit, I felt uneasy going back to the West Coast classes. I felt like I was not improving at all and that I wasn't getting into the circles over there. I even started to regret that I got that stupid pass to the festival happening next month. Having a constant feeling that I have to get better fast is something that can put down the enjoyment part of dancing too easily. I'm no West Coast dancer, what was I thinking! came to my mind over and over again. But when I got to the class, I had such a warm welcome back and had so much fun that it totally changed my attitude. I also was finally brave enough to ask someone, who I have actually been wanting to ask ever since my first class, to have a practice together to receive some feedback and tips, and he said yes (insert jumping up and down here)! This is something I have been missing: to have a proper practice with a good dancer who can point out those small things I non-knowingly do wrong. I'm exited to get to work on those on today's class to see if I can get my over-moving hips into control.
I am also really looking forward the coming weekend which will be basically devoted to dancing - and dancers. Big Zouk party on Friday, three house parties on Saturday (including dancing of course) and a boat trip with dancers on Sunday. Oh, Mr A., remember warning me that dancing will change my circle of friends to include only dancers? Really, it shouldn't have been a warning, but one more good reason to keep on dancing.
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