Bras and Booties - No boys.

(dedicated to Elisa Montalvo)

I'm always aware that when I go teach at new studios, there is always the possibility of: Boys, Bras, and Booties. And I know that most of you DON'T know what I am referring to, but let me just paint this picture for you. If I were to walk into a room full of teeny-boppers (teenagers) or the A/P's (Advanced Professionals) wearing: my hair in a high messy bun - a brightly colored racer back sports bra (let's pick - HOT PINK!) - extremely short spandex shorts (borderline - cheeks coming out the bottom) . . . in LIME GREEN - high knee length white socks WITH stripes running along the top, accented with stars! - ANNNNNNND don't forget my wide variety of colorful ANIMAL BANDS - what would you think of me??? I can wear whatever I want to dance class - as long as I'm the teacher and I teach a good class right? WRONG. You guys would "talk about me!" and think that I had lost my damn mind!

So, question of the day would be . . . (minus the boys bc there were none today) - What's up with this teeny-bopper dance fashion phase? I don't get it. MY stomach is flat - can I show it? All I'm saying is that I wanna be cool too! Or maybe I'm ol'skool? geez! I thought that you didn't strip down to your underwear until you were working EXTRA hard in dance class . . . sweating balls! - I guess not! EVERYBODY! HI! Pay attention to what you are NOW supposed to do - HERE'S YOUR NEW GUIDE FOR PROPER ATTIRE WHILE TAKING DANCE CLASS: Start off by coming to class NAKED . . . yes naked. Once you get to crunches, maybe begin to put on your shorts and bra (boys, just shorts :)), then when you get to the "stretching section" - you NEED your socks so you don't slip LOL - then once you have a "break" . . . slip into a "T." During the combination, you can now pull your pants over your shorts. And by the end of class - omg! YOU'LL BE FULLY COVERED! WoW! The nature of clothes . . . sounds pretty mind-blowing huh???

always fully clothed - signing off.

"MERAH STNAP" (another language in itself)

"Harem Pants"

Let's talk about them . . . shall we?

The low crotch, tight legged, comfort pant. :) The new, but old trend that has taken over some how. And those without them are . . . a little out of the loop? huh? I know I felt like I was . . . until I got a pair - A jumpsuit to be exact, that I can also roll down so that they're just A PANT. So, I tried to wear them in Jazz class - no, not so much . . . leg up issues. And then, the "comfort pant" was slightly uncomfortable. Hip Hop - I see them a lot, but I didn't have the same swag . . . if you will. Grabbing a thin piece of cloth and looking at my leggins that followed - just wasn't quite the same. Now, Jazz Funk! - Here's the winner! Here's where I felt sexier . . . and "in." The teacher was wearing them - yup! and that would be the kicker! You MUST be, feel, LIVE like the teacher. And I was "living" in my HAREM PANTS. Um . . . what's the meaning behind this entry??? Well, I got it = In order to perform each genre of dance to the best of your ability - you HAVE to be comfortable in what you're wearing, but always remember Style must match class, superseed comfort, and ALWAYS be in! Tootles!

I got it together - signing off.

IPorgot IWas taking class.

So what's this thing on the IPhone that allows you to trace what music is playing? You hold your phone up in the air and wait a few seconds while it "finds" the song title/artist . . . And maybe, other types of phones do it as well? I'm guessing . . . I don't know. Apparently, Erica Sadun was inspired by GeeZuzz who came up with the original idea of "Listen." It took "several weeks of hacking" to figure out how to add this minor detail to the IPhone. Ok. History lesson over . . . let's proceed to how this is relevant to today's insight.

With teaching - I learn something new everyday . . . mostly, about WHY people can't succeed in getting through a 30min warmup without "giving up." Come on people! . . . sweat is good. Push is good. Strength is good. "Mine over matter" - even better. Moving on . . . this particular day - I "noticed" and DIDN'T respond (once again - very rare for me) - I allowed warm-up to proceed without agitation. Though, during "break" - I took a little detour over to a "member of my class." Why you may ask?

Hold up - let's delve into warmup a little . . .

I glance over to see a women going over to her bag multiple times. First, my thought process - [of course, she needs a break or water - most people do]. But then, it happened again . . . my thought process the second time was: [here we go . . . keep your cool]. But then there was a third, fourth, and fifth time . . . my thought process this time was: [something maybe wrong . . . checking her phone for emergency or needing medicine of some sort]. A VALID reason.

Now back to where we left off . . . (Break) -

I go over to the lady and ask: Is there any reason as to why you keep going over to your bag? Is everything ok? DRUM ROLL PLEASE . . . Brrrrrumthedumbdumbbbbbbb! ANSWER: Oh! I was tapping my phone. I need new music, so I wanted to find out what music you were playing during warm-up. Is that ok? And Now, my turn . . . I think I walked away and didn't answer. WHAT?!?!?!? People this is a NEW ONE - the first that I have ever experienced in my "teaching lifetime." WOW.

And Dance Etiquette 101 would be = simply ask the teacher AFTER class, "Can I ask what music you played during warmup?" (Duh! Teachers usually have a playlist.)

Clearly, the next time I go and take class . . . I need an IPhone - signing off.

cowboy(girl)s and inDancin?

Cowboy boots. What's your take on them? Western. Outer wear. Texas. Country. Cute with skinny jeans. Real ones. Fake ones. Hard-sole. Common? Slight heel. Mid-calf. Leather. For the "Manly Man." A Cowboy Boot Review - What? Or I don't know that much about them? Anyway - I'm sitting down, having a snack before my class and a lady asks the front desk, "would it be okay for me to wear my COWBOY boots to Hip Hop class?" And anyone who knows me . . . could figure out my answer to THAT question. So, I sit and I listen and I wait. I go to class and I see COWBOY BOOTS and a skirt in Hip Hop class . . . And for the FIRST time ever! - I say: NOTHING. HA! ONNNNNNNNLY because we were in another studio that day - with a wood floor to be exact. Usually, there's marley and I don't think that the floor would have been able to handle COWBOY BOOTS in Hip Hop class! So - my question is: when did Hip Hop become so inviting? Yes! to expressing your "individuality" and no, oh no! Hip Hop isn't a "technique class." psh! It's just for fun guys! No leotards here! We can wear WHATEVER we want! WRONG.

"line" dancing - signing off.

knock your socks off!

So, I never understood the "half - sock" thing . . . though, I'm pretty sure (know) that I also did it once - Even the prettiest dancers look just a little sloppy in wearing them. Sorry. And wait! WHY do most dancers wear the 'bulky white ones?' You know . . . like the ones that your little brother would wear if he were wearing the same socks for a wk, during school and after baseball practice, didn't bother throwing them in the hamper and just kept them in his shoes? Ewwwwwww - gross. lol However, you DO know that, it really doesn't help, right? Kinda creates a bad "line," (it looks sloppy) you have the sensation of 2 different things on the floor - misdistribution of weight (it looks sloppy), dancers still slip. . . so that's not helping (it looks sloppy), and let's see - if it helps you "turn" - why not wear these things called shoes? haha (it looks sloppy) OR omg! you can put your ENTIRE sock on - just a thought OR be barefoot and have
"dancer's feet" . . . who would have thought? :)

a little confused - signing off.