America's favorite dancer

VCR, Tivo or simply plunking down in front of the TV, I got to watch an entire episode of SYTYCD including Nigel's self congratulatory remarks, Mary's Botox accounting for her need to express herself through screaming.
Finals next week, and I think it might be the turn for a female to win.
Not the ballerina because she's already had a career. Too bad the Cuban American had to go. I guess the dark haired beauty instead of the transcendently blonde one.
For men we have the charming soft-shoe specialist representing the white American male, the darkest skinned African-American who is incredibly strong, and the superbly trained small African-American.
I know many dancers are short. Turns are easier, but it really shows when the hostess is as tall as Cat Deeley.

Body Conditioning

The psychology of teaching fitness is rolling around my head with a new class at the local paper. Mainly the people are there because they were there anyway and it's cheaper which is because it's a spare room vs. a studio. So I have to sell the concept. They aren't pre-selected to be ready for a real work out, the kind I have come to enjoy.

Core Strength

Lately I've been getting more core strength, and it seems to translate to easier movement all around. The turns in particular hold together. As well, the knee aches are fading without anything new except the super core class on the special pillow support. It's a sweaty but very useful process.

Tivo

After 2 weeks of Vague Chance of Recoding, I have another device to try out. My brother-in-law bought Tivo for my parents, but they wouldn't learn. Maybe I'll see So You Think You Can Dance this week!

Costuming

Went to the College Light Opera Company's production of the Gershwins' musical, "Lady Be Good" last night. "Fascinatin' Rhythm" is a feature tune, cleverly done with echoes from the chorus. The dance number was "I'd Rather Charleston". Ballroomer just use the one Charleston move in Swing, but we could expand.
Sadly, the lead dancer's suit didn't fit right, too baggy. The women's costumes looked fine, but if you're going to dance in a suit, it should fit right. I'll remember to appreciate a well-cut suit.

Rhodes in August

At the gorgeous ballroom, once again, the Providence Federation of Musicians are holding what seems like a Swing Jam for $10 on Tuesday, August 18, 6:30 - 10:30.
I've got Tuesdays free. Maybe I can get a group together.

Arranging space

Without food or drink in the dance room, the space around where we dance at the Conservatory has to be organized. I think I did better with a separate table for the food and drink, and a bench for the video viewing seemed to make the PBS show more accessible. I fussed for an hour in the afternoon.

African Dance

African Dance night at the Cape Cod Dance Center Thursday was an hour and a half for $16 with live drummers and a Tanzanian man to teach us. Tara Murphy, the usual teacher, was out of town, so it was even more vigorous than usual, they said.
I love drums, but do not distinguish the rhythms all that well, so I really missed the hearing the other instruments.
Almost everyone was younger than me, and that one lady was my age, I think, but not as strong as I am. My ab work through Pilates pulled me through. At the end, during the bowing down to the musicians, my knees worked quite slowly and ached by the morning hours.

Monique & Tom

Here they are at Highfield Hall, dancing to the band that learned their song, "You Are My Angel" - all 4 minutes of it. Darn it all, they were supposed to stop after 2 minutes! but it gave the photographer plenty of time to capture the moment before she rolled into the cuddle.

Exotic

A person clearly from another place showed up to dance with us last night.
"Private lessons back home in NM for 1.5 yrs. and competing in national pro-am competitions for 1.5yr. (Phoenix & Las Vegas) at the advanced Bronze and pre-Silver level in American Rhythm (all 9), waltz and tango."
I wondered if she could fit into our social American tango dance class, but I don't turn down people who want to dance.
Essentially, she didn't fit in, but enjoyed her time, dancing with me unless I was busy with the other students, practicing her routine, and sometimes doing turns from the waltz in the middle of the room.
For me and for the class, it was good to see how someone like that will practice - very poised with the pronounced leftward lean, the close body contact. I think she needs to be able to move backward better, but I did not provide any corrections because I don't know what her teacher is striving for.

Meditations

Tons of company. My sister-in-law who doesn't like to write got a blank writing book she passed on to me. The pages have inspirational sayings. I read them all just now and there is not one mention of dancing!
Only, from Judith Jamison, American dancer, a quote, "Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity, there's a light inside of you."
Creative ballroom dancing - that's what I want to teach.

Fun

"That was a lot more fun than I thought it would be," said the latest groom. His father-in-law to be was paying for the lesson, so that made it really fun, I'd think.
Still - I guess we should be emphasizing the fun part of the activity. Mary used to say, "If it isn't fun, why bother?"

First Word?

Baby Sloane moves to the beat!
She will also demonstrate a stamping motion if asked to dance.
One of her first words to understand anyway, and she is always in motion.
Deh, deh, deh!