For the Love of Dance.

Last night I took my first Aerial Fabric class with Aircat Aerial Arts at the Boulder Circus Center. I need to do push ups. In fact, I need to do more upper and core bodywork than I think my little body has ever gone through. And here I was thinking 5 days a week of advanced yoga was sufficient. I have a whole new respect for aerial angels that make climbing a stretchy piece of hanging fabric look as everyday as a caterpillar climbing the stem of a lily.

Never have I felt every ounce of weight on my body. Every bone, tendon and muscle band – every toenail even, were conspiring against me. Hatching evil plots to drag me down, setting me up for some crash pad one-on-one time. “Take a load off,” they said, “you belong on the ground.” I appreciate it. Really.

So today I’ve decided to test my weightlessness – I figured the ‘ole self-esteem would do for another day of humiliation, what the hell. The DAIRY Center for the Arts. Do I belong here? I can’t tell yet. An old dairy product factory turned art center – dance and music classes, white cinder block walls boasting Boulder’s snobbiest artwork. Shiny chrome features. Dimly lit track lighting. A museum add movement. My first impression is that this place is WAY too cool for me. I walked past a Boulder Ballet Academy class in session, ballerinas in dress code – pink tights, pink pointed shoes. Real flesh and blood ballerinas. Ahhh, so they do exist. Weird.

I don’t know how I fell for this – convinced into an intermediate modern dance class…here! I have no idea what to expect. I don’t know any technical terminology. I don’t have any formal training. I’ve been to New York but am only assuming it to be the home of modern dance, probably incorrectly.

Weightless grace

But I’m doing this. Yup. I am. I just like to dance. No – I LOVE to dance, to move, to explore my physical capabilities – or lack thereof. I may not own a pair of legwarmers. I may not have taken my first dance class at the age of 2 – twisted and contorted, pushed and driven – for my mother’s vicarious experience. I can’t even get into the splits. But for one day, I’ll pretend I belong here. I’ll live the experience, invite in new knowledge – explore this world that I’ve always witnessed, eye’s wide with awe, from the outside. And maybe, if I’m successful, I’ll forget all that I’m not and all that I can’t and I’ll just BE. Uninhibited and weightless.

Yup. That’s the plan. Wish me luck.

~ by shaktisunfire on November 19, 2008.