Back to belly dance

I was excited all day yesterday that we were having in person dance classes again. 

After we got back from making deliveries, I worked on a music playlist for my Tribal Workout, a warm-up with strength training exercises before the actual classes start. 

I rested while I was working on the playlist. I was having trouble putting something together. I used to make 2 or 3 playlists with no problem, so I guess I was out of practice. Even after we used the playlist I made, it still wasn’t right, and I have to come up with another one for next week.

When I started getting my dance gear out, I was a little nervous. I don’t know why; I’ve been dancing and teaching for 18 years. It was like how I used to get nervous the night before school started again when I was a kid. 

As soon as I got to the parking lot of the gym where we dance, I saw Maria and Kat, who were also excited to be dancing together again. As soon as I started talking to them I fell right back into my comfortable dancer/teacher mode. 😊

I decided instead of starting the first night back with formal classes; we just danced for fun to a lot of our favorite music. Everyone could evaluate what they would need to work on each week. Usually, people say their arms or posture. When you think of dance, you think of feet right? But feet and footwork are only a quarter of it.

It was warm and humid in the training room of the gym where we dance. After the 20-minute Tribal Workout, my face was red, and I was sweaty; it felt good. 

Once we started dancing, it was as if no time had really passed. I’ve been dancing with these women for so long; it felt natural and easy. It wasn’t like “riding a bicycle,” but more like coming home again. 

On the way home, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t exhausted; my legs felt like rubber. Even though I’ve been working out and dancing a bit, I was completely done, a “put a fork in me” kind of done.

Next week, I will be dancing an hour more. Kathleen and I have an hour mid-afternoon before dance classes begin to keep up our skills and stay as a tight duet. Since there will be actual teaching during classes, there won’t be as much dancing for Kathleen and me because we will explain technique, demonstrate, observe, and help make corrections and lots of drilling. After all the technical stuff is over, we dance in groups and have fun.

It really felt great being back to belly dance! I suspect that some other dancers drove home exhausted as I did. I was happy I made those chili stuffed sweet potatoes ahead of time. Marty baked them in the oven while I was on my way home; dinner was on the plate in less than 10 minutes.

I walked in close to 8:30 pm, had a cocktail with our dinner, struggled to stay awake, took a steaming hot shower, and crawled in bed before 9:30. I can’t wait to do it again next week! Yip! 😊