Thursday, February 1, 2024

Bilateral Achilles Tendinitis

© Mayo Foundation
That's what the doctor says is causing the pain in my heels. Per the Mayo Clinic website:

Achilles tendinitis is caused by repetitive or intense strain on the Achilles tendon, the band of tissue that connects your calf muscles to your heel bone. This tendon is used when you walk, run, jump or push up on your toes.

Cuz ballet dancers don't jump or push up on their toes, right?

Monday, January 15, 2024

The soundtrack to my dance career

In the mid 1980s I was taking an adult ballet class at a local community center, and a group of us regularly went out to dinner after class. When the 1985 movie "A Chorus Line" was released, there was much discussion of the pros and cons of the movie versus the movie and the Broadway production from which it was adapted. I remember our instructor, Eva, was highly disappointed in the movie, but I've forgotten exactly why. Having not seen either version I didn't have much to contribute to the discussion. I soon acquired the soundtrack on CD, and later the movie on DVD, but still haven't seen a live production.

At various times during classes or rehearsals I've found myself hearing tracks or seeing snippets from this movie in my head. One recurrent scene where a male dancer is looking down at the stage as he dances. Zach yells, "Boy in the headband, keep your head up... Headband, head up!" The dancer responds by snapping his head up, but two seconds later he's looking down again. Yeah, I'm guilty of this too frequently, though I'm trying to break myself of the habit.  As one of my instructors likes to say, "The floor and your feet are still down there even if you're not looking at them."

Saturday, January 6, 2024

What am I doing in THIS class?

Today I intended to take an Advanced Beginner ballet class with Tamás Krizsa. I've really been looking forward to seeing what his teaching style is like.

I always like to get changed and ready at least 15 minutes before class to have the time to do some solo stretching. Shortly after arriving I overheard one of the other students comment that Tamás was not teaching today; Brittany Bailey would be substituting instead. This annoyed me. I'm on the monthly plan at MYB (I can take as many classes as I want during the month for a fixed price), where as I pay per-class at TWSB. I could have taken a class this morning at MYB and saved myself $20. But I was already there and it was too late to cancel my registration. Maybe I might like Brittany's class?

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Testing new waters

Before I decide to jump into the TWSB's adult program concert, I thought I ought to find out where I stand in their class structure. They're hosting what I'm calling a "Sorting Hat" event January 13th. This is a series of free 30-minute classes, observed by various instructors, intended to help sort students into the appropriate houses... err... classes.

I've been taking MYB's advanced beginner classes for a few years, and figure if TWSB's classes are similar then I'd probably be fine in the advanced beginner concert group. But maybe I could fit into the intermediate group? I'm especially interested in this because the intermediate group will be choreographed by Tamás Krizsa, a recently retired member of The Washington Ballet's professional company whose work I've admired.

While perusing their class schedule, though, I noticed an interesting wrinkle. Tamás usually teaches the Saturday morning advanced beginner class. However, this weekend's class was taught by Alvaro Palau, who will be choreographing the advanced beginner portion of the concert. This meant I could sample both instructors' styles on successive weekends.

Thus I spent Saturday morning taking class with a new instructor in new surroundings.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

What's next for me?

During The Maryland Nutcracker after-party, two of the pro dancers asked me whether I was going to audition for the company's next production. It's a locally-created ballet with an Edgar Allan Poe theme. Although I'm supporting cast, when I've been on stage I've frequently been positioned center stage. If I took a supporting cast role with a larger professional company I'd be lucky to have a prop in my hand while standing in the back row behind the professional corps de ballet. I got to do lifts in Midsummer and a brief waltz in Nutcracker.

Me as "Grandfather" in Nutcracker, center stage

 I have to say the adrenaline rush of being on stage in front of a live, paying audience is thrilling. Still, I find myself a bit frustrated. I'm performing with a professional ballet company, and the choreography obviously features the pros. I can't rationally argue with that. But I'm not a professional ballet dancer and never will be, which limits my involvement.