“There is so much about my fate that I
cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide
how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and
money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can
choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I
will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of
voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my
thoughts.”
–Elizabeth Gilbert
During my first post I mentioned my current restlessness for
travel. Well, that same feeling is what fuelled my desire to sign up for
weeknight night Flamenco classes. I may currently be unable to control my
in-itinerant status, but I can choose how I spend my time in the
interim. I have been interested for some time, but it’s the first time I’ve
been able to actually sign up. My relationship with flamenco currently ranges
from excitement to momentous self-loathing to guilt for lack of practice, which
inevitably leads to deeper self-loathing. It turns out I am deeply terrible
thus far, but I think my abysmal learning pace is perfect as it forces me into
a position discomfort I find essential for growth as I discussed in my previous
post. I also need to learn patience…really I need to learn to be more patient
with myself. I insist then on learning flamenco even if it means I take the
beginners class multiple times (hopefully extra weekday practices with a friend
will save me from too many beginners classes).
I know that the real problem is I have to practice more, so
without an ounce of the romanticized impromptuness one imagines as part of the
flamenco style, I have taken to writing down the steps (typical student mindset
on my part) immediately after leaving class so I don’t forget how to practice
the steps. This week the dance was as follows:
- Instructor
Sings: La la la la ley ley ley la…
o Right
foot stomp with right arm extended outward
o Left
foot stomp with left arm extended outward
o Arms
up while right foot goes over left foot for 360 turn
o Four
side hip swing stomps to the right ending with left toe tap
o Four
side hip swing stomps to the left ending with right toe tap
o Four
side hip swing stomps to the right (no toe)
o Two
slow hip sways while turning into a circle followed by four quick hip sways
followed by two slow hip sways (having done a 360 turn to the front in the
process)
o Stomp
left leg with right leg extended out while doing torso arm swing towards the
left
o Stomp
right leg with left leg extended with torso arm swing towards the right
o Arms
extended and come down—right foot stomp followed by left foot stomp (have no
idea if this part is right…so maybe this part will include some improvisation
on my part)
o Stomp
right leg followed by left leg shoe shuffle to the right followed by right heel
tap and left heel tap. While doing the foot work, right arm is extended above
(supported from back—must do this correctly) and is brought down to meet the
left leg as it comes up.
o Stomp
left leg followed by right leg shoe shuffle to the left followed by left heel
tap and right heel tap. While doing the footwork, left arm is extended above
and is brought down to meet the right leg as it comes up.
§ Note:
These two moves are alternated as you go in a circular motion of 8
counts—hitting all 8 corners of the room.
o Last
step for now—end with right foot stomp followed by left foot moving across the
floor in a semi circle and then two small foot taps (right then left)
Just reading my own post makes me want to break into a
nervous sweat, but what I most enjoy about the class is how the instructor
insists on empowering the way women view their bodies through flamenco dance.
Each class she tells us her students not to be shy with flamenco. We have to be
“divas” and “embrace our sexuality” as beautiful women. “Don’t be afraid to
push your chest out—this is no time to be modest” or “don’t be afraid to be
sexy women!” I’m not sure flamenco will cure my restlessness, but maybe it’s
actually a feminist undertaking that will encourage me to have further
awareness of the politics and location of my own body.
I wonder what it would be like to learn something new
abroad? I read Eat, Pray, Love last
summer while traveling (much better than the movie by the way) and I remember
having a learning purpose for each place seemed to help the author adjust in
each location. In Italy she took Italian language classes, in India she learned
techniques to develop her own spirituality, and in Bali she had sessions with
the medicine man on attaining balance. Most importantly though her choices in
what she learned involved some prep time while she was still residing in the
states. Before going to Italy for the first part of her trip, Gilbert describes
how she had learned some Italian before taking more advanced course in Italy.
Maybe this is the ultimate positive way to view my flamenco class—this is just
the first step to get me ready until I can take classes and learn advanced
flamenco in Spain. In that case, next order of business is to find a Portuguese
language class so I can spend some glorious months in Lisbon. Better yet, maybe
I can learn how to play Fado…actually this may be a bit less realistic seeing
as currently don’t know how to play a instrument…Portuguese it is!
Texts Used:
Gilbert, Elizabeth. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's
Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia. New York: Penguin Audio, 2006. Print.
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