Free Range Family

Weird title, I know, but I felt the need to theme my title specifically to my weekend and well, what a better way to do it then with a lyric line from one of Gaga's songs?  "I've overheard your theory, 'Nostalgia is for geeks' I guess sir, if you say so, some of us just like to read" You see, I like Lady Gaga as much as the next person, er dancer, although I am not a huge fan of hers, I respect and appreciate her music and enjoy her performances. She, like Michael Jackson, is a phenomenal performer! I would just die to see one of her live shows! She is such a freak, and in such a beautiful way. You have to keep reading if you want to know why I am talking Gaga so much lol!  Anyways this weekend, I was given the most amazing experiences ever for my job! I teach dance and gymnastics at our local YMCA and now that we are under new management in our department, we took advantage and invited a famous gymnast to come train me and three other teachers. ...

Our first dance workshop was very successful! My sister, sister-in-law and son participated as well as a handful of other girls! We had 12 students total I believe! Way more then we had originally thought! Class went very well too, the students learned six different styles of dance. They were all tired and happy at the end of it all! Great first workshop! Having not taken ballet classes in over five years, I had forgotten about the sacred rule about new shoes: you should never were them brand spanking new to a class, your feet will hate you. Dance shoes take prep, lots of them are hard or stiff brand new and some may need some minor sewing done before use. I had purchased new ballet shoes and a leotard for my upcoming lyrical class this Fall, but spaced breaking them in before the workshop. I forgot to sew the elastics and ended up tying them underneath my arches. OUCHIE!!! It hurt so good! I have definitely broken them in since then. But man, that two hours I had to wear them STUNK...

I had such a fantastic time at Diversity's Summer Intensive this week! I am so thankful for the oppurtunity to observe classes of professional choreographers. Those choreographers have taught me so much about dance and teaching and motivation. I am so endlessly grateful for them! It has completely prepared me for my dance workshop this weekend and for my dance classes this Fall. Thank you to Lisa, Amantha, Ambrose, Theo, Tessandra and Taryn! You are all wonderful! I was able to take two classes with Ambrose this week. He is Sophia Lucia's (Youtube and Dance Moms) personal mentor, an amazing dancer and an award-winning choreographer. Let me tell you, Ambrose is amazing with kids and is one of the best motivators that I have ever met! He can even convince the quietest student in the class to shine brighter then the brightest star! He convinced an entire class of whiny girls to do 25 push ups! And they were happy and proud of themselves afterwards! What a wonderful dance teacher...