Sep. 4th, 2003
The Lesson
Sep. 4th, 2003 01:03 pmSo yesterday was my first private lesson with Azar...I didn't get a chance to make a physical list of stuff I wanted to go over, which was OK, because she had her own (so nice to know she's been watching and taking notes) and we discussed things first.
Key notes from the discussion:
-She likes the alternative look and feel, but feels that some of my music is way too fast for me (and even her she said!) and it's not doing me any favors. I can definitely see this in some points. She said to really work the trance aspects, work more on my dance dynamics...my dance floor geometry was excellent though :)
-Making contact with the audience. She was in a quandary about this...she said, you trance out when you dance, don't you? (yeap) She said she knows of only one other person who appears to be in the state I'm in and still hold people captive, and that person is also a psychic for a living. Interesting. I think that's part of it, but I think it's a bit more about my personality and the fact I really can't see anyone in detail without my glasses. We'll work on a happy medium.
-She was shocked when I told her about my dance history (I guess we never really discussed it in depth), especially the fact that I have been dancing for only 3 years---she thought it was much longer, especially because of how I use the dance floor. This gave her more hope too on correcting/unlearning some bad habits I had developed from other teachers and other insights into my dancing.
-She brought up TF3 and asked me about that set. I thought she meant the music, and then as we talked, I realized she referred to the black and white veils...it wasn't until I saw it on video did I realize how I looked (like a nun!)....it had been a last minute decision in order to solve a veil location problem that I had put the black veil over the white veil so I could discard it in the center of the stage for the floorwork section. She said she heard no less than 3 comments about it that weren't quite nice, and I have to say it is definitely a faux pas on my part, because it wasn't intentional, and I didn't mean it to look like a nun's habit or a burqa. (Though Monique Monet was there definitely dressed up as a nun, so I have to wonder if Azar really overheard comments about me, or if it was about Monique...) My intention was more triple-goddess/priestess like, and for that, I need to make it unmistakable.
-all that aside, we worked on my posture issue. She said I have a "gymnast's stance" --which I find funny to no end because I took gymnastics as a little girl and REALLY sucked at it---because my back has a sway to it. We worked more on being tucked under and getting proper rolling hiplifts. She was also amazed at how a slight change in my arm positioning really enhanced my whole look (sort of, where have you been hiding that???)...so I've got to seriously practice tucking under, hiplights, and the arms. Makes sense...
-lastly, for shits and giggles, she thinks I should try dancing in three inch heels, because it could help me tuck under a LOT. Definitely interesting. Keith suggested my f***me boots that I got on Haight...definite possibility, unless I want to do floorwork...so I'll be on the look out for gothy 3 inch supportive heels.
I'm very happy about all of this. I can feel it in myself that I've got all the puzzle pieces here, and if I can get them together in the right order, my dancing could be phenomenal.
Key notes from the discussion:
-She likes the alternative look and feel, but feels that some of my music is way too fast for me (and even her she said!) and it's not doing me any favors. I can definitely see this in some points. She said to really work the trance aspects, work more on my dance dynamics...my dance floor geometry was excellent though :)
-Making contact with the audience. She was in a quandary about this...she said, you trance out when you dance, don't you? (yeap) She said she knows of only one other person who appears to be in the state I'm in and still hold people captive, and that person is also a psychic for a living. Interesting. I think that's part of it, but I think it's a bit more about my personality and the fact I really can't see anyone in detail without my glasses. We'll work on a happy medium.
-She was shocked when I told her about my dance history (I guess we never really discussed it in depth), especially the fact that I have been dancing for only 3 years---she thought it was much longer, especially because of how I use the dance floor. This gave her more hope too on correcting/unlearning some bad habits I had developed from other teachers and other insights into my dancing.
-She brought up TF3 and asked me about that set. I thought she meant the music, and then as we talked, I realized she referred to the black and white veils...it wasn't until I saw it on video did I realize how I looked (like a nun!)....it had been a last minute decision in order to solve a veil location problem that I had put the black veil over the white veil so I could discard it in the center of the stage for the floorwork section. She said she heard no less than 3 comments about it that weren't quite nice, and I have to say it is definitely a faux pas on my part, because it wasn't intentional, and I didn't mean it to look like a nun's habit or a burqa. (Though Monique Monet was there definitely dressed up as a nun, so I have to wonder if Azar really overheard comments about me, or if it was about Monique...) My intention was more triple-goddess/priestess like, and for that, I need to make it unmistakable.
-all that aside, we worked on my posture issue. She said I have a "gymnast's stance" --which I find funny to no end because I took gymnastics as a little girl and REALLY sucked at it---because my back has a sway to it. We worked more on being tucked under and getting proper rolling hiplifts. She was also amazed at how a slight change in my arm positioning really enhanced my whole look (sort of, where have you been hiding that???)...so I've got to seriously practice tucking under, hiplights, and the arms. Makes sense...
-lastly, for shits and giggles, she thinks I should try dancing in three inch heels, because it could help me tuck under a LOT. Definitely interesting. Keith suggested my f***me boots that I got on Haight...definite possibility, unless I want to do floorwork...so I'll be on the look out for gothy 3 inch supportive heels.
I'm very happy about all of this. I can feel it in myself that I've got all the puzzle pieces here, and if I can get them together in the right order, my dancing could be phenomenal.
Other Things
Sep. 4th, 2003 01:09 pm-After the lesson, Keith and I headed to Milpenis for a cheap movie. I talked him into Bend It Like Beckham---I really really liked it----it's a good feel-good, funny movie. He thought it was a bit corny. I'm totally fascinated by Indian culture, and have to wonder if that was b/c of more than a few pastlives. Another one for the DVD list.
-Bugs! What is it about bugs! Friday night, I'm sitting on the bathroom floor, doing my nails at 1:30 am....and this HUGE spider just comes waltzing in. I mean walked right through the doorway. Bigger than a Mischief paw. Hell, it could have eaten Mischief for breakfast. I'm wondering what the hell to kill with it, when it solves my problem by running under the door to where my riding boots were (you could hear it go "oh shit). SPLAT! Then last night, we get home and Keith discovers this large grasshopper on his nightstand. The plan is to capture him and let him go outside. Well, they jump, right? This one manages to dive to the floor (with the awaiting Mischief) and under my shoe. Then proceeds to crawl under my instep (between the shoe and my foot) and I crack up because it's damn ticklish. I manage to get him out without killing him and set him free outside (to be played with by 4 other cats probably).
-Today I have readings and stuff to do, so I better go do it.
-Bugs! What is it about bugs! Friday night, I'm sitting on the bathroom floor, doing my nails at 1:30 am....and this HUGE spider just comes waltzing in. I mean walked right through the doorway. Bigger than a Mischief paw. Hell, it could have eaten Mischief for breakfast. I'm wondering what the hell to kill with it, when it solves my problem by running under the door to where my riding boots were (you could hear it go "oh shit). SPLAT! Then last night, we get home and Keith discovers this large grasshopper on his nightstand. The plan is to capture him and let him go outside. Well, they jump, right? This one manages to dive to the floor (with the awaiting Mischief) and under my shoe. Then proceeds to crawl under my instep (between the shoe and my foot) and I crack up because it's damn ticklish. I manage to get him out without killing him and set him free outside (to be played with by 4 other cats probably).
-Today I have readings and stuff to do, so I better go do it.