3-4-2010; 11:53 PM
And so the Lamb walked into the den of the Lions -- and yea, I still live.
What did that pendant say?
" I will be strong and courageous. I will not be terrified, or discouraged; for the Lord my God is with me wherever I go." Joshua, 1:9
Here, I must admit: I was terrified. And I was a little discouraged. But hey, at least the Lord being with me part doesn't change. (Thank goodness for that, right?)
You'd have been nervous too, if you'd showed up to a dance studio, thinking maybe it'd be a quiet night, with a few lessons going on, for a meeting with a coach --- and instead see a full out, open [rounds] practice, full of many, MANY dancers, who all appear to be *much* better than YOU.
Ha ha ha ha ha! Oh my Goodness, I think my blood froze for a moment.
(For any non-ballroom dancers: "rounds" (practice) means that there was a practice going on where competitive dancers were doing all of their dances, in a row -- aka, a round. E.g. -- Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive; for Latin Dancers. )
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As a brief introduction to that -- the other day Irina Fëdorovna (our "Russian Dance" teacher) told me we were going to go to the studio today. She also told me to make sure I had my skirt/a dress and shoes, etc. -- because I would be dancing for one of the coaches, so they could check me out.
That brings you to the start of this journal.
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Continuing on:
The rounds practice ended, and a general "open practice" started. The head trainer we were waiting to see went to his office, where Irina and I spoke with him briefly, in order to introduce me -- "This is the American girl I told you about." etc.
He sent us back downstairs, and said that he would be there as soon as he finished speaking with everyone else who was waiting to talk to him.
Thus, we went back downstairs to wait for him -- and in the meantime (we waited quite a bit), Irina told me to get my shoes on, and dance a little bit. I balked a little bit at the latter of her requests ---
--- "Wait -- what? Caitlan, not wanting to dance!?" -- you may ask! But please, remember the following:
As of right now, it's been almost THREE MONTHS since I last had any meaningful ballroom dancing (practice, lessons, etc.).
Which means, it has been almost THREE MONTHS since:
*I have been in my heels.
*I have been working the muscles I need for ballroom.
*I have been stretching!
I was nervous about being rusty to begin with; but to feel like you have to be rusty, and already not good, in a room FULL of people who are amazing (complete with stereotypical 10-year-old-ish boy who'd dance circles around me) -- it's enough to make anyone a little hesitant to do anything!
Thank goodness for songs we know and love, however, because Justin Timberlake's, "Señorita*" came on, and made me smile/feel good enough to get going; albeit slowly and carefully. I had to get to know my feet and body again!!!
(* = I've danced to that song a million times in practice and in lessons -- for anyone wondering why that song in particular should make me feel ok enough to dance.)
Maybe 15 or so minutes later, Aleck (one of the 2 head coaches) came down, to get a look at me. I don't know what I was expecting was going to happen -- maybe that he'd have danced some syllabus with me or something, but nooooo…..! That would have been too easy!
He grabbed one of the guys from the room, and they put the two of us together! Essentially with the understanding: "Dance some stuff." -- Enter Caitlan learning 3 little miniature routines in less than 5 min, from some guy heads and shoulders above me (both figuratively and literally!!!). Thus, my first steps into the world of Russian ballroom consisted of: samba promenade runs, pivots, bachacatas, and some interesting looking wisks; cha cha locks and a little bit right out of my old routine; and rumba sliding doors and fans. Whew!
All things considered, I actually felt good about the whole affair. Funny how dancing with someone way better than you can make you feel that way sometimes. *laughs* But really. While I knew I was out of shape, and things could have been so much better -- I remembered to breathe and to just enjoy the moment I was having. After all, what was there to loose? I only had everything I wanted to gain in front of me.
I was really nervous after we stopped though -- I had no idea what Aleck was going to say, or what he thought about anything. I stood off to the side, while he and Irina chatted -- in Russian, of course -- and when they'd finished chatting (arranging that Irina should call the other head coach tomorrow), Irina and I set out on our way.
She told me that I'd apparently impressed him -- he really was very pleased with me, she said. And she also shared that he'd said my level was very high, according to him. I asked her if that meant that he could see me doing very well -- as I wouldn't say I'm at a high level yet -- but she said he meant that in the present. What it essentially means, is that out of their levels (they letter them E, D, C, B, A, S, M - I believe) -- what we call Newcomer/Bronze, Silver, Gold; Novice, Pre-Champ, Champ, Professional) -- he would place me in a Pre-Champ, Champ level. Considering that I was competing Novice/Pre-Champ before I left the States, that does give me some hope. I was really afraid before I started, what they would think of me. It's nice to hear that he was pleased.
Tomorrow, Irina will call the other coach, and discuss the details concerning me. After that, she will call John (RD), who will call *me* and explain it all in English. Ha ha ha! Among the things that will be discussed:
*What exactly I want to be doing (Competitions, something-I-didn't-understand, or just dancing myself)
*How much lessons cost (individually / by pair)
*Partners
And probably more things I'm not thinking about.
I explained to Irina that yes, of course I want to compete! Aleck had asked my age, to figure out my category; and of course, there's the caveat that there aren't too many partners available right now. From what I understood from Irina, if that's the case right now, this other coach (female) may act as my partner during lessons or something like that -- and maybe as I get a little better, then I will be able to dance with someone. Irina also said that Aleck told her there are some couples who are teaching now, and not competing anymore; and maybe I can dance with some of those partners [who aren't competing]. We'll see. I'll just wait on what Irina gets from the discussion tomorrow.
Also, good news -- there's open practice *every* night, from 8-10 PM! 2 hours is a pretty manageable amount of time to practice (Although it's a shame it's not 3, but, oh well. On lesson days, at least, I'd have 3 hours of dancing.) -- so I will probably wind up having at least 5 days a week where I will go to practice for those two hours. (The other two, of course, belong to the Salsa and Hustle nights! But maybe I will still practice for an hour on those days -- I'm not sure…)
Either way… I'll just wait until tomorrow for detail confirmation!
After all the time at the studio, I came home, had a nice dinner, and am now ready for BED!!! No alarms tomorrow!!! I am looking forward to hanging out with Sasha, as well as to Pete's return from the US! (And our subsequent hanging out together!)
Love,
Moscow Kitty; 12:16 AM -- 3-5-2010
=^__^=
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