Shake a Leg
I have always loved to dance. I’m what you would call a “self-taught” hoofer who has had minimal exposure to dance instructors. This handicap has never stopped me from fully immersing myself in a good dance groove when the mood has struck. I can often be seen shakin’ my stuff while cleaning, doing dishes, or whenever I get the chance.
A few days ago I got an email from my friend asking if I wanted to take an adult hip hop dance class with her. I was thrilled because I thought it would be a good opportunity to learn some cool moves, enjoy the fun of dancing, and shake a little junk out of my trunk. Yes, I was excited to take the class until I found out some of the other ladies that would be taking the class with us…
I’m sure you know the type. If you went over to their house in the middle of the night they would answer the door perfectly coiffed and in full make-up. They would escort you into their immaculate kitchens. They feel it a sin to wear jeans over a size 4. They would tell you that some of their best years were spent on the dance team and the varsity cheerleading squad.
Hhhmmm…what time did you say the class was? Oh, I think I’m busy at 7, sorry!
Alright, alright, I’ll be honest. I’ll admit that I’m a bit threatened by these bastions against sagging, lard, and bed head.
I think that a pair of sweats and a ponytail is perfectly acceptable attire for the grocery store. I also consider myself a “normal” sized woman, someone who is a size 10 on a good day. I think exercise and a good diet are important and I intend to implement those things in my life…tomorrow.
Do I take the class? Yes, it’s an opportunity I don’t want to miss. If I have to play the role of the spastic, chubby kid in the class then so be it. Besides, I’ve heard it rumored that people like big butts in the hip hop world.
You go, girl.
Comment by Susan M — March 16, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
Have you ever visited chubbygirlbrigade.com? The main writers are faithful LDS women who write hilarious commentary about dealing with life larger than size 4. This post about how she convinced her kids they wouldn’t like her Almond Roca (and how that backfired) is priceless!
As for the dance class, shake it if you’ve got it, I say.
Comment by Chad Too — March 16, 2006 @ 5:54 pm
I’ve seen links to that blog and have always intended to go over there. You know how intentions are though! I’ll check it out now.
Comment by Kristen J — March 16, 2006 @ 7:47 pm
Kristen, can I be your friend? I am also intimidated by those type of women. My idea of a good friend is someone that you don’t HAVE to clean your house for. Now, if you WANT to, that’s okay…
Comment by Keryn — March 16, 2006 @ 10:01 pm
I have a future date with a friend to go dancing now that our babies are old enough to live without us for an evening of dancing! Where did you find the adult dance class?
If it’s any consolation, I would be the chunkier trunk shaker between the two of us… I do have the strip-tease workout dvds, if you ever want to borrow those, it’s a great workout =)
Comment by Téa — March 16, 2006 @ 11:33 pm
Wow — I envy you the opportunity to take a hip hop class. I love dancing, even if I’m kind of uncoordinated at it. I spent 3 semesters taking Afro-Haitian dance and I loved every second of it. So groovy!! And now, here I am, desperate for exercise, with no classes I can fit into my schedule. I’m sort of having a crisis just today, because I weighed myself at the gym I joined last week, weighed myself at the shopping mall on one of those public scales, and finally weighed myself at the doctor’s office and they all conspired against me to let me know that my scale at home that I’ve been using for the past 6 months is 7 pounds off. SEVEN pounds. Sigh. Go shake a little extra booty for me, okay?
Comment by meems — March 17, 2006 @ 7:22 am
Tea-it’s through the Higley School District but the dance studio is Precision Dance Studio. We actually have to do a dance recital at the end of May. Maybe I’ll try to put up some video of it.
Keryn-Come on over we’ll hang out in our sweats and watch a good movie or something. I’m kind of annoyed with myself that I even let those kind of women intimidate me.
Meems-I think my scale has the opposite problem. I think mine has me at at least 7 pounds heavier than I should be. Afro-Haitian dance sounds very cool. I’d like to see that kind of dance.
Comment by Kristen J — March 17, 2006 @ 8:24 am
LOL to that blog. I totally pictured “Angus” when you said the comment about the spastic, chubby kid. I will go shake my groove thang with you anytime AND not be scared of looking like a dork at all!!!
Comment by Debi — April 11, 2006 @ 12:21 am