PANDEMIC BLUES: February 1st 2021
We’ve been dancing in our living rooms for nearly a year.
At first I moved everything out: rocking chair, music stand, standing desk, magazine rack, coffee table, bass drum, rolling chair. The couch was already up against a wall. The rocker went into the kitchen. The bass drum into the hallway. The rolling chair into the hall only after I signed in to class. Then the dust mop would come out.
But slowly, one by one, things stopped getting moved back into the living room. They found new homes, or went to Goodwill, or “Bulky Pick-up” or to the curb with a sign: “FREE.” Space mattered more.
I learned quickly where the studs were for jumps. And where not to do dégagé. Our wood floors dates back to 1949. Finally something older than me! I guess it’s earned its splinters. I know I have.
Hama started out silent, sitting on his couch at home, waving. Some of the women took over the heavy lifting leading class. And slowly, as it became apparent things were not going to change anytime soon, the dance studio began upgrading the wifi, cameras, sound system, monitors… Hama's Ladies - Frankie, Risa, Leslie, Carlisa took over the website, set up Venmo, setting up cameras for class, purchasing and organizing gear, uploading software. We were all depressed. But Hama was watching, and dancing took our minds off of the pandemic for a hour and a half, three times a week. That was all that mattered.
Then one day, Hama announced he was going to be in the studio again and he would be teaching. Hama was BACK! He started doing the warmup with us, AND giving corrections - making good on his promise to teach. Soon he had us doing battements and double pirouettes in our living rooms. Terrifying. Dangerous. But my turns have never been cleaner. They have to be. Hama is dancing better than all of us - of course - double pirouettes, jumps, floor work (!) and those gorgeous, gorgeous Luigi moves. He is something else…
We are so, so very lucky! I honestly don’t know how other people are getting through this.
We’ve been dancing in our living rooms for nearly a year.
At first I moved everything out: rocking chair, music stand, standing desk, magazine rack, coffee table, bass drum, rolling chair. The couch was already up against a wall. The rocker went into the kitchen. The bass drum into the hallway. The rolling chair into the hall only after I signed in to class. Then the dust mop would come out.
But slowly, one by one, things stopped getting moved back into the living room. They found new homes, or went to Goodwill, or “Bulky Pick-up” or to the curb with a sign: “FREE.” Space mattered more.
I learned quickly where the studs were for jumps. And where not to do dégagé. Our wood floors dates back to 1949. Finally something older than me! I guess it’s earned its splinters. I know I have.
Hama started out silent, sitting on his couch at home, waving. Some of the women took over the heavy lifting leading class. And slowly, as it became apparent things were not going to change anytime soon, the dance studio began upgrading the wifi, cameras, sound system, monitors… Hama's Ladies - Frankie, Risa, Leslie, Carlisa took over the website, set up Venmo, setting up cameras for class, purchasing and organizing gear, uploading software. We were all depressed. But Hama was watching, and dancing took our minds off of the pandemic for a hour and a half, three times a week. That was all that mattered.
Then one day, Hama announced he was going to be in the studio again and he would be teaching. Hama was BACK! He started doing the warmup with us, AND giving corrections - making good on his promise to teach. Soon he had us doing battements and double pirouettes in our living rooms. Terrifying. Dangerous. But my turns have never been cleaner. They have to be. Hama is dancing better than all of us - of course - double pirouettes, jumps, floor work (!) and those gorgeous, gorgeous Luigi moves. He is something else…
We are so, so very lucky! I honestly don’t know how other people are getting through this.
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