In Which I Shake What My Momma Gave Me*

Last week, Tuesday in fact, I had big plans to go to my very first belly dancing class (not counting that one drop in I did about 12 years ago. Holy shit, 12? Damn, I am OLD.) ever. But instead I got a sinus infection and stayed home and slept. A lot. But I also e-mailed the teacher and asked if it would be all right to come in one week late and she told me that would be fine. So last night I made it to the class (sinus infection free).

When I was really little, my mom made me take ballet. Most of the movements were slow and my attention would wander. I also had (still have) a bit of a sway back and was constantly smacked on the butt and told to stand up straight and tuck my butt in. I hated it. And after suffering through what seemed like an eternity of ballet lessons, my mom finally let me quit.

When I was in college, my major required me to take a dance class. Surprisingly enough, my prior ballet experience didn’t count so I opted for ballroom dance instead. I really liked ballroom dance, but ended up learning how to lead since we had more girls than guys in the class. (Shocking, right? That guys wouldn’t want to learn ballroom dance?)

Other than that, all my other dance experience has been shakin’ it on the dance floor. Past tense. I’m an old married woman now and eat dinner at 4pm and go to bed at 7pm or maybe 8pm if I’m feeling frisky.

Anyway, so I went into this belly dance class not knowing anyone and equal parts nervous and excited. There were women of all sizes and ages in that class. I tried really hard to stay in the back corner since I’d missed the first class and didn’t want to look like a complete idiot, but there wasn’t quite enough room so I ended up in the front row. Mostly because the teacher told me to move up. And pointed to the spot for me to go. Which also happened to be DEAD CENTER in the front row. Embarrassing! But actually? It wasn’t. Mostly because once the class got started, I didn’t have time to think about anything other than what the teacher was doing. The only time I saw what my fellow classmates were doing was when we turned to the left or right and even then it was just to make sure I wouldn’t run into them. I have no idea how well they danced or not.

It was AWESOME.

At the end of the class, two of her advanced students danced for us. The second girl who danced did a veil dance and she was amazing. And I was sold. I want to learn how to do that.

I see a lot of belly dancing lessons in my future.

*My dad’s side of the family is where my shaker came from but it just doesn’t sound right if you say “Shake what your daddy gave ya”

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