An Open Letter to a New Dance Student

Dear New Student,

Congratulations to you. I know how hard it is to decide to take a dance class, to put yourself out there in a way that you haven’t done before, and to try something new. You’re doing a great job. I mean that. I know that the movements may be uncomfortable or awkward, and that you’re looking around the room surreptitiously eyeing everyone else, thinking that maybe you don’t belong here because your moves aren’t as fluid or as sharp as the dancer next to you. That’s OK. It’s alright to be uncomfortable. That’s why you’re here, to learn something new, and the first time we do something new, it’s rarely easy and almost always awkward. Everyone learns at their own pace and you will learn how to do this if you stick with it and practice. I know. I’ve been there.

I’m your teacher. I’m not here to teach you how to dance like me or to get you to perform. I’m here to provide you with the tools to dance like you. If performance is your goal, then I will support you and help you along the way. I will guide you, and I will correct you, but ultimately, whether or not you learn this dance is up to you. What you get out of this dance is up to you. This dance is my joy and I hope you find joy in it as well, but all of that – it’s up to you.

There may come a time when you choose not to dance with me anymore, or just not to dance. I respect that, and I understand that life gets in the way, that sometimes I’m not the right teacher for someone, and that sometimes you will need to spread your wings and do your own thing. I’m OK with that. I want to be here to support your dance. Remember that I’m a dance student too. I’ve been there. If you have questions, you can ask me, and if you have problems, you can talk to me; just not while we’re in class. Class time is for dancing.

At the end of the day, I’m glad you’re here. I’m proud of you for choosing to try something different and something new, and I’m proud of you for working hard in class and doing your best. I’m humbled that you chose me to be your instructor, and I promise to do my best to honor and respect the trust that you’ve placed in me by continuing my own education, working hard to plan my classes, and creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for you to learn in. 

Thank you for dancing with me. Love and shimmies,

Jaidra

Hurt so good

I think I've mentioned my lazy winter. I don't know why I slowed down Soooo much this winter, but I did. No classes to teach, very limited funds to take workshops and attend conventions, and only a few performances lined up made for a slow dance season. Also, I'm living in a teensy carpeted apartment. I can practice my isolations while I chop onions and brush my teeth, but there's limited space to actually dance.



Combine all of this with the fact that I am already a seasonal gal (ie, I wake up with the sun and my body goes into hibernation mode when the average temperature drops below 60 degrees F), and this past winter was a slow time for me.

Well, March hit...and it came in like a lion for me. I went from next to nothing to two dance classes and one workout class to teach, plan for, choreograph for, and practice for each week. Then there's rehearsal with my new performance group, a weekly private lesson, and at least 3 hours of work with another dancer each week -plus performances to practice and plan for and buskin. I feel so alive and I'm loving it.


Here's what I've discovered about myself. I'm happier, healthier, and hungrier when I am dancing daily. Yet, when I eat I don't crave pasta and bread, I crave spinach and black bean salads and fresh avocados, nuts and bananas. When I want to drink something, I crave water...and amazingly enough, cranberry juice. For years I have hated cranberry juice. I tried it again last month and LOVE it - it has now become a mission each time I go to the store to find cranberry juice that is actually cranberry juice and not apple juice, corn syrup, and cranberry flavors.

My favorite part of this new regime is not the reappearance of my oblique muscles (though I am extremely happy about that), but actually the slight muscle ache that I feel when I sit still - as I am doing right now. Plenty of exercise and great stretch sessions mean that very rarely am I in serious pain, but I do feel a constant ache. Today it's glutes and core, which makes sense because I did a good bit of sword work on Monday and a floorwork demonstration in the advanced class last night.

Love the burn....and if you'd like to join me, here's a great little workout that I add into my routine:

1) Start off with a nice high step walk with arm circles (arms straight out to the sides, circle while you step and reverse the circles) to get warmed up
2) Suhaila squats - legs apart, knees soft and angled towards second toe, bend at the waist with a flat back and pulse up and down. Perform 12 to 16 squats with the arms out to the side, then the arms to the front, then the arms to the back. Make sure that you are keeping your back flat while you do this. Repeat the sequence at least 3 times.
3) Hang and let the legs stretch out
4) Crunches - at least 3 sets of 18 crunches with at least a thirty second break between sets
5) Lean backs - (knee pads or a folded yoga mat under knees for safety) Knees more than hip width apart and a lifted chest, engage the abdominal muscles and lean back, keeping your back straight. Do as many of these as you are comfortable with, rest, and do some more. I try to add a few each week. Don't worry about how far back you can go, focus instead on engaging the core muscles and making the motion smooth while keeping a straight posture.
6) Reverse crunches - lay flat on the back, lift the legs up, and slowly lower them to the floor. Don't allow the feet to actually touch the floor before you bring the legs back up. Keep this motion smooth and slow. I like to do three sets of 20 with a 30 second break between.
7) Stretch


This should be an easy 20 to 30 minute leg and core routine that you can add to your workout three times a week for an extra muscle boost. I vary this by mixing in other exercises as well as a variety of cardio workouts, yoga, or pilates.

Now I need to go workout. :)

Stretch and Strengthen - the evolution of a dance class

I took my first dance class at a very young age. I'm southern, so of course, that meant tap class. I don't actually remember it, but my parents have a fabulous picture of me in a sequined pink tutu and tap shoes from my recital performance. I must have been all of 4 years old. In high school that tutu got a new lease on life as my best friend's head piece when we drove around the back country streets of our hometown singing loudly and off key (I wore a basket weave flower pot on my head, but that's a whole other story). Tap lead to ballet and gymnastics, and off course, musical theatre and voice lessons, which I loved....and over time, dance became less of a force in my life.

Dance made a serious comeback when I took my first bellydance class at the Y in Lexington, SC in the early 2000s (2002 or 3, I don't remember exactly) and I fell madly in love with the art form. I became a dancer again, and wondered why I ever quit. I love to dance. I love to move. I love expressing myself through dance, the release that movement gives, the rush of performing, and so many other things about dance. Yet, I quickly discovered that though bellydance is certainly my passion, it wasn't enough.

Emotionally and mentally, bellydance does fill a void that I need filled, but physically, it quickly became clear to me that bellydance alone wasn't giving me what I needed. In part, I discovered through bellydance that I needed more than bellydance. For example; floorwork - one of my very first troupe performances involved a significant amount of floorwork, and in order to do this safely I had to add regular strengthening exercises to my work out. Just to get to the floor safely and gracefully from a standing position required strength that I hadn't built through bellydance alone.

I began varying my workout. I would begin with a goal from bellydance (for example: great belly-rolls) and then break down what I needed to have in order to reach that goal (super killa abs and the ability to control and relax those abs) and finally, create a workout to meet that goal (straight crunches, leg crunches, scissor kicks, twist crunches, pilates inspired balance arm wavy things, core strengthening, twists, stretches, breathing exercises, etc).

I'm nowhere near where I want to be as far as dance ability or strength and flexibility, but I am worlds away from where I was when I did that first troupe performance at Tasty World in Athens, GA in 2006! More importantly, I've learned a lot about movement and my body, created some great workouts, and become extremely comfortable in my own skin...and I discovered a love for sharing this dance form with others as both a performer and a teacher.

I've wanted to teach a class on my workout concepts for years! Finally, I have the chance. I didn't know what to call it - but luckily, my long time dance partner and great friend Christy Fricks (owner of floorspace dance studio and director of Sulukule Dance Troupe), came up with the name, Stretch and Strengthen, and offered me the time slot to teach my class. So now I have the amazing opportunity to refine and define the way I work out into a class format. I have a chance to bring my crazy workout techniques to life and teach them to others...I'm so excited, I could dance!

Here is the class description
Stretch and strengthen

If you're looking for a way to lose that holiday weight, tone those hard to find abs, condition your body for advanced dance training, or just a unique and fun workout, this is the class for you.
Drawing from her experience as a dancer, as well as from yoga, pilates, and strength training, Jaidra is bringing you her own personal workout. Designed to increase strength, flexibility, and balance, this class is appropriate for all levels and body types. We'll workout, but have fun doing it!

Wear pants that provide freedom of movement, and bring a yoga mat. Water bottles are also encouraged!

Wednesdays 5:30 @ Floorspace Dance Studio in Athens, GA beginning March 2 2011.

I really hope to see a lot of folks there - you'll get a chance to learn some of my personal workout techniques. And if you've never raced a group of women across the floor using nothing but your glutes to power you, then you're in for a super treat!