I started taking Lindy Hop Lessons a couple of months ago because I saw some people doing it, and it looked SO fun. The nice thing about it is that you don't have to be a couple to take lessons, and even if you come in as a couple, you rotate partners frequently in class, so it's not an issue.
Since the "leaders" (guys) and the "followers" (girls) are learning the same steps at the same time, and so we all know what step we'll be doing next, it's hard for me as a follower sometimes to "listen" to the pressure of the hand of the leader to determine what to do next, since I know what we're "supposed" to do, so I just do it (did that make ANY sense)??? Anyway, as with everything, there are good leaders and not-yet-perfected leaders (just as I'm a so-so follower). So, I always like when I rotate to a couple of particular guys because they have that leader thing down. They've got the hand pressure and rotation, and so I know to turn or move back or forward or whatever.
Last class, I was with a great leader, and we were learning a new step where I had to "turn outside". He had to lead this by doing a certain thing with his hand, which I had heard from ANOTHER dance class described as, "just like you're drinking a beer", since he sort of starts with his hand held high up and then tilts it in the same direction as if he's drinking a beer. So I turned to my "great leader" guy and felt I had to share this with him, and after the teacher showed the move, I softly said, "ah, just like you're drinking a beer." My partner looked at me and whispered, "I'm 16." Awkward. I amended it to "milk" and then had the scary thought, oh! he could be my son ... or student ...
Love the new background - but now I'm hungry!!
ReplyDeleteI know ... every time I look at it now, I'm having "impure" food thoughts. Maybe I'll have to switch to broccoli or something.
ReplyDeleteMs. Cookie
Cool, last fall my husband and I took swing dance lessons offered at my school in the evenings as community education. We are going to do the intermediate this fall. We had so much fun. We like to go to Two Ton Tuesdays at Gruene Hall every Tuesday in the summer to practice our moves. It's a little discouraging when you see all the good dancers there but we keep at it. Everybody's gotta start somewhere!
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm really enjoying your blog. Thanks. I'm (almost) a new teacher and am getting ready for my student teaching assignment in September. I'll be in a middle school, 7 and 8th grade math. Thanks so much for giving so much to a new teacher
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new adventure of teaching. There are tons of great things about it and a ton of hard work.
ReplyDeleteMs. Cookie
I'll introduce myself as well: I've just finished my fourth year teaching math, so I'm still relatively a newbie. But, I love it! I started in the inner-city public-school system (for three years), but I'm currently giving international teaching a try. I've taught Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry, and also sprinkled in some 6th-grade math games elective classes. Next year, I'll be picking up (at least in theory) a Pre-Calc class and fine-tuning my Geometry curriculum, so I'm in the process of going through your archives and sifting through your many tips. Thanks for being generous!
ReplyDeleteHi Mimi. Oooooh international teaching. That always sounded so cool, but I think I'm too settled now to do it. Have fun with the precalculus. There are a ton of fun topics that the kids have never seen in there.
ReplyDeleteMs. Cookie