With the magic of Facebook, I just re-connected with my childhood dance teacher. She invited me to attend the 50th year celebration of her dance studio. Yikes! And Double Yikes! since I was one of her first students! I've been dancing, on and off, for...that long.
I was a serious dance student through my thirties. I loved to take class and perform occasionally. I stayed in excellent shape and danced right up to the times I gave birth to my children. It was always pretty easy to get back into shape if I slipped a little. Until the day I got...older. I was so out of shape and didn't have the drive to overcome it. I couldn't stop dancing, so I decided to stick to tap dancing. Rarely does a tap routine require high kicks and splits. And besides, I love to tap dance.
I recently decided to teach an adult tap class. Rembering the lack of commitment adults generally display for whatever reason, I entered into the once a week commitment a little reluctantly. When I taught kids, their parents made sure they attended class. Well, unless they had a fever or a big test the next day. Adults? Well, they have a million more reasons why they have to miss. I decided to give it a try anyway.
My first class was last Wednesday. I had 6 students. Four more will be there next week (already missed the first class--"out of town," "play rehearsal," "late night at work." ). Perfect class size, since it will probably be rare for all 10 to be there at the same time. Anyway, it was a great group and what really amazed me was, unlike the teens, no one left the class to go to the bathroom, and no one paused for a drink of water. Come on. It's only an hour. It felt just like the good old days when no one would ever divert their attention away from the teacher. I hope I didn't say anything to scare them.
I can't wait for next week's class! I know most will show. They paid in advance! And did I mention that everyone is over 50, or darn close to it. I just love this class.
More people over 50 dancing http://www.movefreedancers.com/
and
http://www.legacytap.com/ is a group of tappers I meet with once a week for tap, talk and lunch. How much fun is that! And did I mention...I LOVE TO TAP DANCE!
Photo: Legacy Tap Project -- National Tap Dance Day 2009, Arts On Fifth, Fort Worth, Texas
