I went to my favourite salsa class after several weeks today and I am so very conflicted about whether I like the nature of the dance. I really like going to the class simply because I love dancing with Sarah and Sean and the music is so very addictive. I am incredibly happy when I am dancing by myself, learning fancy footwork and just picking up new moves.



And that's when all the unhappiness starts. I just can't feel any connections when I am dancing with a partner. In fact, I find myself resenting the fact that all the complicated and intricate moves are done by the lead and my role feels rather passive. In a class situation, everything is rosy because all the steps are worked out for me and I am dancing just as I have been told to. But I am absolutely clueless about how people manage to anticipate moves in the context of social dancing.

I am sure tons of practice has something to do with this, but I don't know if I am up to all the mental stubbing that practice outside class involves. And of course, I just can't get good at following without practice outside class. There doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the salsa tunnel. It seems like I am wandering about lost in that tunnel having endless bad hair days.

I always start off the class feeling euphoric. It's just me and Sarah and Sean dancing in the spring. And then things slowly go downhill once partner-work starts in the intermediate class and hits the absolute nadir at the end of class when I wonder why I put myself through hoops for dancing in some vague future with some vague partner who won't like dancing with me anyway. Why?! And what the hell am I doing in class that is geared mainly towards partner dancing?!

Honestly, I don't know.

How fascinating!


I am starting to be infatuated with ballet and ballet music. The sheer focus on individual strength and pushing the limits of my body through muscle control is incredibly appealing... And the music is gorgeous and timeless.

Maybe this should be my first sewing project when I finally get that sewing machine...


I would like to wear ballet shoes made of a deep venous-red satin. However, the colour I am thinking of seems to be only available for special made-to-order pointe shoes. Regular red ballet shoes are usually canvas and are a bland bright red. Nothing beats having a pair of satin/silk shoes the colour of dark blood with black undertones...

I am sure you know of people who have been couch potatoes for decades suddenly taking up running as a sport and competing in the next big marathon in town. I know too many to fit on my fingers and toes. Every time someone gets the marathon bug, they try and get me to join in the craziness (no doubt as a reciprocal move to my getting them to come to my numerous dance classes).

I dislike running. A LOT. I can walk *really* fast and probably match the pace of all 6+ footers out there with little effort but I cannot run for long. To be precise, I can run for 15 seconds before my lungs liquefy and start pouring out my nostrils... Well, they don't, actually, but that's what it feels like. It's almost as bad as trying to get used to spectacles and have the ground tilt and be all wobbly for a couple weeks. I can't take that feeling! As a result, I don't run, or wear spectacles. Usually, people try to show me the merits of joining the band of brothers^ runners and the bespectacled. However, my dislike is so intense that I refuse point blank.

And now I have scientific proof to wave in their faces (atleast for the runners... I am sure, one of these days, I will find something against spectacles as well.)

I spotted this editorial that gives an overview of studies that show that if you just run because your friends have suddenly started running or you feel like running can make up for your decades of binging on chicken wings or smoking your lungs to a nice ebony black, it doesn't help. ::READ PDF::

In fact, you end up with an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis or myocardial scar formation due to mini-infarctions (that's a heart attack and things leading up to heart attacks). Running, for people who have not slowly conditioned their muscles over a long period of time, is injurious to their heart.

Instead, come to dance class with me! ;-)

---

^NB: Have you ever noticed that 95% of male actors that you look up in imdb has usually played a role in that HBO series? When they made the series, did they recruit everyone from every acting school across the planet?!

Please DON'T come back. Ever. We have had quite enough.

A pictorial guide...