Breaking into Dancing & Dancing into Break

So I've been thinking about trying a dance class for awhile now for a few different reasons. I've been in need of some regular exercise for one. I realized this two weeks ago while sprinting across the Denver airport with Adam to make it to our connecting flight in time and not getting very far before I was wheezing, coughing, and had cramps all over my body. I was also sore afterwards. I'm not proud of this, but that's what a desk job for two years will get you if you don't put any effort into exercise outside of work. Another reason being I've kind of always wanted to try it. It looks like fun. My only experience with it had been gymnastics in the second grade and Irish dancing that I briefly tried out last year and didn't continue due to scheduling restraints. I also need me time other than the hour in my car on the way to work and back. 

I finally narrowed down my research to three studios that work for my schedule, location, price range, and have pretty high ratings. This week has been my trial week to see what classes I really enjoy and might want to include in my weekly schedule. Monday night I tried a nice Broadway dancing class that I really enjoyed. I think once I have the moves down it can be a great form of expression and release of built up emotions. Tonight I have a Beginner Ballet class, which I think will help with overall form and basic moves often incorporated in many other dances. Saturday I have another Theater dance class to try out and Sunday I have a Beginner Hip Hop class. Basically, I'm getting a taste of what's out there to see if I enjoy any of them enough to stick. 

Last night I went to a class called "Intro Breaking into Choreography". I was excited to try this class so I could eventually choreograph my own dances for music videos, etc. I think it would be a useful and fun skill to have that could potentially open up more doors for things I've always wanted to either participate in or create. So last night I headed out from work around 6:30, found parking after circling the block two times, and headed up to see which room I was going to. I found it and sat in a chair right outside, waiting for it to begin. I was about 10 minutes early. An instructor and a parent were around the corner talking very loudly about break dancing and I thought to myself that I was glad I wasn't here for that class! I didn't even know the studio taught Break Dancing. A few students started arriving and looking into the studio my class was supposed to be in. They looked a little different than the Broadway class students had looked on Monday...they didn't wear tight shorts and a tank top or ballet/dance shoes. One guy wore a beanie. The girls didn't have their hair up in a bun. Their hair was lose or under a hat. One girl had green hair. They had baggie clothes and converse shoes and kind of looked like these kids: 

         

 

I was the only one with a tight tank over my sports bra and short gym shorts on with my hair up in a pony tail. I basically looked like this: 

I quickly put together that I was in the wrong class and a sinking realization hit me that the title of the course, "Intro Breaking into Choreography" didn't mean an introductory choreography class you could "break" into. It meant Introduction into Breakdance Choreography. 

On the inside I looked like this baby:                                       On the outside:                                                                             

Slightly more composed, but still an "oh shit" face.

There was a good minute that I pondered my available options I had. One was quietly getting out of the chair and leaving. No one yet knew what I was there for. True, I would waste the $13 I paid for the class and the $10 I to park my car, but I would soon be safe in my car with a funny story to tell Adam when I got home. Oh, and I would get home at 8pm instead of 9pm. The other option was sticking it out and giving breakdancing class a shot. I paid for it, might as well see what it's about at least? It'll probably be a great work out either way and if I suck, hey, it did say "Intro" in the title so it's supposed to be for beginners. So I figured what the hell. It would be a funny story for Adam either way.

And you know what? It actually ended up being a lot of fun. Despite my fear of being outcast, everyone was super friendly and open. Nobody looked twice at my odd wardrobe choice. The student next to me offered to practice the routine we learned with him. I got a great work out all over my body (I'm still really sore). The teacher was super hands on and had a great personality. She bonded with each and every one of her students and got down on the floor with each of us to watch what we were doing and give us tips. I got a high five from her after I got a step right. And I was actually the first one in the class to learn and "trust myself" enough to do this "freeze": 

Ask me to do it for you next time I see you. It's pretty cool. 

But I took away something much more important than the moves I learned in that class. I'm one step closer to reaching out of my comfort zone and facing my fears for the bigger picture of taking chances and living life. I judge myself so hard for not fitting in that I miss the very crucial information that no one else is. Think of how many missed opportunities I've already had in life because of this preconceived notion. And how many us do everyday. Think of all the great people we could meet and amazing experiences we could have if we just simply...lived.

Also, this was a pretty funny story to tell Adam when he asked me how dance class went.