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Talking briefly about Dance Classes
I have to admit to being a little surprised that with the economy being what it's been, that so many people are still willing to put the kind of money we're putting down into dancing. I don't think it would surprise me that people who are into this as much as we are, or more, would keep going, because clearly we're here because we love dancing, but I didn't expect to see such a large influx of new people.
And yet, there's definitely been a large influx of new Bronze I dancers. So much so, that we've been spending Thursdays and Saturday classes going over Bronze I stuff, even basic stuff.
Let me back up and explain my schedule somewhat, as much for my own memory as for anything else.
First of all, a really quick backup. Arthur Murray has three types of classes.
1) Group Class - It's easiest to think of this as the De Facto Class. Group Classes introduce you to figures you need to know, or variations of those figures they think you SHOULD know. Group Classes are a great way to introduce you to the basics.
2) Individual Classes - It's just you and your instructor. You can go over figures. You can work on your personal issues (there are as many issues as there are individual people. For me, one big issue is standing up tall. We don't discuss it in group class, but Michael is always working on it with me.
3) Practice - It's a time to practice what you've learned in your group and individual lessons. They play a variety of music and you dance to it.
Currently, I'm showing up at Arthur Murray three days a week (K two, though we may decide to reconsider when summer starts and K's choir ends. I dunno.)
Last Wednesday, at 7:45, was our first Bronze 2 group class. This felt like a good class for us. It was right at our level, not too easy (unlike the other group classes I've been to recently). K and I both agreed that especially while she's planning to skip Thursday class, it's worth it for us to keep doing Wednesday. After she comes back, well.. we'll see. Wednesdays might still be worth going to. :)
On Thursday, at 7:45 is the Bronze I and II group class. What level this stuff is at clearly depends on the knowledge base of the class. If the instructors think more of the students there can handle more tricky stuff, they might throw some Bronze II stuff at us. If they think that the group can't handle it, though, we do Bronze I stuff. Because of the influx of new Bronze I, we've been staying in the Bronze I recently, which isn't world ending, but I want to learn NEW stuff, not old stuff. Oh well.. that's what Wednesday and our individual classes are for, I guess. :)
Thursday night, at 8:30, is the Practice. This is why I'm still going Thursdays. Practice is good on all sorts of level. For one, it's nice to practice stuff I'm learning, but mostly.. it's a great way to feel connected to my community. I've become close to alot of the dancers at Arthur Murray, and Thursdays give me a chance to dance with a number of them. :)
Saturday at 10:30 is the Bronze I and II technique class. Theoretically, these classes are supposed to be more about learning Technique than learning new moves, but.. that's not ALWAYS true. Though, we've been introduced to Rise and Fall and Cuban Motion in Saturday classes. It seems like it depends on the instructor. Like Thursday classes, though, due to the number of new students, the classes have been a bit more basic lately. However, we're still going because our individual lessons with Michael are right after.
Saturday at 11:15 is the aforementioned individual lessons with Michael. Which gives us a chance to really work on the things we need to work on that we don't get out of group class, mostly our individual issues.
And finally, Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30, Arthur Murray opens it's doors to a special Club Dance. It costs to get in, and bounces back and forth between the Alexandria studio and the Tysons studio, but this is a good time to go since it's usually less crowded than Thursday nights and anyways, with Kristen skipping out on Thursday Practices, it gives her a chance to practice things.
In retrospect... wow, that's ALOT of dancing. Up to 6 1/2 hours a week, if I actually do all that including the Saturday dance.
.. hopefully that helps get me in shape, huh? :D
And yet, there's definitely been a large influx of new Bronze I dancers. So much so, that we've been spending Thursdays and Saturday classes going over Bronze I stuff, even basic stuff.
Let me back up and explain my schedule somewhat, as much for my own memory as for anything else.
First of all, a really quick backup. Arthur Murray has three types of classes.
1) Group Class - It's easiest to think of this as the De Facto Class. Group Classes introduce you to figures you need to know, or variations of those figures they think you SHOULD know. Group Classes are a great way to introduce you to the basics.
2) Individual Classes - It's just you and your instructor. You can go over figures. You can work on your personal issues (there are as many issues as there are individual people. For me, one big issue is standing up tall. We don't discuss it in group class, but Michael is always working on it with me.
3) Practice - It's a time to practice what you've learned in your group and individual lessons. They play a variety of music and you dance to it.
Currently, I'm showing up at Arthur Murray three days a week (K two, though we may decide to reconsider when summer starts and K's choir ends. I dunno.)
Last Wednesday, at 7:45, was our first Bronze 2 group class. This felt like a good class for us. It was right at our level, not too easy (unlike the other group classes I've been to recently). K and I both agreed that especially while she's planning to skip Thursday class, it's worth it for us to keep doing Wednesday. After she comes back, well.. we'll see. Wednesdays might still be worth going to. :)
On Thursday, at 7:45 is the Bronze I and II group class. What level this stuff is at clearly depends on the knowledge base of the class. If the instructors think more of the students there can handle more tricky stuff, they might throw some Bronze II stuff at us. If they think that the group can't handle it, though, we do Bronze I stuff. Because of the influx of new Bronze I, we've been staying in the Bronze I recently, which isn't world ending, but I want to learn NEW stuff, not old stuff. Oh well.. that's what Wednesday and our individual classes are for, I guess. :)
Thursday night, at 8:30, is the Practice. This is why I'm still going Thursdays. Practice is good on all sorts of level. For one, it's nice to practice stuff I'm learning, but mostly.. it's a great way to feel connected to my community. I've become close to alot of the dancers at Arthur Murray, and Thursdays give me a chance to dance with a number of them. :)
Saturday at 10:30 is the Bronze I and II technique class. Theoretically, these classes are supposed to be more about learning Technique than learning new moves, but.. that's not ALWAYS true. Though, we've been introduced to Rise and Fall and Cuban Motion in Saturday classes. It seems like it depends on the instructor. Like Thursday classes, though, due to the number of new students, the classes have been a bit more basic lately. However, we're still going because our individual lessons with Michael are right after.
Saturday at 11:15 is the aforementioned individual lessons with Michael. Which gives us a chance to really work on the things we need to work on that we don't get out of group class, mostly our individual issues.
And finally, Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30, Arthur Murray opens it's doors to a special Club Dance. It costs to get in, and bounces back and forth between the Alexandria studio and the Tysons studio, but this is a good time to go since it's usually less crowded than Thursday nights and anyways, with Kristen skipping out on Thursday Practices, it gives her a chance to practice things.
In retrospect... wow, that's ALOT of dancing. Up to 6 1/2 hours a week, if I actually do all that including the Saturday dance.
.. hopefully that helps get me in shape, huh? :D
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