hip hop, yeah don’t stop

I finally – finally – signed up for a class through the community college down the street.  There’s a huge list of classes I’ve been wanting to take, everything from photography to Japanese flower arranging to cooking classes.

The first class I decided to try is a hip hop dance class.  The joke that’s been running through my head (and you may have already had the pleasure of hearing already if you communicate with me outside this site) is that I hope I don’t BREAK a hip (hop.) Bad dum dum.

This joke popped into my head not because I can’t dance, but because seriously, have you heard my hips lately?  Everytime I get up or sit down, everytime I move, SNAP! CRACKLE! POP!

In fact, I can dance, and I can dance very well.  It’s the only thing I won’t feign humility about.  Once upon a time, I went out dancing.  A lot.  When I lived in Philly, it was every weekend and some.  Then after a short while in Prague, I just stopped.

Quite frankly, one of the few activities I can say I truly, whole-heartedly enjoy is dancing.  No drug could ever replicate the high I get off a couple hours of full-body, in-my-own-little-world dancing.  I am one of those intensely guarded people who can never seem to “let go”.  Dancing is the only time I ever fully chill the fuck out and fully let go.

My therapist in Prague often told me that I should make a point of going out dancing once a week.  I’d have loved to,  and was completely capable at that point to stay completely sober while dancing my little heart out.  However, trying to coordinate any friends to go with me was impossible.  And have you ever tried going out dancing alone, as a female?  I could have, but the hassle of it all completely detracted from any fun.

So I’m sitting here thinking, what can I do to enrich my life?  What can I do that doesn’t involve working or doing laundry or sitting in front of this damn laptop, what can I do that will make me happy?  Then I went online and registered for the class, pronto.

I’m nervous as hell.  I mean, it’s a hip hop class, and while I’m not worried about my ability to do anything, I am nervous about who else will be in the class.  People younger than me?  People who think they’re all that?  At least I can pass for someone in her 20s, right?  Then again, why the fuck do I care?  Well, I do is all.  When you fall into a pattern of not getting out much, it’s that much harder to get started.   It’s only 5 weeks – at the very least I’ll get myself out of the house again and who knows, maybe I’ll even make a new friend or two.  (There was a girl in pilates this weekend, who had a tattoo I couldn’t help but comment on admiringly.  We chatted briefly and I thought, “Gosh, I’d love to be friends with her.” )

Maybe I’ll love it and get inspired to start going to real dance classes again, like I did so very long ago (ballet and modern, except I don’t really have the patience for ballet.)

In any case, my plan is to see how the 5 weeks go, then sign up for something new at the end of each session.  I’m pushing for physical classes, fencing, kickboxing and the like.  I’ve been interested in Kickboxing since forever, thought it might help me get out all my aggressive energy.  I have insurance, I can risk getting kicked in the head, right?

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