I took ballet when I was probably 5 or 6, as many little girls do. I guess after a year of doing it, I decided it wasn't for me, and my parents let me drop it. I grew up in a family that was primarily sports-oriented , and my not wanting to take dance wasn't that big of a deal. My not wanting to play ice hockey at 6 years old, that was a whole other thing, it was a big deal, and that's why I played it until after my freshman year of college.
After I quit hockey, I spent a lot of time reflecting on what I could have done or spent more time on growing up had I not had to spend so much time training, and I kept coming back to dance. Dirty Dancing and Step Up being some of my movies, I've always admired (and been jealous of) the way dancers can move their bodies. They make moves that you know take incredible strength and disciplined look incredibly easy and fluid. I can skate better than I walk, but unfortunately that coordination does not transfer to the dance floor.
Kumina by The National Dance Theater Company of Jamaica directed by the late Professor Rex Nettelford
Kumina by The National Dance Theater Company of Jamaica directed by the late Picking my classes during registration last spring, I was struggling to find a fourth class to add. Dance kept catching my eye, but I kept thinking about what my dad would think of it, or 'Am I really going to a school this expensive to take a dance course' ? Finally I said, "Screw it!" College is the time to try new things, cliche as that sounds, at what other time in my life am I going to be able to take class on Jamaican dance?
2013 WS alum Jordunn Joubert in choreography of my dance teacher Kelly Johnson entitled "Fertile Earth"
Now I'm three weeks into it, and this class is hard. Not just the physical movements, but there are plenty of movements where my teacher will say, "I want to see you jiggle!" I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one when I say I don't like it when some of my body parts jiggle. This is a class where you have to leave all pride and shame at the door, and just go for it. The class is physically and mentally demanding, but so rewarding. The athlete in me loves the challenge, and the strength and endurance it takes. I love the way when I nail a move with a lot of hip movement in it that I've been struggling with. This class makes me feel sexy and it's so empowering. While definitely not a "typical" college course, this class has taught me how to be comfortable and confident in my own body (and hopefully it'll teach me how to twerk too).
