Dance class: Togo Achea (?)

1^st class:

The first dance class was somewhat incredibly frustrating. I feel like an awkward 5-year-old  who’s learning to dance for the first time, which has the tendency to make me feel stupid because everyone around me knows that I’m a dancer, and (at least in my head) assumes that I should be able to know what I’m doing. Yet, my body doesn’t bounce the way it’s supposed to, my legs hurt because I have to get lower to the ground (because I’m taller), my arms are awkward and hurt because I have to stretch them out farther (because my arms are longer), and I can’t figure out the rhythm with the horsetails pronounced somewhat like “hostels” by Ewurama—Cynthia—our teacher and friend). Noyam, on the other hand, is amazing. They were with us at Prof. Nii Yartey’s house, practicing for “The Power of Dance” piece, a series of short pieces strung together. His contemporary African dance seems like something I could actually do. But I should learn how to crawl before I go leaping into the air. I had some great coconut water during a break from dancing, and a Coke after class for doing a good job. Don’t I sound like a happy kid? =)

2^nd class: (those horsetails!)

Today was such a good day! Although my body feels horrible. It’s day three of me feeling horribly sick, but I still had fun dancing. Samsung Mobile was hosting some “next Cultural Icon” event at the National Theatre that Noyam was performing for and Prof. Nii was a judge for, so that’s where we had practice. With actual horsetails for once! They hurt, and there’s no way I’ve tried yet that’ll avoid hitting yourself or someone else. I was itchy for the first 15 minutes, and I hit Cecily countless times in practice. But at least now I understand how the horsetails move in the dance. It’s a lot easier to understand how everything goes with the rhythm when the weight of the horsetails is actually in your hand. My arms are so sore.

At the National Theatre, there were so many people watching the three of us dance. Some of them offered good comments, and some of the dancers actually danced portions of it for us, which allowed us to see how it should really be done. One woman told me that I was getting it, but that I’m really stiff. I’m trying to work on that still. Also, we’re supposed to be smiling, but how do you smile for so long on stage when you’re tired without making the smile look really fake? I start to hold my lips together when I’m concentrating, which is pretty far away from a smile. I guess once I get completely comfortable, I’ll start smiling and enjoying it more.