The song may be old, but my knees are older -- my first dance class in years
I screwed my courage to the sticking point today -- far less dirty an undertaking than it sounds -- and attended a hip hop dance class for beginners. It's research for novel-in-progress Taint (the protagonist is on a hip hop dance team). It's also good for me, though at the moment, my knees are begging to differ. I've become easier on myself in the years since I last took a dance class. I no longer have a running shamefest going on in my head to punish myself for not being the best, the fittest, the trimmest, the most talented, blah, blah, blah. Such a relief to not have that voice in my head. The class was fun. My shoes are going to be an issue, though. They're spanking new trainers. They cushion my achy feet wonderfully, but they have such good traction that it's nearly impossible to do any of the sliding, travelling foot movements. I'm considering taking a bit of sandpaper to the bottoms of the shoes. Anyone else find this problem with finding proper shoes for a street dance class, and if so, how did you deal with it?
To help you slide better, dip the soles of your shoes in Trinidad pepperpot!
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Submitted by Mummy (not verified) on June 13, 2008 - 11:21pm.Yeah, I guess the okra would do it. Then my only problem would be stopping the slide once I've started it!
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Submitted by nalo on June 14, 2008 - 12:04pm.This is ages later, but I thought it still might help. Since new kicks are nothing new in hip hop, you may consider putting more thought into less weight on the traveling leg. Sounds overly simple, but the traction in your shoes will be great for some moves, say like poppin and bicycles, and give you a stronger pivot foot. Plus it will give you the swag you need to look crisp in your movements. But if the grip is to killer, try sliding your feet across a dusty hard floor, like a hard wood basketball court to make the grip manageable. When I started popping and all, I had to same problem, then a friend told me to concentrate on no baring weight on the traveling leg, even just by leaning more toward the pivot, or leg not moving. If made things easier, and in time, it became natural, and I can bicycle or moon walk with brand new Nikes on, laces out. Good luck.
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Submitted by Hos (not verified) on July 15, 2008 - 1:56pm.Hos, thank you! I figured that less weight on the foot would do it, but I don't have the knack yet of still making it look as though that foot is bearing weight. I'm no Tight Eyez, damn it.
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Submitted by nalo on July 16, 2008 - 1:14pm.Post new comment