Gratitude!
5. I am grateful for my dance teachers. Whether they taught a multiweek course or a workshop, I am grateful for the work they put in to teach. Last night, I went to 
marinatempest's ATS fundamentals class, as her stunt-hands, since her thumb is still not up to zilling. (And, as Carolena drilled home with us, if you ain't zilling, you ain't dancing ATS.) It's one thing when you're watching someone you don't know teach. You can take for granted a lot of the work they put in to their teaching, I think (especially for the bigger names in the dance world), because you just assume it comes naturally. But it really isn't that way-- some people are excellent teachers, but competent dancers. Some people are amazing dancers but can't break down technique or choreo very well at all. To be both (as I think marinatempest is) is a freaking artform all its own. It's about balancing the actual dancing, which (at least for me) is such an in-the-body experience with all of the cerebral qualities that are required of breaking down and teaching the dance.
So thank you, my teachers, for crafting a learning environment that's both supportive and challenging. For answering questions that I've never even considered. I have such respect for anyone who formally teaches this dance because it is very much a responsibility to teach well. To have lesson plans. To deal with emergencies as they arise. To still be every bit as polished and knowledgeable anyway.
In related news, OMG TribalCon looks so good this year! Zafira, Zoe Jakes, John Compton, Sera, Donna Mejia? I am DEFINITELY going to try to go. Whereas other cons I've attended in the past seem to be going straight into the circus fusion realm, I'm really excited that TribalCon is offering a solid mix of dance technique, music instruction, and tribal history. So, Atlanta in February. Hopefully I can swing it, financially. I'm certainly going to try!
marinatempest's ATS fundamentals class, as her stunt-hands, since her thumb is still not up to zilling. (And, as Carolena drilled home with us, if you ain't zilling, you ain't dancing ATS.) It's one thing when you're watching someone you don't know teach. You can take for granted a lot of the work they put in to their teaching, I think (especially for the bigger names in the dance world), because you just assume it comes naturally. But it really isn't that way-- some people are excellent teachers, but competent dancers. Some people are amazing dancers but can't break down technique or choreo very well at all. To be both (as I think marinatempest is) is a freaking artform all its own. It's about balancing the actual dancing, which (at least for me) is such an in-the-body experience with all of the cerebral qualities that are required of breaking down and teaching the dance. So thank you, my teachers, for crafting a learning environment that's both supportive and challenging. For answering questions that I've never even considered. I have such respect for anyone who formally teaches this dance because it is very much a responsibility to teach well. To have lesson plans. To deal with emergencies as they arise. To still be every bit as polished and knowledgeable anyway.
In related news, OMG TribalCon looks so good this year! Zafira, Zoe Jakes, John Compton, Sera, Donna Mejia? I am DEFINITELY going to try to go. Whereas other cons I've attended in the past seem to be going straight into the circus fusion realm, I'm really excited that TribalCon is offering a solid mix of dance technique, music instruction, and tribal history. So, Atlanta in February. Hopefully I can swing it, financially. I'm certainly going to try!