harbour week 1.

day 1. "a little tight, but I'll be fine"

In the time building up to my trip to harbour I was experiencing different emotions. Part of me was really excited to go and train hard for a week and devote this time to a real passion of mine. Another part of me was not looking forward to it at all. I mean it's kind of a pain in the ass. I had to book the time of work (without pay) and of course a week in vancouver ain't cheap either. But I was committed to do this and this week will be great!
So it starts with the bus trip down. The first things I notice is how great it is to people watch, which I did sitting in the greyhound station, when I haven't done that in a while. The highlight definitely being a mother and daughter do the money dance…we've all seen it…. something like this:
mother: do you have enough money? (concerned for child)
daughter: I'm a little tight, but I'll be fine (I don't NEED the money but feel free to give me some mom)
mother: ok
About 40 seconds go by
mother: are you sure you'll be fine (I know you want it but you must ask)
daughter: maybe I should take it (that was easy)
mother: here you go (damn, still not too proud to take money from her mother)
Anyways.. then I'm on the bus. Hardly anyone there. Nobody beside me in front of me or behind me which means I can stick my elbows out, feet front, and lean back without being concerned for anyone else's "bubble". I sit reading most of the bus ride and didn't listen to my ipod once. Just enjoying the book, the travel, the silence, the journey I was on. This week will be great.
Off the bus and onto the train. Skytrain that is. First time on the skytrain… but don't worry I looked like I had ben on the train 100 times. Act tired instead of bewildered. Works overtime. Then I actually go to harbour.
I wasn't really sure what to expect form harbour. My first impression was that I felt like I was in the opening scene of "Fame." Tight crowded hallways full of experienced dancers who are all friends. This is their head quarters, their "home studio" if you will. So here I am bustling through all these people and "the source kids" with my two huge bags asking about a thousand questions at the front desk while the regulars are waiting for me to move just to swipe their membership cards. So I go and change in the change room…. there is a change room just for guys! and it's a decent size! and it has a bathroom! clearly this is a place "for men to dance." So I come out of the change room and the hallways are still packed while everyone waits for the class before to end.
It is important at this time to mention that I didn't get a "snobby vibe" from anyone. I got the impression that when looked at people simply thought "another new guy, whatever" as opposed to "WHO is THIS? he isn't like US! I'm the BEST!"
So then class starts. Level 2 hip hop. Level 2 is for intermediate dancers…..I should be fine. We start learning this combo in a wonderfully large, wonderfully loud, wonderfully artistic, wonderfully unkempt studio. The steps to the dance are fine. The combo has a smooth sexy feel to it with plenty of body rolls to go around. It doesn't hurt that the room is filed with very FIT and ATTRACTIVE young LADIES ranging from ages 17-23 doing their SEXY body rolls while sweating. This helps me get into character of course….. strictly professional. I'm off topic.
So the steps were going fine. And then the teacher puts on the music and holy $&!% this is fast…. but "don't worry" the teacher re-assures the class. "Take your time". Perfect, all I have to do is take my time while the music beats me up and taunts at me to keep up with it. I get through the combo alright but by no means was a stand out performer. This is proven when towards the end of class the teacher hand selects some guys to do the dance "give it up for the fellas" he says to the class. The problem is that there is me and 2 other guys who apparently aren't one of the 'fellas' chosen to perform for all the sweaty, pretty, young, body-rolling….. I'm off topic again. The class ends with the teacher doing the combo as well as continuing to what we have yet to learn. He is amazing! This is why I am here.
Second class. Street jazz. I wonder what shoes I should wear. My hip-hop shoes? bare fee? my jazz shoes? can't be jazz shoes because everyone in this room I bet is too cool for jazz shoes. I bet they would probably all rather wear their fancy funky socks they paid $28 dollars for. I find out soon enough. I see a couple people entering the room with runners and high-tops on. "OK" I think to myself. "red nike's, here we go again"
This class I know I will have fun in. The teacher starts by telling us about the music being "Jannelle Monae" whom I already love. We start the combo as waking up cyborgs…. I KNOW I will like this class. The steps are easier then hip hop but the combo requires even bigger movement and there is considerably more people in this wonderful dancing room. I'm actually concerned about kicking the girl behind me in the face at one point. As a quick side note, I stepped on my dancing neighbour later in the class. she took it in stride though. The class progresses and although I don't struggle with doing the steps I struggle big time with remembering the steps. My brain hurts. It's been a long day. I became very inconsistent. Sometimes when running the combo I nail it feeling like I was performing amazingly. Other times I can visualize myself being boo'd off the stage by the invisible audience for not being able to remember a level 1/2 combo!
I hop back on the skytrain (like the skytrain pro I am) to get to Stace's house (who has generously let me stay with her for a few days). We chat for while. I talk to my significant other, she talks to hers. I test her on flashcards she has made up for her upcoming test this week on every muscle and nerve in the body. The night end calmly as I fall asleep on the couch. A good day 1.