Lewis Wheeler (closed): Dundee Becomes Giant Zoo
Sunday, Sep 14 2003, 02:37
What is it supposed to feel like when you are stretching? Strange question I know but a lot of the time when I'm stretching my back and sometimes my hamstrings it feels like the actual nerves are being pulled apart. I have the feeling that there is a long thin cord running the length of the limb I'm stretching and its reacting with a strange kind of pain. A feeling like (I suppose) of being stretched on a medieavel torture rack. Which is in sharp contrast to when I'm stretching out an arm/glutes/neck/whatever which feels either quite good or like a big malleable piece of toffee being slowly elongated.
It all results in me getting quite scared while stretching and never being able to stick at it - I really hate the feelings involved because I don't understand what's good, what's not and what I should be doing better!
Saying that though - I made a breakthrough this week and with someone lying on my back in the 'forwards bend' position (sitting on floor in parallel and leaning forwards - nothing special I know) I'm managing to get my head on my knees - which I've never done before in three years doing that stretch. - but then of course I panic and come out of the position!
I'm going to thank the Graham work for it - all the being deadly pulled up while sitting in various positions (on the wok - why that name??) seems to be making some (small but not superficial) changes in my lower back - and its about time too!
Contemporary is still just technique, technique, technique - according to some people this is normal but it would be nice to have a real phrase (sequence/enchainement/dave didn't understand me when I used the word 'phrase' - maybe its a Coventry thing) to work on at the end of class. I did think fridays were going to be my favourite day at the Space - we have double Contemporary followed by fundamentals (see an earlier post) and then Creative/Contact. But double Contemporary felt like a chore last friday! I'm enjoying ballet more! ah well - que sera sera.
Friday night was more eventful however - I went out with one of the guys from my year and we were supposed to meet up with two people I know from Dundee outside of dance - They sent us a text saying that they were going to a different pub and we would meet up at the end of the night because our stuff was in one of their flats. Which did seem quite strange/bitchy and confusing. Then Tom and I met up with people who were from our course and went to a quite funky place called 'social - eating/drinking/relaxing?' funky because it was mostly dark inside and the dj was good as opposed to sitting in Lloyds with blaring pop music, flashing lights and townies everywhere.
Tom was starting to fall asleep which he always does when he goes out (this is after a whole two pints of tennents - v.light weight (hey, he takes the piss out of me as well! - but not for being a light weight lol)) so we started to try and find our way to O'Neils where the people we were supposed to be out with were (hiding?). Which was quite complicated because in one part of Dundee there's this random piece of dual carriage way that just makes you walk across it and Dundee can get quite disorientating in the dark! (Stained with Tennents and Jack Daniels).
I do remember what paragraphs are.
Eventually I found the unilluminated sign (well done me - yeah right) and we found the girls and one of them had their dad over from America (but he was originally from Glasgow). One thing led to another and Tom and American man started singing scales and Arpeggios - In O'Neils. The arpeggios were unfortunately my idea - I prefer hearing them to scales). This led to me being forced to buy more double JD and Coke - which was partly motivated by the free Whisky Tumbler they gave me! and then our 'party' moved up to the flat of girl with american dad.
I do know her name I'm just being selfish. Then a "Broadway" Cd was produced and there was copious bad singing and some really very strange faux jazz faux fosse tres merde dancing. I remember doing a headstand and some freezes at one point - why I don't know - normally I'm too protective over my hair. And strange stretching games - its amazing how flexible you become with alcohol!
Eventually the whole thing broke up and we got taxi's home - Saturday was spent sans headache (I don't know why I'm using random french words) but I was definately on a different planet. I felt like all the people walking around were a zoo exhibit or the world had turned into a great big virtual reality theatre.
Today - no such fantasy - its laundry and ironing day - woohoo! And I can sit and dream about echappe saute to second then (assemblie?) batterie back to fifth. - ah.
One more thing - theres a really tacky looking bookshop just off the beaten track of the city centre but its got some really beautiful ballet/dance books in. I'm dying to have the money to buy some of them. (roll on bursary (which I've finally got - but I need a couple more forms to be handed in)). One I like is called a balletomanes scrap book - which has some fantastic back stage/on tour photos - a bit of an unhealthy obsession with Tamara Toumanova but I want it anyway - and the Nuryev autobiography - which I haven't found anywhere else before! - I'm just wondering about whether I've written about this shop before in the blog - ah well - I find it exciting enough to keep talking about!
Maybe I'll write back later when I can think of something more intelligent/dance related to talk about - or maybe just more random escapades of my life.......either way - c u l8r
xxx
P.S. - Have only just noticed that Catherine and Allan have started blogging again - yey I'm not alone (I do read your blogs though guys! i'm so sad i've even read the archives. lol)
and thank you for the nice messages Allan - even if you have left - which I didn't find out before stalking the men around the space trying to work out who you were! (yes that was the only reason I was stalking men around the space ;oP (this time anyway)).
Am I young - probably - I'm twenty in a little over four weeks...but most of the people in my year thought I was much older (which couldn't possibly be any sort of reflection on their own maturity. Snipe.)
The answer to the Donald Duck question is that he doesn't want to drip water all over the floor.
Having just thought about the people in my year its time for a rant.
In ballet class it is never ever ever acceptable to stand there and chat away like you don't have a care in the world. Some of you are so disruptive and annoying that you make me want to aim my grand battement straight into your heads - and for the people who've done the foundation year it is even more disgusting for you not to be disciplined in class - do not start to think you are above anyone else - remember that the new people did not need to take a foundation year. Talking people - you should really should start directing your focus at your technique. You need to.
sorry about that but it drives me insane when people don't work hard enough at things when they really should be and especially when they disrupt other people (notably me but not limited to me) who are trying to work hard in a class.
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