The lobby was decorated like a big pink castle. That should have tipped me off, but I sat and waited for the children's jazz class before it to wrap up, along with several other adults that did not have tap shoes with them. (Parents.) When the jazz class was over, and tap was about to start, I introduced myself to the tap teacher, and he informed me that some of the kids participate in the class.
He said I was the only adult who had ever showed up.
I was already there, and already had my shoes on, so I joined in with the kids for my first tap class in Virginia. I'm awful at gauging kids' ages, for serious, but based on the fact that all the little girls in that class were pretty tall for kids, though still pre-pubescent, and that they were doing some steps that I didn't learn until high school, I'd guess they were probably around age 10 or 11. I have been taking tap classes longer than they have been alive.
Actually, my shoes might even be older than they are.
By the way? Tapping with kids is TOTALLY different than tapping with adults. There was a lot less structure than I am used to, because little girls like running around and shouting the tap moves they want to do, and showing off by doing the steps as fast as humanly possible. Which I can't really fault them for, because I did the same thing when I was a kid.
Also? They love it when other people show off stuff they can't do yet. So they basically told me that when I come back next time I need to show them all the tricks I know. I kind of like being adored.
I haven't decided yet if I'm going back or not though. Because is that weird, to be the only adult in what is basically a kids' class that's called "adult tap"? I don't want to take tap for the sole purpose of showing off; I want to take it because I love it, and even after 16+ years of classes, I still want to learn new things and get better.
However, I was surprised that, in a class full of kids, I still learned some new things on my first day, things that I am not yet capable of doing and that I need to practice. (I think the teacher was trying to gauge what I knew and what I didn't, because one move in particular was extremely difficult-looking, and I don't know how he defied gravity long enough to get that many sounds in.)
If you were in my Capezios, would you continue with classes even if you didn't fit in so well? (There are a couple other studios in town that offer adult classes, but I'm not sure yet if tap is available at any of them. I plan on making some calls today.)
I would have felt SO awkward. Although now you've gone once, so maybe it will be less awkward? And it sounds like you learned some stuff, which is cool. Maybe you can start volunteering there as a helper or something. Just an idea. You could get to know people doing that. Granted they would all be kids, but still.
ReplyDeleteI would have felt awkward, too. I know how much you love tap, so here's hoping you find an adult class with other actual adults. Does the university offer any dance classes?
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh SO hard, especially the whole "I have been taking tap classes longer than they have been alive" thing. It may have been awkward, but it sure makes for a great story :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, yeah. Kind of negates the whole make-new-friends-here thing, but at least it'd be something fun if they needed help.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the university has any dance options; their performing arts degrees are all music performance or theater. Good idea though, I did take tap in college in Oklahoma!
ReplyDeleteIf nothing else, I'll take the good story. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could have handled that! But I think it's really important to keep up with things you enjoy, so if you can't find adult tap classes at other studios, I would try it again. I mean, I've seen adults with little kids in Tae Kwon Do before working at similar levels.
ReplyDeleteDid the class make you happy? Did you get that little "I'm dancing!" thrill? If yes- then keep going! Who cares how old your classmates are? If you were bored, though, or overwhelmed by awkwardness so that joy couldn't work its way in- then yeah, it's probably best to bow out. A few years ago, I took an adult "beginning" ballet class, just to try and get back in shape, and the entire class was made up of women who were twice my age and twice my skill level. Occasionally, one of the high school girls would join the class to make up for missing a regular lesson, and she'd show up the rest of us with her incredible flexibility (damn teenagers). I had kind of expected to be the best person in the class- I knew it would be all parents, but I didn't think they'd all be *good*. Like, REALLY good. I should have known better though- this was a rather professional studio whose graduates actually went on to professional academies, not regular universities where ballet is just a hobby, not a career, so of course their moms would also be almost-professionals. I was embarrassed to be pretty much always the youngest person in class and yet the most lacking in technique- I was just a few years out of high school, where I'd taken class 4 nights a week. I should be owning these old ladies! But I loved the challenge, and more importantly I loved the feeling of dancing again- learning new steps, feeling the music, watching my lines in the mirror. I took an entire semester's worth of class before my schedule got too busy. It was worth the relative shame of being out danced by women who could be my mom.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, I hadn't thought of other activities in which the skill levels might be drastically mixed.
ReplyDeleteThere's no shame in not being the best in the class. It's an opportunity for growth!
ReplyDeleteI tend to have a low tolerance for kids, so being the only adult would get old realllll quick for me. But if I were into the whole everybody's aunt thing it could be kinda cool!
ReplyDeleteDid you have fun? Yeah, it's awkward being the only adult, but I'm a big goofball at heart, so I could see myself having fun with the kids. Since it's an adult class, I think the instructor should gear the class toward you (the sole adult). ;)
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet figured out my tolerance for kids. In general, I'm not crazy about children (mainly just never had any chance to interact with them when I was younger, so now my default is set to awkward-with-kids), but when they're a little older, have personalities and want independence, I can get along with them just fine.
ReplyDeleteGood point about the class aim. It was fun, but I for sure felt awkward. In a class full of girls, I kept waiting for someone to go all Mean Girls and be like, So WHY are you here?
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