After the first week of the second season.

In the elevator after one class this past week, Adam had asked me if I had been dancing [ballroom] long. I had admitted that I really can't dance to save my life, and I had only started dancing this summer.

While we were hanging out outside the studio before class, Bernard had told Adam that when he first attended our ballroom class, he noticed how stiff my curacha was (considering it was only my 3rd day, and it was his first). But I had managed to improve as the days progressed.

This week's the first week of Big Shift's second season, and straight on, from our very first day of class, Ian started me on certain advanced techniques, plus focused on correcting my basics (I sometimes still have a poor turnout, I do shortcuts when I do the rumba walk, and my hips still won't cooperate). Each class this week offered a different challenge, like learning a new rhythm, learning how to connect with a partner, new advanced steps to learn and how to put all of them together. Sometimes I come to the studio a little early for stretching and warm-ups, with Ian just there observing and correcting me if needed.

Classes this season are only 3 days a week, unlike last season's 6 days a week. Plus the ballroom schedule in the early afternoon had been moved an hour. Still a good schedule for me for 2 days of the week, then I just have to take the evening class on Fridays.

After class yesterday evening, Ian introduced me to Arknee (I guess he forgot that we were already introduced the day they got together). I was just expecting to leave the venue with them then we go our separate ways, but then Ian invited me to have dinner with them. We ended up at Wendy's, and just stayed there for a while, talking. It was so amusing watching Ian so kilig. It also amused and (I don't know why) kinda embarrassed me at how he raved to Arknee about me being his loyal and keen student this entire summer (heck, I never missed a day of class). He also mentioned a little earlier that he'll be prepping Arknee up as well, so he can be my dance partner. Oh my, oh my. So I guess the search for my partner has ended.

We still kept on talking during the walk to the intersection. I don't know why, but Ian still kept raving, at how he'd grown to love me as his student at Big Shift (favorite? Hahaha), and how we've grown pretty close by now. I have to say, Ian's become a pretty cool friend outside Big Shift. I'm really grateful that he's decided to take me under his wing now that I've focused on this.

Speaking of focusing on ballroom, yes, I made a big leap. A drastic change. I was supposed to be involved in 2 projects under TP this season. I backed out of both of them to focus on ballroom dancing. Some people said it was fine, as this is a rare opportunity. So of course, I had to go for it. And hardly anyone knows this, but I actually started learning ballroom dancing before I got into theater. My best friends and I were in a dance and movement club back in seventh grade, and we were already ballroom dancing before Rosa had talked me into auditioning for the school musical production. When I got fell in love with theater, I stayed. Ballroom dancing, though, was still a fascination for me, which was why I attended that session in Pasinaya 4 years ago.

And well, here I am. And we'll see how this goes.

Free sampling class week.

This week, Big Shift offered another round of free sampling classes to introduce their new season. It was just like last April's sampling classes, but at least this time I don't have to feel so awkward because I already know the people.

I ended up attending both of Ian's sampling classes, and even invited some people to join me. Unfortunately, either the people already made plans during those times (heck, it was at 8 in the evening), or ballroom dancing really isn't their thing. But surprise, surprise, Howie joined me during the first ballroom sampling class on Thursday night. At first, I thought almost no one would be interested to attend ballroom. But wonder of wonders, while Howie and I were still hanging out outside the satellite studio (where the class were being held that day), there were a bunch of girls who signed up for the class, plus this pretty Chinese girl (I forgot her name) who once attended one of our evening classes. She could barely speak a word of English, but thank goodness her friend was there to translate.

We covered the rumba that night, and there were times that Ian singled me out as an example, but my big mistake that night was not warming up before class, because my left leg was cramping like crazy. I managed to survive the class with a bad left leg, but lesson learned. I was glad Howie actually enjoyed the class, regardless that he was the only one there who had to learn the guy's steps for the sliding doors, and had to dance with half the girls in the room when Ian made everyone review the basic rumba plus alemana turns.

Once everyone started leaving after the class, Ian took a couple of minutes to check on my own technique, because my sliding door was kind of messed up that night. Then he took me aside and told me that Ate Helen was offering me her gift certificates, as she will be using the class package that her son Adrian had won during the actual dance showdown last Sunday. Oh my oh my, super thank you, Ate Helen. You helped me save a bundle for another package.

Howie, Ian and I left the mall at the same time. Once Howie bid his goodbyes, I hung out with Ian for a few minutes more while he smoked. He mentioned this one photo I posted on Facebook of the two of us, and he noticed Carmie's comment, about hoping to see me compete someday. "Hindi malayo na mangyari yun, na mag-compete ka," he said. Oh my. It's like what Pasinaya 2008 all over again.

I went back to Big Shift on Friday to attend Ian's second sampling class, which had an earlier time slot of 6:30. I arrived way too early, a little past 5, because Ian wanted to teach me some advanced techniques before class started, and he wanted me dressed and warmed up before then. I was about to sit on the couch outside the main studio when a familiar face inside caught my eye. It was Roan! She had just signed up for a couple of the sampling classes for that day, and didn't want to tell me until she was sure she could make it. She signed up for the 5pm pole dancing and the 6:30pm intermediate jazz. We managed to quickly chat up a storm while I changed into my skirt and shoes before her pole dancing class started.

I had already finished warming up by the time Ian had arrived. We moved to the space outside the satellite studio and I had to do this rumba segment that he had taught us before. Rumba fan to hockey stick to overturn, ball change, curacha. He had to clean my entire technique, from hip movement to my messy footwork. My goodness, I was sweating it out already and class hasn't even officially started.

When class did start, only one guy was there with us. He looked like he did have a dancer's physique, and he moved like one, but like me when I started out, he had a poor turnout. I still have a lousy turnout myself, but I guess I'm still trying to get used to it. Anyway, we covered the basic cha cha cha that evening, and about 3 or 4 more girls joined the class, including the interpreter of the pretty Chinese girl from the night before.

Once again, I had notes. As I had already been put into the advanced level, I'm now required to do more hip movement. And make smaller steps (20% less, hahaha). Those two notes actually go hand in hand in a way, I've learned.

Oh, Ian finally gave me Ate Helen's gift certificates that night. Again, thank you so much!

After changing out of my sweaty clothes, I managed to strike up a quick chat with Howie, Fran (yes, Howie managed to talk Fran into attending the intermediate jazz sampling class) and Roan at the bigger main studio while waiting for Ian to gather his stuff. As it turned out, the intermediate jazz teacher didn't arrive, so they were given gift certificates for a free session instead. They still stuck around to attend the 8pm contemporary jazz class.

Left the venue again with Ian, and walked together to the corner of Buendia and Makati Avenue together. He told me that I could come in to class early so he can focus on my technique for half an hour before we actually start the hour-long class. I actually like that idea, because an hour is pretty short for what he's been teaching. My goodness, he really wants me to keep this going. "Gusto ko maloka sila sayo sa susunod na recital," he had said. When I had said that I missed Abby, he even said that I'm the next Abby. Ahahaha, if only I could do half of what Abby can already do, I could have the same amount of confidence.

I can't wait for classes to start again.

On my first dance recital.

Last night was Big Shift's Pump Up DecaDANCE Showdown Party, which somewhat served as the recital for all students of the classes under Big Shift. Prior to the event, I was nervous as hell, as this was my very first dance recital.

I remember that I couldn't dance to save my life. In a musical theater workshop 5 years ago, we were taught basic movement from ballet and jazz, but that was it. Safe to say that from one or two of those sessions were basic movements that helped me stand out when the PDTA president had noticed me at a one-hour ballroom class, but I still couldn't dance if my life depended on it. But despite that, I still wanted to learn how to dance ballroom.

Ian had started choreo of our cha cha cha last Monday, to the song "Kiss" (the Art of Noise featuring Tom Jones version). It took me ages to get the choreography right, which included one class that only had me, plus an evening class with Abby that very same day. There was a little light scolding here and there during our Saturday rehearsal, because I realized that I had depended on the mirror and my peripheral vision to look at the others when I get lost, instead of relying on muscle memory and memory itself.

Anyway, so after a week of rehearsing, last night was the big day. I was still nervous but I didn't want to show it, as Abby had been pretty vocal about it already. Plus Ian had decided to pair me up with his younger brother Bonbon, who never came to rehearsal except on the day itself. When the brothers had arrived, it was high time to rehearse. As there was no other place to rehearse, we ended up staying in front of the closed CCF venue that faced the escalators. Eventually, because Bonbon had only learned the choreography that day, Ian had decided to pair up with me and let Bonbon dance with Ate Helen. I breathed a huge sigh of relief once I found out.

We rehearsed it a couple more times inside the actual venue, just like the day before, just so Bonbon would know the blocking and how big the space would be later. Then it was back to where we were rehearsing so we can get ready. Ian had said that he would provide me with my costume. When Bonbon handed it to me, oh my. It was bedazzled so it was pretty heavy, it had a low back, and an uber short skirt. I stared at it for a long while before I told Bonbon that it might be too short. He said it was alright, and I did have the legs for it. Coming from him, I think I'll take his word for it. Oh, and by the way, the dress is actually his, as he sometimes dances as a girl.

Ian had also offered to do my makeup, as he does Ate Helen's as well, but after doing one eye, he had let Janel (Abby's personal makeup artist) finish up. He also let me borrow some falsies, as the other 2 girls were wearing falsies as well. I have to say, he did a pretty good job.

We kept reviewing the steps, especially for my sake and Bonbon's (well, mostly for me, haha). As Bonbon is the better dancer (as Ian had admitted), he did help a bit with some of the technique. When I tried rehearsing the dance proper with Bernard, his energy was pretty contagious so I just had to project, to Ian's delight (because I hardly smiled when we rehearse the dance). I realized I really had to give all the energy I've got.

Abby was still vocal about her nervousness by the time the program started and we were already inside the venue, so I still clammed up. We (Abby, Ate Helen and I) hung around inside the small recording space behind the tech booth for a while as Bonbon gave us a little more tips on technique regarding sharp movements. Ian said that he didn't really have to motivate me anymore because I already knew how to do that on my own. I shared my performance motto from years ago, "If all else fails, project!" Hahahaha.

By the time it was our turn to dance, I've forgotten whether I was still nervous or not. But Abby was right. Once you hear the music, all you can do is just dance your heart out. Which I did. It actually felt good despite the fact that usually I don't like it when people watch me. But because of the confidence that I finally know the choreo by heart, I was on a high. Never mind that Ian tripped on the hem of his pants sometime before our highlights. I know that we still pulled off a good performance.

The rest of the night flew by. We got to watch the other performances as well. When we watched the beginners' hip hop performance, it was so adorable that Zhana and Adrian were front and center. Those two could really jam, as they didn't just have the moves, they also had the attitude. Ian and Ate Helen also had this nice rumba exhibition. Bernard had 2 other performances for jazz funk and some of the Hotlegs.

The event wasn't really hyped up that much, but I have to say that because I loved how I did that night, it was all good. Not bad for my first ever dance recital. I was a beginner when I first started the classes in April, then I kept coming to class 6 days a week. And I ended up dancing with my teacher, 2 advanced students (who have already been competing for years), another professional ballroom dancer, and a jazz funk teacher. All have had prior dance training while I had zero. I can't wait for the second season classes to start.

To my teacher Ian, thank you for everything you've taught, and for the patience. You already know how much I'm grateful. To my classmates Abby, Ate Helen, plus Olivia, Tita Lucy and Zhana, I had fun dancing with you. Thanks as well to Bernard for the optimism and extra help when we danced together in class twice a week. Thanks as well to Bonbon for the extra last minute pointers, plus for letting me wear one of your costumes. And of course, to Big Shift for opening up this awesome opportunity, I can't thank everyone enough.

One more day before I dance in public for the first time.

I had never been really confident about dancing. I know I look awkward when I dance. But whenever I see ballroom dancing, it always makes the dancers look so beautiful, especially when they do the standards. As for Latin ballroom, it looks even more beautiful. Which is why I chose it instead of the usual jazz and hip hop classes.

Ian started choreography for our recital (well, the recital is actually a sort of dance showdown event, but we still call it a recital anyway) last Monday, and it took me quite a while to get the hang of it, but hey, I can still do it. Abby, Ate Helen and I will be paired off with Bernard, Ian and Ian's brother, respectively for the routine, and I'm somehow nervous as heck. I still have my weaknesses, as I easily get lost when I start dancing with a partner, and my fear of falling during one part of the routine. Hopefully I will get over that by today, just in time for tomorrow's performance.

So tomorrow will be my first time to dance in front of an audience. And after tomorrow, an opportunity to keep doing this had opened, and I sure hope it will open up to more good things to come.

Oh yeah, if you want to come to the event, details are below.

What: Big Shift DANKA Pump Up DecaDANCE Showdown Party

Where: Big Shift Studios, 3rd level, A. Venue Mall, Makati Avenue, Makati City

When: Sunday, June 10, 6pm onwards

Tickets: P500 per person (inclusive of 2 drinks, 2 Big Shift DANKA gift certificates, and 1 raffle stub), additional P300 for the buffet dinner

Giddy.

I remember this picture of myself, taken back in early 2008 during the Pasinaya festival in CCP. I was sitting inside the LT lobby ladies' room after attending a back-to-back session of ballroom dancing lessons at the MKP. Someone from the group that led the lessons even came up to me and we had a short chat. He had noticed me while I was dancing, and asked me if I had any formal dance training. While I never had a dance lesson in my life, I had only applied the pointers I had picked up from a brief movement class during the previous summer's theater workshop. The man then asked if I wanted to dance competitively. I was in rush to meet with my friends, yet thrilled by the offer, so I said that I wasn't sure, plus the timing wasn't right to go for it, as I was going back to school the following term. So he gave me his card and told me to contact him if ever I was interested. I took the card without looking at it, stuffed it in my bag, thanked the man, and ran off.

When the photo I had mentioned was taken, I was in such a high because of the thrill of actually doing ballroom dancing, even for just an hour. I didn't realize until later, when I had looked at the man's business card, that I had been talking with the president of the Philippine Dance Teachers Association. Oh my gosh. And I brushed him off just like that. I thought I would never get a chance like that again.

Fast forward to last night. I was in CCP, helping out at Tanghalang PIlipino's Walang Sugat callback auditions. And check it out, the venue was also at the MKP. I had mentioned to Badjo and Enzo before the auditions began that that was the place where I first learned real ballroom dancing. Anyway, it was nearing midnight, it was getting really hot as the air conditioners had already been turned off, and I was ready to crash after a long day (early morning shift, dance class, production meeting, then the auditions). I was just sitting inside while the panel was watching one of the last auditionees. Suddenly my phone lights up because of an incoming call. When I looked at the caller, it was Ian, my dance teacher. Assuming it was related to an upcoming session or whatever, I rushed outside the MKP and answered the call.

Ian first said that he called just to tell me "na natutuwa raw siya sakin," for my eagerness to learn, and for all my improvements. He said that he still wants us to keep in touch. Then he shifts into a different topic regarding Tita Lucy and her granddaughter, who has been joining our class everyday for about a week now, as the 6-year-old girl could easily pick up whatever Ian teaches, and Tita Lucy as well. Then he starts off again about how much I had learned beginning day 1, that even Marky, his cousin, had also noticed. He keeps segueing from one topic to another, like how much he got praised by his exhibition with Abby a couple of nights ago, that Iya Villania had even told him that she also wants to enroll in his class. And then he segues back to me, that he wants me to keep taking lessons under his wing (one time during class, he even told me that he's going to try and ask if I can have a discount when I re-enroll if I keep going), and try to vouch for me as a scholar, and maybe attend his Sunday lessons. I was superbly touched by this, but he still kept talking, saying that he's planning to find a partner for me so I can compete someday.

Oh my gosh, Ian's encouraging words deeply touched me. Heck yeah, of course I still want to keep dancing! It's one of the best things that had happened to me all year. I don't really want to jinx it by blogging about this, but I sure hope these things really will happen. I was so giddy about the opportunities that my teacher had opened up for me that I was ready to laugh and cry at the same time right then and there.

Oh Lord, I sure hope this really will happen.

Hello stranger. I owe you an update.

My everyday routine had been altered ever since I started taking dance classes. I don't really mind. Heck, I don't even mind commuting to A Venue at noon to make it to a one o'clock class.

As I'm Ian's only student who attends the class everyday (yes, I never missed one day of his class), he appreciates the commitment and instead of giving me just the basics, he focuses on my technique little by little. And with that, he moves me into the same lessons with his advanced students, Abby and his dance partner, Ate Helen. Bernard, the jazz teacher, also attends our class twice a week. And to add to the pressure, Ian wants me to dance in the recital, and yes, also with the advanced students. Yayks, pressure.

I guess I lucked out being the only regular student in the afternoon class, so sometimes it's just Ian and me, then a teacher from another class would sit-in (like Bernard, and sometimes Copper, Clang, and Joie). And because they could easily pick up what was taught, I had to make the extra effort to catch on as quickly as they do. I was a little overwhelmed when it first happened, but I started enjoying the fast pace.

It's also flattering how Ian would say that Ate Helen keeps telling him about my improvement every time she comes to class. I can't really tell how much I've improved, but it's actually encouraging, hahaha.

We've been mostly tackling the Latin dances, then yesterday, we suddenly covered the basic waltz and tango. I could still remember a bit of the waltz when I attended that one-hour ballroom session in Pasinaya (but it was 5 years ago!), so when Ian had asked if I already knew how to dance the waltz, I had mentioned that, plus the old basics back when I was in 7th grade. He could tell that I had prior knowledge based on my form when he danced with me.

I've used up all of my units from my first enrollment, and I've just renewed my class "passport." I guess I really want to keep doing this and join the recital, but I sure hope I can still get to dance even after the summer is over. Unfortunately, with 2 projects already lined up for me this season, I won't be able to have that much free time on my hands. But of course, I'm still hoping there would still be an available schedule for me.

I'm really grateful that I found ballroom dancing again. I did learn from Ate Helen that it's pretty expensive to learn, especially when you're in competitive dancing like she is, but I guess for now, I just want to learn because I really do want to. Maybe the competitive dancing part will come in later. Maybe not. Plus dancing at least an hour a day really does give me such a happy disposition. I'm less moody, less emo (hahaha), and I'm hardly bothered by the bad vibes that would usually upset me before.

And this is where my update segues, haha.

I went to a production meeting with Sir Chris and the PM and SM staff of Stage Show last Thursday afternoon at the TP office's little conference room. I knew my former flame's current girlfriend would be there in the office because she was an intern, and I had expected there would be some sort of awkwardness in the air for me. I realized that it didn't really bother me as much, but I had noticed in a way that my presence had somewhat bothered her. The fact that I was there, that I was still working with the company, that I was pretty good friends already with the friends that she had made, that I was still in possible contact with her new guy, and even the fact that our hair was almost exactly in the same short cut. She had left the office the same time I did with a couple of our common friends from the office, and she just ran off in the opposite direction without a nod to them.

Anyway, the fact that it didn't bother me at all that there was a new girl in one of my best friends' life actually surprised me. I was actually happy for him. It made me appreciate him more as a friend, and as an ex-boyfriend, because I knew all that effort, all those shoutouts, were really his style, even when we were still in our early courtship stages. It was actually pretty sweet of him. Now I'm just hoping he'd get his act together, considering this girl is still pretty young. Plus I did hear from a couple of people that he still had photos of the 2 of us together in his iPod. Not a good assurance to the current girlfriend, tsk.

Anyway, that's enough for an update. Time to get rid of a blister that resulted in breaking in my new dancing shoes yesterday.

How is everyone, anyway? Please do leave a comment if you still read this blog. I'd love to hear from you.

This could just be a phase. But then again, maybe not. Shall we dance?

I'm nearing the end of the second week of my ballroom dancing classes, and I'm loving it even more. I've been attending every off-peak afternoon class since they began, and even though I'm still struggling with some of the technique (the curacha is a basic movement, but still a challenge for my hips, plus I still have a lousy turnout), I always look forward to every session. I don't think I'll ever get sick of learning the rumba no matter how challenging it can be.

After having so much fun during this afternoon's class, I had quite a realization. True, I've always been fascinated with ballroom dancing since the seventh grade, and always enjoyed it when there comes an opportunity to dance it. One of the things I recently love about this dance class is that it makes me forget about all the bad vibes that's happening to me outside the dance studio. Looking at myself in the mirror while dancing, I may have a little look of concentration, but once I get the hang of it, I notice how I instantly light up and relax.

It somehow feels so different from the acting workshops I used to take. I remember that there were some days when I feel so anxious before coming to workshop class, anticipating every step, already afraid of doing the wrong thing even though nothing had happened yet. Not that I didn't enjoy taking the workshops. I do love it, as theater is still one of my passions. But I guess my interest in performing took a different turn this year. Thank goodness an opportunity to dance ballroom finally opened up for me.

There's also this funny thing about my name. Everywhere I go, I'm usually called by my nickname. At the dance school, where there is literally no one who knew me anywhere else prior to the beginning of the classes, I'm known as Christine. Heck, Ian even calls me Tin. And I have to admit, it feels nice to be called only by my given name again.

I remember telling Lara through text about blessings in disguise. I had wanted to re-enroll in a rehearsal and performance techniques class in TP, but it wasn't offered this summer. Plus I had been offered to work backstage for a play that I've always wanted, and rehearsals begin this month. It was immediately plucked away when I was about to reach for it, because I didn't reply right away. Those doors were closed, but then came the window of opportunity when I saw the ad for this new dance school that was offering summer workshops. One free sampling class later, and I had signed up. And here I am, dancing the rumba almost every day alongside the occasional professional dancer.

Shall we dance?