NCSU A Success!

At 3pm today, I turned on my GPS, whom I call "Misty," and took off for Raleigh. The drive went well, with no real mishaps, only the usual maniac weaving speed demons who grace the stretch of I-40 between Burlington and Raleigh. I arrive at NCSU about 45 minutes early, as I recognize my knack for getting lost, despite clear directions breezily articulated by Misty: "Turn left, then go straight on." "At the end of the road, turn right." In 500 yards, you have reached your destination." I wander around looking for a parking spot my car can occupy without getting a ticket. There seem to be none. After twenty minutes, my patience wears thin and I park in a faculty spot, and hope for the best.

The Carmichael Gymnasium, where the rehearsal is to be held is absolutely huge...three floors, a track, a pool, too many work out rooms of various kinds to count. The minute I walk in, I am knocked sideways by the stench of sweaty armpit. Groups of young men walk by like roosters, loud and puffing out their chests for everyone to see. Groups of young women walk by too, chattering on about flat stomachs and loathsome English papers. I ask no less than three people to point me in the direction of the dance studio. When I walk in, I am surprised by how large the room is. I am happy it is not a closet, as so many dance studios are.

Our rehearsal gets off to a shakey start, as only two of the eight ladies show up on time. The others are between five and fifteen minutes late! I have come in with no plan, as I have not seen the ladies. We do a technique class, to begin. The class is a mix, but there is not nearly as much disparity between technical ability among the girls as I had expected. They work hard, and seem to want to make the corrections I give them. During our leg work I say "I can tell your hearts are in it! That makes me happy!" The girls smile and giggle. We are having a good time. I make jokes, none of them flop (highly unusual!), and by the end of the technique class, everyone has worked up a good sweat. After water, we move into the phrase work for the piece. I use my judgment from what I have seen in the class, and begin to construct a phrase for the girls to learn. The pick up quickly, and I add on. We finish our phrase work for the day with half an hour left of rehearsal. the ladies have worked hard, they look spent, so I dismiss them. On the drive home, I contemplate our next rehearsal.

~Cara