[Curly Ripe Meat] Cheer Camp, Day 1
Wow!!!
Ok, so I am a sucker, and I am totally participating in Cheer Camp. The
dances just look SO FUN; I can't help myself!!! I'm going to run out of
clean work-out clothes. :p
I am totally grateful that I have been teaching 20 hrs/wk (and hence,
working out 4-6hrs a day) for the past four weeks, because OMG: dance
camp is HARD. Today I didn't do the warm up, nor Routine A, nor the
technique class. However, I did do Routine B and C; both AWESOME girly
jazz/hip hop/street jazz; the stuff I love and used to take from Alison
but these were taught by Lizzy Richardson (she reminds me very much of
Alison in a wonderful way). I also took FAST Hip Hop with Brandy (can't
find video for ya... I'll keep looking), and learned the Camp Dance. So
that was my four hours of BUSTIN' for today.
Tomorrow, more of the same, but also the warm up (at 8:30 ... I'd
better get to sleep!) and some administrator classes.... I'd kinda like
to take the technique classes, too: triple pirouettes into hitch kicks
= NOM!!!
I watch my tough girls getting into the Spirit, and I wonder what would
I have been like, if I had done this when I was young? (Well, I'd be a
much better dancer, wah.) I'm pleased that I can at least take class
with these college stars; but I'm getting my ass handed to me,
frequently. This choroegraphy is amazing, and they teach SO FAST!!
There are Britney Spears' choroegraphers and ... well; I digress too
much for 1am.
I am really engaged by how this whole process is about team-building.
It reminds me of the really great weekend jesus camp I went to, which
was all about feeling good and singing alternative-rock-styled songs
about Jesus for hours on end. They'd use an overhead projector for the
lyrics, so everyone could sing along. The first night was what I
remember most: over two hours of singing (translates to chanting, if
you have yogic experience) in a large group, that got everyone high on
physical experience, physical expression, positivity and a unity of
openness and security in single-mindedness.
I totally got teary-eyed a few times today; watching amazing performers
teach and go all-out; watching groups, watching teams cheer for their
team-mates and for the staff here -- just because that's the culture.
(YAY! You got up and danced the twist with twenty other people, just to
represent our team!!! Let's scream your name and cheer you on!!) The
culture insists that you support each other, and you help one another
to learn and grow. No BS. You're a team. And for those of us who have
not had that kind of community in our upbringing, it's amazing.
I'm really glad to be experiencing it. I am enjoying my perspective, as
the cheer-virgin that I am, and watching how my cheerleading team is
observing 500 people's camaraderie and having (for the first time, for
some?) a deep desire for that unity. I think that many of us have not
ever experienced this kind of cultural/familial/communal acceptance and
purpose, where one can feel safe enough to admit and commit to really
throwing our hearts out there and being a *team*.
So many of us only feel free to take that risk of vulnerability when
we're infatuated, but these young adults are leaders, creating their
own family. It's really touching.
YAY CHEER CAMP!
Ok, so I am a sucker, and I am totally participating in Cheer Camp. The
dances just look SO FUN; I can't help myself!!! I'm going to run out of
clean work-out clothes. :p
I am totally grateful that I have been teaching 20 hrs/wk (and hence,
working out 4-6hrs a day) for the past four weeks, because OMG: dance
camp is HARD. Today I didn't do the warm up, nor Routine A, nor the
technique class. However, I did do Routine B and C; both AWESOME girly
jazz/hip hop/street jazz; the stuff I love and used to take from Alison
but these were taught by Lizzy Richardson (she reminds me very much of
Alison in a wonderful way). I also took FAST Hip Hop with Brandy (can't
find video for ya... I'll keep looking), and learned the Camp Dance. So
that was my four hours of BUSTIN' for today.
Tomorrow, more of the same, but also the warm up (at 8:30 ... I'd
better get to sleep!) and some administrator classes.... I'd kinda like
to take the technique classes, too: triple pirouettes into hitch kicks
= NOM!!!
I watch my tough girls getting into the Spirit, and I wonder what would
I have been like, if I had done this when I was young? (Well, I'd be a
much better dancer, wah.) I'm pleased that I can at least take class
with these college stars; but I'm getting my ass handed to me,
frequently. This choroegraphy is amazing, and they teach SO FAST!!
There are Britney Spears' choroegraphers and ... well; I digress too
much for 1am.
I am really engaged by how this whole process is about team-building.
It reminds me of the really great weekend jesus camp I went to, which
was all about feeling good and singing alternative-rock-styled songs
about Jesus for hours on end. They'd use an overhead projector for the
lyrics, so everyone could sing along. The first night was what I
remember most: over two hours of singing (translates to chanting, if
you have yogic experience) in a large group, that got everyone high on
physical experience, physical expression, positivity and a unity of
openness and security in single-mindedness.
I totally got teary-eyed a few times today; watching amazing performers
teach and go all-out; watching groups, watching teams cheer for their
team-mates and for the staff here -- just because that's the culture.
(YAY! You got up and danced the twist with twenty other people, just to
represent our team!!! Let's scream your name and cheer you on!!) The
culture insists that you support each other, and you help one another
to learn and grow. No BS. You're a team. And for those of us who have
not had that kind of community in our upbringing, it's amazing.
I'm really glad to be experiencing it. I am enjoying my perspective, as
the cheer-virgin that I am, and watching how my cheerleading team is
observing 500 people's camaraderie and having (for the first time, for
some?) a deep desire for that unity. I think that many of us have not
ever experienced this kind of cultural/familial/communal acceptance and
purpose, where one can feel safe enough to admit and commit to really
throwing our hearts out there and being a *team*.
So many of us only feel free to take that risk of vulnerability when
we're infatuated, but these young adults are leaders, creating their
own family. It's really touching.
YAY CHEER CAMP!