Taking off the training wheels

[Gumby]

Every tuesday night after the last group class at the studio a bunch of our pro's and am couples get together and run rounds. All four or five dances back to back just like at a comp. No stoping, a few seconds between dances and then off again.

My new pro suggested that I come tonight and we would run our brand new (they still squeek) routines. Eeek - Out first comp is in seven weeks (City Lights) and I know we need to really see where we are but hey we were still tweaking the V.Waltz last Saturday!

I don't usually get nervous at comps but I am sweating it today. Haven't got a lick of work done all afternoon. That seven week deadline has really been looming for me and I know we need to know where we are and this is as good a way of seeing as any but but but - our choreography is demanding - I"m just not sure I'm ready - - - -

Anyway - nuff whining - keep a good thought

and if any of you are planning to be a City Lights (SF in March) keep an eye out for the red head with the big mouth and the bright green dress - I'm pretty hard to miss!

 

[tacad]

Good luck Gumby! Nice signature.

 

[chachagirlie]

What a great opportunity!

You actually have several weeks of running rounds before the comp...I'm betting you will find out more about how good you are as opposed to weaknesses...

...and don't dispair...SF Open is just a few weeks after City Lights, if you really feel too rough you could wait to debut there!

Good Luck!!!

 

[Gumby]

Thanks tacad and chachagirlie!

I survived! In some ways it went better than I anticipated and in some ways worse (isn't that always the way - what you obsess about is never what the problem is).

We had planned to pitch the timing down on the VWaltz cause we had never done it full spead and the person who was running the music pitched them all down!! I mean really, really slow! So instead of being able to ride the music I felt like I was fighting the music. However, my pro said it was a good thing because it really showed where we are having timing issues. On the up side, I remembered the choreography, didn't overextend my lines, and for once I didn't fall out of a single spin or turn so - yahooo!

We plan to do SFO as well as City Lights and I think that is really why I am getting worked up. City Lights as you may know is a fairly small comp so a good place to start. But a lot of people go to SFO and two weeks is no time at all to fix stuff if our first effort bites.
What is really weird is that as much as I constantly obsess and worry - I never get stage fright! Maybe I get it all out of my system ahead of time.

I still have 15 lessons, 45 hours of practice and 2 hours of coaching of to go.

Why do we do this to ourselves again? Of yeah that's right - we love it.