Don't get frustrated!

Sometimes, choreography simply escapes me.

Actually, memorizing sequences of movements in a split second is not my strength but for some students in my jazz and modern classes, it seems to be easy. I like volunteering to go first when we do phrases across the floor so that I can turn around and watch other people dance beautifully and with so much more grace than I can! I find that I build myself up to do the phrase once proficiently and then fail to do it again when the time comes, so I end up walking some distance across the floor with a rather frustrated look on my face.

Yesterday in jazz, I encountered such a moment. My jazz instructor was demonstrating a phrase that she wanted to put in our combination at the end of class and it was not particularly long or complicated but my limbs simply would not do as my brain told me to do. That, and I started on the wrong foot (literally) ... so 3/4 of the way across the floor, she shouted from behind me, "Don't get frustrated! You'll get it next time!"

Such simple advice, I mused. Don't get frustrated. Don't give up. It is so easy just to feel embarrassed and defeated when you don't get the moves right away and then walk the rest of the way to the other side. Yet, it is just as easy to step aside, wait for the next count of eight, and try again. On the left side, I messed up again at halfway across the floor, but I simply stepped out of the way of other dancers, waited for the next musical cue, and tried it again.

No, I didn't perfect the movement but I used the entire floor and I got three repetitions of the phrase in on the left side. Eventually, my disobedient muscles will develop a kind of memory that will make that movement familiar and, perhaps, second nature one day. For now, I'm happy just to work on keeping myself from being upset with my inefficient brain-limb connection and focusing on what really matters: the movement I love so much!