Monday, November 18, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Accept No Substitutes
There was just a little bit left from the gallon jug of apple cider. To save space, my wife transferred it to a jar. A jar labeled "Apricot Preserves."
I was very confused for a moment when I tried to make a PBJ.
I had never realized how similar in color apple cider is to apricot preserves.
I was very confused for a moment when I tried to make a PBJ.
I had never realized how similar in color apple cider is to apricot preserves.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Save the Duckface for your Selfies
I've been exercising to Latin music for years -- since before Zumba became a craze. I've had a variety of instructors over the years, including a woman who danced with Alvin Ailey and a man who is frequently tapped by Beto Perez to lead master classes for Zumba teachers. I feel that, at this point, I've got enough background that I can safely and authoritatively voice a few opinions.
I've noticed some characteristics that better Zumba instructors have in common, and some faults that less-skilled instructors also seem to share. Those who would care to promote a Zumba program may wish to make note of the following.
1) enthusiasm must come from enjoyable and energetic dance movements. If the class is boring, it will not help for the instructor to, randomly, whoop and shout, as though trying to fire up a crowd of adolescent girls. Please note that the whoops are not the problem, it is inappropriate timing of whoops that is a problem. A Zumba class is inextricably linked to music, and if there is no musical reason to be whooping, all the instructor does is demonstrate that she (I use the feminine pronoun as most instructors are female) is out of touch with the music. One of the best instructors I've experienced is almost completely silent during class.
2) movements must be rooted in dance. The core dance music of Zumba -- salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, bachata, merengue, and the like -- follow western music patterns of four and eight measure repeats. The instructor must be aware of this and choreograph patterns that follow the same repeat. You cannot expect the class to follow if you go for six, or five, or nine. You'll be fighting the music rather than moving with it. If your background is fitness, rather than dance, maybe this is hard for you. But it's essential.
3) instructors must lead the class. This may seem obvious (or, at least, it does to me) but somehow there are instructors who think they can tell the class to turn their backs, and then expect them to know what is happening. On a similar note, instructors must choreograph with enough repeats to allow the class to learn the movement, before going on to another move. And it must come back to the same or similar movements. If you're switching to some new movement every four beats the class will never get a chance to figure it out. Maybe you can do some complicated hand motions, or syncopated footwork in some other dance class, but in the Zumba class you have to lead in a way that the class can follow.
4) keep up your energy level. When you direct the class to turn their backs to you it doesn't mean it's time for you to take a rest break. There will almost always be people who don't turn, either because they are still trying to figure out the step, or for other reasons. If the instructor stops dancing at that point, only starting again when the bulk of people are facing forward, it is an insult. Even if you don't do the full movement, at least continue directing.
5) variety is important. Mix up your moves from song to song. mix up your songs from class to class. We're all very impressed that you can waggle your hips in isolation from your shoulder shimmy, but if you do it again and again, it's just showing off and not leading, particularly since most of the class is nowhere near your level in isolations.
6) learn basics of the music you are moving to. Salsa doesn't move on 4 or 8. Bachata moves side to side in groups of four. Chacha indicates syncopation. Show respect for the culture.
Perhaps most important of all, don't show us your duckface. It's not pretty.
I've noticed some characteristics that better Zumba instructors have in common, and some faults that less-skilled instructors also seem to share. Those who would care to promote a Zumba program may wish to make note of the following.
1) enthusiasm must come from enjoyable and energetic dance movements. If the class is boring, it will not help for the instructor to, randomly, whoop and shout, as though trying to fire up a crowd of adolescent girls. Please note that the whoops are not the problem, it is inappropriate timing of whoops that is a problem. A Zumba class is inextricably linked to music, and if there is no musical reason to be whooping, all the instructor does is demonstrate that she (I use the feminine pronoun as most instructors are female) is out of touch with the music. One of the best instructors I've experienced is almost completely silent during class.
2) movements must be rooted in dance. The core dance music of Zumba -- salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, bachata, merengue, and the like -- follow western music patterns of four and eight measure repeats. The instructor must be aware of this and choreograph patterns that follow the same repeat. You cannot expect the class to follow if you go for six, or five, or nine. You'll be fighting the music rather than moving with it. If your background is fitness, rather than dance, maybe this is hard for you. But it's essential.
3) instructors must lead the class. This may seem obvious (or, at least, it does to me) but somehow there are instructors who think they can tell the class to turn their backs, and then expect them to know what is happening. On a similar note, instructors must choreograph with enough repeats to allow the class to learn the movement, before going on to another move. And it must come back to the same or similar movements. If you're switching to some new movement every four beats the class will never get a chance to figure it out. Maybe you can do some complicated hand motions, or syncopated footwork in some other dance class, but in the Zumba class you have to lead in a way that the class can follow.
4) keep up your energy level. When you direct the class to turn their backs to you it doesn't mean it's time for you to take a rest break. There will almost always be people who don't turn, either because they are still trying to figure out the step, or for other reasons. If the instructor stops dancing at that point, only starting again when the bulk of people are facing forward, it is an insult. Even if you don't do the full movement, at least continue directing.
5) variety is important. Mix up your moves from song to song. mix up your songs from class to class. We're all very impressed that you can waggle your hips in isolation from your shoulder shimmy, but if you do it again and again, it's just showing off and not leading, particularly since most of the class is nowhere near your level in isolations.
6) learn basics of the music you are moving to. Salsa doesn't move on 4 or 8. Bachata moves side to side in groups of four. Chacha indicates syncopation. Show respect for the culture.
Perhaps most important of all, don't show us your duckface. It's not pretty.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Reboot
Time to resurrect this venue? I have many thoughts, some of which I'm willing to share, and it may be beneficial to commit them to writing.
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