Your first class,as a male, what was it like ? - Page 2

khanjar · 07-09-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taheya

Lucky you Khanjar Siouxie is a great teacher I hear! I have friends who have been to her workshops.

Yes lucky me, in that she was the only one of many that had no problem accepting a male who wished to learn. I am only miffed I missed their performance at a locally held festival, (I got my months mixed up, I thought it was July as the month of the festival).

I have only but praise for her for her patience with me and her observations, which I have yet to do something about, (spine is twisted). I would recommend Siouxsie to anyone so impressed was I.

Caroline_afifi · 07-09-2008, 10:13 PM

Khanjar,
Say a big hi to Siouxie for me. We both initially trained with the same teacher and was in the dance company together. I last saw her a year ago at a festival.
She also came on her first trip to Egypt with me about 10 years ago.
She nuts too

(she probably thinks the same about me as our backgrounds couldnt be any more different!) She was in touch with nature and I was in touch with the city...

khanjar · 07-09-2008, 10:42 PM

Hmmmm, yes Devon and pylons, oops sorry, city, down here is so much different than up there, I know as I used to live up there.

Of course I will say a big Hi from yourself, come the fall, Autumn when the classes start again. Are you the Caroline mentioned on Siouxsie's Bio in regards to the Mimi La Sardine 1998 to 2000 production ?

Mago · 07-09-2008, 11:26 PM

I am happy. UNfortunately, due to cash constraints, Im only trianing once a week, but I have my martial arts to play with, so I'm ok.

Thanks for the warm words - its kinda scary to be the one guy in a sea of girls. I know, most guys would act quite foolish, but I had to focus on the dance too much to notice anything...

I don't think i died. apparently i can shimmy well. Nothing else worked though LOL

Caroline_afifi · 07-10-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by khanjar

Hmmmm, yes Devon and pylons, oops sorry, city, down here is so much different than up there, I know as I used to live up there.

Of course I will say a big Hi from yourself, come the fall, Autumn when the classes start again. Are you the Caroline mentioned on Siouxsie's Bio in regards to the Mimi La Sardine 1998 to 2000 production ?

Yes, that is me.
small world on the internet eh!

BigJim · 07-10-2008, 01:47 PM

First dance class.... very nerve-wracking... I had started dancing on a do-it yourself basis using dvd's so I had an understanding of the basics. I was lucky to get in touch with a truly great instructor who didn't hesitate to give private lessons to a beginning male student.I live in a small rural town a long ways from the city so regular dance classes are not an option.She gave me enough confidence to attend workshops when they came thru the city.... the first workshop was the most nerve-wracking thing I've done in along time. When I started I was 6"3 and 300 lbs so when I walked into the workshop I didn't exactly blend in... I was an oddity (and probably still am) but besides a few curious glances I was treated great... probably what made it easier on me and the rest of the class was that I had that basic understanding and could fit into the flow without tripping over 2 left feet. Once that first class was over I felt I had overcome a major hurdle and have attended several workshops since. I am happy that I am getting to know a few of the regulars that attend these classes and it's great to feel welcome... P.S.... I'm still 6"3 but am down to 255lbs and feel great....

Zorba · 07-10-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mago

I don't think i died. apparently i can shimmy well. Nothing else worked though LOL

Take it dude, take it! I still have problems with "regular" shimmies - 3/4 shimmies I can do, but the straight shimmies I'm on the bottom side of incompetence. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can't!

Caroline_afifi · 07-10-2008, 09:24 PM

Can I add a slightly different perspective?

I dont teach weekly classes and only teach workshops by invitation.
I was teaching at a festival April and experienced my first male student.

I want to be honest about my experience as this is about sharing and learning.
The first thing that came into my mind was in the middle of stripping off to change into my workshop gear. I thought oops, followed by a mental struggle of should I go elsewhere or carry on as normal? I carried on as I thought leaving at that point may have been too obvious and made him feel awkward.
He had obviously more experience of this than me and was cool about the whole workshop. I gave him the same attention as the rest of the class but had to think about how I explained some things so as not to come from an entirely female perspective.
It was a small challenge for me but I felt like I dealt with it fine and it all went without a hitch.
What advice would male students give me for the future?

Mago · 07-10-2008, 10:10 PM

my instructor told me not to worry too much. The dance is the dance is the dance, and you will interpret the techniques automatically accordingly. I have a hard time checking the aggressive energy (im a martial artist) for the smooth flow, but im working on it.

That would be what my instructor told me - she said a male will give the dance male energy and the female give it female energy, and not to worry.

Mago

Zorba · 07-10-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline_afifi

I want to be honest about my experience as this is about sharing and learning.
The first thing that came into my mind was in the middle of stripping off to change into my workshop gear. I thought oops, followed by a mental struggle of should I go elsewhere or carry on as normal? I carried on as I thought leaving at that point may have been too obvious and made him feel awkward.
He had obviously more experience of this than me and was cool about the whole workshop. I gave him the same attention as the rest of the class but had to think about how I explained some things so as not to come from an entirely female perspective.
It was a small challenge for me but I felt like I dealt with it fine and it all went without a hitch.
What advice would male students give me for the future?

Carry on exactly as you always do. Don't worry about the femininity - male students are immersed in it and are used to it.

My article on the subject:

Male Student, Now What?

As for dressing room stuff - that's something to play by ear. When I first started, my dance sisters wouldn't even let me IN the dressing room. Then they'd let me in, but shoo me out as needed. Then they'd simply ask me to turn my back. Now, sometimes, they don't even bother with that - and I have to do a quick pivot around - "uh, warn me next time you're gonna take off your bra!"

ETA: What Mago says is truth.

07-09-2008, 10:42 PM	#13 (permalink)
khanjar Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 444	Hmmmm, yes Devon and pylons, oops sorry, city, down here is so much different than up there, I know as I used to live up there. Of course I will say a big Hi from yourself, come the fall, Autumn when the classes start again. Are you the Caroline mentioned on Siouxsie's Bio in regards to the Mimi La Sardine 1998 to 2000 production ? __________________ I am a dream to some...and a nightmare to others.

07-09-2008, 11:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
Mago Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Anto, baby! Posts: 25	I am happy. UNfortunately, due to cash constraints, Im only trianing once a week, but I have my martial arts to play with, so I'm ok. Thanks for the warm words - its kinda scary to be the one guy in a sea of girls. I know, most guys would act quite foolish, but I had to focus on the dance too much to notice anything... I don't think i died. apparently i can shimmy well. Nothing else worked though LOL __________________ Better to be dead and cool, than alive and uncool.

07-10-2008, 10:10 PM	#19 (permalink)
Mago Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Anto, baby! Posts: 25	my instructor told me not to worry too much. The dance is the dance is the dance, and you will interpret the techniques automatically accordingly. I have a hard time checking the aggressive energy (im a martial artist) for the smooth flow, but im working on it. That would be what my instructor told me - she said a male will give the dance male energy and the female give it female energy, and not to worry. Mago __________________ Better to be dead and cool, than alive and uncool.

07-09-2008, 10:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 1,375	Khanjar, Say a big hi to Siouxie for me. We both initially trained with the same teacher and was in the dance company together. I last saw her a year ago at a festival. She also came on her first trip to Egypt with me about 10 years ago. She nuts too (she probably thinks the same about me as our backgrounds couldnt be any more different!) She was in touch with nature and I was in touch with the city...

07-10-2008, 01:47 PM	#16 (permalink)
BigJim Junior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3	First dance class.... very nerve-wracking... I had started dancing on a do-it yourself basis using dvd's so I had an understanding of the basics. I was lucky to get in touch with a truly great instructor who didn't hesitate to give private lessons to a beginning male student.I live in a small rural town a long ways from the city so regular dance classes are not an option.She gave me enough confidence to attend workshops when they came thru the city.... the first workshop was the most nerve-wracking thing I've done in along time. When I started I was 6"3 and 300 lbs so when I walked into the workshop I didn't exactly blend in... I was an oddity (and probably still am) but besides a few curious glances I was treated great... probably what made it easier on me and the rest of the class was that I had that basic understanding and could fit into the flow without tripping over 2 left feet. Once that first class was over I felt I had overcome a major hurdle and have attended several workshops since. I am happy that I am getting to know a few of the regulars that attend these classes and it's great to feel welcome... P.S.... I'm still 6"3 but am down to 255lbs and feel great....

07-10-2008, 09:24 PM	#18 (permalink)
Caroline_afifi V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Liverpool UK Posts: 1,375	Can I add a slightly different perspective? I dont teach weekly classes and only teach workshops by invitation. I was teaching at a festival April and experienced my first male student. I want to be honest about my experience as this is about sharing and learning. The first thing that came into my mind was in the middle of stripping off to change into my workshop gear. I thought oops, followed by a mental struggle of should I go elsewhere or carry on as normal? I carried on as I thought leaving at that point may have been too obvious and made him feel awkward. He had obviously more experience of this than me and was cool about the whole workshop. I gave him the same attention as the rest of the class but had to think about how I explained some things so as not to come from an entirely female perspective. It was a small challenge for me but I felt like I dealt with it fine and it all went without a hitch. What advice would male students give me for the future?