7.09.2008

a pregnant dancer

on being in the sfdc studios & performing again:
for the last month my tango teachers have been blessing european tango communities with their charm, beauty & skill. so with my extra free nights in the week i signed up for a fusion dance performance workshop {taught by the diva of delight, jenni}. in 4 weeks time, 20 dancers went from nothingness to a complete 7 minute piece that we got to perform before a live audience, twice. {this is all because jenni has vision and skill and perserverence, just so you know}. it was a challenging and fun experience to not only perform with a group again but to do it while in the middle of pregnancy. i got a bit frustrated that i couldn't jump as high or balance as long or get up off the floor as easily as my pre-baby-bump body, but for the most part i was really happy with the results. i even did a few partner lifts and had much better stamina than i expected. i was asked by several people if i should be doing all that while in my condition. i suppose the thought crossed my mind a little, but not long enough to stop me. i am a dancer. that is what i do ~ it's one of my greatest passions & joys. so why should i not continue it even if i am gestating? besides, i really think the little peach liked it too. the music, the movement, the positive energy i was flowing. so i'm glad i did it and am planning to continue dancing until i literally can't any more.
{that's me on the far left arching back, and in the photo on the right i'm the one almost in the middle of the clump of dancers pulling on that high leg while looking down at the ground}


on being back into the tango vida:
{gorgeous image by smooth}

with the performance workshop over and a week break for work & vegas reasons, now this week i've jumped right back into tango. and none too soon. ney & jennifer are back with more vitality than ever and even though i'm a bit bigger than last time they saw me, i still felt like a shining star in their capable tango hands. i've enjoyed happy reunions with my tango community friends ~ lots of belly rubs and comments like "wow you can still move that beautifully in 4 inch heels?". why yes, surprisingly, i can. sure the balance is a little off, but the strength and muscle memory is there ~ and i think my musical connection is stronger than ever. the senses are much more heightened during pregnancy, so perhaps that has something to do with it. i was worried that my embrace might be off, what with a little someone now very much between my partner and me, but that fear was unfounded. maybe for the leads to dance with me it feels kind of like how it feels for we followers when we dance with a man who has a big gut? it's not like you can't form a great embrace and walk with ease even if there is a bit more between you than with other partners. at any rate, tangoing again feels incredible, and i dare say there may be a new tango angel on the horizon ~ thank heaven's.

{my dear friend seth & i dancing at a wedding}

{all photos of me dancing taken by jendita}

11 comments:

tangobaby said...

Now this is my kind of post! congratulations on all of your recent dancing and what a nice introduction of the peach to your dancing friends.

I'll look forward to more fun peach/tango stories? and maybe even more tango angel stories, too?

studio wellspring said...

tb ~ thanks so much, dear one! there will definitely be many more peach/tango stories to share .... and if i can ever get my photos organized there will be a peach/vegas/cirque du soleil story or two to share too!

Relyn Lawson said...

I can't tell you how much I love that you are dancing when you are pregnant! And posting pictures of it.

I think that being pregnant is such a celebratory time, and dancing is such a joyful thing. (I do know that many women are too sick to do much celebrating.) What I mean is, I love that you don't allow being pregnant to stop you from doing what you love, being who you are. As a mom, you will still be you. And what a wonderful you you are, Ms. Well Spring.

studio wellspring said...

hi relyn! you're always so kind and encouraging ~ what a great friend to share this lovely blogiverse with! thank you for adding an extra special spring to my step.

paris parfait said...

How wonderful that you are finding new ways to enjoy your dancing! Love the photos, but most of all, I love the fact that you sound happy and full of energy and sass! xoxox

studio wellspring said...

energy & sass are right, tara! all about it. ;o) that's what gets me thru all this craziness of a hugely growing belly, full time job, and being a dancing fool. what full happy lives we lead....

Anonymous said...

I have a cute animated video on my blog that you might enjoy. It's called "In your Arms" set to Tango music.

studio wellspring said...

hi enzie ~ thanks so much for stopping in & commenting! i've seen that sweet flim before, and yes, it is quite endearing. thanks for sharing it tho, it's certainly worth seeing more than once.

Mtnhighmama said...

I was bit by the tango bug while pregnant, and loved every second of it. I think it's something extra special to dance while we're growing another person.

I'm sure you are lovely and full, and I look forward to hearing more of your pregnancy adventures.

studio wellspring said...

thanks mtnhighmama ~ so you mean that you started dancing tango while pregnant? that is impressive. i started last fall but have been easing in to it. now i'm trying to get in as much as i can before my feet can't squeeze into my come il fauts anymore. ;o)

Mtnhighmama said...

I did first start dancing when I was about 7 months pregnant. I have a bellydance background, but no partner dancing of any kind. So I started with a partner dancing for absolute beginners class, taught by a tanguera, and that was it for me!

It was charming and funny and chagrin-inducing to dance with people that were learning to be comfortable with being close--and being pregnant! It took a little bit for everyone to feel ok with touching the belly (even in open). Then I had the baby (and I was surrogate, so he went home with his mom and dad to NYC) but I was pumping breastmilk for them. And dancing was too much. It would cause letdown. So I had to put tango off for several months until I was done pumping for him.

I did find, in the last month, that the relaxin (one of the hormones that gets amped up in the end of pregnancy--can you tell I'm a midwife?) was too much, and my hips were super loosey-goosey and I had to be really careful about injury and pushing myself too far. I stopped dancing in the last month, and then it was another 6 or so before I could get back to tango.

Thinking of squeezing my feet into tango shoes in my 9th month makes me cringe!