Tuesday 4 May 2010

What I've learned from 10 000 hours in dance-class



For over 40 years I’ve been shaking my tail-feathers to music in front of large mirrors. I’ve done ballet, jazz, aerobics, step-aerobics, Nia, ball-room, Groove F/X and this morning I did Zumba.

This is what I’ve learned:

Everything looks better when you smile.
No-one is watching you.
Don’t get left behind.
It feels fantastic to move to music.
Let go.
Men sometimes go to classes, but mostly they don’t.
I like to stand in front.
The level of joy in the class depends on the teacher.
A dance-teacher is like sushi. There’s no so-so level that’s acceptable.
It has to be great or not at all.

Talking of food, here’s a recipe I have started to make. The kids love love love it.
(It must be the cream and the sugar).

Cream of Tomato soup


50g butter
Two onions, sliced
Two sticks celery, chopped
2 x 410g tins tomatoes
4 tsps tomato paste
2 potatoes cubed
1 Telma vegetable cube, crumbled
I cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
6 bay leaves
Salt
I cup single cream

Fry onions and celery in butter. Add all other ingredients except the cream and cook for 45 minutes.
Remove bay leaves and blitz. Add cream and blitz to mix.