Off My Feet
I'd originally taken this photo in amongst the autumnal flurry back in June, intending to tie it into the challenge of using different phrases in place of "busy at work."
One of the phrases in question was 'off your feet' so when I ended up with my foot in one shot of some leaves I thought, hey, shoes... feet... that post practically writes itself! But then I got tired of posting leaf-in-autumn photos, so it slipped off the radar.
Then the other day a friend told me that the white shoes made it look like I would break into dance at any moment, Fred Astaire-style. I've yet to actually break into spontaneous dance, but it's nice to know the option's there, and apparently the shoes are willing.
If I were to break into some kind of impromptu hot-shoe-shuffling, it'd probably be some vaguely un-coordinated take on jazz ballet. For the uninitiated, jazz ballet is a kind of dance style that's a mix of classical ballet movements and a more modern, faster, smoother dance. Think of it as taking elements of Mozart, and adapting it to today's musical styles and tastes.
Same concepts, different interpretation.
I'm not sure if the name is an Australian thing - I know in the US it's usually called jazz dance. Probably in the hope that guys might actually sign up for classes.
In my experience it's a predominantly female undertaking, and I'm prepared to offer a Google Image search as supporting evidence. I'm not sure why, maybe it's just that ballet stigma.
But forms of jazz dance have sneakily slipped under the radar and become vaguely cool again with the mainstream resurgence of musical theatre: in case you missed it, there were a few low-key dance numbers involved in both 2002's Oscar-stealing Chicago and (surprise!) 1972's Cabaret.
I've never tried learning a formal dance (and I'm pretty crap at informal ones)... what about you? (and do you have a secret jazz ballet story?)
Posted on Sunday, July 30, 2006 and filed under Life.
Comments
I believe I went to one ballet class and was so uncoordinated that I dared not dance again.
Posted by: Krissy on August 1, 2006
Jazz Dance is awfully popular in Germany. At least it was when I was still living there a few years back. It was offered as a facultative course at every school around the Republic. Not sure what happened to it. I've recognised the photo straight away as we had that little discussion on what real autumn leaves look like - remember?! Mh, not sure it appears to me as if you are going to break into dance ... To me, it looks like you are putting your foot deliberately in the picture to portray the contrast between the colour of the leaves and your shoes. Maybe I am just lacking imagination. Bloody Germans.
Posted by: NZ on August 2, 2006
No comment about jazz ballet (I tend to do random interpretative dance anyway - you know, arms waving combined with face pulling) but those maple leaves are awfully large... or your feet are rather small. I'm guessing the former. Huge leaves in WA. Canada should be ashamed.
Posted by: OTT on August 3, 2006
My jazz ballet days were over when I was around 6 years old and the teacher yelled at me for wearing sneakers with patches of motorcycles sewed into them instead of proper dance shoes. Hey my parents couldn't afford the shoes. I think that was the beginning of my rebellion against conformity (and dance classes!)
Posted by: shoe girl on August 16, 2006
