Susan Senator

If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again,
I’ll never go any further than my own [school] yard…
–Dorothy Gale, and me

Here is what I handed out in my Baby Bellies class today:

And we practiced on the real stage! We are even going to open the curtain! (I need Ned to come do that. It’s a good way to get him to see the performance. Ssh, don’t tell him I don’t really need him, I just want him there!) I also have invited the principal, the office staff, and the Extended Day teacher and kids. My Baby Bellies are going to shine!

Ah, was that a great way to spend an hour! Those girls are working so hard to master our choreography. They even offer suggestions to how to make it more orderly (the 3-point turns are still a bit of a problem, bumping into one another, etc.). Now we are standing in line formation, shortest to tallest — you wouldn’t think this would be cause for debate-and-pout, but nevertheless… well, they don’t call them Baby Bellies for nothing.

I stand off in the wings and show them each move. There was even a new girl today, a friend’s kid, and she did great. I brought in gauntlets and other cossie bits for each of them to further adorn themselves; they were excited, until the stuff started falling off. D’oh! Everything I own is adult size, not Baby Belly size. Even the girl-size stuff I bought is a little big on some of them!

In a few weeks I will be doing my workshop in Walpole, for moms of special needs kids. I met with my friend Melinda who is doing the yoga part of the workshop. I took her class today: my second yoga class ever. I LOVED it. I think it was because of her; she explained everything and was just so soothing and philosophical. “Let go of this,” “check in with that.” I was very relaxed afterwards, so of course I got a coffee with her and got all charged up again — but in a good way.

And another studio asked me to entertain at their small party. I think this will be a way that I can begin to teach at that studio. I want to teach during the school day, like Melinda does. I felt so good in her class, that I realized I want to do this far more often (except bellydance, not yoga). I love being with other women and feeling the camaraderie and support.

The Baby Bellies have a little of that, too. They each show the other what they’re doing wrong, but they are never too mean. I like the way they try to help me, too, in figuring out our dance routine. I was never as confident as that when I was 8. It’s very exciting and inspiring to be among all these future strong women.

Ben watched the rehearsal. In the car ride home I asked him what he thought of our show. “Well, do I have to give an answer to that?” he asked.

A rave review!