Today we have Pointe and Pirouette class in addition to Tech and Repertory. In addition to dance classes, the camp also includes stretch classes at the end of the day, and boy, does that ever feel good. Heidi teaches the class today. Another great thing they have is Kinesiology and Physical Therapy classes. At this camp they are both taught by Lisa Shoaf who is also a dancer. She gives us really great information on skeletal and muscular structure to help us understand why our bodies might have trouble with certain positions or movements. She also gives us great stretches to help with trouble spots. This is such a treat, to have access to a resource like this, as a recreational dancer. The other dancers at camp are a diverse lot in age as well as life experience. We've got college girls, young teachers, women raising children, women who are coming back to dance after finishing raising children, and a grandmother who has come with her husband in a camper van. One of the men in camp, Lars, is from Sweden and comes every year, leaving wife and kids at home for a week. There are 3 men at camp this time.
Tonight, I had a session with Chris the photographer, who took professional ballet photos. Several of the campers cheered me on as I posed. I borrowed one of Suzanne's cute skirts and wore my shiny new pointe shoes. Kathy and Heidi helped with poses. I discovered that it is really hard to pose! You have to be at your maximum turnout and hold the position for a long time. On some of the pictures, my face shows the effort, on others you can see it in my neck. I have a new appreciation for this! The photos turned out great and Chris was kind enough to print me out one of them, with some slight retouching!
Photo of Kathy Sawyer demonstrating a pose is by Chris Winton-Stahle.
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