This is our group :) Amy, the director of the Gus Giordano Dance School is in the center back next to Richard who taught our first Giordano jazz class. I've been learning a lot from classes and I definitely work hard in the ones I enjoy but struggle to motivate myself during the classes that I feel like I'm behind in or don't enjoy as much. So, I need to work on that. My favorite class so far has been contemporary ballet with Laura Gates, the ballet mistress at Thodos which is another dance company in Chicago. I'm thinking about checking out their program for next summer.
One of the things I've learned since dancing here is the reason why all of the dancers in the Giordano Company are so insanely strong. I mean, obviously strength is important for any professional dancer but holy cow do we do a lot of pushups, especially during our Gio technique classes in particular and everything is in a deep lunge, hinge, or plié. Those things make for some sore muscles for sure but they also lead to some incredibly dynamic movement potential.
Our schedule is a little different every day of the week. We always have rehearsal as our second class but the rest of the classes rotate. Tuesdays are cardio crazy. We begin with either modern or ballet, followed by rehearsal, then zumba, then hip hop. Yikes. Seriously though, it feels like such a monumental accomplishment to survive a Tuesday schedule. All I want to do afterwards is drink my weight in water, eat ice cream, and then pass out in my bed (which I am completely unashamed to say is exactly what happened this week).
Today is going to be the first day that we dance on a Thursday schedule since the school was closed last week for the Fourth of July. We have contemporary listed twice as well as a rehearsal and partnering. I'm hoping to pair with Abby for partnering since she hates being lifted and I would rather be in the air/ supported than being the one doing the lifting. It only seems fitting, right? :) I guess we'll find out later.
