Do you get a secret thrill watching movies from Dirty Dancing to Footloose to Step Up? I’m definitely guilty as charged. I’m no tiptoeing ballerina but the idea of music literally moving and freeing you has always appealed to me.
I decided it was time to discover if I had two left feet. Back in middle school I was forced through that Southern rite of passage, Cotillion, where I took my first faltering dance steps. All I really remember is that we had to wear gloves because the boys’ hands would sweat so much and the whole thing struck me as much too rigid, formal, and repetitive to be much fun.
Ballet Austin’s Butler Community School on the other hand, I thought might be just the ticket to put those dancing shoes on again. Serving over 3,000 people of all ages and skill level each year, classes vary from ballet to modern, hip hop to hula, and jazz to Broadway. Better yet, they offer adult beginner class so you don’t have to suffer the indignity of dancing around with a bunch of children.
Located downtown on West 3rd, the studio is beautiful and modern, with huge clear windows and an inviting spiral staircase leading up from the front entrance. Walking in with some trepidation (think Jennifer Beals’ character in Flashdance as she goes for her audition, without the mad breakdancing skills), I was relieved to see the girl at the front desk casually reading Klosterman’s low brow Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs. Maybe this would turn out all right after all.
Taught by Maria Antonieta Bravo, or Toni, as she prefers, our class was quickly inducted into the contemporary dance mindset, as she invited us to literally kick off our shoes. “We’re not going to defy gravity here,” Toni says. “It’s pretty, but that’s not what were going to do here.”
Originally from Mexico City, Toni has a Master’s Degree in Theatre History and Criticism, with a minor in Dance Pedagogy. With a last name like Bravo, it seems only natural that she would be drawn to a expressing herself on stage. “Don’t get me wrong,” says Toni. “I danced ballet for many years and I loved it. In ballet, you can be a flower, or a snowflake, or a bon bon,” she says. “But this is something entirely different.”
She proceeded to direct us into a series of twists and turns, until we were crawling on the floor, from inauguration to what she called articulation to the awesomely expressive tunes of Portishead. Beginning students learn the same choreography she has created as the intermediate and advanced classes.
“Think of the point of your body like stars in a constellation, shifting and spinning,” she instructs.
I just might be hooked, I’m definitely going back…
“(think Jennifer Beals’ character in Flashdance as she goes for her audition, without the mad breakdancing skills” and THE FRO, which looked very fake on her stunt double.
Especially because the stunt double was a man, right?
Was it? Seemed like a woman to me, but the hair was like taped on or something and looked extremely funny. Or possibly it was the stunt double who had the real fro and the actress was forced to copy it but the fro on the double was much bigger.
Apparently she had several stunt doubles but for that scene it was indeed a male breakdancer! He wore a wig and you can tell when he does floor spin during the audtion. His nickname? Crazy Legs.
Great post. I am also thinking about taking a class here (definite beginner!), but not sure if modern dance is a good fit. Did you go back?
Thanks Fern! I was a total beginner too, but I’m enjoying it – I hope you do. I’ve been back to Modern Dance twice, but I’m thinking about trying their Hula class next, since their class pass allows that flexibility.