Really Nice

I'm sitting here, gazing out my window at what's left of the sunset as I reflect on my past week experiences. I can't remember the last time I was this sore, and yet I feel rejuvenated. If that's not satisfaction to a dancer, I don't know what is. I experienced dance in many forms in the past few days. Let me tell you all about it...

Last Thursday I soaked up the moments I found myself in. Laban had their Master student performances this past week and my American friends and I thought it would be a good idea to go see one. Unfortunately, so did everybody else and therefore the show was sold out, so we decided to go in to Greenwich and eat some Mexican food at Cafe Sol. It was delicious. Much better than the Mexican I had eaten the night before with my flat mates at Santo's Mexican Kitchen in Notting Hill. I guess I had high expectations going in (aka that it would taste like American Mexican food), but I've learned that everything here tastes slightly different than what I'm used to (aka the food isn't packed with preservatives, salt, flour, and sugar). The restaurant played some awesome music, which of course inspired the dancing spirit to come out in all of us... all the way home. There's nothing better than dancing in the tube late at night when everyone around you is dead tired, and so are you. But somehow I've found that when you have no energy, that's when you exert the best moves, the original, organic, spontaneous ones that you can't help but laugh at. At that point, you just don't care if people look at you and think, "crazy Americans", because you're having the time of your life and being true to the moment. Good times. Needless to say, the groove stuck through my rem cycle and carried over to Friday. I began the morning with contemporary class, dancing a modern phrase to good old Coltrane, while thinking of my dad who introduced me to him. I then took an epic jazz class that put me on an adrenaline high. It was literally liberating and reminded me why I dance. Best class to end my weeks with. I followed it up with a repertory audition, which was an interesting experience. It pushed me to be inventive in a relaxed manner, and I felt challenged on the spot. But I stayed focused and finished strong. I find out if I got in on Monday. Whatever the outcome, I'm glad I took the opportunity. I've never experienced an audition quite like this one, and I learned from it. Friday night, I went to yet another movie, alone. Of course I had to see Fame, opening night. You can bet I left the theater dancing and singing...by myself. Whatever. I'm a dancer. I can't help it. And I wouldn't want to even if I could.

Other interesting experiences I had this past week included my first trip to the laundromat, which left me astounded at how many pounds (in currency) I lost. I hung dried all my clothes in my tiny room that night, and slept without sheets, after showering in the dark because our electricity went out in our bathrooms. I may be an insomniac, but that doesn't mean the dark doesn't creep me out. If there's a next time, I may just sleep in my sweat. It's not like I'm not going to get up in the morning and dance and sweat some more or anything... Today I ran some errands all over the city. There's so much I still haven't seen. Good thing I have time. I ate at a place called Belgo in Covent Garden, another restaurant my old youth pastor recommended. I ordered, and almost immediately after, I was served a gourmet roasted chicken with chili and red pepper sauce. I barely caught their lunch special, so I was pleased with the price, as well as the quality of the food. I however didn't have the time to try one of their fruit beers. I'll save that for next time I guess.

It's been a great journey so far and I'm excited for what is to come. I have a lot of work to do, but I'm excited to get started, which isn't always the case. Time here is valuable, and it goes by slow enough for me to soak in all my experiences moment to moment, but fast enough that when I look back, I still think, "Where has the time gone?" I don't think it's going to slow down at all, and I don't think there will ever be enough time to do everything I want to do, which is why I have to live in the now and live as if today is all I have. Really, that's all I'm guaranteed. I have to take the chances when they are presented, and make my own way and opportunities. I have to make it happen. I'm not wasting another minute waiting...

Cool fact: Sara is a rare name here, where as in the states it's one of the most common. I was seriously asked if I was Jewish. My name has more meaning now. It's "really nice."