Let's learn, like a flock of birds!

I always tell my students they need to try to associate whatever they learn to something that might help them process the information and remember it later. You know, the type of thing you do to memorize someone's phone number, your passwords, social security number... It's a combination of craziness that only you understand. If you try to explain to someone else, it won't make any sense. Let's say you'd remember PIN for your bank account, for example, as the year you graduated from high school and the year your mom was born. Do you think anyone else would think of it like that? I guess not...

So I have to say that having classes with one of my favorite teachers in DC, Aaron Jackson, from The Washington Ballet School, has been awesome! I mean, it's not only because he's so upbeat all the time, but he's great encouraging new comers. The classes are in a drop-in basis. Therefore, you can imagine how some people are just so used to the combinations that it become second nature to them... On the other hand, some just seem to be flying all the time, trying to catch up because they can't quite follow everything.

Whenever this type of thing happens, he's very kind to explain that people should not be ashamed because some of the students have been there with him for several months and that eventually they'll catch up. The trick is to keep on showing up. That's the key: perseverance.

But going back to the "association" issue, it's interesting how he always pictures everything that he says during the class. So, to position yourself properly in relation to the barre, he says "There's an imaginary friend between you and the barre", so that you won't put yourself too close nor too far. The "imaginary friend" is the perfect distance.

Another one that I really like is the one that is pretty much common, the "beach ball" analogy. To have your arms in the second position, usually we think of it either too straight or too bent. But they always say (and Aaron does too): "beach ball... imagine you're holding a big beach ball". So there it is. Arms to the side, slightly bent, so that the elbows are pointing backwards.

But to tell you the truth, my favorite part is, when we finish the barre exercises and we go to the center floor exercises. I mean, it's not my favorite because I actually know how to dance and the efforts I make during the barre part of the class pay off. That would be exactly the opposite, because at least when I'm at the barre I feel like I can do something. When I'm in the center or doing the combinations from the corner, I feel like "OMG! I can't dance at all!"... LOL

However, Aaron has a great way to encourage all of us. He says "Everybody needs to look ugly in order to look beautiful. So just keep trying!"... And when he's teaching the steps, he demonstrates it first and then he says: "Come on, everyone! Let's mark it together! Come learn, like a flock of birds!!!"...

I have to admit that I have learnt A LOT with Aaron... thanks for his very well structured class AND for his great way of making class fun and full of images that make us picture everything better!!!