Summer Fun, Somethin’s Begun
July 8, 2008
I have decided to have a fun summer. I am going to do things and try things and go places. My life is ordinarily pretty fun but I’m going to kick it up a notch and have as much fun as I can stand. I’m going to explore New York City and do whatever the hell I feel like doing. I’m going to push myself out of my comfort zone and allow myself to feel awkward and uncomfortable.
Tonight I took break dancing lessons. I noticed in TimeOut NY the other day that they give free break dancing lessons at McCarren Park in Brooklyn. Mind you, I’m an original b-boy from back in the day. My street cred was forever established when my brother and I rapped at the Apollo in the late 80s as “Brotherly Love”. Royal Tee and MC Mellow tore it up that night, even if the vociferous crowd didn’t see it that way.
My break dancing has never been quite where I’ve wanted it to be so when I saw that listing my first reaction was “That sounds like fun!” Then my second reaction was “You can’t go to break dancing lessons, for godsakes!” Then my third reaction was “Fuck that! Yes, you can! You’re going!”
So I went. It was awesome. There were a bunch of guys and girls dancing on linoleum and they clearly knew what the hell they were doing. Then a group of about twenty of us who were not so accomplished got into rows for the class. A short muscular dude started teaching the class and slowly going through moves.
I felt really stiff and awkward at first. The asian dude to my left and russian girl to my right were clearly better than I.
I was reminded of my musical theater days when I had to learn dances and it always seemed to come slowly. But I can move pretty well and once I get it, I start to throw in my own flourishes, which I think the teacher appreciated and respected.
I couldn’t do a lot of the stuff on the floor because, with my 6′1″ frame, my long legs seemed to keep getting tangled up underneath me. But I felt good about my standing dance shit. I was throwin’ down, yo. I represented Queens, that’s for damn sure.
Next on my radar is Warm Up at P.S. 1. It’s a summer music/dance series at P.S. 1 in Long Island City on Saturdays. I plan to do the adult swim in Astoria Park pool a few mornings this summer. I did it last summer and stayed in the slow lane with the old people. I also noticed an offering for free kayaking in the east river, which sounds like it’s right up my alley.
And so my summer of fun is officially underway. I want to live! I want to suck the marrow out of life! I want to feel uncomfortable, awkward and alive!!! And if all goes well, live to tell about it!
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