Newport, Day Two

[marcmagus]

3 classes, no ball today. I think they're easing us into it. Tomorrow we add a class and start the balls.

My right foot is still bugging me, but it wasn't as bad as last night. My current theory is that I just tired out an inner muscle over the weekend or something and it just needs to rest and stretch out. I can give it the latter, and a bit of the former. But it wasn't bad dancing on it today in (relatively light) classes. And it feels weird even not in the shoes, or in other shoes, so I no longer think it was the shoes.

First class, beginning 1890s. Too beginning for me. If it weren't for being nervous about my foot, I probably would have stepped up to the advanced class. I may tomorrow. Learned one new thing, being a correct way to take the "new" waltz not turning.

Quadrille class. Honestly, *yawn*. Set geometry comes really naturally to me; by Friday I'll probably know this quadrille in my sleep. Which, I suppose, is the point. I need to make sure to wiggle my way into a set with good dancers on Friday; after all this practicing, I'll be kind of frustrated dancing with people who really don't have it at the ball. There's my moment of hubris.

Second class slot, beginning ragtime. Also a bit too beginning for me, but a teacher I don't know. We did entirely Foxtrot today. New teacher meant a slightly different approach to the rhythm (interesting, makes for variations), and some really helpful pointers about style which I hope I've absorbed. Again, I probably could have gone to the advanced class instead.

Third slot didn't meet today.

Tomorrow I may swap to the advanced classes. I think it will entirely depend on how my foot feels come the morning. After talking things over with some people who took the advanced classes, I think my ideal approach (were foot not an issue) this year would have been to start with the advanced classes for the first some number of days, and expect to possibly drop back toward the end of the week when the beginner class should have caught up to a point where it can cover more material that's new to me. Apparently, there being no "intermediate" class, the advanced classes aren't all that advanced; Susan thinks they'd be a reach but not completely beyond me.

Skipped the $9 mansion tour in favor of rest. I've now been at the computer for two hours, so I'm going away. Might check in sometime tomorrow, although I expect time to fill in more tomorrow. (Again, an additional serious class and a ball)