From Tap Shoes to Tassels

Dancing has always been an outlet that I have loved. Actually, one of my earliest memories is of me dancing on the top of a vacuum cleaner that I had laid down to create a micro-stage. I remember dancing and shaking my tiny body to the Michael Jackson music video that played on the television. It was shortly after this that my parents enrolled me in my first dance classes at "First Step" dance studio off of Sheridan and Alameda. At this tiny little studio I learned how to tap dance, jazz step, and walk a balance beam with Ms. Juanita. This was my first exposure to organized dance and it was my first "sport", but it quickly took a back seat as I turned my tap shoes in for basketball shoes. ​

Baby Brianna headed to dance class.

Now, almost 30 years later, I am back in a dance class....but this time, I am a mature adult enrolled in a mature form of dance...burlesque. 

Last Sunday was the first class of my nine week course. I bought the course a couple months ago and I found myself getting more and more nervous as the first day of class approached. Yes, I love to dance. Yes, I have rhythm. Yes, I have the confidence. But, still....I was nervous to embark on something that I am completely new at...to be the "new girl" at something that is a niche of its own. 

But, the date came and I opened that dance studio door and walked into a new chapter of my athletic and performative hobbies. The class began with some basic intros, some stretching, and then we jumped into our group choreography which consisted of a lot of eight counts, hip sways, and sexy self touching between counts. The whole class felt comfortable, fun, and liberating. I truly did feel like I was stepping into myself further and allowing myself to express myself in a way that feels extremely natural. Even my cousin (I am taking the class with her) said, “You already walk with a hip sway…even if you’re just at the grocery store”. 

At the end of class we were told that at the end of the nine week course we will do a debut performance at a local club. We were also informed that we will not only be performing as a group, but we have the option to perform a solo. My cousin then asked me, “Are you going to do a solo?”. And I enthusiastically responded, “Of course! I am already thinking about my costuming, my music selection, and stage name!”. Obviously, my nervousness has dissipated and instead I am excited about all the learning and creating that I will be doing these next several weeks.