Chasing an Old Dream

Since I was young, I dreamt of being a dancer. If I had told my mom, she would be really angry. (For that, you need to understand the Chinese thoughts.)

Dancers have always had more appeal to me on shows and TV. My favorite movie is Grease! Always! I could play the song "You are the One that I Want" and imagining myself playing a part of this finale, in leather, a million times without a sign of tiredness. I remember every scene and every step like right in front of me...

I've learned a little bit of social dance: jive, chacha, rhumba, samba, waltz, tango, quick step..., and then a few years of jazz. I'd even performed in a musical theatre... And after many years of doing nothing, now I'm into Flamenco.

I knew nothing about Flamenco except what I saw when I was in the UK. It was fascinating. Since then, the image of this dancer stayed in my mind. Who knows how, I stumbled on this subject again after years and found a teacher teaching it here in Hong kong. A flamenco community does exist, just not a lot of people know about it... in the Chinese community. So far I haven't met a guy who's learning this dance, perhaps he's just somewhere out there.

Through the dance I learned some history and culture, the different genre, and about the Spanish society...

The dance turned out to be super hard work. The technique is very difficult to grasp because I have to deal with inadequacy of one's own physical state, and the use and control of specific muscles... In order to build up the stamina and be good with the techniques, one must invest plenty of private time to practice.

I'm for now in love with this art form. I've learnt it for less than a year but have done not too bad. While hesitating to embark on a more difficult form of flamenco, finally I've been persuaded to get a bata de cola. I must say it's darn expensive, not to mention the investment in classes after that. I think I'm a bit crazy and too early to get into that, but somehow it turns out that I am going to. It happens that the Spanish tailor who my teacher used to order from is closing down. The tailor was the first in Spain to make this dress, and at one time they were operating in a three-storeyed building, according to my teacher...... so I suppose I am getting one of the last dresses they have made.

Haven't seen it yet. It's due to arrive next week, and from then on I would be carrying a luggage to class......

One evening this dream of a kid came back, but I think I'm too old to become a good dancer. Nothing bad in trying. Just find life funny in a way with how things reveal themselves...

This is a piece of me...