Journal #3 Jazz Technique III Class #3

As, we return to this journal, may I begin on the wings of the first original entry, which I must say was rather depressing (even for me). Although, I think it was important that I did honestly convey my feelings in that journal, I do also want to move on with more hope and with a more positive outlook! So, on that note, I begin.
The third class, I felt excited, though a bit concerned too as I remembered how the first day of dance had gone! I felt left behind and lost in the dust of my fellow dancers. One with "arms flailing" about! I did not want to remain this way! And I must say that I think part of it was quite honestly a bit of my own stage fright. Though, I have never been one too awkward in front of a large audience or even a smaller one for that matter. I know that in all of us, still a little bit a fright exists, especially when starting out cold!
As we began that class, shortly after finishing our warm up exercises! I felt that feeling again! I was afriad, I was frustrated, I was self conscious of my own movements! And, then I started to realize what part of my fear was! I was trying to be like everyone else! I was trying to feel at ease, and relaxed! But, I was far from that! I did not feel relaxed! Part of this was due to the fact, that I was not at the same level as the rest of the dancers were! I was trying to force myself to do what I could not naturally do! So then, I decided to try to focus more on my own steps; and, to remember what I had learned and apply it at my pace and my intensity! And, though I still made mistakes, I found that I got a little better! I started to see, that it really wasn't so difficult as all that!
I think if to this point in all of my dance classes, if I have learned one thing, it is to take everything at your own pace. There is a lot of information that is being thrown at you! The first thing you have to remember, is that there is no way you will remember it all! No matter how hard you try, it won't work! So, rather than letting that get the best of you, you need to focus on the simpler things! What things are you actually learning (that being, what are you retaining: remembering). Once you've figured that out, grasp onto those things, and strive to perfect them! If you're learning a whole phrase and you only know part of it! Yes, the first few times try to learn all the steps, but while your trying to keep up with everyone, try to focus on perhaps the first few steps or the last few, or the middle few -something that connects them all together! That way, if you have to slow it down and stretch it out a little, you still are making it work! Then, when you have a spare moment, pull someone aside, or the teacher if there's time and ask them to repeat the steps to you on your own time! Because often, when dealing with students at multiple levels of ability in a class, if a weaker student asks several questions on what may be something rather basic for the rest of the class, it can keep the other students from moving on! Although, on the other hand, it too can be important for the sake of technique for the more advanced students to brush up on the more simplistic steps, in order for them to improve their more advanced routines. Yet, I realize that often, one cannot have it both ways, and more often that not, the former example takes precedent over the latter!
This all to say, that thus far, I have learned what I know and what I need to learn! It is often a strenuous process, but one that is important in order to progress into even more challenging material! And so, as I leave this entry I look ahead with eager anticipation to what todays class holds in store! And without a doubt, it will be both challenging and exciting (if I strive to let it be)!