Summer in Paris

Today marks the first day of Summer in Paris.

The entire city is alive with music from sunup to sundown, and beyond.

So what am I doing here writing this?

Well firstly, there's not much sun about, it's very chilly outside and I'm allowing my hair to dry naturally (no hairdryer, and I don't want to get head freeze by going out prematurely).

Secondly, I have a big night ahead so I'm pacing myself.

Thirdly, I want you to virtually be a part of this magical experience with me so I've gone and found the perfect YouTube video to get you in the Parisian summer spirit.

So without further ado I bid you un bon été... now put on your dancing shoes and join me for a fabulous first day of summer in Paris.

Until tomorrow, may it always be summer where there's music playing - even if there's no sun about and it's freezing!

Grace xx

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101 Dance Nations

Tonight was my last Bollywood dancing class before I take off for Paris on Monday.

We've been building up a routine section by section over the last five weeks. Tonight we put it all together and it was a dance sensation!

All in all, Bollywood dancing has been a blast and I totally love it.

It's quite physical - a lot of movement with arms above the head, shoulder shrugging, hip swaying and foot stomping.

It is also very feminine and graceful with pretty hand postures and smooth, sweeping movements.

There are also some quirky gestures like pseudo elbowing the person next to you, which is just my cup of chai.

Since this is my 101st post, I thought we could come up with 101 something that sounded like Dalmatians. So I after reflecting on my day, I thought of 101 Dance Nations. Cheesy I know, but that's me huh?

In the comments below, write one dance nation along with their trademark dance style. If you have a few, please list them as a separate comment. It'll be cool if we can reach 101 dance nations, which we can ascertain by the number of comments.

Until tomorrow, keep coming up with as many dance nations that you can think of.

Grace xx

PS. Picture above right was taken after class. It's me and my gorgeous Bollywood dance teacher. She's classically trained and is soooooo lovely. New classes start next Tuesday from 6:15pm to 7:15pm in Fitzroy. Highly recommended. Click this link if you're keen.

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Bollywood Masala Saaga

Oh my goodness I AM SOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!

I started my Bollywood dance classes tonight and I absolutely LOVED it - so much fun!

It's 10:30pm, I've just walked in the door and my eyes are popping out of my head. What a day. What a fabulous day.

Rewind.

It all started when we took our international guest to visit to my cousin's winery, Witchmount Estate, whose 2004 Shiraz won the 2008 Syrah du Monde (best Shiraz in the world). Luckily for us, the museum stock has just been released and we all snapped up a few bottles for a cool $80 each (bargain!)

I then parted company with Pat & Co. and met up with the delightful Year 8 student I'm mentoring at the Abbosford Convent, along with her mother and mischievous younger brother. The meeting adjourned a pot of tea later and I embarked on an hour's brisk walk to the dance studio. Unlike last week's high altitude training, this time I was adorned with rubber-soled Mary Jane mid heels (stylish AND practical).

I meandered in and out of wonderful little streets and cobbled laneways before I found myself in the same street as my friend's ultra funky design studio, Platform 5 (BTW as a result of this blog I was asked to write content for their website, which they're in the process of uploading. In the meantime, see 'Our Work In Words' and 'Disciplines' written by none other than your's truly).

It just so happened that as I was passing by, two people were pushing their bikes out the front door. I asked if Dan was still in. Affirmative. I slipped upstairs for a surprise visit (don't you just love that?) and within a few hugs, a micro chin wag and a wave goodbye, I was back on the road.

On the way to the dance studio I noticed a very groovy place I thought could be a good venue for the finale dinner with Shirley - our Singaporean amiga, Pat's coaching client and a dynamo pocket rocket (one in the same person). The intriguing exterior was framed by a kitsch-come-cool white picket fence with the words 'Southpaw' on one side and 189 Gertrude St on the other.

Upon closer inspection, the restaurant-bar was just fabulous, complete with quirky retro furnishings and enhanced by Parisian bohemian flavours. Très cool. The menu was tantalising so I booked a table for three at 7:30pm - just in time for me to return there after my Bollywood class.

I arrived at the dance studio 25-minutes early. Then I misread a sign on the door believing that it said class started a further 15 minutes later, thus leaving me a total of 40 minutes to fill in. I had the strong inclination to call my cousin, who lived a few blocks away. Turned out that she was visiting her dad (my uncle) in hospital, which was literally around the corner.

I ducked in for a half hour visit and returned to the classroom thinking I was 5 minutes early. Actually, I was 10 minutes late. The sign I'd misread was for 'Belly Dancing, 3rd May at 6:30pm' instead of 'Bollywood Dancing, 13th May at 6:15pm'. What planet was I on when I read that notice (twice I might add)...?

Luckily I only missed out on stretching (phew!). I was shrugging my shoulders, stomping my feet and shaking my hips in no time. Loved loved LOVED it. Still smiling.

After dancing, I met up with Patrick and Shirley for our last supper (she heads off to Brisbane tomorrow). Delicious food, AMAZING wine and superb ambience. Totally perfect.

So all in all, a massive day and I'm pooped!

It's now 11:30pm and my five minute post has turned into a Bollywood Masala Saaga*

Until tomorrow, go with the flow and see where it leads you.

Grace xx

PS. I've gone nuts with the hyperlinks today and I would like you to know it's because I WANT to do it - and not because I'm getting paid for it (haha - I wish!). Actually, I often get asked for details when I mention specific places in my blog, so I thought I'd save myself a dozen emails or phone calls by directing you via links. They're there if you want to follow them and if you don't - just don't click them. Too easy.

*Saag is an Indian spinach dish that I love (thought you might enjoy the pun) and yes, I did take that photo when I was in India last year.

Dancing Queen

Last night was so much fun. After I purchased my $10 ticket, I entered what's ordinarily the group fitness (aka aerobics) room - but on this occasion, it was far from ordinary.

The dimly lit space was decorated with coloured balloons, streamers, shiny foil stars on the walls and, wait for it... DISCO LIGHTS!

The music was delivered by a live DJ who bobbed up and down as he spun some Latin flavoured tunes.

The room filled with around 50 excited women (and one even more excited man), as we waited for the dance leader to jump on stage and guide us through what is known as 'Zumba'.

We had eight minutes warm up that was basically standard aerobic moves synched to great music. At that point I thought I had been duped and had become sceptical. In fact, had I been closer to the exit door I think I would have walked out.

Thankfully I stuck it out and before I knew it, I was travelling the world through dance. We visited South America with salsa and cha cha, then we moved to an American 'hood with some hip hop (felt like I was in in a Missy Elliot video). We continued on to India with Bollywood, Arabia for belly dancing, Africa for tribal butt shaking and finished in Greece with my favourite, the zorba.

It was totally fabulous, and I totally loved it.

While I was grooving, shaking and thumping, I had a 'connection' moment. I recalled just how much I loved to dance, and affirmed that I still do. It doesn't matter whether I'm 'good' or 'bad' at it, it's more to do with how moving to the music makes me feel. In a word, BRILLIANT!

When I'm dancing to music I love, I am completely in the present moment. My head is empty of thoughts and my body is full of feelings (mostly pleasure, though at times my feet might argue that point). I delight in the sensations of the beat vibrating throughout my body and how the rhythm dictates my moves. The music and I are one. I am happy, flowing and free. It's so good.

Last night reminded me just how much of a dancing queen I really am. It's a part of me that I love and lost somewhere along the way. I am happy (so so so happy) that I reconnected last night. It's just like bumping into one of your favourite long lost friends - bliss.

Until tomorrow, put on your dancing shoes and reconnect with your dancing queen (or king).

Grace xx

PS. Photo is circa 1992, when I was a mega dancing queen!

A winner, hot yoga and a half-birthday dance party

Congratulations Jaala, you guessed correctly, an eye, heart and ewe (female sheep) decodes to I LOVE YOU - well done!

Please go to my Blogger Profile Page and contact me via the email link so I can arrange to have your prize delivered. Just remember to let me know which prize number you'd like to claim and know that you can have it delivered to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Well that was a bit of fun!

Okay, so what's new today?

I found a hot yoga place near here on one of those 'find your local blah blah' websites. As they're notorious for being outdated, I rang to see if their advertised 9.30am class was still running. They didn't answer, so I left a message (I still haven't heard back from them).

I was left wondering, "Will I? or won't I?" and then I thought, "Bugger it!" and went anyway. The freeway was like a car park and I very naughtily drove on the inside lane (which is supposed to be for emergency stopping, but I was emergency going).

I arrived at the studio three minutes past the scheduled start time. The door was locked. I could hear people talking and laughing so I gave a gentle knock, but it was in vain. I returned home feeling deflated. "Bugger 'em," I thought.

Upon entering my abode, I decided to empty my fridge of outdated, half mouldy and 'we'll never eat that in a bunker' food (as you do when you're rejected from yoga). I felt much better. Then I remembered that today is my half-birthday, remember them?

I know most people outgrow celebrating half-birthdays when they stop playing on the monkey bars, though I never did (stop celebrating half-birthdays OR playing on the monkey bars). The reason for this is that I have a cousin that was born exactly six months before me. As long as I can remember, whenever it was her birthday - it was my half-birthday.

Well today is her birthday - so a BIG happy 40th to my cousin Rachel, and a not quite as big '39 and a half' birthday to me. I'm celebrating tonight by going to a Zumba dance party at my gym. $10 entry, finger food, drinks and a master Latin dancer teaching us some grooves - what a perfect celebration - woohoo!

So it' s hip, hip, hooray from me.

Until tomorrow, decode 'eye heart ewe' to someone dear to you.

Grace xx