Last time I started on [Dancing Pregnant – Part One], I was pretty optimistic about everything, but there are definitely some maddening things that will happen as you go from a solo dancer to a pair of dancers and then back to a solo dancer:
You will have no idea of your depth. I’m not getting philosophical here, I mean, you really won’t know how much your belly sticks out. It can change from day to day, and hour to hour, as baby grows and moves around. I have, on more than one occasion, knocked into my partner while trying to get into dance frame. In the last weeks of my pregnancy (while outweighing most of my partners), I belly-checked them out of position. OOPS.
Turning becomes a crap shoot. Lack of ab muscles and an inconsistent center of gravity means your unpartnered twirls might have 1 in 3 chance of finishing in the spot you wanted.
At some point, you will no longer fit into dance shoes. Embrace the tennis shoes, ladies! Flaaaaaaaats.
Occasionally, you will say, “Enough is enough!” and decide you need to yell at your students from across the room… while sitting… in a comfy chair… with your feet up (if you don’t do this already).
At some point, you’ll want off the dance floor for a bit. And that’s okay.
Then you’ll miss dancing a lot. Even if it’s been a couple days. But tired. Or labor. Or ouch. Or all the above. And that’s okay, too.
When you’re ready, and you head back onto the floor, you’ll discover what newbies are talking about when they say dancing is such a good workout. You probably hadn’t noticed how hard the most basic step was until you’re trying to do a Rumba basic and your inner thighs, abs, and butt muscles start shaking after 3 minutes. Go slow, mamas.
Your cohorts will never have looked so skinny and fit as they do when you’re 6 weeks postpartum. And why do they all move so fast?
You’ll try to do some of your choreography and have an out-of-body experience. You’ll be certain that you could lift your leg about 2 feet higher on that développé, but you are trying as hard as you can and it’s… Still… Right…THERE.
Slowly, seemingly excruciatingly slowly, you’ll get your développé back and your turns will straighten out and your abs will become your friends again and you’ll dance and it’ll be great.
Disclaimer: This post was written all one-handed as the other hand was holding our newest familial addition… which was a baby.
Author: Kate Bratt [Riot & Frolic]
Exclusively for Dance Comp Review