What to do about Hula.

[kistha]

I've been having a huge number of problems with Hula this quarter. I knew that eventually we'd get more people in the intermediate class and that would change the dynamics. I was OK with that, right up until it happened.

When the intermediate class was created, it had 4-5 of us in it. We'd all done Hula for quite a while. I was the baby at just one year. Everyone in the class was fairly proficient. But it was me, H and J who were the core class. J who's a lovely person but isn't very coordinated, only does it for fun, and absolutely refuses to ever perform. There's this weird thing in hula, where no matter how fast you are going - the goal is to look like you are moving in slow motion. It's one hell of a trick. After a year in hula, I pretty much had it, except when I'd get frustrated and H my favorite hula sister had it, and J will probably never get it. I was comfortable and having fun.

This quarter H, moved up to the advanced class. And 5 people from the beginner's class moved up. I know that one of them has only taken one quarter, and while I don't know about the rest, I know none of them have done it for a year - at least here, since the intermediate class only began a couple of quarters ago. None of them has the 'slow motion' thing down and one of them is a guy. So it's me, and J and 5 newbies.

They flap, they flail. And the poor guy has to translate the "girlie" hula steps into the more athletic aggressive male steps, which he should, but then it's different than the rest of us.. It's not that they are bad, it's that they aren't experienced - and they are painfully distracting.

We started with an incredibly difficult Kahiko - and I couldn't learn the steps because I was being drug off the beat or getting distracted by the flapping and the flailing. I'm used to J doing it for the first little while, but she was one person and H and I usually bookended her, so we could see each other in the mirrors. Finally the only way I could learn the damn thing was to close my eyes. After three weeks (and two verses) I couldn't take it anymore. And when I had to miss because of Tayet, I didn't mind since every class was turning me into a total bitch. Four weeks goes by....

I got an email from H last week. Looks like we're doing a performance for friends and family. She and I are the only ones who know the Lilo hula (and are willing to perform). I agreed to come back to class and do the Lilo with her at the performance.

When I turned up to class, J was glad to see me. While we were waiting for the instructor I overheard something that blew me away.

Three of the newbies were talking about moving to the advanced class, but figured they'd do another quarter or two before moving up, to (and I quote) "Get comfortable with these new moves."

I almost started screaming. It's like the last straw.

This is what I hate about this "island time" half-assed learning.!!!!! There are no f*cking rules, and no standards. We never fucking really truly learn any hula completely, and then suddenly we'll practice for two, maybe three classes and do a performance. I shudder! And yet, the Kahiko I missed the last half of is "too tricky" so I won't be joining my newbie classmates, who will be the sole representatives of the intermediate class - since I'll be dancing with H in a duet, and J refuses to perform. Meanwhile the class has been learning a beginning hula while I was gone. I learned it in the course of the class by following along. Seriously, what is going on here? I miss dance where you practiced a number until you could not only do it in your sleep, you'd be able to do it years later. This is so....half-assed and crappy.

I don't know what to do. I could just arbitrarily move up to the advanced class, which is stuffed to the gills and I know that there won't be any more structure or rules, but at least I'll be the baby for a while. And I'll know that at least once the newbies move up - they'll still be outnumbered by MANY.

I could try talking to the instructor, and try not to sound like a snotty dance bitch, about it.

I could just quit, and let my performance of He Mele No Lilo be my blazing exit. Even the one quick run through tonight with H was more joy than I've felt about Hula since the first class this quarter. But I know in my heart I'll feel like a "quitter." Of course that may be less painful than continuing.

I honestly don't know what to do about it. A fair number of people including the instructor, like me, and miss me when I'm gone. A number of people seem to feel that I'm at least reasonably good at it. I like it fine when it's going well, and I'd miss my "Hula Sisters" that I've come to like a lot. I'm pretty much banging my head here.

I've got offers to try Belly Dance, but I have a lot of issues with belly dance, all about the way it's perceived in American culture, or I could always try some other type of dance too.

I've have been thinking of joining a choir and/or pick up a martial art, but I still need to have time for myself and the hubby.

I just don't know what to do. I'm very, very torn.

Opinions gladly received - I'd really like to hear others' thoughts on this.