shanmonster | Dance Dance Dance

The new section of my intermediate dance class begins this afternoon, and the beginner class starts tomorrow afternoon. If you've thought about taking Middle Eastern dance classes, now's the time to do it! I'm hoping to see a bunch of new faces, as well as some old ones which have gone missing. Classes run from 3:30-5:00 at the Wu Tai Chi Academy upstairs from Victory Meat Market on King Street. I have been getting several emails from interested people, so this is heartening.

Last week, I took some posters to the public library, but was told I couldn't put them up there. The bulletin board is only for cultural and community events, and "not for things like dance and cooking classes."

I argued the disconnect. "But Middle Eastern dance is cultural" (and so are Chinese culinary arts).

"That might be," the librarian answered (might? MIGHT???), "but you're making a profit."

"Actually, I'm not making a profit. I'm barely breaking even." A profit would let me pay my bills and have a little cash left over. I don't think I've ever made a profit on this dance. Being a professional dancer is not cheap due to studio rental fees, training, costuming, and music. I don't know any professional dancers who make profits, although I'm sure some might exist somewhere (maybe Mikhail Baryshnikov). We must live as frugally as poets. I'm hoping for enough dance students this time around to pay for my groceries. Every now and then, I do have enough students to pay my rent, but I can never count on that. This is why I'm trying to find a day job. Dance and modelling just aren't enough to survive on in this city.

I'm still very surprised the board of directors at the public library has decided not to support the arts. This is downright bizarre.

And speaking of bizarre, check these out:

Ball of Paint: "Imagine an ordinary baseball...Now imagine that same baseball with over 18,350 coats of paint on it. Getting the picture? Good, because that's exactly what my wife, Glenda and I have done for the past 28 years. Now that ordinary baseball that once weighed less than one pound now weighs in over 1,300 pounds!"

I Fought the Law, and the Law Maced Me: This story could have very easily happened to any of the higher-ups at my kwoon. It made me laugh!

Ice Swastikas: Because Nazi girls liked hockey, too (thanks, Suzanne).

Supper last night was awesome, but I want some pie. I think I'll go make one now....

[My mittens I have lost]