Injured

Aside from running Project. B., I am still active and dancing professionally for Janice Garrett and Charles Moulton.  Every Tuesday and Thursday morning, about 30-50 dancers stretch outside the doors of Studio B where Janice holds her 10:00 Advanced Contemporary Class.  In the half hour before class you hear a lot of hemming and hawing about whether or not we will survive another morning of her extremely technical, brainy, rigorous, and of course, really fun class.

Every week, I walk out high on life and happy that I was able to get through her class.  You always feel like you really got a chance to dance and move.

This Tuesday, I almost got through the whole class.  She usually ends with an across the floor jump sequence dancers call grand allegro.  As I got the nerve to be the first group to go across the floor, I was able to execute the sequence on the right side and the left side.  We repeat it again and as I land the jump, I feel a huge ball on my calf that felt like a charlie horse.  All I could do was sit as the muscle spasmed and tightened the muscles all along my right leg.

My friends rallied, carrying me to the Dancers' Clinic, carrying my things for me, getting me ibuprofen and ice, and my friend Tegan even moved my car for me so that I wouldn't get a ticket during street cleaning!  Well, the diagnosis- a torn gastrocnemius muscle.  I was wrapped up and given crutches.  I'm so thankful for everyone that helped me and that ODC even had the facility for a Dancers' clinic.

However, I do have to say that there was some crying involved.  An injury means that I won't be able to dance for a period of time.  So many things go through my head and everything you feel you've worked towards just goes down the drain in one second.  I mean really!  I almost got through the whole class.  Just one more jump and I could've finished the class pain free.

Aside from allowing myself the time to heal from this injury, I also know that I need to quiet my mind from everything that I may be projecting because of this injury.  I knew that being a dancer wasn't easy, but I think that at this moment, this is the hardest thing to bounce back from.

Tomorrow's agenda:  a visit to an acupuncturist. Maybe she will be able to heal my mind and my body.