Chopin & Sylphs

Also, Happy 200th birthday, dear Chopin! In honor of this piano master, we went wild in Saturday's ballet class. Instead of the usual center work, we learned a gorgeous 19th century Romantic-style routine, and danced it to a Chopin Nocturne from La Syphilis ballet. Okay, okay, it's "Sylphide", not "Syphilis".

The 19th century romantic-style is characterized by a soft, wilted look, so throughout the routine, we danced as if we were sea coral, with arms rarely fully extended. When our instructor showed us the beginning pose, the one man in the room asked "What's the guy version of that pose?" It was funny-- especially when our instructor replied "I suppose we're not sylphs" in his sarcastic way--, but in all honesty, the guy is already dancing around in butt-hugging leggings, so what's he afraid of? Embrace your inner sylph, Men!