94. Dance Like No One is Watching

In episode 94 of the Curate Your Life podcast, Temetria shares her story of returning to ballet classes as an adult. After spotting an ad for a beginner ballet class, she signs up despite initial doubts and insecurities about her age and body image. Temetria recounts her previous dance experiences, the excitement, the challenges, and ultimately, the joy of pursuing something she loves. She encourages listeners to live boldly and do what brings them joy, regardless of societal expectations. The episode emphasizes the importance of curating a life you love, especially for single women in midlife.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
00:39 A Vulnerable Story Begins
01:11 Discovering Ballet Austin
01:53 Past Dance Experiences
05:45 Signing Up for Ballet Classes
05:54 First Day of Ballet Class
07:57 Overcoming Self-Doubt
10:39 Embracing the Joy of Dance
16:16 Encouragement to Live Boldly
18:54 Final Thoughts and Inspiration

Click here to get on the waitlist for the next Binge Your Life Challenge.

Join the waitlist now and get the first steps toward creating a life you love!

Note: In older episodes, I mention other offers; they have evolved and changed over time, and the Binge Your Life Challenge is the perfect place to begin. If you have questions, please email info@coachtemetria.com

Website: coachtemetria.com

Transcript

0:01

You are listening to the curate your life podcast with Temetria episode 94. Dance like no one is watching.

Temetria 0:10

Hi, I'm Temetria a single woman in midlife. But not quite ready for the Moomoo life. I'm focused on curating a life that I love. A life that is bold and vibrant and full of purpose. And I'm passionate about helping other women do the same. So join me. If you're ready to create curate a big, bold, beautiful life that you love.

0:38

Okay. Y'all I have one for you today, and this is. It's going to be fun, I guess. It's, I'm coming to you a little vulnerable and I'm going to tell you a story. About a girl named T about me. So last Thursday, October 24th, I took a break from work and I took a little nap in my chair, in the living room. And I woke up and I picked up my phone. And I opened Facebook. And scrolled for a second. And then an ad popped up for ballet, Austin and workshops that they're offering in classes. Now I know that they offer classes. They offer dance classes at ballet, Austin. Because I've taken one before. But it grabbed my attention is workshops, adult dance workshops. And I don't know why I clicked on it and started scrolling. And they had an absolute beginners ballet class for adults. Now I'm not an absolute beginner. I've taken ballet before, but probably the last time was around. 1213 years old. So I told you that I knew that ballet Austin offers dance classes because in 2001, I decided to go take top classes at ballet Austin, I took dance classes from probably about the time that I was. A eight or nine. Up until probably. My freshman year. Freshmen. Sophomore year. In high school. I think that's great. For a good period of time, ballet tap jazz. And acrobatics, this is what they used to teach. And then I just started taking. Jazz classes. For years, I took classes for years. So not an absolute beginner. So in 2001, I decided that I wanted to go. Take tap classes. Cause it was good cardio and it would be fun. And a friend of mine went with me. And when we registered, the lady asked about, experience. And I said, I've taken tap before, for years it had been a while and I think she suggested what would be equivalent to this absolute beginners class that I take for ballet today. But I said, oh no, you know, I've had some taps, some experience. So I took the next level of, I don't remember what they, what the name was. Me and his friend. And so we get to this class. And another aside is I always wanted, let me Back up. So we decide which class we're going to take. Right. And then we have to get the equipment. So I always wanted the high hill tattoos always wanted them. Nobody, my mom, my aunt would never buy them for me. We were in New York. And, you know, New York Broadway, those places, and we were in a shoe store and they had these taps use high heel tap shoes. I wanted them so badly. My mom went out, buy them for me. So fast forward 2001. I'm however old I am in 2001, I'm going to take this tap class and I go to the store and I. Tell the lady that I'm taking a tap class and I don't need to get some shoes and I'm going to buy the high heel shoes because I am an adult. Working paying for my own shoes and she would not sell it to me. She said, no, you need these. And just the plain Jane, Mary Jane type, flat tattoos. She wouldn't tell it to me. So I left. With an attitude, not really. I left with my flat tap shoes and a little sad about that, but still excited about the class. Went to the first class. And, I hadn't thinking, I know this shuffle ball change and all of those things, and I'm ready to go. My feet. Would not cooperate with what my brain was telling it to do. There was the biggest disconnect we had a good time. But y'all the lady at registration was right. I should have taken the absolute beginner class. And we had fun with it. Right. But. I needed some basics. I needed to have some, some basic lessons again. And I do remember that there was this older man in the class. Who was killing it. He was fantastic. And I feel like he probably went through the steps, but he was really good. So that's the story from 2001. Let's get back to October 24th, 2024. And I see these classes and I'm like, okay, I'm like, that would be so much fun. I still have the tattoos by the way, for the record. In this closet over here. So I'm like, that would be so much fun. It's. Be good way to get some movement in, to have a good time. Meet people. So I signed up. For absolute beginner. I learned my lesson. I signed up for absolute beginner ballet classes. Well, Today was my first. Absolute beginner, valet class. So let me tell you about. What I signed up, signed up on the 24th. I was so excited, like giddy, joy, excited. And you, I don't have any ballet shoes, right? Cause it's been a hundred years and my foot is not the same size as when I was in, well, maybe in high school, but I stopped taking ballet. Earlier on. So I had to buy all the stuff, ballet shoes. Leotards tights, all the things, just really excited about it because it's going to be fun. I know some ballet it'll be good for me. But even in that excitement, they were some of the doubt, some of the hesitation. Just around the. It's not something I've done in a long time. Who's going to be in the class. What are people gonna think? And. The leotards and tights. Let's talk about it. Um, how 56 years old and not a ballerina body, but I'm like, you know what, I'm gonna do it. It's going to be fine. It's an adult. Ballet class, absolute beginner. I'm not an absolute beginner, even though I'm going to start that way, this time. I do know some things, so. First on Thursday after I signed up. I went and stood by my island and I did some plays and some Relevate. I still have those. I still know the. The positions for feet, first, second. All the positions through fifth for feet. I did not remember the ones for arms though. So I, and then I went to YouTube, right? Like, The amount of time that I spent on this on Thursday. After I signed up, it was in giddiness. Right. And so spent the time. I went and I got my ballet shoes. I got all my clothes. And then I started thinking about it. I'm like, I'm going to have to put on leotards and tights and go dance in front of, I don't know how big this class is going to be. I don't know who's going to be at it. In my mind, it was going to be. Uh, 40 50 somethings just looking for some exercise and looking for a new hobby, that type of thing. And I'm like, is it going to be coed? Because it could possibly be, it happened that it was not been like, is it going to be co-ed. And like, you know what? You're 56. You're fine. It doesn't matter. Go have fun. But the voice. Ooh. In the back of my mind. So this morning, Put on my leotards and tights. The voices there and I'm like, okay. I'm like, Jesus, just going, oh, go in. Cause I'm still excited about it. There's a joy in my heart about taking these classes. The joy. I mean, I was so excited. I told friends about it and I'm like, I'm just giddy about this. And. Why not it's dance lessons. Dance is fun. So. Put on my little skirt over my, not the little ballet skirt, but just, you know, to get me from my home to. Valley Austin to the thing, Outside clothes, whatever. And I get to the class and I was relatively early, not super early, but I wanted to make sure I got a parking spot downtown Austin. I wanted to make sure I knew where I was going. That kind of thing. So it was a little bit early. There's one person there who was not the instructor, but I think she was like instructors help rate. Some kind of hanging out, putting on my shoes and the people start to trickle in. And it is all. 20 and 30 year old women. Who look really ballerina ish. Then tall hair pull back in the button and the type of. Which I could have put my hair up and I'm like, it's fine. Like, you can see my neck. I can see it's all good. So the thoughts really started then, like, am I good? Okay. Yeah. I don't like all me. In my voluptuousness. I like that word. And my tight to my leotards with the ballerinas, but you know what? I'm like, I'm in it. I'm here to dance to move my body, to have fun, to learn a skill again, and just be in the joy that I was in when I registered. So. I put the voice to the back. I'm like, just shut up and let's go listen and try to make sure we can not. Not only we know the positions that our feet will go in the right direction. Just. Hush. So I quieted the voices had a great time. I did. I just, I let it go. Right? I'm like, this is who I am. I don't know these people, it doesn't matter. I'm here as an adult in this adult dance class to dance. And so I, I did pretty good. At the bar, you're at the bar and it's not. Obviously, you cannot hide behind a bar, but everybody's at the bar and it, it was almost like a little safety net, a little something to hold on to. But at the end of class, we had to do some traveling moves across the floor. That's when I got in my head and I lost the steps because I'm like, oh God, I'm out here. Doing these steps, doing these moves in my body, that is not the size of their bodies. And I know that that didn't make sense that it was different without the bar because they have these bars now that are, that stay in. In the middle of the room, they're portable. So you just bring them over there to people at the bar. So it's not like. I was not, and I was in the middle of the thing. So for the last 45 minutes, I've been out there. And the thing, but it was just something about dancing across the room. Andy. Of course, this was not the case, but I felt like all eyes were on me. They were not because they were trying to do the steps to, there were probably. Five or six people in the class that really, really had never taken ballet before ever. And other people who'd probably taken classes before. So, we're all trying to do the things to do the steps. So of course they weren't thinking about me. They're probably thinking about themselves, but I'm in my head. Right. And so I did like, I've missed a couple of steps on a couple of routines. But all in all, I had fun. It was uncomfortable, even though it was something that I wanted to do when I'd looked up and looked around. It was uncomfortable. I'm like, Ugh. I'm the oldest. Well, the instructor was older than me. She'd been dancing all her life. She was fabulous. The oldest and I'm the biggest in the room. I'm like, yay. Joy. But, you know what. Screw it, I almost said a really bad word. I'm here. I'm living my life. This is what I want to do. I want to dance. And when I'm done with this workshop, I'm going to find another way. At some point, I'm going to go back to tab. It's going to be absolute beginner, but I'm going to go through the series of the work. So it's absolute beginner ballet, two ballet, three. I'm doing them all. And I'm doing them at this size and maybe the size will change as I do them. But I refuse, like this is what I want to do. And so I'm going to do it. Am I going to be uncomfortable? Maybe I imagine as the weeks pass, I'll get more comfortable. Cause it'll be the same group of people. But I'm doing it because it's something that I want to do. And. It still, even while I was in there with one side of my brain saying, oh God, we're the biggest in the room. And the other. The other side was saying, this is so fantastic. Like I have on my ballet shoes. And I'm pointing my feet and I know my first didn't fifth and Potter Baret. I'm like, I am doing this. So I came to share with you that it was uncomfortable, but it was joyous and it's something that I want to do. So I'm okay. Being uncomfortable while I do this, because it was just uncomfortable then. And really just in my mind, like before, when I signed up. Thrilled telling people about it. I was thrilled when I decided I'm going to tell you that in a minute, And then like, now I'm thinking about it. I'm like I did that today. I'm thrilled. So when I sign up, I'm like, I'm not going to tell anybody. And that was probably that first inkling of. Thinking that people were going to say, oh, like, why are you doing that? Oh my God. Why? Are you going to wear leotards and tights and things like that, but you know what? I was so happy about it that I told people, I told my friends. I'm like, you're never going to believe. And when I was talking about it, I felt the joy. They could feel the joy. So I'm just leaning into that. The discomfort. Doubt and fear can come along for the ride, but they're not dancing upfront with me. The same as fear and doubt can come along for the ride, but they can't drive. They have to be in the backseat, something like that. So they can come, but they kept to sit on the sidelines. They're not dancing the dance with me. So day one is in the bag and my feet have been soaked. I was smart. This was my 56 year old wisdom that decided to get some Epsom salts before he, and so I would have them on hand. And the instructor did recommend to everybody, not just to me. That it would probably be a good idea to soak your feet in Epsom salt and maybe Roll them out on a tennis ball, that type of thing. And I was thinking more for all the other muscles, but I did soak my feet. I probably, at some point we'll be soaking the rest of me, the rest of my muscles, but it was Screentastic and I'm so happy that I didn't let. Thoughts. That we're just, they're just here. Right? Nobody else is thinking of. And if they are that's their business, but I didn't let those thoughts. Keep me from something that. Brought me so much joy and will bring me so much joy and. Yeah. So that's what I'm coming here to tell you today, curate the life that you want to live. Don't. Let yourself be boxed in by the should. Or by what you think other people are going to think. They may be thinking it. They may not be thinking it. It's not important. So if everybody in that class was like, my God, what is she doing in those tights and leotards? The store business. I was there dancing. And do an okay job, except for the time that I got mixed up. But don't think I won't be dancing around my house doing my little practice steps that we have to do. I'm like, I know how to do that. And I'm excited about it. My neighbors may not. He excited about me dancing around. I will be nice about it. I will just do small steps, not big leaps across the, across the apartment, but. Yeah. Live your life. Figure out what you want. And live your life. And I will tell you, there's a lady on Instagram that I follow. I don't know her name. So I can't, tell you her name. I'll see if I can find it. And I'll put a link in the show notes. But I guess maybe. Four or five years ago, she started dancing she's in her fifties. She started dancing. I don't, and I haven't really read the story of just snippets of it. But she's documented her whole story on Instagram. Um, probably not going to do that. And now she's like in shows and I know that she's done some workshops or I don't know she's in Debbie Allen school. But she's in chose. She did a cabaret. She looks fantastic. So I'm like, I keep dancing. Um, I come back on here with my leotards hematite. But yeah, that is such an aside and I'm just going to leave it in. Anyway, I was inspired by her. She evidently loves to dance and she just started taking lessons. And again, I need to go find the whole story and figure out if she was a dancer before and just came back to it. But she's having a blast and I am having a blast. So. If there's something in your life that you want to do, that will bring you joy and you will have a blast doing it. Please go do it. Life. Is meant to be. Lived and we should be. Living vibrantly and to the fullest. And I want to say this, especially because I focus on coaching, single women in midlife. When else. Are you going to do it? Like in our twenties and thirties, we were probably busy doing other things. Building careers, raising families. If you raising a family. If you're single and you're in midlife, you are in charge of you. You're resourced. Who are you reporting to? Nobody go do your damn thing. Go live your life as big and as loud as you want to live it. That's. What I have to say to you? And if you don't watch this podcast, if you listen to it, I just did a raw, threw my hands in the air and I just did it again. Just. Um, I just feel. Really like on fire in my soul about this and just happy and. If I just. If I let the shit come in the shitty thoughts, stick with me and I cannot believe I'm getting a little emotional. I wouldn't have this great day. So. That's what I have for you. Until next time.