h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I haven't been dancing Flamenco for quite some time, due to ever so often suffering a pain in my right heel.

However, watching various Flamenco videos on YouTube brought back memories of what it was like to be in my teacher's top class that also got to perform in her productions - pleasure mixed with pain...

Intense training - sweat (guaranteed), pain (always, in feet and muscles) and blood (in case you were trying to break in a new pair of shoes - this is the reason why I, still today, always have band aids in my bag).

And the ever chritical hawk eye, ever ready to comment upon a failure (my teacher).

Oh boy... the thing I dreaded most during classes was being called up front to perform solo *gulp*

It didn't matter how well you knew the sequence - once you were standing there in front of the whole class, and your teacher's whole focus zoomed in on you - your mind would go completely blank, your limbs numb...

Oh well - you can only fail so many times before you succeed - and I mean it!

Over time, I learnt to master my hysteria and paralysis(?) and perform just fine solo - but it required several years before I got to that stage.

And, although I don't dance Flamenco at the moment, that complete focus is very useful in everyday life.

If you ever see real Flamenco performed live, you'll notice that the artists are completely focused on what they're doing and won't even notice the audience - something that I, oddly enough, noticed while watching a North American Indian Dance.

The dancer's eyes and mine locked for a moment, but I could tell he didn't see me and that he was very far away. And yet, the dance was very expressful and provoking emotions as well as thoughts.

Oh yes, meant to include an illustrational YouTube link as well - check out the reactions of the dancers towards the end...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=46Y9m81AMkA

It's a shame you don't dance any more. You must miss it. Is there any chance of doing something else, dancewise, that would be easier on your heel? Ballroom perhaps.

It just play havoc with the ankles too!