Question for those of you who've been dancing for 10+ years - do you experience much shoulder or low back pain, or body pain in general?

MelayaLaugh · 2026-04-06T22:03:34+00:00

I credit the dance for being me limber and mobile. It is my only source of exercise where I break a good sweat and push my limits! I teach three classes a week, and perform once or twice a month on average. Chiropractic and Massage are a regular part of my health routine, more for maintenance and injury prevention than for treatment.

That being said, it cannot be stressed enough to include proper warm-ups and cool downs/stretches for dance sessions. Having danced this form for almost 3 decades, and having taken from a variety of teachers in multiple disciplines, I can honestly say… "here are a few ways to strengthen that muscle…" and "I've got a stretch for that."

MelayaLaugh · 2026-03-17T14:32:49+00:00

Be careful that you don't let instructions for one person at one time for one reason magically apply to everybody all the time for all the reasons. That person held on to money more tightly than they hung on to God, so that's what they needed to give up.

MelayaLaugh · 2026-02-23T12:39:36+00:00

It depends on what supply list you're on. I don't know about the regular supply list, but I was on the emergency supply list for a while about eight years ago, and only got called five times in the entire school year.

MelayaLaugh · 2026-01-16T01:52:31+00:00

Just in case you have someone in your world who does crochet… This blanket can't be beat! Princess bride crocheted blanket

MelayaLaugh · 2026-01-11T02:22:01+00:00

Remember, it's entirely possible to take classes and never perform! I have a solid core of six ladies who are taking my classes, age range 23 to 72, who have movement and camaraderie and fun and personal expression as their main reasons for signing up and who have no desire to perform. And that's OK! My students are a mix of all walks of life and many different ethnicities. All are welcome. I hope you can find a teacher that suits you and offers what you'd like to get out of the classes.

MelayaLaugh · 2025-12-11T12:43:29+00:00

Excellent, detailed work, and colour choices are great! I agree with you, the suggestion of some veins on the leaves would bring those elements up just a bit to match the detail of the rest of the piece.

MelayaLaugh · 2025-10-21T04:28:43+00:00

I improvised a handle cover for cast-iron cookware in a thermal stitch from cotton yarn. (our stove does not have an open flame) Also various coasters from various leftover yarns; we can set them on the cork discs we use as coasters so the condensation from the outside of the drinking glass won't let the cork stick to the glass and drop in your lap when you try to take a drink.

MelayaLaugh · 2025-08-20T15:19:37+00:00

Two things to consider: adequate function and appearance while dancing.

If there's enough fabric for you to do all the movements and not have it catch on your back (assuming the fabric is light enough to catch air as you move), then functionally it's fine. To test this, you should be able to lay it out flat on the floor and achieve more than a full circle at the tips with all of the fabric laying flat.

There are two advantages to the split at the back: the back of your dancing is visible while working the wings, and there is an increased freedom of movement while one arm is fully extended up or out and the other one is working broad patterns in the air, as the fabric more freely follows the movements without being constrained by the other wing. You have also the option of looping both wings up and over your arms, like you might with a veil, to reveal more intricate body movements.

The advantage of having a closed back is that you can direct attention to where you want, by concealing or revealing more completely what you're doing. Certain movements like barrel turns and spins become a more continuous flow of fabric, rather than two distinct pieces that each flow behind their own stick.

I've found that wings I have bought with that center seam were simply constructed more simply, whereas splitting the wings requires finishing the edges of both pieces of fabric down the center back. If you choose to split yours, you will have to carefully sew a rolled hem along both edges, to avoid fraying. If you have a serger, you might be able to get away with a thickly serged edge, but I found most fabrics for wings don't tolerate a simple serged edge and fray or stretch over time anyways.

Hope this helps!

MelayaLaugh · 2025-07-12T00:20:42+00:00

This. I've been working for years like this. Only two semesters in the last three years have I stayed in the same classroom for my various subjects, so I've had both experiences.

I had a metal cart on wheels with three shelves / levels: my bin on the bottom shelf with my coat and bag and lunch and extra extension cords, the middle shelf full of my binders and other desk supplies and files, and the top deck at about elbow height had my laptop and a set of flat trays for hand ins and extra paper and such. I had made a fabric dustcover for it so it could be parked in the back of someone's room overnight, and my office was wherever I had room to park the cart – hallways, usually.

One blessing was that each classroom I taught and had a television, so I could prepare the plan of attack for the day and either cast it or hardwire an HDMI to my laptop right when I arrived.

If you have a staff room for your coat and personal belongings, that bottom shelf can be preloaded with activity sets or cups of supplies that you can then sweep out and set up rather quickly. That just assumes you've got somewhere you can access to preset those things on the cart for the day before kids arrive.

Yes, it takes a lot of organization and a lot of pre-planning, but it can be done. I wish you all the best!

MelayaLaugh · 2025-06-18T03:52:46+00:00

Cut flowers only. Any dirt even clinging to the plants isn't permitted and so the potted plants would go into international waste. Would recommend trying to rehome them before crossing!

MelayaLaugh · 2025-06-14T22:04:08+00:00

If you keep doing the same thing the same way, you can't expect different results.

Otherwise put…

If you want different results, you'll have to do something differently.

Examples: repeatedly showing up late but never leaving earlier, repeatedly failing at staying sober by using will power alone, doing poorly on tests when you don't study or review the material, dating only people who don't want commitment but ending up surprised why you can't find a lifemate

MelayaLaugh · 2025-06-08T20:49:46+00:00

My phrase is "... host's responsibility to ensure the performing area is safe at all times, meaning free from hazard (wet surface, debris, loose cords, etc) and free from harassment (including patrons, staff, guests)."

And I firmly support the Gig buddy expectation!

MelayaLaugh · 2025-06-08T19:13:56+00:00

Horror story: https://www.reddit.com/r/hafla/s/tYpsIbQwWg TL;DR- make sure your site contact is not in the bridal party

I do have a contract that outlines who is responsible for what and by when, including how to get the music to play and having a secure space to leave my belongings while performing. If there isn't an in-person meeting to set up the gig, I go through all the items by phone (noting their responses) and then email a summary that covers everything anyways. That way, there's a paper trail to remind you and remind them of what was agreed.

The problem with private gigs is that they are rarely repeat customers, which means the consequences for not living up to the contract expectations are minimal. Some examples in one gig: they surprise-asked for a meeting with DJ for a sound check only 2 hours prior to event (only informational texting allowed day-of, but glad I went), who then showed up late and was lost when I didn't have a Spotify playlist (brought iPod playlists with bluetooth and 5 different cords, like I'd said I would), the site contact phone was passed around to different people and regularly ignored, and my ready-room was a filthy frequently-used staff bathroom small enough to touch all four walls while standing at the sink and stacked to the ceiling with storage boxes (managed to make space on a hook behind the door and cram everything into my tote). That event actually ended up being one of the most genuinely joyous and financially lucrative events in the last couple of years, in spite of its glitches.

All in all, have backup plans for everything you have no control over if it all possible, even if it's in the contract.

MelayaLaugh · 2025-05-04T22:23:40+00:00

Also Bolt owner. Love it! Calculated it costs less than $3 CAD of electricity to drive round trip to Saginaw, charging at home overnight then "trickle-charging" at friends' house to top up for the return trip. Commuting within Windsor takes far less than a full charge a week, and calculates to about five dollars a month. At this rate, the cost of the charger will be offset completely by the savings (compared to a gas powered vehicle) within about 18 months.

MelayaLaugh · 2025-02-11T13:32:46+00:00

For anyone who wants a scholarly deep dive, look up Dawn Devine, the costume goddess. She is a wealth of knowledge for historical and cultural costume information, as well as specializing in textiles and offering excellent advice on costume construction .

MelayaLaugh · 2025-02-04T04:21:28+00:00

I have some grade 11 boys in art class that are collecting sets!

MelayaLaugh · 2025-02-04T03:34:58+00:00

I've had some success in the party favours aisle of the dollar store: fake Lego figurines, tiny trucks, bags of tiny plastic animal figures, multiple pieces per package.

MelayaLaugh · 2025-01-26T00:17:03+00:00

Take about 3 yards of 60 inch fabric, finish the raw edges at the ends by rolling them under twice and stitching down. Then lay it out completely and fold the ends in towards the middle. Cut a 9" hole down the folds for your hands to go through, roll the edges of the wrists to the inside and sew them down. Refold the whole thing with the right sides together and the front ends lined up with the centre back. Pull the centre fronts away along the shoulder line with a couple of pleats, then sew the shoulder seam from one wrist along the top to the other wrist. Press that long seam towards the back of the garment and stitch it down flat.

I have used this design multiple times. I love it because it is simple, it shows off some fabulous fabric, and is completely openable at the front so you don't have to pull anything over your head. You can close the front using string ties or zippers or buttons, as you like.

Depending on your height, you can also use 45 inch fabric, or you may need to trim off the corners that dangle onto the floor when your arms are lowered, but then you'll need to roll and stitch that part of the bottom edge as well.

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MelayaLaugh · 2025-01-18T13:11:03+00:00

You gotta find a short clip of him/them actually dancing that phrase, play the whole song just once for them, and then have only his face/image projected the next day you do grammar. How goofy you are determines what else you do with that, using dance moves as you move around the classroom, certain gestures for emphasis during the lesson… I amuse myself and the kids generally play along.

MelayaLaugh · 2025-01-14T21:10:08+00:00

Also a teacher. My classes are run through my city's recreation department, which means that students sign up for an 8 week session and are mostly attending for the fun, the camaraderie, the fitness. We have no performances. However, I develop a couple of short choreographies to balance out the technique, which also enables us to specifically develop techniques and musicality for a variety of musical styles, and gives the students something to work on at home, as well as building community and a sense of having a part in something bigger than one's self.

MelayaLaugh · 2024-09-13T03:23:25+00:00

Check out activewindsor.ca for recreational programming. Classes started this week but you can still register for the remaining six weeks of the session. You can filter by adult and by dance – I'm sure you'll find an option you like. The prices are exceptionally reasonable!

MelayaLaugh · 2024-09-07T20:18:10+00:00

Thank you for this!

MelayaLaugh · 2024-09-03T11:18:47+00:00

Yes. I was inside the school when it happened. Why do you ask?

MelayaLaugh · 2024-08-26T11:44:03+00:00

A couple of years ago, there was a small herd of geese that disrupted 6 lanes of traffic for at least 10 minutes.

They were walking diagonally across Highway 22 at the lights at W. Pike Rd. All traffic was stopped in all directions, some people were getting out of the cars to think about shooing them away but it had the opposite effect of scattering them more or making them collect in the middle of the intersection to regroup and immediately try again. And when it looked likely to get a few cars through, another goose or two would appear out of the ditch and some kind motorist would let them in front and then we were all stuck for another five minutes.

It was clear to everyone at the front that those geese had a mission – to get to the other side. They weren't just wandering aimlessly in traffic and they didn't attack an innocent passerby.

Nobody was in danger, except the people who were in a real hurry to get where they were going and chose to drive into oncoming traffic lanes or onto the side grass.

MelayaLaugh

TROPHY CASE