So while I think my skating is getting better overall, I still have trouble getting my hips in line while stroking onto forward edges. As Laurie pointed out today, I tend to strike off by pushing my skating hip forward so that the free hip pulls me slightly off the circle (or facing outwards). Not the best thing for stability or power!

I have had some success (a) making sure my blade is just a little bit farther out on the circle, and (b) trying to push my inside-edge hip forward. But it’s still awkward. We spent most of the lesson just on chassés and barely got to anything else.

So even as I sit here, I am feeling the frustration.

Maybe it would be better if I grunted. There was a N.Y. Times article that said that martial artists who grunted definitely kicked harder.

Or screamed.  Here’s another article about the choice of pillows. Even better, I don’t need a pillow at all!

Lesson notes (am screaming in my mind as I write):

• Think of edges being more outside the body on the circle.
• Think of turning as you are reversing the check.
• Inside mohawk, back inside three, cross forward, repeat on other side (get that inside edge after the mohawk to grip right away)
• forward outside three, push to back outside three
• creepers down the rink
• inside three, cross in front, step forward (open hips and place belly button toward center of circle as you are on the inside edge)
• inside mohawk, pull change, cross in front, back inside.

Here’s an added video from the N.Y. Times “Speaking in Dance” series which apparently uses some backstage grunting.