Oops We did it Again! Danzing My Way into a Video
- Feb 25
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 12
Dancing is one of my favorite activities in the world. I LOVE to dance, move, and feel the music. I’ve been dancing since I was 14 on drill team and I feel like I’ve never stopped. If there is music, I want to dance.
Here’s the thing. I am not self-conscious at all. Maybe it’s at the cellular level, however, I am completely fine being on a dance floor with many people or with just a few. And when the music starts, you will find me ON the dance floor.
The same thing goes for danze class. I am happy to danze it out and be in the front row. I like to be able to see the teacher because what I learned years ago, is…. I can mimic/copy/duplicate the moves of the instructor. That helped on drill team and I’m finding it helps in danze classes. Here’s the drawback. And it makes me giggle.
While I can follow any instructor who danzes to an 8-count, in my head I also think I look exactly LIKE the instructor. Something happens-a misconnect between my brain and the mirror. I actually think or rather KNOW that while dancing I am dancing JUST like the instructor.
Two years ago, Angela Elgani entered our world. I heard we had a new danze teacher at Life Time and so I popped in.
From minute one, I loved Angela, her music and choreography and mostly, I love her energy. It’s positive, loving, and contagious. Angela’s heart includes all of us. She calls us “her girls” and encourages us to rock out. “This is your class. Danze it out!” she calls to us as she is danzing it out, too.
I had also heard that she was a backup dancer during the ‘90’s and had toured with bands as well as been in their videos. She broke out those danze moves from the beginning. We were danzing to Backstreet Boys, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears. Watching her, I could see it. I could see how she would have been danzing on tour and the fun she was having. And for a music girl like me, I loved danzing to the actual choreography. Mostly, because I would have loved to have a job like that. (I wonder if I still can?)
Last spring I was at &Juliet at the Fox with my Fox ladies. My sister and I had seen the show in New York, and I knew I would love it again, which I did. On the way home, I said to Jill, we need to ask Angela to teach us the choreography to Oops… I Did It Again. We had asked her before to teach us Tina Turner’s Proud Mary which she had done and it was a lot of fun.
Angela was game and within a few weeks, we were danzing to Oops…I Did It Again in danze jam. Jill and I smiled at each other when Angela started the music. I loved the danze moves from the beginning. I loved that we were moving and grooving with Britney.
Unsure how I got the idea, I asked Angela if we could video ourselves danzing to Oops…I Did It Again and a few other songs that we all loved. That I loved. That I loved danzing to. That I knew deep in my soul I looked amazing while danzing. Here comes the giggling again.
Once more Angela was game. We decided Angela would video on her iPad, that way everyone could danze and nobody would have to click on or off.
On a Monday in November, she set up her iPad during class and filmed herself danzing so that we could see how easy and nonintrusive it was. She also wanted to use the videos for teaching. The iPad didn’t bother anyone, and it gave us the opportunity to see we would simply be danzing as we always do.
Angela gave the heads-up that we would be filming on the left side of the room and anyone who wanted to be in the video would need to move to the left side. Anyone not interested moved toward the right.
She started the music and we began to danze. We rocked out to I Feel Like Dancing and Oops…I Did It Again. And wow, this was fun! Angela was in front of us and it felt natural to follow her lead. The iPad didn’t seem to bother anyone, including me. I simply danzed and danzed. And had the best time. It seemed like everyone else did too.
I am so comfortable in class at this point that the video camera didn’t really affect me. I was having so much fun danzing with my friends I was relaxed and happy. As I looked around, I could tell everyone was having fun and enjoying the experience as much as I was.
Truth be told, I love the choreography of these two songs. Angela knows how to teach us in a way that uses our brains and creates muscle memory. I knew the moves and I loved the music. I also love being in community with these danzers.
We danzed it out and had a great time, finished class the way we always do and took group photos. Everyone expressing how much fun they had and how they now felt like a backup dancer for Angela!
Angela said she would edit and send me the videos.
Honestly, I had NO idea what to expect.
One afternoon about a week or so later while I was at my computer working, she sent me the videos and I watched them. With curiosity. I was so excited to see the video and to see myself dancing.
Because IN MY HEAD I AM a backup dancer.
I popped them up and began watching.
Remember when I said I always felt like I looked like the instructor while danzing?
In these videos I was completely myself.
It was odd to see myself danzing from this view. I watch myself in the mirrors in danze class and am completely at ease.
I texted Angela: Weird to watch myself.
Angela: It shouldn’t be.
Me: I’m fine seeing myself in photos because of my writing and hearing myself because of podcasts. I have to think when I’ve seen a video of myself danzing. Because…you know I look just like you danzing but it’s me!
Angela: And that’s great too. But I hear you.
Me: Does it ever change? Will I get more comfortable the more I see myself? How did you feel when you first saw yourself in a video?
Angela: Excited.
Me: hmmmm. I liked danzing when we filmed. Just weird to watch.
Angela: Even if I don’t like something or I’m uncomfortable, I put it out there anyway.
Me: Does that mean I need to continue to be in videos? And watch them?
Angela: Just accept yourself and yes, be in more. (I loved the just accept myself suggestion…easy in real life…but in video?!!!)
Me: Good advice. I LOVE danzing. So, this is just another way to danze!
What an interesting experience. I had no idea I would feel that way.
The next week Angela had us danze to Oops I Did it Again and I had on the same workout gear. I was glad she did that because it was another opportunity to see myself danzing. To let go of any and all expectations. I still felt I looked like Angela danzing…and I then I realized that I was okay with how I looked danzing…I’m still the same danzing girl I’ve always been.
I also knew that regardless of the video, in Danze Jam and danzing anywhere I’m in one of my happy places. Moving, grooving, laughing, smiling, having the time of my life. Danzing it out with anyone and everyone on the danze floor. I also have some moves…. (thanks to Angela!)
Only when I dance do I feel this free….
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON! Danze it out! Oops…I Did It Again.
Check out these videos:
Contact Angela Elgani at: https://dancegoodvibes.com/
For more St. Louis Girl Storytelling blogs and St. Louis Girl Podcasts and to find out how I empower people to discover and use their voice through storytelling:
Comments