Living in the Past

I like Mondays at LDA despite the fact that I end up totally and completely exhausted by the end of them. We have all but one of our movement classes, and stuck in the middle of the day is a two hour class called Dramatic Literature, which sounds interesting, but is really more like “learn how to subtly yawn” class “nap-avoidance” class. It’s a cruel test of will power in the midst of some very physically demanding classes. We have our class that is actually titled Movement, and honestly, you would all be amazed at the great physical feats I have achieved in this class. Backbends, handstands, handstands into forward rolls, handstands into backbends, etc. The thing I like most about Mondays though is that they allow me to pretend I’m in the past. On Mondays I basically receive the training that aristocratic children in England up until the 19th century would receive—dance and sword training. In the mornings I have Historical Dance, where we have learned dances spanning from the medieval period to the 1800s. I can now dance a fair Coranto, perform a lively Galliard, partake in a stately Pavane, and know all of Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot. I particularly like the 18th and 19th century dances because they make me feel most like I’m living in a Jane Austen novel. At night we have Stage Combat where I learn foot work (advances, retreats, pass backs and forwards), parries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7) attacks, trusts, slices, binds and other generally amazing feats of swordplay. While I tend to fancy myself a very lovely dancer and a deadly fencer, both tutors of these classes have pointed out that what we’re learning would have been taught to children of about 7 or 8. So, I’m in the remedial class, but I bet I can out-waltz you or surprise you with some clever deceptions and unexpected slashes of my rapier any day.