Shake it all about
Summer is just weeks away, so it’s time to get that body moving. But if you’re going to sweat, why not let your inner child, diva or daredevil out? The recession might be keeping a lot of Angelenos from traveling the world this season, but L.A.’s overabundance of alternative dance, arts and bodywork classes can turn that stale staycation into a play-cation.
Here are activities to get you off your couch and out into the sun doing things you may not have thought of doing since you were a kid.
Swing it
Trade that treadmill for a trapeze. You always dreamed of joining the circus, and at least three area institutes offer classes in flying high (with nets; we’re not crazy). The Trapeze School New York ( www.losangeles.trapezeschool.com) is launching its second season in residence on the Santa Monica Pier, with classes in an assortment of aerial arts such as swinging and static trapeze, silks, ropes and trampoline.
Closer to the Valley? Try Richie Gaona’s courses in trapeze on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays in Woodland Hills ( www.flytrapeze.com/classes). This fourth-generation circus and stunt performer focuses on small class sizes and individual instruction. In Culver City, the Kinetic Theory Circus Arts ( www.kinetictheorytheatre.com) also offers beginning aerial classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Pyromania!
If trapeze is too tame -- and frankly, with what we’ve had to put up with in this economy, it might be -- then you might want to spin balls of fire around your head. Or large, flaming sticks. Two collectives -- Flow Temple ( www.flowtemple.org) and Fire Groove (firegroove.com) -- can get you started in poi, a traditional New Zealand art form that encompasses . . . well, spinning balls around your head. These two balls -- tethered to ropes or chains -- can be made of everything from crumpled tissue (practice poi) to UV-sensitive materials (glow poi) to fuel-dipped wicks (fire poi). A variation on this concept is a long stick lighted on either end -- known as staff. Flow Temple offers six-week courses in each tool for $120. Plus, if you really want the fast track to Jedi status, they’ll give you daily motivational coaching.
Want to start this weekend? Fire Groove is offering a free introductory class to poi, staff and hoop Saturday outside at Runyon Canyon in Hollywood, and Flow Temple is holding one (free as well) at 11 a.m. Sunday in Griffith Park. They make it hard to cling to excuses.
Dance it off
Of course, you could take Lady GaGa’s advice and “just dance.” Sweaty Sundays in Silver Lake delivers an all-abilities class, set to an eclectic mix of sexy ‘80s and up-tempo ‘90s hits to brand new dance tracks. The enigmatic choreographer Ryan Heffington makes sure everyone feels welcome, regardless of dance training. It’s guaranteed to make you sweat, laugh and love yourself (in spandex, no less). Check out www.myspace.com/sweatysundays for the pertinent details, plus some fashion tips. Leotards, people, leotards!
Heartbeat House in Atwater Village has a Bollywood dance class on Saturdays. A pounding one-hour workout that combines cardio with a dance regimen built from classical Kathak- and Punjabi-style Bhangra is designed to both improve your coordination and build upon your technique. If you love Bollywood soundtracks, this is for you. Other classes during the week include such cross-cultural offerings as African ballet, Polynesian dance, Argentine tango, flamenco and samba ( www.heartbeathouse.com).
Keep hoop alive
Swiveling to the beat is all part of the fun at Hoopnotica -- a company that make the hula hoop the central part of its fitness strategy. It’s a modern take on an old classic. By learning how to dance with an adult-sized and weighted hula hoop (a.k.a. hoop dancing), you can tone your abs, back, arms, hips, buns and legs all while swinging your hips. There are a variety of places to take classes; check out Hoopnotica’s website ( www.hoopnotica.com). There are also plenty of opportunities to practice your newfound circular skill set, as Hoopnotica instructors hold free hoop jams in Marina del Rey on a regular basis (the next one is scheduled for May 31). Fire Groove and Flow Temple also offer lessons in hoop. And, of course, for those pyro junkies with a hoop addiction, there’s always combining the two. If you have the burning desire to light your hoop on fire, just ask your instructor about special workshops. Sounds like summer is heating up!
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