I clapped my hands together and cooed at the kids, "Ready na ba kayong mag-dance ulit?"
"Yes po, Teacher Rei!" sabay-sabay na sigaw ng mga bata kong estudyante para sa klase na ito.
Every Saturday, I have a hip-hop dance session with kids ages from four and up. Ang pinakamatanda kong estudyante dito ay seven years old. The dance routines for these sessions were easy and fun and really intended for their age or even older people who really don't know how to dance.
Iyon nga lang ay kahit madali ang steps ng tinuturo ko, challenging pa rin para sa akin ang session dahil nga mga bata ang tinuturuan ko. They were all enthusiastic about dancing, but they tend to be really unfocused. Mahirap din silang i-discipline dahil sa edad nila.
I have to be really careful and patient with them. I didn't want to make a kid cry or risk them being scared of me. Baka magsumbong sila sa mga magulang nila at i-pull out sa dance class ko.
"Okay... Position na tayo," utos ko sa kanila.
Nagmamadali naman silang tumakbo papunta sa kani-kanilang pwesto. Malapit na matapos ang session namin pero punong-puno pa rin sila ng energy, parang hindi nauubusan.
I think kids are really cute and I adore them... from a far. Hindi ko pa ma-imagine ang sarili ko na magka-anak sa ngayon dahil marami pa akong gustong gawin sa buhay. My plans in the foreseeable future do not involve spawning babies. Lalo na at hindi pa ako financially stable and my dance studio business is new.
At isa pa, busy rin kasi si Zeno sa career niya kaya wala pa talaga sa plano naming dalawa 'yon. Eme.
"Arms cross," I announced to everyone as I faced the mirror. I slightly spread my legs apart and crossed my arms over my chest so that they can copy it. Once everyone was ready, I played the music using the remote.
"And 5, 6, 7, 8," I counted and proceeded to the first step at the last count. It was a simple bopping the upper body and head left and right while remaining in place. The kids followed. "Energy!"
After I eight counts, I moved to the next step. Nakasunod naman ang lahat. Ang iba ay may sariling flavor sa sayaw at hindi kuhang-kuha ang step, but I let it pass. As long as they were dancing and enjoying the session, that was already enough for me.
The kids who were enrolled here either really likes dancing or their parents just want them to have an activity to keep them busy. Nevertheless, my only goal for my dance classes for the kids is to make sure that they're having fun.
"Freestyle!" I shouted and the kids began to do their silly dance moves. Pati ako ay kung anu-ano lang ang ginawa. "And... drop," I announced and gently dropped to the floor. Nagsi-higaan din ang mga bata, hindi nga lang sabay-sabay, but it was really cute.
"Yehey! Ang gagaling!" sabi ko at pumalakpak. They all clapped and giggled.
That was the end of the session. After helping them pack their things, I sent them to the door. Nasa labas na ang mga magulang nila at naghihintay para sa kanila. The kids were in line as they left the studio but ran as soon as they passed the door and saw their parents.
"Bye, Teacher Rei!" They all simultaneously bid again and waved as they left with their parents.
"Ba-bye! See you next week!" paalam ko sa mga ito.
Nang makaalis na ang lahat ay nakahinga na ako nang maluwag at pagod na bumalik sa loob ng studio. Instead of packing up immediately, I laid on the floor and took a quick break.
My phone pinged and vibrated for a notification in my joggers' pocket. Tamad na kinuha ko 'yon at medyo kinabahan ng makita ang bagong notification mula kay Zeno.
