This winter after pantomime season was over, I had time on my hands and decided to tackle the long overdue matter of getting fit. Hating gyms and all sorts of exercise – I find such boring and on the whole painful – I researched dance-based classes that at least might hold some interest aesthetically or musically. There are certainly plenty to choose from locally. Almost all gyms and dance establishments offer Zumba! which is essentially an aerobics type fast-moving dance class using lots of funky African style moves. There are various levels around now: Zumba! Gold for older ladies and Zumba! Extreme for masochists.
Line dancing has grown tremendously over the last few years, with Jo Allsop now a full time tutor, albeit mostly on the army bases, and Boot Scootin’ Bandits running four classes a week. The luxurious Lea Womens’ Centre in Tala offers Solo Salsa and until recently Hip Hop, which stopped presumably due to lack of interest (I was the only one there), but I found it a delightful blend of slouching and dance – a fitness class for the lazy. Queen of enthusiasm Tatiana runs a full variety of classes at Sandy Beach (yes, outdoors) and Neptune Hotel (also home of Boot Scooting Bandits) with a lovely gang of followers.
As it happened, my free time suddenly dried up after a week and so I only gained a week of fitness classes, and as this coincided with Christmas, almost every class was followed by a party involving crisps and wine, and, in one delightful case, home made Baileys, which probably negated any calories expunged during the exercises. I’m told this doesn’t happen at every class.
One important discovery I made is to beware of the Chair Yoga class. It can mean one of two things: a gentle class for older or less able souls who literally sit in a chair and exercise from there: Tatiana runs two lovely such classes a week. However, this is not to be confused with Feet Up Yoga – which might sound temptingly similar, but actually involves a ‘chair’ – more of a stool with a head-shaped hole – resembling a medieval torture device that holds one upside-down by the neck, in order to perform aerial yoga moves.
Names can be misleading. One line dance class I joined was two hours long. I’d only ever previously done one hour sessions, and was struggling towards the end. The teacher kept telling us “We’ll finish with glass o’ wine!” and “Just two more dances and then it’ll be time for glass o’ wine”. This promise kept me going. During the (I thought) last dance, I was a little bewildered, looking around the room and seeing no bottle, carton or indeed glasses. Imagine my disappointment to learn that ‘Glass o’ Wine’ was in fact the name of yet another dance.
Panto season isn’t actually quite over. Premier Theatre Group in Limassol, after a six year hiatus are back with a bang – or perhaps a sparkle – presenting a full scale pantomime complete with live orchestra in Limassol this month, ahead of a ‘big musical’ next year – watch this space. I’m joining as Fairy Godmother and thus enjoying a little adventure in Limassol every weekend at rehearsals. Aside from panto, Shakespeare at Curium will be presenting Othello this summer, and Stage One Theatre have a trio of comedies coming up this year before their next pantomime.
Tatiana runs various exercise classes at Neptune Hotel, Peiga: see notice on door for details
Lea Womens’ Centre, Tala www.leaomencentre.com
Boot Scooting Bandits, Peiga 97718664
Line Up Get Dancing 97639817
Cinderella 7.30pm 7th & 5pm 8th March at Palo Polemidia Theatre, Limassol www.premieregroupcy.com
Stage One Theatre in Emba, Paphos:
www.stageonetheatre.net
Othello 9th, 10th, 11th July at Ancient Curium, Limassol paccurium@gmail.com
Jezebel runs a Quiz at the Cliff Bar in Tala, Paphos every Monday 5.30pm, everyone welcome
www.groovejetmedia.com