The Alvin Ailey flat-back series

Here is a picture of my dear friend Shelagh and myself, before dance class at the great Alvin Ailey dance studio. We took classes in the famous Horton technique – which involves the “flat-back series”, great for balance and also your abs and thighs – lots of squats and lunges – all with your back flat as a board … but it sure makes you look ridiculous. We would watch the real dancers – the real Alvin Ailey dancers – taking classes and we would watch them do the same flat-back series and think, “God, it looks so elegant when they do it. We look like crouching Hobbits hidden midgets.”