A Buddhist, Jew and Christian are all praying together… It’s sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s not a joke. There were three of us women getting ready to dance a traditional hula, known as kahiko. Now why were we praying? You can imagine that there are far more young women dancing. Well, we were the three out of about seventy-five women who were having our periods. While you may think that is too much information, let me explain. Apparently, the Hawaiians considered a woman on her period as impure, and so she wouldn’t dance kahiko then. This “impure” thing was completely foreign to the other girls, but it’s quite familiar to me–the Jew.

So for me this was the first time I have ever prayed with a Buddhist, and a Buddhist and Christian. Well, maybe she was…she wasn’t sure what to pray. I wasn’t either, which is why I asked earlier in the day.

In case you’re wondering, it went well. The period did not interfere with my ability to dance. I can see the point of praying. It’s to focus you on the dance and its meaning, instead of “can anyone tell I’m having my period?” (otherwise known as “can you see my pad?”)

When I considered ballet, I thought I would have a lot to say about how a bumbling, stumbling, doesn’t-know-her-right-from-her-left, would-be dancer got through dance class with graceful, seasoned dancers. I was wrong, which is why I haven’t written about any ballet mishaps. Of course, I forget the order of the moves. No big deal. It’s easy. Easier than I imagined. I’m not klutzy. I’m naturally quite turned out. I should have taken ballet as a child. Hula and Tahitian dance have given me the strength to do all the ballet moves without breaking a sweat. I know that the easiness of ballet isn’t that interesting. Even I would rather read about someone’s mishaps and missteps. In fact, I think after only 3 ballet classes my hula dancing has improved. I have wanted the gracefulness that I see in experienced hula dancers. It seems I found it.