First Dance, First Challenge

[Sequence Log 012]

First Dance, First Challenge

Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10 a.m.
I joined a dance trial for the ALLDAY PROJECT WHERE YOU AT challenge.
The class was designed to quickly cover the basics and finish by following along with the challenge dance.
(Previous post: boxing again with old injuries)

1. It Looked Simple

― The mirror and moving each part

From the outside it looked simple.
In practice it was very hard.
I had trouble seeing myself in the mirror, so I kept following the teacher.

My arms and legs moved on their own.
Each part had to move separately.
Chest, arms, legs, feet—trying to control them one by one made my head hurt.

2. My Body Responded More Than I Expected

― Dry throat, dry mouth, activity level

I hadn’t been at it long before my throat got dry.
My mouth dried out and I was out of breath.
The session was more demanding than I’d expected.

3. A Different Feel From My Usual Training

― Rhythm and beat vs. fast and linear

The sports I’ve done so far have mostly felt like this:
as fast as possible, as hard as possible, movement that’s linear.
Boxing, squash, CrossFit, gym.

Dance is different.
You have to match the beat and rhythm, and within that, the speed too.
Controlling each part of my body was mentally exhausting.

It felt different from the training I’m used to.
Dance is about beat, rhythm, and matching speed within that.

4. Copying It in Under 30 Minutes

― Feeling inadequate and what the teacher said

The two others in the trial were already taking dance classes or had solid experience.
That made me feel more inadequate.
I tried to copy the moves in under 30 minutes but failed.

The teacher said something that stayed with me.
They hadn’t been good at dancing at first either.
It had taken them 30 years to get where they are.

I wondered if I’d been expecting too much too soon.

5. Shoulder Injury and Dance

― Movement without load

I’ve been getting high-frequency treatment for a recent right-shoulder injury (calcification, tear, inflammation).
I can’t do exercises that load the shoulder.
(Previous post: rehab visit after deadlift PR)

Luckily, dance uses the shoulder but doesn’t load it.
I could take part without worrying.

6. Wrap-up

― Gym/CrossFit + dance, and passing

Gym or CrossFit plus dance as a hobby felt like a good combination.
It’s an option to move even when injured.

Personally, though, I didn’t get enough interest to continue.
This trial was enough for me.

[Next Sequence]

This log was about the dance trial and choosing movement while injured.
I wrote down that dance was doable without shoulder load, how hard rhythm and body-part control were, and how it differed from my usual training.

The next sequence will continue
injury awareness, recovery, and training choices inside the session.