Pregnancy & Flamenco – The Delicate Flower

“YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO.” I heard this sentiment so many times from even those people closest to me whenever I said that I planned to keep dancing throughout my pregnancy. Horror stories were told to me about swelling, not being able to walk and just being generally miserable, especially at the end of pregnancy. There was also a certain kind of guilt that people seemed very open to inflicting. I felt like I was being selfish by thinking that I could continue doing something that I loved while being pregnant.

The one place where I did not find this to be the case was in the flamenco community. Many people had really positive stories or were amazing examples of how you can keep moving and dancing throughout your pregnancy. That’s not to say that people who are pregnant and dancing don’t have challenges, but there are many pregnant ladies who have positive experiences. Without this knowledge and such amazing support from the Vancouver flamenco community (and my husband of course) I really believe I would have had a much different experience in my pregnancy.

Today I am in my 38th week of pregnancy and still dancing. I’ve definitely hit some interesting experiences along the way. For instance, when my bump started to really grow I noticed how my balance just completely went out the door. It was like I had never danced before! I was literally falling off my shoes and very frustrated. After a solid week of working on balance adjustments and drill after drill of footwork and marking I was able to get control of my centre again. Even double turns were still possible at 7 months pregnant. Although, I was waiting for the day I started a turn and it all went wrong. And I can still complete a full backbend without falling on my head. My continued work on balance paid off.

Then of course Covid-19 hit! Very selfishly I was devastated when I could no longer attend flamenco privates. They were really a lifeline and the highlight of my week both mentally and physically. Since about the fifth month of pregnancy I had been experiencing some really horrible rip-splay pain that was getting increasingly worse the further into pregnancy I got. Thankfully movement made this pain way more manageable. As much as I did not enjoy any of this rib-splay nonsense I was really thankful that movement helped and it wasn’t the opposite where I would have to stay sedentary.

Covid-19 also meant that my plan to perform in the annual Cuadro show was no longer an option. However, I still kept up practising, just in case. In the end I resigned myself to the fact that I would not be able to perform at 8 months pregnant as I had really wanted to, but health and safety are far more important to focus on in these times. I did find some comfort in the fact that when the time of the Cuadro show came around I felt like I could have done the show.

At 38 weeks pregnant I’m still taking flamenco classes via Zoom and taking my little wooden board out to a nearby field to continue my footwork. All the movements are harder to do now that I have what seems like a massive bump, but being able to still dance has made all the uncomfortable parts of later pregnancy way better! Of course not everyone’s experience is the same and had there been any issue with the baby because of dancing I would have taken that into immediate consideration.

Also, everyone’s pregnancy experience will be different. But, it feels like there are so many people saying that you can’t be pregnant and dance and such a pressure on pregnant ladies to feel like they are delicate flowers. This is not the case! Pregnant ladies are tough and strong! Don’t give up just because you THINK you have to! Yes, be sensitive to what your body is telling you and if dancing is too much then it is good and healthy to listen, but if it feels good keep on dancing!

Don’t give up! Sing, dance, pound that percussion and let the oxytocin flow!

Amber Rowell
theamberjournal.com