What gesture means nostalgic?

The tilt of a head, the turn of a hip, a splay of the fingers -- a seemingly small decision on movement can completely alter what a dancer and her character is trying to say in a scene. D-uh, right? Sure, I'd known that on a conceptual level, but I couldn't say that I kept that in my head whenever I watched a musical theater show with choreography -- and I should. "A Chorus Line" would be a different experience, of course, but, as a critic, I would usually focus on other aspects of, say, "Pajama Game," "Oklahoma" or "Guys and Dolls."

Kay Cole's class made me realize, from inside, how hard it is to convey any sort of complex emotion with just how you move. Joy I might be able to handle; anger, too. But Kay asked me to cross in 16 beats with "nostalgia." NOSTALGIA?! I'm sure I failed. Yet when I think about the emotional arc Gene Kelly follows in the "Singing in the Rain" number, for example, I know it's possible -- just not by me -- and I have greater respect for those who can.

A class or two won't teach you how to dance (or sing, or do improv, to spin out the possibilities), but learning the subtleties of how a skill is done can make you stop and consider the art in a more personal, thoughtful way. It's not necessary to write a good review, but it's not something most of us find time to do often enough. Google and YouTube have their place for research, but I've got to get myself out there more.