Month: May 2014

Photo Credit to my dear Moriah

In a land far, far away, there lived a girl who couldn’t find a good way to sum up her emotions at semester’s end (especially since watching The Book Thief), so she wrote it like this.

She wanted to thank Miss Sara, Miss Bethanny and Ms. Tina, but she couldn’t find the right words. In fact, she had too many words, stuck in her mouth and choking her up. Mix-matched socks and chocolate could never really express her love for the three of them, but she tried. She tried to show it through her very last performance of Candide, but her terribly critical audience forced her to laugh instead (Thank you so much Gracie, Lily, “Little” Jenna, “Big” Jenna, Allison, Bethanny and Peter; you all are the reason we continue to improve!).

She also wanted to thank her adoptive siblings for always being there for her. For always carrying extra hair pins and hairspray, good food (whether it be carrots or brownies) and enough smiles to go around. For being able to laugh things off, whilst helping her to grow. She was so blessed by all of them. She couldn’t picture her life without them. They were family.

First and foremost, she wanted to thank her immediate family, for always supporting her. For driving her all over the city for performances and refusing to miss even one. For making sure that she doesn’t look like a hobo with too-small leotards, blue-tinted tights, penetrated ballet shoes and dead pointes (as hard as I try, too…). She thought that her five was absolutely the bomb.

But she really didn’t know how to say all of that, so she wrote it in third person, like a true winner. Now I just need Rudy to race me down a street in Germany…

I’m sorry. Really, I am. That title will make sense later on…

So, my home state had the weirdest thunderstorm/hailstorm/tornado this afternoon. It was insanity. The roads were flooded, which got me to the studio a half-hour late. My mom and I lugged my dance bag, water bottle, gift bags and treats into the lobby, only to find that Miss Bethanny hadn’t yet arrived. Anna had, though, so she (who is going to be teaching next year anyway) and I taught the remainder of ballet/tap together. For something so short-notice, we killed it. And on top of that, Bethanny arrived in time to say her farewells to all of our lovelies. I’m really going to miss them….

I dropped Miss Bethanny’s end-of-the-year gift in her box and headed over to the Training Center for modern. In class, we “took a trip around the room” (always a winner in the warm-up area), did plies, tendus and leg swings and then worked on our extremely challenging combination from last week. Not only that, but we split into groups and added our own choreography to the combination. And we didn’t fail too miserably! But could we just leave it at “not too shabby?”

Of course not!

So, Miss Sara chose a random song from her iPad for each group, and we had to fit the choreography to the music. The beginning of Abby’s, Carrie’s and my song was slightly monotone, so we ended up doing our piece twice (same song, different part). I felt really good about my performance, which I wasn’t entirely expecting, but Anna’s comments confirmed my initial reaction. Plus, I have battle scars– a bloody marley burn and several bruises. Success!

Then, we ate food. Thinking back, it didn’t feel right. I mean, did my last Wednesday of the year REALLY just come to a close?

Miss Sara made Jello, but since nobody brought spoons, we decided to drink it from plastic cups. And we may have had a little bit too much, seeing as ballet was quite the experience…

We began class with center barre and then taught ourselves most of the Candide variation from Sleeping Beauty (Miss Sara did have to jump in and clarify a few times.). I had a blast! I learned the piece on flat, however, since my Mirellas are–officially–dead. They’re DEAD, beautifuls! And it only took me three months… ah! Miss Sara stuck some glue in there, since I seem to be a platform breaker, but she doubts that they’ll make it through August (when she plans to take a group to the bodywear shop). If all else fails, I’ll just pop on my Euros and hope for the best….

With 15 minutes to spare, we ate some more Jello and watched The Chicken Dance on YouTube. It doesn’t get much better than that. <3

All else stated, I feel super accomplished. I’m really going to miss my “Sorry, I can’t do anything on Wednesdays. I live at dance.” But next year is just around the corner. Dear God, where did THIS year go to…?

Today, while contemplating the virtually unbelievable fact that next Friday is the last day of my 2013-2014 season, I did a practically flawless quadruple pirouette. I feel very accomplished. <3

Honestly, I don’t have a whole lot of news, now that Recital is over. The next two weeks will most likely be spent in technique class, stretching, conditioning and practicing variations— super psyched! But until I have further information for you, I’ve come up with a list of some of my favorite songs. All together, my playlist is capable of playing non-stop for three straight days (without replays), so this is NOT the entire thing, but I figure it’s a pretty good start. The songs are organized according to music artist in a song – music artist – album fashion (if that makes any sense). Hopefully, you lovely dancers will be able to find something that you like…!

Quick side note: The video above was taken on Manomet Beach in Plymouth, about four years ago. I remember plugging my headphones in, cranking up the Addison Road and saying to myself, “Bye-bye world.” And after that… well… I had to buy some new sneakers. And I felt free.

1. What Do I Know of Holy – Addison Road – Addison Road
2. I Can Only Imagine – Bart Millard – Lullabies For A Peaceful Rest
3. My Name Is Eustace! – Benjamin Dunn and the Animal Orchestra – Fable
4. Sing – Benjamin Dunn and the Animal Orchestra – Fable
5. London – Benjamin Dunn and the Animal Orchestra – Fable
6. We Came Alive – Benjamin Dunn and the Animal Orchestra – Fable
7. When We Were Young – Benjamin Dunn and the Animal Orchestra – Fable
8. Fields of Grace – Big Daddy Weave – Fields of Grace
9. Audience of One – Big Daddy Weave – One and Only
10. God Of This City – Bluetree – God Of This City
11. Welcome To Wherever You Are – Bon Jovi – Have A Nice Day
12. Who Says You Can’t Go Home – Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day
13. Lost Highway – Bon Jovi – Lost Highway
14. Because We Can – Bon Jovi – What About Now (Deluxe Version)
15. The Other Side of the Radio – Chris Rice – Run the Earth, Watch the Sky
16. Sing, Sing, Sing – Chris Tomlin – Hello Love
17. He Is Our King – David Crowder Band – A Collision (Bonus Video Version)
18. No One Like You – David Crowder Band – Illuminate
19. Every Move I Make – David Crowder Band – The Lime CD
20. Undignified – David Crowder Band – The Lime CD
21. Taking Over Now – The Desperation Band – Everyone Overcome
22. Counting On God – The Desperation Band – Everyone Overcome
23. You Hold It All – The Desperation Band – Light Up the World
24. Mercy Is Falling – The Desperation Band – Light Up the World
25. Glorious One – Fee – Single
26. One Of These Days – FFH – Far From Home: The FFH Collection
27. Fly Away – FFH – Far From Home: The FFH Collection
28. Great Big Problem – FFH – Voice From Home
29. Grand Canyon – FFH – Voice From Home
30. Never Not – Glorie Harrison – With
31. Because – Glorie Harrison – With
32. Thank You – Glorie Harrison – With
33. Beautiful Things – Gungor – Beautiful Things
34. Mighty to Save – Hillsong – Mighty to Save
35. My Redeemer Lives – Hillsong – Ultimate Worship (Bonus Track)
36. Shout Your Fame – Hillsong – Ultimate Worship (Bonus Track)
37. Here I Am To Worship – Hillsong – Ultimate Worship (Bonus Track)
38. Never Be Shaken – Jerad Anderson – Live From My Church
39. How He Loves – Jerad Anderson – Live From My Church
40. God Be In My Head – Jerad Anderson – Live From My Church
41. Impossible Possible – Jerad Anderson – The Narrow Road
42. Great I Am – Jerad Anderson – The Narrow Road
43. All I Want – Jerad Anderson – Where Faith Comes From
44. Glorified – Jerad Anderson – Where Faith Comes From
45. Ready Now – Jerad Anderson – Where Faith Comes From
46. Happy Day – Kim Walker – Your Love Never Fails
47. Count Me In – Leeland – Opposite Way
48. I Will Boast – Paul Baloche – A Greater Song
49. I Am Free – Ross Parsley – I Am Free
50. On My Lips – Ross Parsley – I Am Free
51. Ain’t No Grave – Selah & Jason Crabb & Adam Crabb – Bless the Broken Road
52. Fingerprints Of God – Steven Curtis Chapman – Speechless
53. Me Without You – tobyMac – Eye On It (Deluxe Version)
54. Steal My Show – tobyMac – Eye On It (Deluxe Version)
55. Eye On It – tobyMac – Eye On It (Deluxe Version)
56. Get Back Up – TobyMac – Tonight
57. Showstopper – TobyMac – Tonight
58. Tonight – TobyMac Feat. John Cooper – Tonight

Caroline and I after Rehearsal Three

If I can get through this post without bursting into tears, I’m going to feel extremely accomplished. Because this past week has been the most incredible experience in my ten years as a dancer.

Rehearsal Three was the best of them all. I actually managed to “sign in” on Wednesday, though I totally forgot to sign out. I guess my taking leave was made apparent when they locked up that night…. Anywho, I had a fabulous time scouring the school for duct tape, doing leg swings with Sarah and taping the straps of a thousand different costumes together. Advanced Modern used the in-school studio to work on our lifts, which looked stellar, despite many-a-week since our last practice. We performed Redeemed with WOW energy, so much so that I could feel it through my mom’s phone. That was after we found the spider on the stage and ran around, screaming like little girls. And then we laughed about it. Really, really hard. I got to see several of my 2A kids, who looked especially lovely in all of their anticipation. And then, Caroline and I decided to take a picture for Instagram, though it turned into more of a “latergram,” since we had to be in Miss Bethanny’s backstage gag reel first. Yay for “the Love clap!”

Friday’s rehearsal went just as well. After greeting every teacher I could find, we PERFORMED Primavera (appropriate emphasis on “PERFORMED”). It was beautiful. And then we went back to doing bits and pieces of Love for the photographers. Not as beautiful but just as much fun.

Yesterday morning, I was up at quite an unnatural hour, preparing for the day ahead. I met Abby and Elizabeth in the high school parking lot, and we made our way to the back entrance. Then, Abby and I moved off to the dressing room, where we claimed our counter-space. After warming up, the Training Division met onstage to pray. Insert “Congratulations on ten years of [studio name]” here, as a thoughtful video played for the audience and Moriah’s testimony was shared. I feel so blessed to have been a part of this celebration!

Our first performance of Love Take Me Over was phenomenal, with the teachers clapping in the aisles, encouraging the audience to join in, and a flawless, celebratory image of our ten-year anniversary. After the piece, Abby and I hopped into some black clothes and dashed over to stage left to help Rachel and Mary get their little ones onstage. Once their dance was complete, Bethanny and I donned our bright pink shirts and did Jesus Loves Me with our ballet/tap kiddos. That dance was incredibly adorable. <3 Besides these, one of my favorite pieces from Recital One was “Cinderella,” in which the girls’ dads danced along with them. Needless to say, we all had to reapply our mascara.

In-between recitals one and two, Miss Bethanny came by our dressing room to help with make-up and hair touch-ups. I’m very certain that there is NOTHING that she CANNOT do. Also during that time period, we chowed down on the ten dozen cookies that I managed not to burn on Friday– yum…!

Our second run of Love Take Me Over was just as good as the first. After Intermission, the Ballet 2As danced their hearts out, too– SO beautiful!

During the gap between recitals two and three, I ate a yogurt parfait, looked over the fall schedule and took some really hilarious pictures with the Training 2s and 3s. I joined the dressing room in watching Frozen, talked to Miss Jenna and–all in all–had a wonderful break.

And then Recital Three began. I couldn’t help feeling a tang of sadness as we performed Love for the last time. I feel that in completing the dance, I lost a very important part of me. I don’t know what it was about that piece, but it was special, and I’m counting on another opportunity to perform it somewhere else.

Redeemed was amazing. Just… amazing. I just… I can’t even…. And Allison’s senior solo to “Oh Danny Boy”? I was starting to fear that I hadn’t brought enough mascara to last me through the day! “Marian the Librarian,” the Intermediate Pointe piece, was absolutely awesome, as was Contemporary Jazz’s, “She Walked Away.” And “Thoroughly Modern Millie”? Miss Bethanny and crew… you really outdid yourself with this one.

And then came Primavera, my most challenging dance this year. The amount of energy and passion exerted in that piece was incomparable. I got off the stage feeling–physically–dead as a doornail but emotionally alive and free. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry as Miss Sara hugged me and said, “Beautiful job, Hun.”

After the curtains closed on a very amusing final bow, the stage blew up in screaming, yelling, cheering, clapping and–of course–dancing. And then I knew, for sure, that I was going to cry.

Recital is always bittersweet, with it marking the end of another fantastic year and all. But each Recital Day is also always better than the last. I’m so incredibly thankful for my teachers, sisters and especially my family who are an unfailing source of love and encouragement. My life wouldn’t be… well… my LIFE, without this day. I love it. And I love my studio. And I’m just so, so, SO blessed. <3

Giving Pointers to the 2As

By the way, it’s May again… <3

The past two dress rehearsals, sections one and two of number two (You might want to reread that.), have been phenomenal. Because Production Week is just phenomenal. And my sisters are–you guessed it–phenomenal.

Yesterday was our Love Take Me Over run. The lighting came out beautifully– THANK YOU Mrs. S.! Our first performance resembled something of a minor train wreck, but I think we managed to redeem ourselves the second time around. The stage is just so massive— ah! Having enough energy to surge past the curtains, the orchestra pit, into the back row and out the door is about the most exhausting thing ever, but I love it. I live to praise Jesus with this incredible, incredible form of art; I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Today was the Ballet 2As’ trial performance, and though we had to fix some minor spacing issues, the girls were absolutely lovely. Their smiles had my every worry about the next four days melting into the stage lights.

And somewhere in there, I helped the Training 1s and 2s overrun the boys’ dressing room, warmed up to a bit of Frozen, watched some super cute pieces, did buns for little children, talked to Miss Bethanny (who was carrying around Ms. Heather’s sweet baby) and smiled really big as Moriah read the Bible verses associated with each dance.

Good week so far?

I think yes.

I’m finally signed up for summer classes, lovely dancers– yay! My June, July and August will be playing out in the following manner:

Monday: Leaps and Turns with Miss Jenna
Wednesday: Training 3 [with pointe]/Intermediate Pointe with Miss Sara

I am SUPER psyched. It’s going to be a fantastic semester, including my very first class with the incredible Miss Jenna and my introduction to intermediate pointe, with the one and only Miss Sara.

Now, what exactly is “Leaps and Turns?” Honestly, it’s exactly what it sounds like– a class that has been created to practice the leaps “that we never get to do in ballet” and turns that just need some more practice. I usually go minimal when it comes to summer classes, as I hate to miss when my family is traveling, but leaps and turns are my favorite things EVER. WHAT ELSE could I have done besides thank God for Miss Jenna and put my name down on the attendance sheet?

As has been stated before, Faith auditions are in August, and I’ll be preparing for them over the coming semester as well. On top of that, I’ll be assisting with two camps: the American Girl Mini Camp and one of the Frozen mini camps (“If I can’t sign up for it, I’d better just teach it…”).

Like I said: SUPER psyched.

And happy Star Wars Day because who doesn’t love a good, old-fashioned, unofficial holiday? 🙂

Miss Sara handed out progress reports yesterday…! The following is what my 2013-2014 year told her:

Body Alignment: Excellent
Flexibility: Excellent
Strength: Excellent
Artistic Expression: Excellent
Musicality: Excellent
Upper Body/Arms: Proficient
Pirouettes: Proficient
Extensions: Excellent
Leaps: Proficient
Jumps: Excellent
Other Turns: Proficient

In what area or with what skills does the dancer excel? Body lines, turns

In what area or with what skills does the dancer need improvement? Stretching the backs of the legs, higher developpes

How is the dancer’s attitude and work ethic in class? Amazing

Is there a problem with attendance or tardiness or dress code? No

I’m freaking out. Seriously. I think every pain in my body just evaporated in happiness.

I did away with all “Goods” this year–ah! I’m ECSTATIC! My main focus this summer is going to be improving my flexibility. I also want to pour artistic expression into my every movement, while being musically correct. And as for those developpes… let’s work to combine that strength and flexibility.

And since you’re probably biting your nails in wonder by now, I’ll stop my shpeeling and tell you lovely dancers what you actually want to know…:

Ballet– Summer/Fall: Training 3
Pointe– Summer/Fall: Intermediate Pointe

I’m going to Intermediate Pointe, beautifuls…!

Congratulations to ALL of my dancer-people, who have done SUCH a gorgeous job this year. I love you all. <3