Author: Aquinnah

Spring has sprung (and so has spring break!). The sky is overcast, the mountains are snow-capped, and the wind is enough to keep me inside. Classic.

I did, however, just return from a fantastic snowmobiling trip (Yes, ballerinas can rough it, too.). During many a relaxing hour, I came up with the following list of quotes that you will probably NEVER hear outside of a dance studio. If you have a special case, though, I completely understand. I’m not all there in the “normal” department either.

1. “Who are you, and why is your hair down?”
2. “Is that… BROWN MASCARA?”
3. “This red lipstick is being confiscated. You have the right to remain silent.”
4. “Pretty please don’t kill me with your necklace.”
5. “Do I have to take my shirt off?”
6. “You’re not seriously wearing nail polish… right? You don’t really have a death wish… right?” (Sorry!– too much Percy Jackson for me…)
7. “Whoops!– forgot to take my pants off.”
8. “These tights have two huge holes and an ugly run…. They should last me another four weeks.”
9. “I can see my toes! Time for new ballet shoes!”
10. “I had chocolate today. A whole square. Best moment ever.”
11. “The lady at the spa told me about foot cream. I told her about twelve years ago.”
12. “Do you want good grades or good grand battements? BECAUSE YOU CAN’T HAVE BOTH, SISTER!”
13. “Yay!– blister picture!”
14. “Sorry dude, but I don’t run. You see, it’s all in the knees…”
15. “Aw, your friend plays football? That’s really cute.”
16. “What color is this song?”
17. “I’m glad you’re sore.”
18. “Now, put four times your body weight on your knees. See how beautiful that is?”
19. “Courant Français – activer!” 
20. “Wait, so you’re telling me that– that you… have a LIFE?”

I’m going to come right out and say it.

We were all FREAKING OUT about the Classics Festival today.

And based on last night’s Hungarian rehearsal, we had reason to be.

But since none of us keeled over and died, we must have been okay.

Moriah and I arrived at the mall nearly 20 minutes early. If the Saturday shoppers figured we were weirdos when we showed up in poofy tutus, they definitely didn’t question themselves when we started yelling at Anna from the balcony. We had a pretty decent conversation about the lack of dressing areas, quick changes and bobby pins– in the MIDDLE of the mall– before heading downstairs.

When we reached the Green Room (Hi, Emma!), where we were to stay for the next 45 minutes, we piled our junk in a corner and made a makeshift dressing room for the Hungarian Girls. It must have looked pretty darn sketchy…

After that, it was on to warm up! We did some plies, tendus and those adorable nervous-jumping-things, combined with prayers and phone calls and craziness. Somewhere in there, there was a failed attempt at rehearsing the dance, too. It was great.

After a final prayer over the group, Ms. Tina walked us down to the stage, where we could be seen by viewers from all sides and angles. Pachelbel’s Canon (last year’s Intermediate Pointe) was the first to perform. Once Rachel, Mary, April and Elizabeth were finished dancing, it was all-hands-on-deck to get them out of their pink flowers and into their scrunchies, out of their black tutus and into their gold ones and out of their pointe shoes and into their flats. Organized chaos… or something.

With the Petite Paquita (last year’s Pre-Training) kids’ exits came the Hungarian Girls’ entrances, and we performed to the best of our ability. To be perfectly honest, I feel that we did a wonderful job– nobody died! I’m so proud of us. <3

After Hungarian, Rachel and Mary had to get back onstage for Irish, and after a minor setback that sent Moriah running half-way across the mall, they did a beautiful job. Likewise, Starz did a fabulous job with their Oz pieces. Sigh.

And now I’m back at home. My hair is down, my make-up is history and I’m wearing pajamas, of all things. Seems like your normal Saturday.

But we all know that’s not true.

Three years ago, I made the decision to join the Training Division at my home studio. It was a hard decision, though. I put my sweat and tears into it… literally. I locked myself up in my room for hours. Prayer. I read and reread flyers and brochures. Prayer. I skimmed and scanned and read the studio website. Prayer. I stalked the Facebook page (Mhm). Felt like a stalker. You name it, I researched it. But I had to take a good, long nap before I really knew– I was supposed to join Training 1.

Last year, when Miss Sara put me in Training 2, I was ecstatic. And then, I realized, “Dear God, this is the end of the line.”

Then, Ms. Tina announced the arrival of Training 3, and on top of that, the Training Center, for our own personal use. It meant the world to me, and yet, where to go from there…?

I refused to be talked into moving. I fell in love with my studio. I was SUPPOSED to be there. My teachers, sisters, classes– they make my life so much better. And on top of all of that, I’m being given what I believe to be the best training in the state? in the country? in the world– because I’m being taught that it’s what’s inside, or rather WHO’S inside, that counts. With this knowledge, beauty MUST appear; there is no darkness in faith, hope and love.

So, welcome to Faith Youth Ballet, Ms. Tina’s originally unplanned addition to her masterpiece. FYB will be run by Miss Mimi (Kudos to anyone who remembers the last “class” I had with her.) and Miss Mia (who danced with Ballet Emmanuel for a year). These are two incredible teachers with two incredible stories, and I can’t wait to dance alongside them.

Auditions for Faith’s first show– Firebird— will be in August, after my birthday. I will be required to perform a classical/contemporary variation, which I will begin working on this summer. Rehearsals will be every Saturday beginning in September, after a company class, until February of 2015, when we will perform.

Needless to say: I am over-the-moon happy. And I believe that God truly does answer prayers.

3.7.2014 – Catching Fire DVD Release

I feel as though I haven’t given you lovely dancers an update on the dances in quite some time. That, of course, may just be me, seeing as I can’t leave you alone for very long…. All the same, here is your “big update.”

Love Take Me Over: I’m terribly sorry, but I must express my overwhelming love for this piece. Despite its disco-ball-ish qualities, it’s the funest (I know, I know, I’m incredible at grammar.) thing that ever hit planet earth. And the costumes… and the fact that there will be thirty-something people onstage to perform it… and the SONG…. Wouldn’t you use the word “funest?”

Jesus Loves Me: The ballet/tap kiddos’ dance is speeding right along and should be finished within the next few weeks. We are currently at the two-thirds mark in the song, and Bethanny has a handful of choreography in mind for the little princesses.

Redeemed: Finished! That’s right beautifuls– the modern dance is complete! Miss Sara has a couple of things that she wants to move around, as well as a couple of minor holes to fill, but the music has ended with our exits. The piece is incredible (to the point of chills). On another note, remember that pirouette contest that we had a few weeks back? Guess who’s having a triple squeezed out of her…? 🙂 On an even less relevant note, we have seen and tried on our costumes and have learned a few things… but more on that later.

Primavera: Finished! As of last night, Training 3 choreography has come to an end. This is one of my all-time favorite pieces. It needs some serious cleaning, but other than THAT… we’re done.

I Need You: The Ballet 2A girls’ piece will– more than likely– be completed this evening. It is absolutely remarkable, and the students love it. A++ worthy.

On the right-hand side of your computer screen, you will find links to the songs above, in recital order (more on that when Recital Central arrives).

Mirella Professional Pointes

Oh my word… that’s a “three!”

My mom and I arrived at the body wear shop a half-hour early, so while she edited newsletter content for Bree Comm, I devoured The Lightning Thief. Eventually, I saw a parade of dancers and parents marching toward the store, and I leaped out of the car (which I drove– by myself!– yesterday). Miss Sara gave me a squeeze, and then we proceeded inside. We signed off on our attendance sheet, squealed over racks of cute active wear, and then the fittings began!

Congratulations to Sarah and Abby, who were both fitted into a lovely pair of European Balances. Also to April, who “bit the bullet” and walked out with Russian Pointes. Same to Mary, who was fitted into a glorious pair of B Morphs. And again to Amy, who– if I’m not mistaken– took home a beautiful pair of Hannahs.

I was one of the last to be fit, but when my turn came, I tried on nearly everything in the store. Capezios, Blochs and Merlets were strewn across the floor, but I wasn’t satisfied. The Capezios were too long, the Blochs were too hard, and I couldn’t seem to feel the entire Merlet platform at once. I was already wearing the softest shank created for the Europeans, which knocked those out of the question, too. I was beginning to lose hope, when I was handed a pair of Mirellas.

At first glance, I could have sworn they were my Euros, but upon stepping up, I noticed two things: 1) there was no gel in the toe and 2) they BENT! Pointe shoes DO that? No way!

And so, I walked out with Italian pointe shoes, not Capezios, but Mirella Professional Pointes. They are the lightest, softest shoes offered at the store, and though I still need to soften the shank up a bit, I am SO happy!

Thank you to my fitter, for putting up with me, to Miss Sara, for sitting through all 12 of our fittings and to my mom, who drove me all the way up to the body wear shop for my third pair of pointes. <3

I bet you lovelies weren’t expecting THAT one…!

Surprise!

On March 15th, last years Training 1s and 2s will be bringing our Hungarian dance to a local mall for a classics festival. I say “dance,” rather than “dances,” as the beginning pointe piece will not be making a reappearance.

I, too, was shocked, when I found out we would be having three weeks of rehearsals to bring the dance up to speed. Our first session was yesterday, during class-time. The first run-through was a total train-wreck, but based on the fact that we hadn’t thought about it in a year, it could have been much worse. Our biggest problem right now is the amount of people who are either off to college or simply cannot make it to the performance. There are a lot of gaps to fill in, but now that the dance itself isn’t looking too horrific, I know we’ll be alright.

Beyond that, I’m kind of super excited about pointe shoes tomorrow…!

… take over me!

Guess what got finished today, folks?

Love take me, love take me over. Love take me o-ver.

And now, I will do my happy dance. Oh, wait. This IS my happy dance.

SO, this is all going to come out like a boatload of randomness, so if you’ve been having a semi-normal day, turn back now.

I really need to get my toenails fixed up, considering I’m getting new pointe shoes on Sunday… hmmm…

I just started reading The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan. WHAT am I getting myself into?

Starting a new series made me think, “If someone asked me–right now– what book they should read, what would I say?”

So, I made a list of all of my favorite books. They were in something of an order, but now they’re just kind of messed up. The Hunger Games trilogy should be up WAY, WAY higher on the list. But–as I said earlier– I really need to cut my toenails.

1. Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale – I could read this book seven million times and still love it. If YOU are going to read it, however, I would suggest reading its prequel first (even I had the sense to do that).
2. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale – Prequel to Palace of Stone, this is the book that changed the way that I will think of reading forever. It’s an incredible story for those of us who just want to go somewhere else.
3. River Secrets by Shannon Hale – For those of us who just need to laugh until we cry, whilst solving a mystery. My favorite of The Books of Bayern, though I would suggest reading The Goose Girl and [possibly] Enna Burning first.
4. Forest Born by Shannon Hale – The last of The Books of Bayern, this book wrapped up the story in such a way that I felt it was complete. I could–of course– stand to read another…
5. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale – The one that started it all. Fall in love with Isi and her crew.
6. Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock – Oh, Ben! This one’s a romantic comedy with action, adventure AND mystery thrown in. And dragons. There’s that, too.
7. Wish You Were Eyre by Heather Vogel Fredrick – The sixth and final book in the The Mother-Daughter Book Club series was my absolute favorite. You may want to read the rest of the box first, though…
8. Home for the Holidays by Heather Vogel Fredrick – The fifth book in MDBC. Priceless. I’ll end up rereading it this December, no doubt.
9. Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogel Fredrick – The fourth book in MDBC. Darcy strikes again!
10. The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogel Fredrick – The one you should definitely read FIRST. I recommend to all sixth-graders and those of us who actually want to have a serious case of deja vu.
11. Much Ado about Anne by Heather Vogel Fredrick – Combining Anne of Green Gables with a bunch of characters that I came to know and love? The perfect second story in the MDBC series.
12. Dear Pen Pal by Heather Vogel Fredrick – For any eighth-grader who needs somewhere to go.
13. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – Well… you know my thoughts on this one (and if not, see “Breaking News: Aquinnah Finishes Mockingjay“).
14. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins – …
15. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins – …
16. Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen – And don’t forget to see the movie! This one’s adorable, adorable, adorable, but I feel that the ending should have been much different…
17. Phronsie Pepper by Margaret Sidney – You may want to read the other three Pepper Books first, but this one’s the best. I cried my eyes out.
18. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild – For all of you lovely dancers and actors. <3
19. My most recent read is A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I would definitely recommend that one, too. 🙂

And that’s what I did with my morning.

Also, you may have noted that I switched up my page font a bit. This isn’t because I disliked the other one– actually, I loved it– but it was terribly hard to read, and I wouldn’t have blamed anyone who decided to quit. Hopefully, this one makes all of our lives easier.