Author: Aquinnah

“The Dancer” Statue

Today has sped by so quickly (as everyday has been lately)! Here are the happenings:

I prepared myself for the nursing home performance around two-thirty this afternoon. Caroline called to inquire upon our ability to drive her to the studio– I didn’t hesitate to say yes! So, in our black leotards, pink tights and ballet buns, we made our journey. Once there, Caroline rushed into her ballet shoes just in time to complete a run-through of her Training 1 dance (Miss Sara allowed us to come early to warm up, but I stretched at home). The Training 2 dance had already be rehearsed, but I was feeling good about it anyway.

Once rehearsal was over, I announced four extra seats in my car. Everyone seemed to have a ride, so Caroline and I packed up once again. On our way out, April arrived, and she joined us in our car.

Once at the home, Miss Tina gave us the run-down. Training 2 would be performing first! We slipped on our white tutus, tied our Christmas-colored ribbons around our waists and waited as Miss Tina introduced herself to the elderly people. She then explained exactly what the “Training Division” is, and what we would be performing. Then, she exited, and we set ourselves up. The first thing we noticed was that the designated area was extremely small— ah! Would we all fit? Barely. My mom, who was watching, said that we looked fantastic, even in the small amount of space that we had. I, too, feel as if we did a nice job, despite a few spacing issues (due to the size of the room). We were able to make many people smile, wish them a merry Christmas and give them cards, tissue packets, etc.

My mom drove April and I back to the studio and proceeded to drop Caroline off at her house. April was soon picked up, so I was left with Moriah and a few other girls. Emma also showed and we gave her huge hugs (She has been gone all week with the flu.)! We chatted as we put on our pointe shoes and Miss Sara came in to proclaim that we would be beginning class early (we were quite early in returning to the studio). We did releves, echappes, chaines turns, our first arabesques and Mirlitons (from the Nutcracker)! We were very surprised on hearing that we would perform such a dance so early in our training, but Miss Sara seems extremely confident in us. Next week, we may show the parents our Mirlitons. 

Another abnormal Thursday has passed, complete with my last make-up class. Here are your beloved details…! Just for the record, I decided to skip the Training 1 class and use the Training 2 class (after modern) as my make-up instead (so that I could practice the Christmas Dance with everyone). So, let us begin with modern class…

I arrived early and waited a little impatiently for Training 1 to end. I had some questions for Miss Sara. Finally, we came face-to-face, and I asked her about our modern Christmas Dance costumes (to be revealed at a later date). Secondly, I asked my teacher a few questions concerning the nursing home event later today and pointe shoes. No one will be wearing their shoes to the home, and the beginning pointe girls will not be en pointe for the parents (during ballet) to prevent “AH!” moments. 

Speaking of Christmas Dances, the parents will come to watch Training 2 on Monday, cherubs on Tuesday, modern on Thursday and pointe on Friday. All of the dances are looking incredible, and the parents should have plenty to observe during pointe.

We worked a bit on our Christmas Dance but seeing that it looked just about perfect, we moved onto the fun combination that we learned last week. Miss Sara misplaced her Dancer of the Month papers, so we’ll have to wait until next week to see who the much-wanted award will be handed to.

The bulk of my news comes with the Thursday Twos filing in. I quickly put on my ballet shoes and took to the barre. Miss Sara gave us three combinations and let us take a quick stretch. We proceeded to practice our Christmas Dance, Miss Sara cheering us on. “That was SO MUCH BETTER!” she cried. That said, the dance looks way better than it used to and is ready for the nursing home this evening. Dressed in our black leotards, pink tights, white tutus and Christmas ribbon, everything should be perfect. I have also collected a Christmas card and a small package of tissues to give to one of the elderly ladies (Miss Tina recommended it).

The dance looking great, we practiced the jumping combination that we have been working on for a week. It is a lot easier than when we started…! Next, we threw on our pointe shoes (as Thursday is pointe day for the Twos). I expected to be performing releves and echappes for the whole of the class, but I was gladly mistaken! Our first assignment was to pique turn across the floor. At first, I was a bit frightened– the Christmas tune on the iPad was so fast! However, I took a deep breath and at exactly the same pace as April (who is at the intermediate level), pique turned across the floor! I didn’t fall. I didn’t even pause. I was all the way over my arches! I truly felt like a professional dancer. 

As Miss Sara choreographed more complicated combinations, I practiced my left pique turns. Tired, I tried my right side, which is significantly better. My teacher came over to say something to the extent of, “You could do a double!” so I tried. My efforts were to no avail, but I will continue practicing.

Random Picture of Me After Nutcracker Performance #2

I can’t help myself; none of my news is in proper order anyway, so why not have another random post? Besides, they’re more fun to read…

First off, I have managed to save an exciting piece of information for you. I don’t know how I held myself back from speaking of this event yesterday– so hard! Now, without further ado, my story:

Every month at my studio, a “Dancer of the Month” award is given to a dancer who has shown improvement over the course of a month. This award was given to me yesterday, specifically for my “triple turns” (which is kind of ironic, considering that I did another quadruple this morning)! I am so glad to know that I have grown– what an accomplishment!

Ballet class today was cool (literally!). The heat wouldn’t turn on fast enough, so we all bundled up in jackets, sweatpants and legwarmers. Miss Sara gave us many warm-up combinations, but we did not do much in center, as we were still ice-pops (or ice-dancers, depending on how you look at it)…!

After a series of odd events, we ended up having a conversation about “flying cats.” It was awesome.

Miss Holly and I had a small class today– not very many cherubs showed up! The girls who did were having quite a time fooling around. My correction was being ignored, so as Miss Holly found some Christmas music, I practiced my pirouettes. Miss Holly commented, “Girls, if you sit and be quiet, Miss Aquinnah will show you some pirouettes.” They calmed down quickly and watched with wide eyes as I performed a triple, a few doubles and many singles. Every time a turn was completed, the girls screamed, “Again! Again!” I felt like a professional.

That seems to be all of my news… well… then again… Christmas is in two weeks, dancer-people…

If the title hasn’t said it all, I have decided to make this one of my more random blog posts. For starters, here is a video of my pointe shoes that my little brother so kindly took for me this afternoon. I do hope it makes up for the lack of Christmas Dance videos…!

It has been a fairly uneventful weekend without Nutcracker Rehearsals– weird!

Today was ballet class, which went well. We worked a bit on our Christmas Dance, but it was difficult, as two people were missing. In this dance, even the absence of one person can throw the whole of us off track! Emma was one of these two people, I am sorry to say. Feel better soon, Dear. <3

It is highly important that we practice the Training 2 dance at home; come this Friday, we will be performing it at a nursing home close by. I am super excited but also a bit nervous. I pray that everything goes well…

In class today, after working on the dance, Miss Sara came up with a fun jumping combination for us to complete across the floor. It was a lot of fun! As my teacher choreographed, I messed around next to the mirror. I thought to myself, “Why not try a triple turn?” So… I did! I thought to myself, “Think quadruple, and you will land a triple,” as this usually works for me. So… I did! With quadruples in mind, I turned one, two, three… no way… FOUR TIMES? YES! I did a quadruple pirouette today, although no one saw me. When I returned home, I attempted another. My first try was a fairly good triple and the second was… a QUADRUPLE! I am SO pleased!

So, anyway, I have the nursing home event on Friday and Christmas Dances (for family) are next week. I feel good about the modern dance, but the Training 2 dance is going to take some practicing…. Here we go!

Abnormal.

What a great word to describe me.

And this blog.

Smiles. 

Yesterday was a slightly abnormal (lovin’ this word today) Thursday. I began my dancing by using the Training 1 class (before modern) as a make-up class (One down, one to go!). We spent quite a bit of time at the barre, where Miss Sara told me that I have TONS of turn-out— I just have to use it. We did a bit of adagio and moved onto the Training 1 Christmas Dance. I filled in for Anna, a Training 1 who was missing. I was more of a distraction than a fill-in, but I tried my best to catch on quickly.

Modern came soon after, and I was able to redeem myself. We focused on our Christmas Dance, made it all the way through the Stop Game and had 15 minutes to spare! That said, Miss Sara gave us a fun combination to remember for next week.

Guess what my awesome dad found for me? That’s right– the Christmas Dance videos of 2011! However, they are massive files and no matter how I try, they will not upload. I am dreadfully sorry; maybe this year’s will be smaller…?

The Cherubs’ Recital Costume

My busiest day of the week has sped right by, complete with the finding of the picture above! I will take a picture of the modern costume for you all on Thursday and continue to track down the Christmas Dance videos from last year.

Ballet this morning was great; I had a lot of fun! Miss Sara, like Bethany, is focusing much of her attention on our “Look at me!” (a.k.a. our “pizazz”) lately. Our smiles, the movement of our hands, the continuous motion– it all counts. Personally, I am really enjoying learning about performance. It is something that I truly admire in professional dancers.

Then, it was onto the cherubs’ class! Miss Holly is the main teacher at the time, as Miss Jennifer is off being married (Congratulations, Miss Jennifer!)! When Miss Holly excitedly told the girls that I had recovered from my illness and had returned to them, a little girl commented, “Oh, she gotted married?” I couldn’t help but laugh at the mix-up… haha!

The girls made a virtual mud puddle today to practice their leaps. “Don’t get any mud on your tutu!” Miss Holly told them. Of course, the puddle had to be made first. “Throw your ideas into the puddle!” said Miss Holly. Girls starting yelping, “Dirt!” “Leaves!” “Water!” which was quite amusing. Finally, our newest student said calmly, “Puppies and cookies.”

At the end of class, Miss Holly handed out sparkly, Tinkerbell stickers to the lil’ gals. No tears today– phew!

Yet another Monday has passed– wow! Here are the happenings of yesterday:

I arrived at the studio a whole, whopping 15 minutes early! I was so proud. The first thing I noticed as I walked into the lobby of Studio C was a group of poster boards taped to the window. Upon closer inspection, I found pictures of all my recital costumes. I was so pleased! I have pictured my Beginning Pointe/Training 1 and 2 costume in a previous post (“Vacation”), but I have yet to tell you of the rest! So…

For the Training 2 dance, my costume is simply a navy blue leotard with a black wrap skirt, pink tights and ballet shoes (of course!). I saw my modern costume for the first time yesterday– it is beautiful (though I do not have a picture for you yet)! It will be a black leotard with black jazz pants and a blue/brown tie-dye dress on top (it has SPARKLES!).

Into the studio with me, where we began barre and stretching. When complete, we moved onto our Christmas Dance. Our first run-through was pitiful, so we went straight to the Stop Game. The dance looks much better now.

As for last year’s dance videos, I have not yet located them. I’m still on the lookout! I did, however, find my hip-hop dance from the beginning of last year (the end of my semester-long class) that I may post sometime…