Author: Aquinnah

Yellow Pointe Shoes

That’s right, dancers! Summer classes have officially begun! Here are the details:

First of all, I walked in the studio.

Oh… wait. You probably don’t want THAT many details!

So, obviously, after walking into the studio, I had to give Miss Sara a huge hug because I haven’t seen her in forever! I normally see my ballet teacher three times a week, and because of break, I hadn’t seen her at all! Next, I had to find my dancer friends and hug them and ask them lots of questions. I didn’t think I would survive without my sisters for a whole month!

Then, it was time to dance! I had my normal ballet class with Miss Sara first. There were lots of girls I didn’t recognize in class, but I met a girl named April, and she seems very sweet. After an hour and 15 minutes, it was time for the Cecchetti Exam class! It was awesome! There are nine other girls who are training to take Grade 1 and Grade 2 with me. I am confident that we are going to pass! No one has EVER failed with Miss Sara before! I am shooting for a “Pass with Honors.” Miss Sara claims that no one receives the highest grade of all, but one can dream…!

That’s the highlights of my Tuesday! I will try to post again on Thursday, as I will have a new class to talk about.

These look very similar to my new ballet shoes (leather, split-sole, x-strap).

Wow, that was one of those random comments….

Anyway, back on topic: summer classes begin tomorrow at exactly 12:30 P.M.! I’m so excited! My dance-bag (best bag in existence) is re-stocked full of all that amazing dancer-stuff including my new ballet shoes (Ah-ha! So, my subject title ISN’T irrelevant!).

Stay tuned! I will try to post all about my first day back at dance tomorrow (sometime after three o’ clock of course)!

Orange Pointe Shoes

“Why?” you ask. Let me explain:

“Cecchetti” is a method of ballet dancing. Eight student grades (exams) and eight teacher grades have been created to help ballet dancers become professionals. Once you are a certified Cecchetti Dancer (have passed an exam), companies are more inclined to hire you for large productions. When a Cecchetti Dancer passes student grade six, he/she is officially a professional dancer!

I will be taking student grades One and Two this October. Two members of the Cecchetti Council will be in my area to judge me, along with some of my friends. It is common for a student to take Grade 1 and Grade 2 together because they are so alike. My teacher, Miss Sara, will be presenting us to the judges, as we must have a teacher pass. I am taking a Cecchetti class with her this summer and will continue through this fall (only until October, of course). THEN, I will be totally prepared for whatever the judges throw my way! I can’t wait!

Red Pointe Shoes

I have always been eating, sleeping and breathing dance! I have done many types of dance in my years of life: ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz and hip-hop are among them. This summer, I will be taking ballet and a little bit of beginner pointe. I have not taken a tap-dancing class or a jazz class since I was quite young. I focus mainly on ballet– I always have. Although, at my studio, my division is required to pick an elective to go along with three ballet classes a week. Last year, I chose to participate in a lyrical/worship class. This fall, I plan to dance alongside Emma in a modern class. Somehow, I have only just learned that my mom also took modern dance classes in college! How could I NOT know that?

To go into more detail about my history, the first kind of dancing I ever tried was ballet. I was four years old at the time, but I had been dancing since I was able to walk! I was always running around the house in leotards, pink tights and tutus! I clearly remember a pink and white striped box of Angelina Ballerina dolls, which I frequently dressed up in stage costumes and pretty little hats.

After my first recital, which I thought to be quite odd (“Why didn’t we do any warm-ups?”), I decided to take a tap class. I enjoyed the tapping of my shoes on wood floors and often went around the house in a pair of black heels clicking and clacking. I was much more prepared for my tap recital– phew!

Next, I tested out jazz-dancing with Mrs. T. Although I have only taken jazz this one time, I highly enjoyed myself! I was the youngest in the class (by years) and got my fair share of attention. I was in two dance recitals which came packed with much fun!

After moving, I started dancing with Miss Kristi in a ballet/tap class! I took the very same class the next semester. Miss Kristi became one of my favorite teachers of all time! When I stopped signing up for ballet/tap classes, Miss Kristi invited me to have private classes in her home. I gladly accepted! After a year, I preformed a duet with an older girl on a familiar stage.

After moving once again, I signed up for a ballet class. Although I didn’t particularly like the teaching, the recital was fun and I made a wonderful friend!

Now, after moving AGAIN (ah!), I am at a spectacular studio with fantastic teachers whom I love. My “dancer-friends” are more like family than anything else!

Rainbow Pointe Shoes

This year, I will be taking lots of summer dance classes, though they do not start until July 3rd. I am especially excited to start “seriously” training for pointe shoes in a beginner pointe class! Hopefully, by the time fall semester comes around, my dancer friends (Emma and Moriah) and I will all be ready to pointe. It’s a very exciting thought…!

Besides my own summer classes, I am ecstatic to say that I will be helping out with a dance camp for younger girls! It will be my first time being a true “helper-teacher.” I remember the years when I would have signed up for an “Angelina Ballerina Mini Camp….”