Author: Aquinnah

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Pop Culture Day

Pop culture is one of many defining factors in any nation’s scene. It’s the movies we watch, the music we hear, the dances we perform, the books we read and the celebrities that we look up to for inspiration in fashion and even food. Currently, in the USA, we’re pretty into Teen Beach Movie and its sequel, Teen Beach Movie 2 (Original? No. Adorably cheesy? For sure!). We love the media that’s branched off of those two films, and that’s why Moriah, Adysen and I decided to teach a group of foreign exchange students the last section of “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin”.

If choreographing an entire modern dance in two hours seems impossible, I can tell you firsthand that it is not. I had a blast putting together a show with two of my favorite people yesterday evening. Performing it for the exchange students felt like the culmination of my last six weeks in choreography/improv class and assisting with the Frozen camp last week. It was awesome. We determined to call the dance, “Release” because we’ve all done things that we aren’t proud of, but there comes a time when we have to let those things go and move on with life. It is our hope that the audience grabbed tightly to the free gift which God has given to all of us and that they run with it.
We did not teach Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’ alone (however, I am proud to say that Team Cool won the dance competition) but learned things ourselves. The Chinese teens and tweens were so fun to work with, and I couldn’t help but be impressed by how quickly they picked things up during class (especially having learned Teen Beach myself at 11pm last night).
HUGE SHOUT-OUT to my other two musketeers. I don’t know what I’d do without you girls. Had so much fun with you. Can’t wait to choreograph the Pan soundtrack together. 😉

Much love,
Aquinnah

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I Can Playlist

This afternoon, the “I Can” playlist was born. My mom had asked me, yesterday evening, to purchase a few songs that we’d been YouTubing for drives around town. It’s not often that someone hands you money and says, “Here, buy some upbeat music,” so I went ahead and mixed the new songs with some old ones and– viola! It’s been some time since I posted a playlist, and this one is too fun not to share.

I Can
  • Shut Up and Dance by WALK THE MOON
  • All the Rowboats by Regina Spektor
  • Get Back Up by tobyMac
  • Every Move I Make by David Crowder Band
  • God Made Girls by RaeLynn
  • Eye On It by tobyMac
  • Firework Katy Perry Piano Cover by Nazareno Aversa
  • I’m Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli
  • Eyes Wide Open by Sabrina Carpenter
  • Happy Day by Kim Walker
  • Immortals by Fall Out Boy
  • Life Is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
  • Ready or Not by Britt Nicole
  • Something In the Water by Brooke Fraser
  • Your Love’s Like by Sabrina Carpenter
This list was inspired by Brandon Cormier’s message at Desperation 2015: Say I Won’t. I can dance. I can rise to the occasion– maybe in heels. I can make goals. I can shine. I can let go. I can be happy. I can live life to the fullest. I can love people. I can, and I will.
Enjoy your week, lovelies,
Aquinnah
Photo Credit: WATCH ME. summerbliss_oceanbreeze. 2015. We Heart It. Web. 13 July 2015. View photo.
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Epic Modern

When I say the word “boat,” what is it that you picture in your mind’s eye? Do you see a little dinghy or sailboat? Or maybe a fishing boat? A cruise ship, perhaps? Personally, I see a black-and-white photograph of the Titanic, and there’s a chance that you do too, but nobody pictures any one thing in exactly the same way. When I say “sky,” you might picture a sunrise, a sunset or even snow. I see the color blue, and while I’m sure that someone else sees it as well, her shade is not my shade, and her clouds are not placed precisely where mine are, and her sunbeams aren’t stretching at my angle exactly. Our imaginations play a massive role in the way we see the world around us. Epic.

Modern intensive was mind-boggling. I learned so many new techniques for warm ups and choreography. We had the privilege of being instructed by guests Judy Bejarano and Laura Hymers, as well as Miss Kim, Miss Rochelle and Miss Sara. Monday through Thursday, we worked on our repertoire, a short dance to “Guardians at the Gate” by Audiomachine, which we’ll be performing at a showcase in August. The piece was choreographed by four of our five instructors, and each has a totally different style, which resulted in the greatest mashup ever to hit our modern dance classes. Although each choreographer agreed that Audiomachine’s song is “epic,” each had a different take on what said epic-ness looks like.

Miss Kim taught me to be a strong dancer. Miss Rochelle taught me to be a fluid dancer. Ms. Judy taught me to be a modern dancer in love with the art. Ms. Laura, although she choreographed a separate combination, taught me to be a calm dancer. Miss Sara taught me to be a well-rounded dancer. Together, they taught creative, stellar, EPIC modern. And I hope that shined through our eyes.

In other news, we have begun this summer’s variation practice: the third variation of the pas de trois from Le Corsaire. Besides intensive and weekly classes, I attended the annual Desperation Conference with Adysen, and I can honestly say that it was one of the best weeks of my life. It was crazy, absolutely exhausting and painful (the number of burns and bruises that I have right now…), but I feel so blessed to have been able to participate in it all. For pictures, videos and quotes from the conference, check out my Instagram and Google+!

Aquinnah
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Three Ways to Summer Semester

Going into summer semester at the studio can be exhilarating and exhausting all at once, so gear up for three ways to smile, be challenged and get into shape!

Three Ways to Make a Dancer Smile

  1. Put her in modern class. Even though my modern-dancer pas de chats make me feel like I’m part of a western hoedown, I got to ditch the awkward Cecchetti arms for a class.
  2. Tell her that she’s getting new pointe shoes in September. Russian pointes, I love you dearly, but oy with the poodles already. Every time I break you in, you come back stronger!
  3. Drive her to the studio after three weeks. It’s like being home again. Coffee dates with sisters and sneaking up on baby bunnies– yep.

Three Ways to Challenge a Dancer

  1. Put her in improv class. I left totally uncomfortable and racking my brain, so…. I think it was good. And I think it will get easier. For now, I’ll be shuffling up my iPod and thinking about dynamics.
  2. Give her The Deathly Hallows and tell her to read a chapter without crying. Then, give her a blueberry muffin because that’ll help with the tears.
  3. Tell her to do 56 releves on pointe. And then remind her to put her feet in a bucket of ice because otherwise, she’ll be in a lot of pain.

Three Ways to Get into Shape after Break

  1. Stretch. And don’t forget. It’s important. I should know. I barely made it down the stairs this morning.
  2. Learn how to do a jazz-style hitch kick. They’re ridiculously fun, even if I look ridiculous doing them.
  3. Take class with teachers who really care about you and how you perform– teachers who know your best and want to see you excel. The best teachers make class challenging and instill passion; they’re truly one of God’s great gifts to humanity, and I’m blessed to be surrounded by them.
Here’s to a beautiful summer!
Aquinnah
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Welcome to The Swell Life

When I’m not dancing, I’m reading. When I’m not reading, I’m writing. But what about when I’m not dancing, reading or writing?

Well… then I’m adventuring.
I love traveling, and so does the rest of my family. I have a whole list of places that I plan to visit before leaving this earth, and I’m confident that as a team, the six of us (counting the dog here) can make a pretty good dent in that list. I don’t often detail our road trips on this blog, which is why I am super excited to introduce to you (drum roll please)… The Swell.
Our all-new family blog has been in the works for weeks, and I, for one, am very proud of it. On the new webpage, you can read about my family’s adventures, both at home and far beyond. You’ll find “Whoopie Cookies” and “Making Forever Memories”, two pieces of mine on Summer Tour, already posted, and you’ll get to read some of my parent’s stuff, too.
PLUS! just for subscribing, we’ll mail you a free vinyl sticker (and–let’s be honest–our logo is freaking amazing). You get an email every time we post. You get a sticker at no cost to you whatsoever. We’re just handing out presents all over the place.
Life is one big, joyous adventure! Read more about mine and my family’s at The Swell. We hope to see you there!
Aquinnah
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Recital 2015

Over summer tour, between listening to the new Renegades playlist and plowing through Harry Potter, I thought a lot about what this post would say. I’ve given you the play-by-play of Recital the last two years, and I didn’t want this post to be a schedule, as I did then. I wanted non-dancers to be able to relate to the feeling a dancer gets when she has only two songs to change into an elaborate costume, plunges into the darkness of stage and waits for the lights to come up, gasps for breath in the wings and reenters with emotion to match the piece or watches the rest of the show from backstage. Then, I realized– I couldn’t do that. It’s impossible to relate feelings like these to something else because there’s nothing like them. But once you’ve truly experienced dance, there’s no letting it go. It takes a piece of your heart and replaces it with music. You live to share your song.

So, what did happen at Recital 2015? Prelude 2, Multiplied, Arise and J’y Suis Jamais Alle won over the crowd, and I, in turn, was wowed by everyone else, particularly my own teachers. We danced to “God Is Bigger Than The Boogieman”, and Abby helped me “not fail” my last four pieces as Firebird. I can’t get “Something in the Water” out of my head (mostly because I keep listening to it and smiling).

SO MANY THANKS to Ms. Tina, Miss Mia, Miss Bethanny, Miss Sara and Miss Mimi for the best two days of my entire year. A HUGE thank-you to Emma S., who brought all of my kiddos onstage and off, and to my ever-amazing mom, who helped me into my corset one more time.

For the smile on my face, I could be writing this the day after the shows, but it’s been awhile! I’ve added Leaps and Turns with Miss Bethanny to my summer schedule, wherein I’ll be assisting with this year’s Frozen camp and Dancing Dolls camp as well. We worked a lot on this year’s photo shoot on tour. I’m a very happy person.

When does the beginning of something become the rhetoric middle? I missed the last week of dance classes, but school says I’m a junior. Life is weird and wonderful— all at the same time.

Much love,
Aquinnah
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We’ll call it “Recital”

This is such a crazy time of year— for everyone. I still can’t believe how many of my fellow dancers will be graduating and moving on after this year. I’m so proud of them. This year has felt a little unreal, I guess. 2014-2015 is disappearing… but it only just started.

The littles had dress rehearsal yesterday, which is always a fun adventure. Running back and forth between studios in the rain is especially fun. Hey, it was like 72 degrees in the Training Center anyway.

Recital Week itself doesn’t start until Sunday, but it’s coming in with a bang. On Monday, we’ve scheduled an extra in-studio rehearsal to polish Arise, and then we’ll be heading over to the high school for the full-on dress rehearsal. Following rehearsals will be one awesome weekend of performances. This has got to be my favorite week of the entire year.

Ballet progress reports were handed out yesterday, and the stakes have certainly been raised; I really need to work on my flexibility over the summer. I’m excited to have so many Training 2s entering and bridging into Training 3!– just so proud of everyone.

In other news, The Order of the Phoenix is really long. And it’s raining again. If it would ever stop, my mom and I could continue with our “progressive photo shoot,” which will be up ASAP.

Just as soon as it stops raining.