Author: Aquinnah

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Happy New Year!

I would like to dedicate the following to Moriah, Adysen and Amy because… well, they know why. 🙂

My fourth playlist is a crazy mishmash that I haven’t bothered to organize. It’s my favorite yet.

1. The Miracle (Of Joey Ramone) – U2 – Songs of Innocence
2. Every Breaking Wave – U2 – Songs of Innocence
3. California – U2 – Songs of Innocence
4. Volcano – U2 – Songs of Innocence
5. Closer to Your Heart (feat. Bri Giles) [Live] – Desperation Band – Banner (Deluxe Version)
6. Am I Ever Gonna Change – Extreme – III Sides To Every Story
7. How to Believe (From “Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue”) – Bridgit Mendler – Disney Fairies: Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust
8. The Middle of Starting Over – Sabrina Carpenter – Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying
9. The Hanging Tree – James Newton Howard – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Pt. 1 (Original Motion Picture Score)
10. All The Rowboats – Regina Spektor – What We Saw from the Cheap Seats
11. Don’t Leave Me (Ne me quitte pas) – Regina Spektor – What We Saw from the Cheap Seats
12. Breathe You In – Thousand Foot Krutch – The Art Of Breaking
13. Top of the World – Greek Fire – Single

In other news, Miss Bethanny and I began teaching “Bible Book Bop” by Go Fish, the ballet/tap kiddos’ recital piece, this afternoon, and in modern, Miss Sara surprised us all by beginning our own piece, “Arise” by E.S. Posthumus. Listening to the song, you lovelies will be perfectly able to get a feel for the dance, but as a side note, our class is calling this a Pirates of the Caribbean skeletons and Egyptian princess mashup. It’s going to be epic.

*Songs of Innocence – is a great album in general
*”Am I Ever Gonna Change” – gotta admit, I listen to it for the chorus… and sometimes ONLY the chorus
*”The Hanging Tree” – you’ll have to watch the movie to understand my obsession over this song

Peace, relax, joy, dance. Four words– very simple words. Four simple words with extensive meanings.

Peace – noun
a. An agreement
b. A calm, quiet situation
c. A state when you are calm and have no worries
d. Knowing that you know that you know your dance

Relax – verb
a. To rest and allow yourself to become calm
b. To be comfortable
c. To make rules/controls/conditions less strict
d. To dance freely

Joy – noun
a. A feeling of great happiness
b. Something that makes you really happy or pleased
c. Dancing

Dance – verb
a. I suppose that only a true dancer could define it

These are the words that my dad gave to me last weekend, just before our first performance of The Gift with Ballet Emmanuel, and I’ve kept them in mind and heart ever since.

Last Sunday, dress rehearsal was bad. Yep. It was bad. But–as I’ve said many times before–bad dress rehearsals make good recitals. The second run was a whole lot better.

Before each of our two shows, we warmed up with the Ballet Emmanuel company members. If I had to term it, I would say it was a really quick, really entertaining master class with no specific instructor.

In the pre-show, Snow Scene went surprisingly well, considering the tweaks we made to accommodate our five-person group (as opposed to the usual six persons). Afterwards, we were able to watch the full show, too, which was absolutely stunning. It was incredible to witness one of my dance teacher’s performances; inspiration left me totally speechless.

Saturday of this weekend, after multiple hours of Faith rehearsals, we rehearsed at our second church for the third show. The pre-show was to take place in the lobby, which was new and different, but also pretty special because Training 3 was able to connect with our audience in a personal way. After the run-through, the Training Division gathered upstairs to warm up, taking turns teaching [and yelling oh-so helpfully] and picking out music from Moriah’s tablet. The performance itself was just destined for greatness after that.

Yesterday was our last show, which brought on an odd combination of emotions. I couldn’t wait to be on break, and yet I was sad to see Snow Scene go. I’ve enjoyed the piece immensely, and I would like to thank Miss Mia and my T3 girls for that. Peace, relaxation and joy rained over the audience, who exploded with applause before the last music notes had a chance to die out.

Not a bad way to start Christmas, if I do say so myself. Happy holidays, lovelies! Drink lots of cocoa, eat lots of cookies, and don’t forget to stretch while you watch those classics on TV. 😉

There are only five days until Christmas. Nobody pinch me. It came so fast.

It’s been quite a week, between parent performances and shows with Ballet Emmanuel. Despite our aching quads, Little Drummer Boy came out really well, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed performing that piece most of all. I find the time-lapse below, courtesy of my dad, really entertaining, and I hope that you do, too.

Yesterday–due as much to exhaustion as the holiday season–was the first annual movie night in Training Division history. We watched Ballet Magnificat! with junk food and pajamas and pillows and the whole nine yards. Definitely a new tradition.

But the craziness doesn’t end now, or later or tomorrow. There are classes to take, rehearsals to run and shows to perform.

I feel like every Saturday ends with me asking, What even happened today? It’s a lot to take in, a lot to remember. That’s why I write so much– to remember.

This year, dividing the studio’s Christmas programs into three different weeks was about the most fantastic idea ever. Not only does it give us, as dancers, time to focus on specific pieces, but it also extends holiday joy into every corner of our lives. I love Christmas and all that comes with it.

On Monday, Training 3 performed Snow Scene for our parents, taking a kind of “dress rehearsal” for our upcoming shows. Bad dress rehearsals make good recitals, as the saying goes, but good dress rehearsals make even better recitals.

Today, we brought Snow Scene, alongside several other beautiful dances and skits, to the local nursing home. I was able to visit with a couple of elderly ladies afterwards, both of whom told me a collection of stories which I will never forget. One talked of her eight children and another of her previous home in Hollywood, California. Our great-grandparents have so much to share, I realized, and I am so grateful to know mine, especially Great-Grammy B., who will be 100 years old next month.

Back at the studio, Intermediate Pointe One performed All I Want for Christmas is You for our parents, ugly sweaters and all. That’s how we do holidays at TP.

After a full day of linear equations, driver’s ED and dental impressions, recital costumes were exactly what my heart [and my brain] needed to make me smile. I hope that these pictures put a smile on your face, too, despite the glare from the overhead lights and my mediocre cropping skills.

Training 3 (If we adore it, we’ll be wearing this dress in place of our navy leotards and black skirts.)

Ballet/Tap combo

Advanced Modern (with black tights and black shorts)

Combined Dance (Training 1, 2 and 3)

Intermediate Pointe 1 (with black leotard and black romantic tutu, to be borrowed from the studio)

Happy dancer.

In other news, Miss Mia completed choreography for Snow Scene last week, and after a lot of cleaning in yesterday’s Training 3 class, it’s nearly ready for performances. The ballet/tap kiddos dance for their parents in the Training Center tomorrow afternoon, which will be adorable, as always.

It’s turning out to be a pretty fantastic week.

I was going for “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” not “Welcome to Mockingjay, Part 1.” You know. For the record.