Daylight – Dancing Angel

08/08/2016

Summer Then and Summer Right Now

Summer at the end of May was a whirlwind– the beginning of change. I completed my junior year of high school and friends graduated. And I, in June, and despite my valiant efforts to ignore the fact, began my last summer at the studio.

June taught me to cope with the changes. Senior year can’t possibly be any more difficult than junior year, right? And true friends, even when apart, remain true in the end. Every day of my life is a testament to that. Likewise, dance remains dance, and I feel incredibly blessed to have experienced another summer at the studio, with my beloved family. I wouldn’t trade the past seven weeks for all the time in the world.

July had a few bumps, but I was able to attend the Desperation Conference with thousands of other teens, and it was there that I found within myself a Holy Spirit who called me, “fearless” and “free.” How beautiful it is to worship a God who can make the fearful brave.

One week into August, I am walking in the certainty that I am never alone. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, you could find me worshiping alongside my sisters at Gather, for our last performance of Daylight. It was an honor and a joy to meet so many new faces and to praise with them all. Thanks to Ms. Tina, Miss Athena, Miss Cheri and Ms. Sara for an eye-opening three days.

Summer right now is cardboard boxes and packing tape for my family’s twelfth move. It’s college applications, and senior solos and mixed emotions. All in all though, summer right now is pretty near perfect.

xoxo

Gather

05/23/2016

Recital 2016

Junior year of high school doesn’t end until Thursday, but Recital has come and gone. For one week now, I’ve been considering how to translate all that happened this year, and it’s almost too much to put into words. But, with over one million words to choose from, I’m going to try.

It was a weird year. I’m sure you’ve noticed. From school, to work, to dance, to driving a car, to watching friends graduate and blossom in college, my need for control has been tested time and again and has worn aggravatingly thin. This year’s Recital was bittersweet, as always, but it was short, too. Nobody planned for a blackout halfway through Spanish Dance, but the Training Division is blessed by spectacular teachers and a wonderful tech crew, and the dance went on as dances must. My need for cleanliness was nearly completely stripped away by Requiem for a Tower, pushing me to let go and accept imperfections that humbled me week after week. And I had to say goodbye– goodbye to the comfortable place in which I’ve enveloped myself for years and to the high school version 4.0 of some of my dearest friends. After God’s Warriors, only the second in all of my runs in which I didn’t miss a single turn, I had to make a decision regarding next year, and I think I chose right. I hope I chose right. I Will Sing of my Redeemer didn’t just push but shoved me out of my box and into a jazzy world that I now love. The costume turned my armpits purple, and I still have scratches from its sharp sequins, but I’m so proud to have tried something new. And as for Daylight… I’m so glad we’ll have the chance to perform it again this summer.

RP1 2016

The kiddos–all 50 of my beautiful students–taught me a lot this year, too. I learned lessons in choosing joy and peace and patience. Each of those girls means the world to me, and I’m honored to have been able to teach and to learn from them.

Maybe what has made this year seem so indescribably odd is “the gap.” The big, huge, overwhelming, gaping GAP between maturity and adulthood. On the phone a few weeks ago, I told my grandfather that I had tried not to grow up. In return, he told me, “It only gets better from here, hunny, and we’re all on your side.” And since then, I’ve stopped trying to bridge the gap. I’m choosing to believe that it’ll close when it’s time.

Ady and I were a little tired after Showcase

And maybe that’s what control is actually. Maybe it’s the letting go and handing to God. Maybe it’s keeping an open mind and an open schedule because wonderful things happen every day, and I want to see them.

Thank you to my amazing parents, teachers and friends for a year that taught me more than words can truly say. I love you all to the moon and back.

xo Aquinnah

04/05/2016

Pause Please

My word of the… day? week? month? year? is BLAH. Because sometimes, the English words, “happy,” “free,” “confused” and the rest of those ultimate Taylor Swift emotions don’t come to mind in time. I need a “pause” button.

Two months left of junior year of high school, praise God. Depressing Roman myths: it’s been fun, but I’m ready to move on with my life. Thank you for understanding. Oh, wait. Everybody dies in Roman mythology.

BUT (Here it comes….)! Two months of school means just six weeks until Recital. Four, actually, if you discount Picture Week and Dress Rehearsal Week. I received my last Recital costume of 2016 yesterday. It and my modern skirt are going to need some minor tailoring, but that’s no big deal. I’m far more worried about that quick change between God’s Warriors and I Will Sing of My Redeemer.

Dawn, God’s Warriors, Requiem for a Tower, Daylight and Spanish Dance have all been completed since my last post, with only I Will Sing of My Redeemer, Daddy’s Girl and Simple Gifts to join the list. How can a year seem so very long and so very short at the same time?

Yes, it’s a BTR song. As of right now, I think it sums up my life since Spring Break ended.

On Saturday, I had the privilege of participating in a promo video filming for the studio. More on that in May…!

I wish I could stay longer, but BLAH.

xoxo,

Aquinnah

02/14/2016

Recital Central 2016

It feels like spring today. I don’t usually like spring (one word: brown), but I do love sunshine, so it’s been good. Plus, three-day weekend. 🙂

This is one of those posts that I write for my own benefit. Because sometimes, dancers and writers alike just have to get themselves organized. While I have you here, though, I recommend this year’s Bible verses. They’re worth smiling about.

***

Beauty in Motion Showcase on May 13th
Dress Rehearsal on May 7th

1. Spanish Dance
Combined Training– Ms. Sara
“You turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” Psalms 30:11
Hair: bun
Attire: pink tights, pink ballet shoes

6. Requiem for a Tower
Advanced Modern– Ms. Sara
“He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove His people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 25:8
Attire: black leotard

11. God’s Warriors
Intermediate Pointe 2– Ms. Mia
“When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them, because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you.” Deuteronomy 20:1
Hair: bun
Attire: nude pointe shoes

15. I Will Sing of My Redeemer
Leaps and Turns– Miss Bethanny
“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story…” Psalms 107:2a
Hair: half up
Attire: tan tights, tan jazz shoes

19. Daylight
Training 3– Ms. Sara
“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” Psalms 90:12
Hair: bun
Attire: pink tights, pointe shoes

***

Recital 1 on May 14th
Dress Rehearsal on May 4th

1. Spanish Dance

9. Daddy’s Girl
Ballet/Tap– Miss Bethanny
“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15
Attire: pink tights, pink ballet shoes

***

Recital 2 on May 14th
Dress Rehearsal on May 10th

14. Simple Gifts
Ballet 1A– Miss Bethanny
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:12-13
Hair: low bun
Attire: pink tights, pink ballet shoes

***

Recital 3 on May 14th
Dress Rehearsal on May 9th

10. Spanish Dance

16. Dawn
Pre-Training– Miss Beth
“He is here: the One who forms the mountains, creates the wind, and reveals His thoughts to man, the One who makes the dawn out of darkness and strides on the heights of the earth. Yahweh, the God of Hosts, is His name.” Amos 4:13
Hair: bun
Attire: pink tights, pink ballet shoes

***

Aquinnah

02/11/2016

Life is like…

Happy [belated] New Year to all of you lovely dancers! I’ve been meaning, and meaning and seriously meaning to write this, but between school, dance classes, teaching dance classes and driving hours alone, life is like… *cue Lorelai Gilmore* Falling Pizza Box

… this pizza box.

But forget about the measly trials and tribulations (Please excuse me while my brain explodes.) of the 16-year-old girl. We’ve got happier things to talk about!

It’s February, and Recital choreography is moving into full swing. “Dawn” is the Pre-Training piece (and also the 2005 theme song for Pride and Prejudice because you absolutely wanted to know that above all else. Not that I’m an Austen fanatic or something because… eh em. Whatever.). “Darkest Before the Dawn”, lovingly called, “God’s Warriors”, is our Intermediate Pointe 2 dance, and if anyone would like to share with me the secret to pancaking pointe shoes, I’m all ears. We’ll be using bows (We would’ve been okay with lightsabers, too, but it’s no big deal. I’m sort of totally in love with the bows.), but the audience is not to fear; we’re going without the included arrows. Advanced Modern’s “Requiem for a Tower” has us crawling around in the orchestra pit (Can you say, “YAAAASSSS!”?), and “Daylight” makes the Training 3s want to cry artsy tears. Sorry for the bad description– I’ve written a lot today. Both Requiem and Daylight will be finished soon. We haven’t begun choreography in Leaps and Turns, Ballet/Tap or Ballet 1A just yet, but I know that “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”, “Daddy’s Girl” and “Simple Gifts” are bound to be spectacular. “Spanish Dance”, the combined Training piece, is challenging without all of the 1s and 2s, but we’ll get there. We always do. Until then, I’ll be over here rolling out my calves and trying to remember all of this stunningly beautiful choreography like…

Yeah.

In other news, we’ve changed the Leaps and Turns costume to an equally beautiful dress. I don’t have a picture, but April is coming, and Picture Week is soon to follow. Recital info was sent out this week, so I’ve been compiling Recital Central for the year, but I figured I should elaborate on this great stuff first. Consider my elaboration pretty much over. Except you definitely want to…

Dancing Lorelai

… see The Fall, Faith’s upcoming performance. I’ll be helping backstage, but you don’t want to miss this show.

The crazies are coming, so don’t forget…

Lorelai on Sleep

and enjoy every minute. *heart emojis*

To return very soon,

Aquinnah

GIF One (1) Credit: OMGYASKWEEN. Pizza, Nodding. Digital image. Giphy. Giphy, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.

GIF Two (2) Credit: KRWELCH3. Coffee, Gilmore Girls. Digital image. Giphy. Giphy, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.

GIF Three (3) Credit: OMGYASKWEEN. Dancing, Pizza, Nodding. Digital image. Giphy. Giphy, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.

GIF Four (4) Credit: Tumblr. Pretty, Sleep, Gilmore Girls. Digital image. Giphy. Giphy, 11 Feb. 2016. Web. 11 Feb. 2016.