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Enjoy! (Purchasing pointe shoes is a long process! Everyone’s foot is different, so some of the shoes that wouldn’t fit me or Emma could totally fit you! All of the shoe types are so special– dance itself is so special! <3)

On January 4th, 2013, I set off on my world tour. I flew out at the [name of “airport”] in [location].

First, I enjoyed a trip to Russia to try on their Grishko pointe shoes. I could barely get them on. I don’t remember the order after that, but I’ll still tell about the places I visited and list photos in that order! I went to Australia to try on their Blochs. They didn’t have enough support. I took a brief stop in Italy to check out the Capezios, but they didn’t work either. I took a second trip to Russia and tried on the Russian Pointes. I also went to France and tried on the Merlets. Then I took two stops in England: first for the Freeds and second for the Suffolks. After much deliberation and consideration, I got the Suffolk Solos!

Russia’s Grishkos

 

Australia’s Blochs

Italy’s Capezios

Russia’s Russian Pointes

France’s Merlets

England’s Freeds

Emma’s New Pointe Shoes!

 

Yesterday was yet another eventful time (I’ve had a lot of those lately…)! Here are your precious details:

 As it is now the month of January, my sisters and I are dancing, once again, with Bethany. I enjoy her classes more and more every week– “performing” is so much fun! It makes me feel like a true dancer.

We began the ballet class with prayer, during which certain girls volunteered to pray for certain things. Seeing that fifteen minutes of class was taken up, we skipped abs and dove right into barre! Bethany commented that every girl sunk down into her standing hip as we completed tendus, so we had a second try. My teacher complimented me several times for “lifting up” this time around! She was also quite pleased with my stretching and across-the-floor work… wow!

When ballet was over, I rushed into some cover-ups as fast as I could, grabbed my things and sprinted over to Studio C! I was so glad to put my pointe shoes on… I’ve missed them!

After releves, we completed our usual across-the-barre combination, though I was having some difficulty springing onto the tops of my shoes. Miss Sara told me that those types of things come with having a two-week-long break– no need to freak out!

As I finished out my barre work (I missed chaines turns), my left foot started to bother me. I ignored the pain and jumped excitedly as Miss Sara proclaimed the start of our RECITAL DANCE! I made it through the first run and was then ready to burst into tears; I had a major blister on my toe. From that point forward, I had to avoid going up on pointe. Next week I’m definitely using tape (You see, I thought maybe my toes had toughened up…)…

At the end of class, Miss Sara called everyone around for the Dancer of the Month Award. Anna declared that it belonged to her for “Most Missed Classes,” though it was actually given to me for improved foot placement! Yay!

Today’s modern class was quite eventful, beginning with Emma handing to me a sheet of paper, on which she had written a story. It is composed on the topic of her new pointe shoes– so fun! I have decided to post a copy of the tale this weekend– look out, Dancers!

Miss Sara began the class with our regular warm-up, starting on the floor. From there, we did plies and releves. My teacher walked by as I rose to the releve position, exclaiming happily, “Huh…! You have monkey feet!” To be perfectly honest, I have no idea as to what that means, but she seemed to be pretty pleased with me. As Miss Sara walked away, Emma turned to me and commented that my releve was considerably higher than usual– YES! Now, to find that “happy place” in my ballet shoes…

After some tricky across-the-floor combinations, we began our… RECITAL DANCE, just as I predicted! It will be done to a song titled, “Arc Angel (Angels?),” though I do not know who the artist is. It is a very dramatic song; it will be a great dancing experience, I do believe.

For your own personal record, Miss Sara is still not positive about the starting time for the Training 2 recital dance, but she’s getting there. Miss Jennifer said something about starting the Cherubs dance within the next few weeks…! Pointe tomorrow…?

Ballet Dancer

Wow, I sure had a wake-up call on this lovely Tuesday! 

I rushed home from school this morning, jumped into one of my new leotards and headed off to class! Once there, we began our plies, wherein I realized that I am extremely sore! Everything hurt at that moment in time– my arms, legs… even my neck! That’s what I get for only stretching a little over break…. However, Miss Sara did comment, as Emma and I found that our bodies feel like “Jello” today, that it is good to have a nice break once in a while. According to the physical therapist, it gives ourselves a chance to get everything lined up where it should be.

Now, being me, I have two bits of randomness for you. I know you won’t mind.

Walking into the cherubs’ class today, one of the little girls screamed, “My daddy took me to ‘Starberry!'”

I laughed as Miss Jennifer replied, “Oh, he took you to Starbucks?”

“Yes!” she cried. “And I ‘drinked’ the whole thing!”

As for my other news, Emma just purchased her second pair of pointe shoes and has posted a picture of them on her blog! Be sure to check it out!

I figure I might as well post this picture before winter is completely over…!

Lovely dancers! How I have missed you! I do hope that you all had a fantastic holiday season– I know that I did! However, I was SO glad to be back at the studio today, decked out in my newest dance attire, with my favorite people.

I arrived ten minutes early and spoke with a few of the Training 2 girls. I then pranced into Studio C, happily as ever! We did some warm-up, had a wonderful stretch and… BEGAN OUR RECITAL DANCE!

Yes, today, our first day back from Christmas Break, Miss Sara began the choreography of the Training 1 and 2 recital dance. It is so much fun– my first dance which will be completed with tambourines in hand! Yay!

Looking at the evidence, I am quite certain that we will begin our modern recital dance on Thursday. Speaking of which, you must remember when I spoke about a group of “little children” dancing with us– do you not? Well, in the end, it was decided that the entire class (of three girls) would be closed down. Despite that sad fact, the dance will still be awesome, I’m sure. Anyway, I do hope that we do some pointe choreography on Friday…! As for the Training 2 dance, well… I just don’t know when we’ll begin.

Baby Ballerina

The final class has come and gone; Christmas Break is already here! Now, the happenings of yesterday’s classes:

I arrived at the studio early enough to catch the contemporary/jazz Christmas Dance; it was really fun to see!

The “Training Kids” began filing in and I took my place at the barre. Much to my surprise, Miss Sara had us perform our barre combinations in the center, something we have not done since last year. It was so much fun! Each combo was completed to Christmas music, complete with my teacher’s favorite… jingle-bell degeges! 

It was soon time for pointe shoes! It took me a while to put them on, however, because I couldn’t seem to tie my left ribbons. Despite the extra time, I finally got my shoe tied up and it was onto releves, echappes, developpes (this is when my family came to observe), chaines, piques and Mirlitons! The crowd was extremely impressed (No comments Moriah…!)!

And now, I leave you with this word until after break. If something extraordinary takes place before then, you can count on a post! If not, I will talk to you all in the New Year! Happy holidays!

Today was my first official modern performance– what fun! 

Class began with the usual, winter warm up– “circle time!” Miss Sara calls out moves such as chasses, skips, walks, or any of the former backwards and we perform in a large circle that takes up most of the studio space. Once warm, we completed a few plies and tendus and went to work on the dance. Moriah’s parents had another engagement, so they came early to watch one of our rehearsals. They thought it was grand, which lifted my spirits to the sky! Eventually, after making a few minor fix-ups and taking deep breaths, we let the other parents inside. They hurried in and crowded at the front of the room. With that, the dancing began!

We ran the dance two times, both of which were superb! I had to remind myself not to mess around with my costume during the first dance, though– that is so hard for me! Our costumes, by the way, were quite fantastic. We wore red and green shirts (I wore red) and black pants. Simple, but it looked so cool, seeing that we have such a large class.

Miss Sara made some last minute announcements, showed everyone her Christmas-themed fuzzy socks and said a prayer over us. Thank God for my dance teacher– she is so amazing!