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Hot Pink Pointe Shoes

Phew! The first day of fall classes is officially over! It would have been slightly less draining if I was not fighting off a cold, but working hard has never taken the fun out of dance class (and never will).

First off, I had ballet. I wanted to hug Miss Sara, but that wouldn’t be very considerate, keeping in mind that I am not feeling too perfect. So, I hugged Emma instead (who happens to be sick as well). Haha! Anyway, class was great! It is a fairly small, combined, ballet class (the highest division of ballet with the second highest division); four girls from the highest and one from the second highest are attending. I fall into the “highest” section of the group– so exciting! Anyway, we worked on a lot of stretching and other such things to get our bodies back in shape after our break.

After class, I went home a took a much-needed rest. Once I had regained my energy, it was back to the studio with me! I was out to help Miss Jennifer with the cherubs class. It was so fun! We have around twelve girls in the class (I forgot to make an exact count.) and they are all ADORABLE. We were missing one little girl whom I can’t wait to meet next week. Changing the topic slightly: I guess you can say I have been dreaming about assistant teaching; there are certain parts of the class I am looking forward to the most. Right now, I can barely contain my excitement about seeing their recital costumes (which should happen by the end of this month)! I hope it’s pink…! I will be sure to describe the whole thing or possibly post a picture after I see it.

That’s all for now! Next up: “Fall Classes– Thursday.” Look out for the post about my very first modern class!

Black and White Pointe Shoes

1.  Stores are for dancing (Yes, even at the stores that don’t sell dance attire…)
2. Popping hips are normal everywhere (Pop! Pop! Pop!)
3. Catchy tunes on the radio are for barre combinations (And the boring tunes too!)
4. If you find a good place to stretch, you must stretch right away (Even on the kitchen counter while your mom is making salad…)
5. If you need to pop something, everything else must stop (“WAIT!” Pop. “Okay. Resume.”)
6. Lucky legwarmers are used for much more than class (“Why are you wearing legwarmers to school…?”)
7. Buns are boring (This is so true.)
8. Doing echappes in flip-flops is normal (Not good for you, but we do it anyway.)
9. Working on arabesque arms while reading is a given (And we still finish our reading assignments… oh, yes.)
10. Doing releves in church is normal (As it is anywhere.)
11. Holding a releve in in church is normal (Yes, people stare constantly.)
12. You are always pointing your feet and looking at your arch (Pointe shoes soon…!)
13. Band-aids for marley-burns from modern and contemporary are a must (I haven’t experienced this one yet…)
14. Changing from clothes to a leotard in the car is easy (This takes one minute– tops.)
15. Changing hair and costumes in three minutes is normal (Not as easy as number 14., but normal!)
16. You automatically count to eight and then start over (And one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. And one…)
17. When someone asks you to do the splits, you go through plies and tendus first (A must.)
18. You can tell people what a variation of a cat, horse, glide, big, little fast and slow means in French (Of course!)
19.  People ask you if you’re a “ballerina” (All the time…)
20. The word “ballerina” is not athletic enough for you (And it never will be…!)
21. Holding a retire isn’t that easy (Haha…!)
22. Your favorite water bottle goes many places with you (Like… everywhere. It’ll see Paris someday, I’m sure.)
23.  You can dance while doing anything, i.e. sweeping the floor, loading the dishwasher (etc…)

Turquoise Pointe Shoes

I must say, when I first spoke about Nutcracker auditions on Monday, I did not expect to be posting any exciting turn-out news until next week. I was gladly mistaken! Late this morning, Emma lead me to the website that presents the official Cast List of the Nutcracker to its onlookers. Heart thumping, I managed to read my name as it popped up under “Party Girls!” I am so excited to play my part in this beautiful holiday performance alongside my wonderful friends! I will be talking about the very best parts of my rehearsals under “The Nutcracker– [Subject]” from now on.

There are just six days until my first fall class– ballet to be exact. After a break, I will travel back to my studio and help Miss Jennifer with the Cherubs class. I can barely contain my excitement about my dance life right now… ah!

I can personally guarantee that my next blog post will be something fun (the question being “what?”) and soon after one with the subject of, “Fall Classes– The Beginning, Tuesday.” Look out for it, dancers!

Super random: Aren’t the turquoise pointe shoes gorgeous? The shells just make them…! Do you agree?

Whoop-de-do-da-day! (Wow… is it just me or was that super weird?)

Hello lovely dancers. I have a bunch of new things to share with you all.

First, my birthday has come and gone (my… how fast life skips by) and left me with some fantastic gifts! My wonderful dance-sister, Emma, gave me my very own copy of the book “Ballet Shoes!” My brothers purchased me the most comfortable pink tights I have ever owned along with a new pair of shoes (foot paws) to wear to modern class in the fall. Speaking of which, fall classes are almost here! Just eight days until the fun begins all over again…!

Next, I went to Nutcracker auditions yesterday (Oh… darn. I forgot to mention those sooner, didn’t I?). They were incredible! I was at the mall for about two hours (although the first half-hour was spent freaking out in whispered tones to Emma, Anna and Caroline). I tried out for a few different parts, though they were all selections from the Party Scene. I like to think I will be playing a Party Girl part, but I don’t know that for sure. As a matter of fact, I won’t know anything for sure until I receive the long-awaited “determining e-mail!” I can’t wait until it arrives in my inbox, however it may not show up until next week. (P.S. I will be sure to mention what part I end up receiving.)

Right now I am waiting for 4:40 P.M. to roll around (just twenty minutes!). I have a Cecchetti make-up class to make up for the one week this summer that Miss Sara was gone. She barely ever misses class… she’s amazing that way.

Sparkling Pointe Shoes

Has it really been seven weeks? Not quite, but it’s been six. Summer classes are coming to an end; I can’t believe it. It seems like yesterday I was congratulating myself for finally signing up and just hours later, jumping up-and-down for I had been accepted in every class.

Is it really time for the fall semester to begin? Almost. I feel quite accomplished, as I am already signed up and accepted for all of my fall classes. I suppose I can’t make you wait any longer. Here they are:

Monday: Ballet class

Tuesday: Ballet class, help with Cherubs class

Thursday: Modern

Friday: Ballet class, Beginner Pointe, Cecchetti Exam class (until October)

There you have it, dancers! My fall schedule. 

This evening I will be attending Miss Tina’s Assistant Training Meeting. I’m so excited! My friends and I will be learning how to be wonderful assistant teachers. Tomorrow, I’ll put the things I learn to use at the Angelina Ballerina camp… wow!

I am quite proud to say that all my news is good news today, starting with…:

My Firm Foundation classes ended today. I do believe my favorite part of all was partnering, although we worked on ballet technique, pilates, strengthening, stretching, variations and contemporary as well.  Apparently, during partnering, I keep a very straight (almost angry) face. That’s what happens when I think too hard…. Mr. Keith was finding my expressions (or rather, BLANK expressions) to be very amusing. That’s where the above quote comes in…! Anyway, we worked a lot on “Fish-dives” which is what the video above is presenting. I am in the blue leotard (obviously). The person talking in the background is my spectacular teacher, Miss Sara. The applause at the end is the wonderful work of my dance sisters. Thank you all!

Next, my Joyful Dancers Camp ended today as well. The girls LOVED it! I’m so glad. We managed to create a 45-second dance to my favorite song, “I Can Only Imagine” by Bart Millard. All five girls declared that they wanted to do a bridge (which is not exactly a dance move) at the end, so I let them. It actually came out really well! I finally understand why dance teachers become so particular before recital time…!

Third, Miss Tina found me a new class to assist! I will be helping Miss Jennifer (another teacher who works with young girls) with the Cherubs 3-5 class on Tuesdays. I’m so excited and so blessed that Miss Tina had a class for me!

Lastly… (drum roll please): I’M GOING ON POINTE! That’s right! On September 23rd (or sometime close to that date) I am taking a ride up to another part of the state with Miss Sara to buy pointe shoes (and other items required for pointe). I was NOT expecting to be informed that I am going on pointe in this fashion:

“Let’s figure out a time to go and get pointe shoes” Miss Sara said as she fumbled through her iPad calendar.

I love it.

Silver Pointe Shoes

Wow! I finally have something new to share. As a matter of fact… I have a lot of new things to share.

NEWS FLASH: I’ll take out the bad news first. Remember how I was all excited about assisting Miss Tina with her Tiny Tots class? Quite irritatingly, I realized today that the class is right SMACK in the middle of my English class on Tuesdays this school year. Sadly, I will no longer be helping with the class. I’m praying that Miss Tina has a different, more convenient class for me.

Now, onto the better news (I tend to enjoy typing about it more). I have started a three-day-long dance camp in my basement for all the neighborhood girls! It is called “Joyful Dancers Camp” and today was my very first day teaching. The girls are all so cute! I think they really enjoyed the arm exercise that we did– they were laughing like crazy. I’m hoping for the same audience on Wednesday and Friday.

Lastly, my “Firm Foundation” ballet camp at my studio started today. I have to be there from 9 AM to 12 PM every morning. Miss Sara and a new teacher, Miss April (who is usually our substitute), are taking turns teaching for the week. Today, Miss Sara was our teacher. She brought in her friend, Mr. Keith, from another studio and taught us how to “partner.” It was so much fun! Mr. Keith was able to lift us up super high– it was kind of like flying! I really enjoyed myself.