new summer, new blog plans

My academic dance life is done, and now I taking a bit of a breather before I start the 250-hour Aura Wellness Center Yoga Teacher in A Box certification program. I've been doing Yoga Journal home practice videos and other personal practice/dance technique in the meantime (why I say a bit of a breather :D). I believe that I'll have the money for a 10-class pass at Newport Academy of Ballet, which I believe will be enjoyable and help me to maintain my technique. Working on technique as I've described, the unfortunate effect of not regularly taking class is certainly apparent!

I also plan to switch gears with this blog. My brother made some good points about the advantages of frequently blogging on a platform accessible to a wide range of readers, and with socially relevant/topical content. He suggested Tumbler, which combines social networking with blogging in order to help bloggers increase their readerships. On this new platform I will also focus less on my own dance life, and more on significant topics and happenings within the dance world. These include dance TV shows and their impacts on societal perceptions/interactions with dance, the changes in dance criticism with new media, changing dance company structures, shifting views of dance education and the competition circuit, and more. The increase in analytical abilities, research knowledge, and networking that this effort has the potential to offer will be beneficial for me wherever I go next in the dance field (now I'm thinking dance/yoga education before grad school for dance therapy).

performances past, yoga and such

Performances and technique classes are finished, so now I've been enjoying free yoga classes at HelWel. I've noticed improvements in strength, fluidity, and more - while also encountering things to work on, as well as receiving good corrections from instructors (a big one being Claire's advice to bring my down dog in, which allows my heels to the hit the floor - a major overall practice adjustment that I think will be beneficial even if it doesn't feel quite right now).

I have more classes to look forward through next week, as well as a tap and a jazz class at local studios. They've been good stress relievers through finals craziness (as well as the uncertainty of not knowing where my life is leading next), and they'll compliment the calm when things slow down - then the fun when family arrives. I'll keep you up to date on it all of course. Prossimo settimana :D

shows and other fun!

Ramalama: The Balance Spring Show hit off on Wednesday. I truly enjoyed performing - there's just something about being in costume and having lights on me that makes me dance like I can't otherwise. There were some tough moments, such as getting home from dress rehearsal at 12:30 (still to eat dinner, unpack, shower, all that..). I also wish I could have totally focused on performing without having to worry about finals prep work (for e.g. I forgot my shorts for Amber's piece (to go on under the dress), because I was rushing to get ready from working beforehand. All in all, however, it was a smooth and enjoyable experience. I look forward to Sunday's show!

Otherwise, I've gone back to free yoga Journal online videos I've saved and caught up on some other technique stuff. It was fun to perform for the Francis Stevens kids and their parents tonight. I got confused with the changing of space and formations, and went into some movements early/added some turns haha - but in that setting it's all about the energy and the joy. Showing a little one some movements, I was thinking even more that dance therapy could be the right path for me. It'll all roll out with developments such as what will happen with my Arena application. Anywho, until next week :D

Danceworks and more

It was a busy dancing weekend, with Danceworks and a long Saturday of Balance rehearsals. I was pleased to get more compliments on my performance. I truly feel that I reached a place with the piece where I could just be comfortable in my competence with what I had to do w/ it, which I'll say is rare for me. Balance rehearsals tied up everything that will be in the show, all pieces to be completed by then. It was a challenge to re-learn what I've forgotten for Finale in the group sections and the whole last group part, but I'm confident that I'll somehow get it together for when I need to. Amber's piece and Senior piece felt a lot better after rehearsing them (though I got quite frustrated at myself for how I performed them during the run....). Anywho, another long chunk of Balance rehearsals tomorrow - with the show and final technique showings next weekend (chose not to give the time to discuss that one...will try to next week). Ciao :D

super quick check-in

I have just about no time to write (insanity of applying for jobs on top of everything else that I do), but I'll just say that it's been a great show week for Danceworks. Not too many crazy late nights, and the work is going well. I got some flattering comments on my performance, that I'm "visually stimulating" - even from Dana, a premier professional choreographer. That's somewhat of a tease to me because I've told myself for a long time that I just don't have what it takes to professionally perform, and establish a stable career doing so - BUT now I'm thinking what if? Though I had a bit of trouble with some new work in Maida's class, the ease in my movement that I've reached in general is contributing to those thoughts. Ahhhhh what am I doing with my life? I thought I knew so well! Anywho, until next week :D

getting closer!

This week started the time in the theater for Danceworks. We spaced in the piece on Wednesday night, which was smoother than expected. We dealt with trying to incorporate Maida's suggested changes while still trying to stay within the time limit. We got it down to the required five minutes through picking up speed and energy on Sunday night, which also just felt great to perform. In any case, cue-to-cue is Sunday, and then it's a train rolling on!

Balance rehearsals for both pieces made me feel as if yes, I have much work to do, but that I can get to my best work with the choreography with rehearsals over the next few weeks. I truly enjoyed going to Francis Stevens Elementary to teach dance this morning, through Balance. I could recognize how the work I've been doing in dance can help me as a free mover who can make others feel more free to move, a truth supportive of me heading into dance therapy (to counter thoughts that doing so will make the work I've done thus far a waste).

I look forward to Balance rehearsals this weekend and Danceworks craziness next week (the late nights will be taxing, but it will feel great to perform). I can't write much this week because I have lots of work to do, so tty next week :D

relief week, somewhat.....

It was a week of change, adjustment, and relief. On Sunday's rehearsal we changed almost the entire piece to the adjudicator's comments. It was interesting to see what could happen within three hours! The pieces were re-adjudicated on Tuesday, and all four were accepted back into the concert (from what I hear mostly because the adjudicators couldn't agree on what they thought of the pieces, but I don't want to be a gossip). During Wednesday's rehearsals we clarified some elements and changed the emotional outlook of the piece - it's now just about function, getting a specific task accomplished or simply getting from A to B - with no feelings attached. I don't know what it looks like from the outside, but the energy that resulted from that decision feels....well, I'm not really sure...

Balance rehearsals were challenging and interesting per usual. Amber made some good choreographic changes to create interesting level and space variety. I had some trouble implementing them after having gotten much of the piece as it was already in my body. It's all good though, I'll get there. Maida's class was somewhat typical, feeling stilted and tight at some points and at others how much I've progressed in her class so far this year. There's three weeks of her class left....crazy, it's starting to come down to the wire. Anywho, ciao till next week!