Final Curtain Call

Curtain Closing

Image Courtesy of: YouTube

Well this has been an insane year.

Actually this year feels like it's not even close to over, right now I am getting ready for four shows this week. I have two shows one Wednesday and one Thursday for Junior Dance Company and two shows on Saturday with my studio..... So let the craziness begin!

I know after that though my year will really feel like it's coming to a close. In between shows with my studio we always do a candle lighting to say good by to the seniors (and that I am really dreading), we always leaving the room with tears streaming down our face. So then I will feel like this dance year is really ending.

Also I recently found out my dance placement for next year at the bright and shiny Peggy Bergmann Ballet West Academy at Park City...... and that was interesting. I ended up having really good placements but on the other hand some of my friends a weren't so lucky. Now I am just trying to do my very best to comfort them because disappointment is tough, but again it's what comes with this insane dance world.

But as for my blog sadly it is coming to a close. As I have learned in dance the process is the most important but the final product can become the best part. So that's how I think of my blog. I want it to end nice and sweet.

I have loved blogging and being able to share all of my experiences and adventures with you. I also love having a place where I can dedicate my time and writing to what I am most passionate about. I feel like every post I have written I have been able to open up and share even more.

To all of my readers: whether you have an insane passion for dance like me, just came across my blog, or are reading this because your a close friend of mine. I thank you so much for putting in the time to read my blog and learn more about me and my love for dance.

Lastly I want to say that anything is possible. If you put in enough effort and dedication, your dreams really can come true.

Let my journey at Ballet West and whatever your journey is begin!

Insane Weekend Day 1

Elite Grand Champions

Image Courtesy of: Elisa Slobodow

Sooooooo lets see this past weekend was basically insane, but it was also probably one of the best weekends of my life.

So Friday started out as a normal dance competition day.  But as the weekend continued.........well, you'll see

7:00 AM: I woke up, packed up all my stuff, put my hair up, then hopped in the car and headed down to Sandy. 

11:00 AM: We arrived and got ready for our first piece.

12:00 PM: Then we continued performing for the rest of the day, and we were doing pretty well. 

9:00 PM: Lets just say by this time I was getting a little tired so might have had "some" sugar to wake myself up

11:00 PM: While the judges were calculating the scores they played just dance videos on there huge screens to the sides of the stage. Everyone then got up on their feet including all the dancers and parents and started following along.

11:30 PM: Yep we were still dancing, and by the time the videos ended we were all dripping in sweat.

12:00 AM: They had finished calculating the scores and announced that they were putting on a gala were they picked the top 3 advanced teams and top 3 elite teams to perform and compete for the grand prize...........We got chosen! And it was my favorite piece!

12:05 AM: We sprinted back to the dressing room jumping and chanting, but knowing we had to move fast because we only had five minutes to get ready.

12:10 AM: We stepped out on the stage and it was magical......our piece is called Proserpina and is about a mother loosing her child and it was very emotional for all of us.

12:13 AM: When we finished the piece we all had tears running down our face. We all huddled together and listened to what the judges had to say. I thought they were going to say something like work on transitions or articulate your feet more, but that's not what they said at all. They were speechless and barely new what to say. 

12:15 AM: We got off stage and were so happy, we didn't even care if we won or not. We just hugged each other and watched the other people perform.

12:30 AM: It was time for awards, so all the different studios jumped on stage to hear their results.
All of our dances did pretty well, but then it was time for the gala awards so all of the other dancers not in the gala left the stage

12:45 AM: The 3 advanced pieces went first they announced each group by playing the song, so they played 3rd places song, then 2nd places, and then 1st.

12:50 AM: Now it was our turn we stood on stages holding hands waiting for the first song to come on.

12:51 AM: They play the first song......and it wasn't us!! But, then the announcer said "In third place Proserpina" We were all very confused. Then he realized it was a mistake and the song they played really got 3rd

12:53 AM: The second song played......and it wasn't us!!!! We didn't want to seem really obnoxious so we kind of just stood there and looked at each other and squeezed each others hands.

12:55 AM: They finally announced "First Place Proserpina!!"We jumped up and down screaming and hugging

1:00 AM: We ran back to the dressing room screaming "WE WON!!!!", or at least I did

1:30 AM: My mom and I loaded all of the stuff in the car and we headed to a friends house to stay the night.

1:50 AM: We arrived at the house and I ate noodles

2:15 AM: Night Night

Read My Next Post For Day 2!

Insane Weekend Day 2

Proserpina

Image Courtesy of: Elisa Slobodow

Sooooooo last Saturday my dance group was invited to perform with Ballet West opening of Snow Maiden.

So we all got about 4 hours of sleep and had to dance all day lets see how that went..........


6:30 AM: Time to get up!

7:00 AM: Jumped in the car and headed to Provo

8:00 AM: Arrived at the theatre

8:30 AM: We warmed up and spaced our dance on the stage

10:30 AM: We headed out for lunch and then realized we left Sawyer in the building..... Oh Sawyer

11:00 AM: We finally found a good looking place to eat

11:45 AM: Ugh the food was taking forever!!

12:00 PM: Finally the food came and it was goooood!!!

12:30 PM: We were all stuffed and about to pass out on the table

12:45 PM: When we headed back to the theatre we all got a burst of energy and started running around the street screaming and "attempting" to do par core.

1:00 PM: When we got back to our dressing room their were a lot of other girls from ballet west in there and they looked pissed off.

1:10 PM: I saw that some of my group had left and found a different room to get ready in so I went to find them. Two of the girls stayed in the dressing room and didn't know where we went. They talked to some of the ballet west girls that said "hopefully they didn't go in the mens dressing room next door" and my teammates responded "No there not that stupid."

Well apparently we are that stupid because a minute later they walked by and found us in the mens dressing room and burst out laughing.

1:20 PM: Then men arrived and looked a little freaked out when they saw us in their dressing room, so the theatre staff found us a new place to get ready

2:00 PM: The first show began. We did ok but we were pretty tired.

3:30 PM: The show was over and we were pretty wiped out so our coach we with us to Swig, a soda shop. We wanted to get some sugar to stay awake.

3:45 PM: We got to Swig and everything was soda....well I don't drink soda sooo......I got a smoothie.......It was disgusting.

3:50 PM: Everyone else was enjoying their soda and started to go a little insane. We started singing and dancing and laughing our heads off.

4:30 PM: I think the people at Swig were starting to get annoyed with us for being so loud......we left

4:35 PM: We all hopped in each others cars and decided to go to target

4:50 PM: We got lost so decided to head back to the theatre

5:00 PM: Well we had an hour so we went across the street to a book store.

5:10 PM: The bookstore was boring, we left

5:15 PM: We walked further down the street and realized there was a dance competition going on at the convention center.

5:20 PM: We headed in, no one questioned us because we had all of our hair and makeup done

5:30 PM: After a few dances on of my teammates says "Ok...the next group is our team" So when the next group stepped on the stage we started screaming and cheering. We yelled out random names like "Yeah Stacy!" and "Lets go Morgan!"

5:40 PM: We left before someone got suspicious

5:50 PM: We got back to the theatre and got ready ready for the second show to began

6:15 PM: We had a little time so we started having laughing contests. Two of us would have to maintain a serious face will they acted out what our coach said such as telling the other person they are carrying the baby Jesus.

6:45 PM: We performed and it went well

7:30 PM: Some of my friends and I went out and got some dinner but were past out in the car on the way there

9:00 PM: We headed home

11:00 PM: Goodnight!

Practice Practice Practice

Practice

Photo Courtesy of: morethanasundayfaith

Practice. What is practice? What does it mean?

Is practice the amount of times you do something or the effort you put into it?

Does practice mean building strength or knowledge?

Well I guess practice could mean all of that but it depends how you look at it. I would say practice is doing something repetitively and giving it a good effort to improve your performance of that skill

One of the most important parts of practice is knowing the amount needed to be successful. Some people think that if they do something two or three times they will then be perfect. But, it doesn’t work quite like that.

As my french teacher Mr. Risotto always says, it’s not like one morning your just going to walk into the class room and speak fluent french. Because again you need to practice over a long period of time to master a skill.

Also for me in dance even if I am practicing for a total of ten thousand hours that does not mean I am going to be the next prima ballerina unless I put in the true effort and have a strong work ethic. Because I could be dancing for hours and hours but unless I am really pushing myself the improvement will not be made

I think it is very important to think about practice, about what your practicing, about how your practicing can get better, or something that you want to start practicing. For me I always set a goal I am trying to reach and then set a certain amount of time I will practice every day to reach that goal. For example my goal in dance is to improve my flexibility and I no that it won’t just happen over night, so I set aside twenty minutes every night to stretch.

Motivation is a huge part of practice because why do you want to practice something anyways. Practicing usually takes a lot of time and energy so what makes it worth it. That is a huge question and that is something that you should ask yourself when practicing. Having strong motivation will only make the outcome of the skill you are practicing even better.

I have talked to a lot of people over the years that I have danced with and asked them why do you dance? Why do you want to be hear?

I hear a lot of them say “Well I’ve been doing it since I was two so I guess I should keep doing it” or “It’s a good way to get exercise” or “My parents make me do it”

I always find those answers so interesting but it’s almost like I already knew their answers because I could see it when they were practicing, they had no motivation at all and that’s what made the difference in their dancing from those that really loved dancing and found it so enjoyable.

Think about that next time you are practicing something, think about what your motivation is because that may change how you are practicing something or even if you are practicing it at all.

Practice is different for everyone.

Some things come more naturally to others.

The most important thing is to never give up.

If you set your mind to something you can achieve it.

And remember practice doesn’t make perfect, but perfect practice can.

The Invasion

My Studio

Image Courtesy of: Ballet West

So to begin let me just say that I am being invaded. Well that's kind of how it feels but not exactly whats going on.

About a two months ago out of the blue I got I text on a group message of one of my dance groups saying that Ballet West is buying our studio. When I saw the text I left and replied "Stop joking with me, I'm not an Idiot" but then more people started saying it and I started to freak out. I didn't understand how one day I could be going to the Park City Dance Academy and the next day to Ballet West.

A few days later we were told that there was a very important meeting to attend at dance and all classes at that time were cancelled, and it shocked me when they said they will be delivering "Exciting News". I thought how could this be exciting news, Ballet West is going to destroy everything!! All the traditions we have all, all of the classes we have besides ballet, I was mad.

When I got to the meeting all the students and parents gathered around Ballet West's directors and faculty. I had many question to ask and was ready to get it over with. Many of the questions I wanted to know many people asked before I could, and some of it I was ok with but other things made me very mad. For example someone asked if we're going to continue putting on the nutcracker, their response was kind of vague they said "Well we will be doing nutcracker next year, but..........after that.......we don't know." So that basically means that next year will be my last year doing nutcracker which I am VERY sad about. I have been looking forward to performing in the nutcracker as a junior and senior in high school since I was a little girl, because that is when you get the best lead roles.

I am happy that we will get to have some new teachers and classes will be more intense and demanding, but I am still pretty nervous about a lot of the changes.

So to get to my last point, the reason I am writing about this now is auditions for next years placements are tomorrow. I am pretty nervous, but the only reason I am not extremely nervous is because my teachers that I have now will also be giving input on where I should be placed using their experience with me from the past few years. That is good because then it is not all based on how I do in the audition.

Well now I go to the Peggy Bergmann Ballet West Academy at Park City.........Wish me luck!

Family Number 2

                   Contemporary Group                                 Halloween
           Image Courtesy of: Instructor           Image Courtesy of: Instructor

One of my favorite things about dance is the people I am spending so many hours with. A lot of the girls that I dance with today I have been dancing with since I was in elementary school. These girls have become my second family.

When you have known someone for many so years and spend a lot of hours a day with them you grow very close. You also become very comfortable with each other.

One of my favorite things about being so close to the girls I dance with is they really help me become a better dancer. We really push each other, but not in a really mean or aggressive way because we all want to see each other be successful. Also since we are so close we are really open to receiving constructive criticism because again it will only make us better.

As much as I love dancing with these girls I also love spending time out of dance with them. It is weird because some people can be so different depending on the environment they are in. For example I know everyone so well I dance with, but when we are together outside of dance it is almost like your with a different person. Now we are trying to spend more time together out of dance to get to know each other better and become a stronger team.

I think it is really important to know your teammates well because it can help your team as whole be a lot more successful.

You know I am talking about how great these girls are but just remember they are like my second family so we do get into arguments. The arguments are just like arguing with a sibling because you know that you will eventually work it out. Also we are usually arguing about something stupid like which foot we start with in a combination.

A lot of the girls I dance with are a year older then me and in tenth grade and I always think about how sad it will be to see them go. But for now I am trying to enjoy every fun moment with them.

Night of Shining Stars

Night of Shining Stars Promotional Flyer

Image Courtesy of: Ballet West

I attended the Night of Shining Stars gala on Saturday February, 27th. I went to the gala because it was an extension of Youth American Grand Prix which was the competition I was competing in that weekend. Actually some of the performers in the gala competed in YAGP earlier that day. 

The performance was incredible! They brought out professional dancers from around the world. The dancers were from New York City Ballet, San Fransisco Ballet, Dancing with the Stars, MOMIX, Ballet West, Joffrey Ballet, and Ballet Red. 

One of my favorite performances of the night was one performed by Nicole Loizides and Todd Burnsed from MOMIX, it was called Millennium Skiva. The entire piece was performed on skies, and they were wearing these sliver body suits and silver skies that were reflecting all the light. In the piece they were shifting their weight back and forth. They were also jumping up on the tips of the skies. I had never seen anything like it.

One of my other favorite performances was performed by this thirteen year old. She was incredible! I was shocked that she was almost better then some of the soloists from the professional companies. Which was even more of a shock was the next day I found out that she had sick the whole weekend and during the performance was running a 102 fever. I thought it was amazing how well she performed, you never would have known she was sick.

My absolute favorite things about the gala were being able to see some of the most talented young dancers in the country and winners of previous Youth American Grand Prix competition. I also loved being able to see some of the best professional dancers in the world perform right next to each other. I have never seen so much talent in one show.

Inspiration

Misty Copeland ABT Principal

Image Courtesy Of: NY Daily News

Dear Misty Copeland

Work. That's what you have taught me, you have shown me that if you set your mind to something there is always a way to achieve it. I have danced all my life but never really believed anything would come out of it, until now.

I first came across a video of you dancing a few years ago and was blown away but never thought much of it, but this past summer that changed. When I  heard the news that you had become American Ballet Theatre's principal dancer, I thought to myself "Wow! That is true determination". I think the most amazing thing about you is with all the odds stacked against you, you still found a way to succeed. Such as how people would say "Oh, she doesn't have the right body type to be a ballerina"  or "She can't be a ballerina she's black" but you didn't listen, stood up, and proved them wrong.

Everyday when I feel like I can't do something or don't have the right abilities to do something. I think that will get me no where and keep on pushing.  

This blog is about my experiences and hopes and dreams for my future. I also just enjoy sharing what I love with the world. I may not have the best technique or flexibility but what I do have is drive and passion, and you've taught me that is what is important and really matters. I hope that you keep reading my blog to see just how much we have in common and the love we share for dance.

Nothing Like Some Good Old Competition

One of Last Years Pieces

Image Courtesy Of: Alexa Wilcox 

Yep! That's right! Competition season is just around the corner, and believe me when I say I am not the least bit excited.

Well that is probably because competitions consist of being smushed in a crowded car driving to some random high school and dealing with crazy loud mothers. Also I end up having to miss a lot of school which puts me behind on all of my assignments. This year I think we are doing three or four competitions so I just got to toughen it up and get through it.

There is really only one competition I am looking forward for, and that is YAGP or Youth America Grand Prix. YAGP is the largest ballet competition in the national and amazing dancers from across the globe are competing in it. I am competing at one of their regional competitions, the winners at all of the regional competitions then go to the Finals in New York City. I doubt I would ever get to the finals, but it is still an amazing experience.

It's not even the performing I am excited about but that I get to see such amazing and dedicated dancers. To be honest I am actually really scared, it is very nerve racking to be compared to some of the best dancers in the country. Also I have had a hurt back and hip and am behind in my rehearsals so am extremely scared that I will not remember my dance or be feeling better.

Honestly I feel that I am ready and this happens to most people because performing is just a very nerve racking thing. The most rewarding feeling is when you come off stage and know you have improved and accomplished something.

Weird Shoes..... Right On Pointe

Beautiful Point Shoes

Photo Courtesy Of: freemotion

Everyone knows that when someone mentions ballet they think of those weird shoes ballerinas wear that make then walk on their toes. Well those weird shoes are called point shoes!

Point shoes have been around for hundreds of years, and you may say they look uncomfortable but back then they were a lot worse. Actually the first dancers to wear dancers weren't even really touching the ground! In 1795 the "Flying Machine was invented which lifted dancers upward allowing them to easily stand on their toes. Later ballet lost the wires and the pointe shoes dancers wear today began to evolve.

For people who don't know a lot about pointe work they might say "Hey can I try a pair, I'm a size 7!"
But getting pointe shoes is not even close to that first of all point shoes run in a completely different size system, for example in street shoes I'm a size 7 but in pointe shoes I'm a size 6 XXX. 

Secondly not just anyone can go on pointe. You're ankles must be strong and well trained also if kids start to young it can mess up the growth in their foot. 

Lastly point shoes are not the same. There are many brand and not all work for everybody. For example my first year on pointe my pointe shoes were from a company called Bloch. That year was torture, they were waaaaaaay to wide so my feet kept slipping and all of my weight was on my big toes. The next year I started wearing a different brand of pointe shoes called Grishkos which are a much more narrow and I have been wearing them ever since.

Pointe for me is a love / hate relationship. I love dancing on point shoes and they make you lines look so beautiful. On the down side pointe is extremely touch on your ankles and usually causes many blisters and feet injuries.

I hope that if you dance on pointe or hope to someday try it that you do not rush into things because pointe work is all about practice and delicacy.

When You Just Need A Break

Last Years Nutcracker

Photo Courtesy Of: Park City Dance

Life can be tough. Currently I am lying in bed just as I have been for the past twenty four hours. Since it's holiday break I told myself "You need to take sometime to do completely nothing."

How did I get hear? Well that is a very long story. I'll start off by saying always know what you are getting into because you never want to be doing to much.

About a month ago I decided that I wanted to coordinate the schools talent show, I knew it would be a lot a work but I was up for the challenge. The next day I learned the talent show was going to be the day before Nutcracker which I had been rehearsing for already a couple of months and had a lot more rehearsals to come. Then I realized that the talent show and Nutcracker were at the end of the week before break which meant I was going to have a bunch of tests and assignments due then. I decided I could get through it, all I had to do was push through that one week.

When that week came around I was kind of prepared, but still had a lot of work to do. It was Wednesday night I was up studying for my geography test until about midnight when I decided I really need to get some sleep. I woke up and looked at my clock I saw the nineteen when the last to digits were so thought my alarm clock should go off in a minute so I turned it off. I got dressed, did my hair, walked down stairs, and ate breakfast. I finished my bowl of cereal and walked over to the sink to put it away. After my bowl was in the sink I looked down at my phone to see how much time I had before I needed to leave. My phone said it was 2:45 am. Then I collapsed on the floor historically laughing and balling at the same time.

That day I roamed the halls extremely tired, I knew what I had to get done. After school all I wanted to do was go home and sleep. I was very behind on studying for my geography test so ended up missing dance and studying until midnight again.

The next morning I woke up late but my parents said I could miss my first class to get some extra sleep. I went into geography and took my test then went to get ready for the talent show. The talent show was a HUGE success! That night just as I was getting all my stuff ready for the Nutcracker I realized I had left my point shoes at the dance studio. So that night at ten oclock I had to break into the studio, well technically it wasn't breaking in because I have a key just to get my point shoes. 

The next day I woke up at seven am to get my stuff packed, do my hair, put on my make up, and head over to the theatre. The Nutcracker was great but I was also half asleep during it.

Finally that Sunday I sat on a plane leaving for Hawaii finally being able to take a breath.