The 12 Days of Recital- Day 12

Wow. I can't believe that today is the LAST day to practice! We have our show TOMORROW!

So yesterday, we just took our cast picture. That means full makeup and hair with costume. I bet the pictures came out pretty cute though. :) It was really fun. We were all trying to get the entire cast in the picture, and there are a lot of people. I mean, there's Cinderella, Prince Charming, King, Queen, Stepsisters, Stepmother, Duke, Jester, Deer, Bluebird, two mice, Fairy God Mother, and 6 princesses. That's 20 people. We were all having a little to much fun posing, and when we got to the actual pictures, it was easy to give a natural smile because we were all laughing. :)

Well today is what I believe is the craziest part of the show. DRESS REHEARSAL. For those of you who don't know what dress rehearsal is, it's when everything goes wrong right before the show! I love dress rehearsal though, because you have your costume, the stage, the music, EVERYTHING. But there's no audience, so it's a chance to dance your heart out without being afraid of failure. It really is a wonderful thing. Then after you finish your dance, the teachers come get mad at you and your class for what you did wrong... it's all part of the business.

Now that I've finally gotten my mom to understand how our driving schedule works, I think we're set.  See, we were trying to figure out how to make it as easy as possible for my family, and my neighbor\best friend's family (We'll call the mom Mrs. S). They have 3 kids who dance. They are ages 5 (A), 8 (M), and 13 (Audrey). So basically, Mrs. S is taking me and A to rehearsal at 2:30 because I have to be there for Creative Movement, and so does she. Then my mom is picking M and Audrey up at taking them to rehearsal at 4:00, because my mom needs to be there at 4:00 (she's working quick changes). And then my friend's mom is taking A home as soon as she's done. And then my mom is taking me, Audrey, and M home at the end of the rehearsal. WOW, crazy.

So anywho, I'll let you know how that goes....

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 11

Wow! I can't believe that I just have today and tomorrow to rehearse! I guess I should probably practice a lot... I feel pretty ready, which is great, cause I was a nervous wreck a week ago. :)

Yesterday's rehearsal went really well! We all received a little decoration that needs to be tacked onto our costume, and that took a long time, because the person who made them was given the wrong number for one of the classes, and so we had to get the director to come figure out what to do. So that just took a while. We ended up running a little bit over, but that didn't really matter to much. For some reason, when I started dancing that dance, I just all of a sudden felt and extra burst joy. Which is funny, because it wasn't that different from doing it at run throughs. I was just REALLY happy! I hope I feel the same way in the show. After we finished, my ballet teacher said that it was flawless! That's pretty much the best compliment to get from the teacher.

Like I said earlier, we got a little decoration to tack onto our costume, and I had to adjust my costume a little bit, so I will show you what I did. By the way, I have been tacking\adjusting all my costumes by myself since 6th grade. I think EVERYONE ages 12 and up should do all there own sewing. Costumes, straps, flowers, pointe shoe ribbons, ballet slipper elastics, etc. I know girls who are 18 and got there mom's to sew there costumes. I think that is unacceptable... Just my opinion.

This is what my costume looked like before doing anything to it. I apologize for the bad lighting. I took these pictures at 9:00 last night, and my house has bad lighting to begin with.

At the costume run-through, we were all showing a little bit to much cleavage. So the director asked us to tack our straps down so our dresses would stay up while we dance. Basically, all we did was shorten the straps, but you don't want to cut them, so we folded them over and sewed it down.

Next I had to tack the decoration on. It was a piece of tulle with a fabric leaf in the middle. So I had to tack it down in the middle of the dress, and then again at the top of each sleeve.

Here's what it looks like. The thing above the dress is our hair piece.

And here's a picture of it on. Sorry for the writing on the mirror, and the messy room. I always write my schedule on my mirror, and now you know what a dancer's bedroom looks like before recital. You can see my laundry basket that holds all my costumes, my makeup boxes, water bottle, and a pile of dance clothes behind me.

So anyway, today is pretty easy. Today is blocked out for picture day, and I never take recital pictures. However, they always like to take a lead cast picture, so I just have to show up at my studio in costume at 6:00, take my the picture, and then I can leave! So yeah, pretty easy.

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 10

Yes! I'm finally gonna get to go back to dance stuff! That three day weekend was a little to long for me... Anyway, yesterday I did go to Joann's. I got some new cupcake decorating tools, I got some new icing bags, cupcake icing tips, cupcake liners, edible glitter gel, and edible shimmer dust. Needless to say, I made cupcakes yesterday. I also washed the car for my mom and made $10. Good thing to, because I need some new mascara and blush for recital. I'd also like to get some spin pins so I don't have to worry about my bun falling out.

Today I have a ballet rehearsal. Basically what we are doing, is we are putting all the seasons parts together. You already know that my class is Fall, but there is also a class for spring, a class for summer, and a class for winter. So we are just going to practice that whole section together. I don't think it will be to difficult. However it's a lot of the crazy younger kids. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE THEM TO DEATH! They are the coolest 10-12 year olds I've ever met. But it might be a little bit of a loud rehearsal. We are also receiving a hair piece, and a little decoration to be tacked onto our costume since they are just plain camisole dresses. I'm not really big on the new decorations, but I can just take it off after the show. Which is exactly what I'll do. ;)

I'll be sure to report back about the rehearsal tomorrow, so stay tuned!

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 9

Happy Memorial day guys! Today OFFICIALLY marks the week of recital! I can't believe I only have 3 days of stuff to do before the show!

So what am I up to today? Well, it's my last quiet day before the end of the show! I feel like I should be doing something super exciting today, but I'm not. My dad is at Dunkin Donuts buying donuts for breakfast. My favorite kinds are powdered sugar and chocolate with vanilla glaze.

I will probably see if any of my friends want to hang out, but they are probably all busy. All my friends like to be doing things with there families, but my family never likes to do anything together. We are always so busy with school, dance, boy scouts, church, work, etc. that when a Holiday comes, my parents are just to tired to do anything.

Anyway, I think I might be going to Joann's (yay!), to buy some cupcake decorating supplies. I LOVE decorating cupcakes, and I need some new supplies. Joann's has all Wilton Food Craft items on 25% off today only!

Tomorrow I actually have a dance rehearsal to tell you about, so stay tuned for another post. :)

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 8

So I already told you about what I did yesterday. And what about today? Well, I went to church, and by the way Highschool at church is AWESOME!!!! I like it much better than middle school already. Although I'm kind of sad, because there is this really fun event that they are doing where we spend a day on a house boat, and we go tubing, water skiing, and cliff jumping. Sadly I can't go because I have one dance intensive that day. I'm not SUPER excited about this intensive. I think it's gonna be really boring. It's more something I'm doing because I am dedicated, and if I want to make it into the proffesional world, than I need to spend this day doing 5 hours of Vagonava ballet. I'm not classically trained in Vagonava, I'm trained in the RAD method, which is kind of the opposite. So anyway, I would rather jump off a cliff then go to the intensive that day but sometimes you have to make sacrifices... I would still rather jump off a cliff with all my friends.

I also took my little brother to the park and we bought cherry slushies, and then we came back home. Also after I finish this post, I'm gonna make chocolate Chip Cookies. :)

As I promised yesterday, I will teach you how to steam your tutus. Here's the ever so complex picture tutorial:

Step 1: This is what your tutu looks like when you receive it...

Step 2: This is what it looks like when you take it out of the bag

Step 3: To steam it, hang it up in your bathroom, and take a super hot shower.

Step 4: This is what your tutu will look like after your shower.

Step 5: When you steamed the wrinkles out of your tutu, you also steamed out the poof, so hang it upside down until you are ready to wear it.

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 7

Yesterday was AWESOME! We had our last studio run through for the year, and we did it in full costume. It's very fun to dance in costume, when you have the costumes it affects your dancing a lot, and puts you more into character! We were originally going to have to do another one on Tuesday, but the director said that it was so good that we don't need anymore rehearsals. Other than dress rehearsal at the theater of course. The director said my duet also looked great!!! :D

Anyway, as for today, I get a break! Actually, I have a 3 day break. It's pretty nice! So let's see, what did I do today... I took my photo for AGC, I also went to one of my friends' houses to hang out for a couple of hours. My little brother and I took all our pictures from our Washington DC and put them together into a slideshow. I made lunch, I cooked sweet potatoes to go with dinner. I watched pointless youtube videos. I slept. I chatted with friends on g-mail. I played around with makeup. I did all sorts of stuff that non-dancer teenage girls do.

As for tomorrow, I have my first week of Highschool at church tomorrow! I'm very excited. I will also steam my tutu tomorrow. Yes, there will be pictures, and a tutorial, although a tutorial isn't really nescessary which you'll find out why tomorrow!

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 6

Nothing much happened yesterday... other than I TOOK MY LAST DANCE CLASS OF THE YEAR! I'm done! WOOT! Anyway, we basically just practiced my modern dance a bunch. That was pretty good. It's totally ready. That's really all that happened yesterday! I know, pretty boring right? I also got all my costume pieces labeled for today, and I stretched (though I'm still sore).

As for today, we have our full costume run through. I'm kind of nervous, not sure why. I think it will be okay though. I really just need to pack all my stuff. I'll give you guys a list of all my stuff that I need to bring with me just to give you and idea of what my dance bag will be like.

•  Jazz Costume (Dress, Shorts, Choker, Tan footed Tights, Tan Jazz Sandals)
• Tap Costume (Dress, Flower hairpiece, Tan Footed Tights, Black tap shoes,)
• Pointe Costume (Tutu, pink tights, Pointe shoes, Flower Hair clip)
• Ballet Costume (Dress, Pink Tights, Ballet Slippers)
• Duet Costume (Dress, Headband, Pink Tights, Pointe Shoes)
• Modern Costume (Dress, Shorts, Tan footless tights)
• Body Liner {a body liner is a skin colored leotard that goes under all costumes}
• Hair Spray
• Extra Hair Pins
• Extra Bobby Pins
• Scissors (to cut loose threads)
• Clear Nail Polish (in case my tights run)
• Safety Pins (In case some rips)
• Socks (to keep my feet warm)
• Water Bottle
• Laundry Basket to put all that stuff in!

That's just my packing list for the rehearsal, I have a longer list for dress rehearsal, and an even longer list for the actual show!

 

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 5

Okay, so as for yesterday with Tap, it gets worse. But I'm not gonna complain, I'm gonna be happy instead. No pointe (stupid joke) in being negative right? So I'm gonna type in yellow for this post :). As for other parts of my day, Jazz is looking great. Hopefully it will be great at the show. Also, we ran my pointe duet, and it looks AMAZING! I feel like me and my partner are doing the best we could possibly do with this dance.

So Today's schedule looks pretty clear. All I have is modern from 7:30-9:00. IT IS MY LAST DANCE CLASS OF THE YEAR! It's also my last time taking Modern 3. I did it two years in a row and I feel like it's a little bit slow now. Anywho, last class! So excited! Our dance was pretty much performance ready 3 weeks ago, and I'm getting tired of running it. One more class, four (possibly five) more rehearsals, and then THE SHOW!

Obviously, today is a pretty quiet day, so I'll tell you about what else I plan to do. Tomorrow we have a run through\dress rehearsal at the studio. So I think I will take a sharpie and labels to all my costumes, tights, and shoes and mark them with my name. For those of you who aren't dancers, what that does, is if you leave a costume backstage in the wings after a quick change, or someone accidently picks up your shoes, they can easily figure out who it belongs to.

I think I'll also stretch a bit today, as I am a little sore. When you run the same dances over and over and over again, you are working the same muscles over and over and over again. Causing you to get sore there. I also need to practice some of my routines. Mostly because I need to practice timing. Anyway, stay tuned for a new post tomorrow!

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 4

There isn't really much to say about yesterday. I pretty much said it all in yesterday's post. So moving on to today:

3:30-5:00: Jazz

6:10-6:30: Quick Little Duet Rehearsal

7:15-8:15: Tap

Yep, I have to go back to tap today. I kind of want to go back, but I'm really scared to. I'm afraid that if I go back, that I'll get pulled out of more parts. I'm always the first option to be moved\pulled out, partially because I'm the youngest in Tap 4, and I am the only one in the class who wasn't in Tap 4 last year. I've worked really hard on some of these difficult parts, and it kind of hurts that it's not paying off. But if I don't go back, I don't think I'll ever be able to go back. So I guess it's just time to face the music.

On a more cheerful note, I have my last Jazz class today! I'm kind of not sure why that's happy... I LOVE JAZZ! I'm just really excited that we get to put our dance onstage finally! I think we have worked the hardest on our Jazz dance. I love it, it's a really pretty dance.

Also, I have a short rehearsal for my duet. We have one ballet instructor who choreographed it, and works with us on Mondays, and also we have a different ballet instructor who runs it with us on Wednesdays and also helps correct us and helps up get into character.

So that's my day today, stay tuned for a new post tomorrow!

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 3

So we are now down to 9 days left. I'm not really sure what to say. Here's a little update on what's happening.

So last night we had a rehearsal for both Tap 3&4 together. That was an utter disaster from the beginning. See, I am technically supposed to be in Pointe during that tap rehearsal. So both teachers needed me (and a couple of other dancers) at the same time. Then partway through the rehearsal, our tap teacher decided that the spacing was off, because there were to many people in the front. So she decided to take me, who was originally on the end of the front row, and put me on the end in the back row. Well, the front row is Tap 4, and the middle and back rows are Tap 3. So basically, now I have learn and entirely different dance in 8 days (before dress rehearsal). I'm definitely dissapointed that I got demoted to the tap 3 part, after I've worked so hard on the tap 4 part. But I don't know if I'm going to be able to learn the new part.

Anyway, here's what today looks like. In about two hours I'm going to leave to teach my sweet Creative Movement kids for the last time. They are the silliest kids ever. I love them like crazy. Maybe I'll have some of them again next year. We'll just have to wait and see.

I also have the last Ballet 4 class that I will ever take this afternoon! That class I don't really do much. I mean, I'll do barre, but then I'll probably end up sitting in the corner for the rest of the time. I'm not doing that dance in recital, because I have to many quick changes to make it work, plus that was $65 my parents saved on costumes. We already had to pay $528 for costumes, tights, and two new pairs of shoes...

Stay tuned for a new post tomorrow!

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 2

So this week is our last week of normal classes. Well, normal isn't quite the right thing to say, because we aren't really doing a normal class. It's just on our normal class schedule. So Monday's are my long day. Here's my schedule:

3:30-5:00: Ballet 4x

5:00-5:30: Pointe 3

5:30-6:45: Dinner\Relax break

6:45-7:30: Assist Tap 1

7:30-9:00: Pointe 5 + Duet Rehearsal

So anyway, the way classes go is for all the months up until end of February\Beginning of March, we do a full class (warmup\barre, across the floor, center, combinations, etc.). Then in March we start working on the recital dance for 15-20 minutes at the end of class. Once May hits, we warm up, and we work on the dance. The dance is all that really matters at this point. Some classes (like tap, and occasionally modern) we don't warmup at all. Like I said ALL ABOUT RECITAL!

Today we will probably do barre (LAST BALLET 4x BARRE OF THE YEAR!), and we will do our finishing cleaning touches on the dance. We've done pretty well with this dance, it's really long, it's actually 4 minutes long. I'm onstage for the entire 4 minutes! We probably won't do any Pointe 3 because we will be busy with the ballet 4x dance.

Today is also my last day to teach my Tap 1 girls. They are the most AMAZING kids I've ever taught. They are so happy, fun, hyper, and I'm tearing up a little bit thinking about them! Those kids respect me, like an adult, but love me like one of them. Watching beautiful little girls who are so young with so much dedication inspires me so much, and reminds me why I keep dancing.

Today is my last day of Pointe 5 this year! I'm so proud of how I've done. I got in this class because it wasn't filling up, so they invited me to try it out, even though it might be a little difficult. It was really hard, and I couldn't do the turns at full speed, and I always messed the combinations when I started this class 6 months ago. Now I can do the turns up to speed, and I don't mess up the combinations (at least not to often!). Unfortunately, our tap dance that we are doing with Tap 3 is looking a little bit messy, and we have to go to Tap 3 for rehearsal which is during the first 45 minutes of Pointe 5. I'm very sad that I have to miss most of Pointe, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!

Stay tuned for a new post tomorrow! Oh, and this is my 200th post!

The 12 Days of Recital- Day 1

Okay, so I thought it would be fun for all you non-dancers (and dancers as well!) to get to experience the most exciting time of the year for an up and coming dancer, which is THE RECITAL! In case you couldn't guess by the title, I have 12 days until my recital, so I am going to keep you filled in on my rehearsal schedule, final classes, and how I spend my days off.

So today, we had our second lead cast run through. Which means the lead cast practices the whole show from start to finish. Since our show is more of a production, it takes a lot more rehearsing then your typical dance rehearsal. We have to be able to work out all the kinks as quickly as possible, such as knowing when the traveler needs to go up and down or when certain music needs to be cut. As well as quick costume changes, set changes, or sometimes even missing parts in the storyline.

Anyway, we had our first one two weeks ago. That one was pretty rough, but I think we did pretty well this time. The director told me that I was over performing in my duet, and that I needed to be more even with my partner. I'm kind of a natural performer, I don't really think about the performance quality. I just do it, I guess it's just a part of my passion for dance.

We also practice all our class numbers. My whole class messed up the modern dance. Partially because not everyone from our class is in the cast, so it's a little bit difficult to do the dance when you are missing half of the class. I thought I did my pointe group dance very well. Possibly the best I've ever danced in pointe shoes!

I was almost late for the rehearsal, because it was scheduled for 1:00, but my church didn't get out until about 12:10. So I had 20 minutes to drive home, change into dance clothes, eat lunch, and be ready to leave again at 12:30 for rehearsal. In case you can't guess, it was a tiny bit hectic. We made it work though, and I wasn't the only girl running in from church.

Stay tuned for a new post tomorrow!

They Who Dance

They Who Dance
 by, Marjorie Allen Seiffert
The feet of dancers
Shine with mirth,
Their hearts are vibrant as bells:
The air flows by them
Divided like water
Cut by a gleaming ship.
Triumphantly their bodies sing,
Their eyes are blind
With music.
They move through threatening ghosts
Feeling them cool as mist
On their brows.
They who dance
Find infinite golden floors
Beneath their feet.

Moving Up...

We got our schedules this week. If you've been reading my blog for a while already, then you know what that means. Basically, it's the piece of paper that tells us whether we moved up to the next level. So here's what I am taking this year:

Ballet 6 (out of 8 levels)

Pointe 5 (out of 5 levels)

Tap 4 (out of 4 levels)

Jazz 5 (out of 6 levels)

Modern 3 (out of 4 levels)


and next year I'm going to be taking:

Ballet 7

Pointe 5

Tap 4

Jazz 6

Modern 4


I'm very excited that I will be in all the highest levels (except for ballet, which I'm the 2nd highest!)