YoutubeYoutubeYoutube

I have finally uploaded the new video about my Freed pointe shoes!!! It's basically the same as the last one, just that in the new one my feet look better. :) So be sure to check that out. (Link posted below)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C0RAj2ulEk&feature=youtu.be

I also have two new Svetlana Zakharova videos. One is the ballet Giselle (PS: Check out her dance partner Roberto Bolle [Albrecht]...hes fun to look at if you get what I mean *wink wink*) and the other is her in the Le Corsaire Pas de Deux.

Giselle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TM-jpysTOA

Le Corsaire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQvyQc68-u4

My final video is the photoshoot for PNB's Don Quixote with Carla Korbes and Karel Kruz (my two favorite PNB dancers!!!)!

http://www.youtube.com/user/pacificnwballet

Enjoy!!!

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Pirouettes, Yet Another Youtube Update, and a New Blogger!!!

So you know how everyone says you do your best turn when no one is watching? Well I was practicing turns in an empty room in my house (it will someday be my parents bedroom, but right now its under construction) and just for fun I was filming them with my iPod (I wanted to see how I look you know? :D). So I turned on my camera and I'd done a few doubles earlier that day and I was trying for another, and BAM!!! I felt myself turn not once, not twice, BUT THREE TIMES!!! The best part? I was on my pointe shoes and I caught it on tape!!! I would upload it to youtube, but it shows my face and I don't want any stalkers... :P
That's kinda my big news I guess...oh and I will try to upload a good video of my broken in pointe shoes (as some people have requested). And an update on the stats of my youtube is that the pointe shoe video has 129 views (GASP) and that all my videos together have 214 views!!! Thanks so much guys!
Before I sign off, I would like to tell all of you that our friend Isla has started a blog! It is called livingintheworldofdance.blogspot.com. I wish luck to Isla in her blogging future! (PS Isla...It's addictive. :D)

I can't wait to see you all back at dance! Miss you guys!!!

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Second Post Today!

I was just searching youtube (as usual) and found this cool video from the New York City Ballet on Pointe Shoes!!! Even if you think you know everything there is to know and that this is just another run of the mill pointe shoe video, I suggest you watch it...especially if you have Freeds. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkNb_HQjsMg&feature=g-vrec&context=G2b2fd35RVAAAAAAAAAg

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Why A Certain Ballet Teacher of Ours Says Don't Buy Gaynor Mindens...LOL

So I don't mean to make fun of the girl in the video (and I'm not) but if you fast forward to 1:00, you will see why not to buy Gaynor Mindens. I laughed so hard...haha...still laughing.

Watch from 1:00-1:20: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tQVNh16zsE&feature=related

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Carla Korbes on the Bob Rivers Show!

So I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the Bob Rivers show, but my dad listens to it all the time in the car, and I just found Carla Korbes doing an interview for it! Who would of known a show that my dad listens to interviews ballet dancers...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1uEOCH0xxE

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I miss...

I miss the padding of pointe shoes on the marley floor.
I miss wearing a leotard and tights.
I miss the blisters on my toes.
I miss putting my hair in a bun on the way to dance.
I miss doing that perfect double on pointe.
I miss the bruised toenails.
I miss being yelled at by teachers.
I miss working out.
I miss plies (GASP!).
I miss being called "bunhead" by my friends.
I miss rehearsals.
I miss my pointe shoes.

I miss ballet class.

Only about a week more!!! Cant...hold on...much...longer!!! I had to put on my pointe shoes and dance around the house today...LOL

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Merry Christmas!

Hope you are all having a great holiday break! I have also made a video that I have uploaded to youtube, called My Favorite Ballet Dancers. Watch the edited one, seeing it's the one that has music. I have the link at the bottom. I have also been hearing that people who have the Blogger app on their iPhone or iPod have had trouble linking to videos. I am trying a new way of linking the videos, so let me know if it works! I also have posted the link the normal way, just in case!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8nXOAS3SYs0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nXOAS3SYs0&context=C3767e4aADOEgsToPDskKTdBVl_s6gL6liIkv5oSi0

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Melikaliki Maka (or however you spell it!)

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PS: My New Freed Pointe Shoes has over 100 views!!! :) Thanks guys!

Svetlana Zakharova

I would first like to apologize for my inactivity lately. It is break and I am having a hard time thinking of stuff to write about. On the other hand, I have just realized that I haven't done a post glorifying Svetlana Zakharova yet.
For those of you that do not know who she is, Svetlana Zakharova (I love her name!) is a Russian ballerina, having danced with the Mariinsky Theatre (now known as the Kirov Ballet) as well as the Bolshoi Ballet. She is, in my opinion, the best ballerina of the age. Fun fact, after graduating the Vaganova Academy at only 17, she joined the Mariinsky Theatre in the Corps de Ballet. She said in an interview that she wasn't really part of the corps, as she was always dancing the soloist roles. A year later she was promoted to Principal. I found a clip of her in her first year with the Mariinsky Theatre, dancing Bluebird. Then there's also the Don Quixote Pas de Deux, which is amazing, and if you don't want to sit through the whole thing, at least skip to the end when she does her fouettes...they're amazing. I also might have already posted this in an earlier post, but I have also posted her in Swan Lake doing the Black Swan. While watching this video, I realized that there was a snowflake on the bar at the bottom of the video (the one which has the pause and play button and such. It was on the right hand side of it). Curious, I clicked on it and snowflakes appeared on the screen!!! You should definitely try it, and to turn it off just click the snowflake button again. :)

Don Quixote PDD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOIZyYbidAU&feature=fvwp&NR=1

Bluebird: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GJ0h9ny0qM&feature=related

Black Swan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6xhKxDGWqo

On another note, I hope you are all having a great break and stretching your splits!!! :)

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PS: Sorry I didn't update yesterday Isla. :P The holidays are wearing me out!

Darn It

I was going to post a review of the Cornish Nutcracker, but I couldn't get tickets. *Snaps fingers* Oh well at least I'm going shopping instead. :)

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Happy Holiday Break!!!

Happy Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Winter Solstice!!!

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PS: I will continue to post over break, just it probably will not be as much about dance and more about what I'm currently doing over my break. :)

PNB Has Finally Released a Make Up Video!

Here's the link to the video to PNB's stage makeup tutorial! I always wanted them to release one!

http://www.youtube.com/user/pacificnwballet

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Stuff That is Going On (descriptive I know right?)

So first off, no one has watched my latest video on youtube! >:( 5 views...? Come on guys lol...lets shoot for AT LEAST 10! :P

Secondly, was anyone else surprised about what was announced in our ballet class today? With the performance piece and the COSTUMES FOR IT? Costumes...? In December...? My goodness whats gotten into her! Anyways I'm surprised that I'm actually excited for the piece, seeing it will be contemporary (not my thing). But I guess since I'll have pointe shoes it will all be okay! :)

Finally...I don't know what to write about so I'll just post a video. :)

Morte de Nikiya (La Bayadere): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL7mt7HKPWg&feature=related

Oh and in the spirit of contemporary ballet pieces...I'll post this.

Really Cool Contemporary Ballet Piece performed by Houston Ballet (I actually just clicked on the first video that came up when I searched "contemporary ballet"...and actually its really cool! Shes wearing tights like we are going to wear!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pL7mt7HKPWg&feature=related

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The Last Post

Sorry the last post got posted twice. Blogger is spazzing. :P

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The Little Girl in The Nutcracker Commercials

Ever wonder where she is now? All is explained in this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6QsxejsHKc&list=UUU5vi19eKPwC1DG6NgqGHEA&feature=plcp

And here is another one on the Peacock because I think its a cool role and its done by a corps girl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P74dNR-4_CA&list=UUU5vi19eKPwC1DG6NgqGHEA&feature=plcp

Enjoy!

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The Little Girl in The Nutcracker Commercials

Ever wonder where she is now? All is explained in this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6QsxejsHKc&list=UUU5vi19eKPwC1DG6NgqGHEA&feature=plcp

And here is another one on the Peacock because I think its a cool role and its done by a corps girl!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P74dNR-4_CA&list=UUU5vi19eKPwC1DG6NgqGHEA&feature=plcp

Enjoy!

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Alice In Wonderland

I find that every post now I am apologizing for my inactivity lately. I have been incredibly busy (as we all have been) with Alice In Wonderland.

I don't think the show was that bad. The dancing was good. All things considered with Waltz of the Fowers, it was actually not bad at all. The bug and cards pieces were also quite awesome. However, my feet died somewhere along this process. I was able to change my costume in time (phew). Good job to all that were in it!

I did get a snippet of Waltz of the Flowers will upload it to youtube. And for all those that are going to tell me to take it down, it doesn't look that bad, seriously guys...we had like a week to rehearse it and we all look relatively together. So be sure to check that out. Oh and I now have over 100 views on my videos combined together! Thanks guys!

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MY FEET+CLASS TODAY=DEATH!!!

They BURNNNNNN!!!! I have like 20 blisters I swear. I'm not going to be walking tomorrow I swear...

Now that that's out of the way, I would like to apologize for not updating as much as I should be. With the show, the holiday season, another show that I was just cast in (Bye Bye Birdie), school, and homework, I've been incredibly busy. I will try to update more often!!!

I just got my muff from Jordan! <3 It's amazing. Mine has Mickey Mouse all over it and it's sooo cute! I realized that it will be nice for the ski season, seeing it can be very cold and wet around here! :P Plus its a lot more cute and defiantly comfier than an itchy wool scarf! Check out littlemissmuff on Etsy!!!

See you all on Friday! Heal your feet (especially you Sidney)!

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PNB Videos

Think back to a Saturday night in November when a group of girls set out to go see Love Stories at PNB, and were surprised to be going back stage at the performance. One of the professionals talked to us (get where I'm going with this?) and I just found a video of him talking about being Albrecht in Giselle. I personally find some of the things he says adorable.

Karel Cruz on Being Albrecht: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO8bleCzEL4&feature=relmfu

Then, I also found a few Lucien Postilewaite's for our friend Lilia as well.

Dancer Profile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i6fcWTLnc4&feature=related

Albrecht from Giselle Variation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6M9InHUvoE

And I have recently developed a Romeo et Juliette mini-obsession (don't worry its not as crazy as Swan Lake is) and here are some fantastical videos involving this very sad ballet.

Pas de Duex: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB4lcDRzeVM&feature=related

Romeo et Juliette on Being Romeo and Juliette: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f5BjpC161A&feature=relmfu

The Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnCCGCUFjco&feature=relmfu

5 Reasons Why Your Husband Should Take You to See Romeo et Juliette: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5C7RoL7rOI&feature=relmfu

And finally, the full version of Balanchine's The Nutcracker with Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RcMV091Ifk&feature=related

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4 Hour Alice in Wonderland Rehersal

Where was everyone today? Not at the studio. The bug piece had four people in it. Four people. Waltz of the Flowers was not much better and Cards were okay but come on guys. Where were you? :'( We missed you!
ALL FLOWERS LISTEN UP!
Today the piece was not looking as good as it should. So...
1. Go over choreography.
2. On Friday bring every leotard you own. Bob has not specified which one he wants yet, so just bring every single one you can lay your hands on.
3. I don't know what hair is, but because of quick changes, I'm pretty sure hair will not be super strict.
Probably Mrs. Ericka will go over this on Wednesday (please show up...our piece needs the extra help) but this is all I know so far.
Pleeeeaasseee show up to classes this week. I will love you forever if you do! (I mean I already love you guys forever but you know...)

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PS: 'My New Freed Pointe Shoes!' has 40 views and 'Swan Lake SDT School 2011' has 45 views! Thanks for watching them!!!

Youtube Channel!!!

Thanks to all who checked out my youtube channel last night! In one day the video on my pointe shoes has 30 views!!! And Swan Lake is up to 43!!! I hope you feel the love I'm sending to you! <333

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This Happened Today...Literally LOL

Self explanatory.

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I Changed my Font and Uploaded to Youtube!

No you haven't gone crazy, my font is different. For some reason my blog spazzed and it changed my font and when I tried to change it back, it wouldn't do it so I just picked out a new font.
Secondly, I have uploaded a video of my feet in my new Freeds (I'm REALLY bored). And if you're as bored as I am, you should go check it out. I personally think they're the best pair of pointe shoes I've owned so far.

Here's the link to the video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LAo5t1OOhs

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Nutcracker Review, the Story of my Knee, and my Science Homework

Hello everyone! I apologize for my inactivity lately, as I have been very busy with life lately. Lets get started!

Nutcracker Review!

I love the ballet the Nutcracker. It is for sure one of my all time favorites. However, now that I've grown up, I don't like the party scene that much. Whereas when I was say four, I liked it a lot better. So after spacing out for that scene, I zoned back in when Clara and the Prince started pas de duexing, right before the Snowflakes. The Snowflakes were great, one of my all time favorites. Then we got to the Land of Sweets. I love the dolphins that jump out of the water when Clara and the Prince are on the boat (THE best part of the ballet). Then I realized that Clara wears the same outfit as the Ballerina Doll in the first act. I get that she thinks shes the doll or whatever, but I just thought it was weird that they used the same tutu. All the dances in the Land of Sweets were good, despite one close call in the pas de deux. The Prince lifted Clara over his head while she was in her split (he was holding her legs) and he dropped one of her legs!!! She almost face planted off the stage! Her eyeballs were like popping out of her head and she was totally shaken for the rest of the section. Eep!

My Knee Injury

I didn't know what happened to my knee, but when I bent it, it crunched and I could feel things moving under the knee cap. I had been taken off of pointe, couldn't do anything that involves grand plie. So I went to the doctor today (why I left ballet class early). He said that my knee cap is moving diagonally when I bend my knee (instead of up and down like normal). I now have a brace, and will maybe go get some physical therapy...but the good news is I can still dance as normal just as I try to keep my knee cap in place.

My Science Homework

So most of you are wondering why I am even mentioning my sci. homework here, but I have a reason! I was supposed to watch this talk on how schools kill creativity or something like that and the guy said featured a really cool story in it.
So there once was a girl named Gillian who's mother thought that she had ADHD or something because she didn't do well in school. Her mother brought her into a doctors office and the doctor asked her mom questions while Gillian stared off into space. When the doctor was done he said to Gillian that he needed to speak to her mother alone and for Gillian to step out of his office. Once Gillian was gone the doctor turned on a radio. Then he and Gillian's mother left the room and went into a new one. They then proceeded to watch as Gillian slowly got up and went towards the sound of the music, back into the room. The doctor turned to Gillian's mother and said, "There's nothing wrong with your daughter Mrs...she's just a dancer. I want you to take her to a ballet school." So the mother did and Gillian went on to become a soloist with the Royal Ballet, and later started her own dance company, making her a multi millionaire.
I thought it was a really cool story anyways...

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I Got New Pointe Shoes...and Toeundeez!

I went to the dance store yesterday to get new pointe shoes. I decided upon a pair of Freeds. They are incredibly hard compared to my other shoes, especially in the box area. We shall see how they work. :3

Oh and I got a pair of Toeundeez for the performance and they work amazingly!!! Highly recommend!

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PS: Today I will be seeing PNB's Nutcracker, so expect a review of that sometime either late tonight or early on in the week.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...and My Black Friday Haul!

So this morning I got up before the sun was out and went to march around in freezing temperatures, wearing a unitard, a odd hours of the morning, in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I will admit, despite these conditions, it was very fun...and to my surprise the little kids still thought we were cool even though we felt like the weirdest people on the face of the earth. Yeah I got a few weird looks from the teenagers in the crowd but poo on them! They have no holiday spirit (although if I was a teenager on the sidelines watching myself march around...I'd be thinking I was pretty weird too)!

For those of you that are dying to know, I watched the news tonight and saw a clip of the Snowflakes doing their piece. And...I saw myself behind Santa Claus (with Dakota)! I was waving stupidly teehee... Also while we were there paparazzi were taking pictures of us, so look in the newspaper tomorrow morning to see if we got in it (and tell me if we do because I don't get the newspaper).

Finally, after waiting in the cold for numerous hours, I went Black Friday shopping. My haul consisted of a light purple slouchy crochet hat as well as a flowy tank with a purplish floral print from Nordstorm, as well as two tank tops (one a periwinkle color and another with gray and green strips for only $8!), a necklace with a fake crystal pendant, as well as ADORABLE earrings shaped like bows from Forever 21. Oh and at Forever 21 I saw Tess doing the exact same thing as me! :D

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PS: Only 29 days, 3 hours and 15 minutes until Christmas! Get your shopping done now!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Have fun with your family and eat lots of turkey! (Unless you're a vegetarian...than I don't know what you eat. XD)

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PS: For the Parade tomorrow and for Alice in Wonderland...I will do my makeup like this (see link below). She does some cool stuff with her eye makeup that I'm going to try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE_o7766rKE

PPS: I just found this video of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker! Watch it, because they do a good job and you can see the one section we do from it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUAcfKcyDkQ&feature=related

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Is on Friday! I don't know if you guys (or your parents) have checked their emails, but an email was just sent out that said that two parent chaperones were needed for the parade (one for the Pointsetta's and another for the Ragdolls) in case the Occupy Seattle protests turned violent.
Eep.
I am not a very political person, and do not want to talk politics...all I'm saying is that I hope things don't get too out of hand. I mean...it's a parade for children...and it's the holidays and it's supposed to be fun!

Anyways, hopefully things will go as planned on Friday! Hope to see you all there!!!

<3

PS: I would just like to say that politics is a very touchy subject, and that I myself do not even fully understand what Occupy Seattle is (I have an idea). All I am trying to convey in this post is that I hope things (from either side, don't want to offend anyone) don't get out of hand. Because it's a parade...it's supposed to be fun!

I Have Changed My Background!

It's almost Nutcracker season, and I have appropriately changed my background to the Snowflakes from the Nutcracker.

Only 33 days, 3 hours, and 5 minutes until Christmas!

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50th Post!

WOOHOO! I made it to 50 posts! I would like to start out by saying thank you to all of those who read my blog and watch my youtube channel (35 views! Yay! I will post more videos soon!). I hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I enjoy writing them. Thank you!
Since this is my 50th post, I have a ton of fun things for you to check out!
First off, I was on youtube (duh) and I found this girl, Oksana Baiul. Yes, she is a figure skater, but she has done pieces to Swan Lake (both Black and White Swan), and the Dying Swan. I personally think in her past life she was a ballerina. I have attached links to her performances!



Black Swan (she's only 13 here!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rduv3-orUME&feature=grec_index

White Swan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5emTblCcD-c&feature=fvwp&NR=1

Dying Swan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TTI0fWHzC0&feature=related

While searching Oksana Baiul videos, I came across this one of her as Clara in Waltz of the Snowflakes! Be sure to check this one out! It's really weird/amazing/?/cool!

Waltz of the Snowflakes:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv1965QTrkU&feature=related

Now that that's done, lets get some real dancing!



Russian ballerinas...its just not fair...I felt so cool because I did a double on pointe...then I watched this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NcvBI7pGIc

Now that you're probably crying, watch this and suddenly feel better about yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUDo6eTSx_I&feature=related

At least she got up and kept on going. :)

(PS. Sorry for the lack of posting and the half finished post upon my blog. >.< My computer spazzed and died)

Okay now I have a slightly awkward story to tell. So I was reading ballerinaproblems.blogspot.com and one of the posts says as follows,



So I youtubed "Victoria's Secret Ballet" ONLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE WHAT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT (no I'm not a creeper :P and I'm not going to post the video seeing it is kind of [REALLY] weird). And she's right!!! I nearly barfed when I saw her arms. I'm like "You will never be a ballerina or anything near that title! GO AWAY!" Shortly after I decided to boycott Victoria's Secret...but then I realized for obvious reasons why that would never work.

Finally, for all of those who do not know already, I am redoing our Waltz of the Flowers costumes so we don't have to wear the ones made for four year olds. *Bows.*

So that's my 50th post! It is compleatly random and doesn't flow together at all...but I was just stating the first thing that came to mind. So anyways...I am sorry for my inactivity lately and I hope you liked my post!

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Twyla Tharp Homework!

In class today, we were told to watch some Twyla Tharp! I have posted videos to make life easier for you. :D All of these are PNB videos from the All Tharp performance last year.



Twyla Tharp Rehearsal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6ts7uQWO0

Twyla Tharp Images (+dancing too): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1HwyXUB8_U&feature=relmfu

PNB's All Tharp Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAbXi0WwqIs&feature=relmfu

Oh and my next post will be my 50th post! So be ready to be surprised!

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HUNGER GAMES TRAILER!!!

Hey guys the Hunger Games movie trailer came out this morning and...I have to say...it is going to be an awesome movie. I have the link posted below and you should definitely check it out! The movie comes out March 23, 2012 and I am so excited! Katniss Everdeen will be played by Oscar Nominated Actress Jennifer Lawrence, Peeta Melark will be played by Josh Hutcherson (the boy from Bridge to Terrebithia), and Gale Hawthorne (the hottie) will be played by Liam Hemsworth (the australian guy from the Last Song). Other cast member's include Woody Harrelson as Haymitch, Elizabeth Banks as Effie Trinket, Willow Shields as Primrose Everdeen, and Amandala Steinberg (I think that's how you spell it) as Rue. Enjoy the trailer and freak out like me!

Hunger Games Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S9a5V9ODuY

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PRAY FOR SNOW

Please everyone pray for snow! I was checking the weather online and I found this web page (link below), posted around two hours ago, that says that there could be some snow this next coming weekend! This will help us all get through another week of school and dance. Who knows? If there's enough of it, maybe we wont even have dance or school! Yay! (Except then we wouldn't get Waltz of the Flowers done...crap). Oh well it would still be worth it!

The Link to the Article: http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/57704/snow-possible-in-seattle-later.asp

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HAHA!

I was reading a tumblr when this came up!

Teehee this was my attitude on Friday lol.

Oh and I also found this.

Self explanatory.

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This Make Me Very Happy

I was reading ballerinaproblems.tumblr.com again, and I found this picture.

Even though Halloween is past, still...I was the Black Swan...

Oh and still people tell me what I should do for my 50th post.

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My Friday

I woke up this morning to the pleasant (or so I thought) surprise of a pedicure. I got up, and went to Lily Nails, all excited to have my feet pampered. I was wrong. The look on the pedicurists face said it all.

*Actress representation*
She had to get out a RAZOR. A RAZOR FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! To get the callouses off of my feet, leaving them raw for ballet class. Fun.
Oh and while I was googling pictures of scared people, this came up.

Kinda weird huh?
So after ballet class, which was actually kinda boring and really painful, we went to go see Love Stories again. It was fabulous, yet again, and...the highlight of the night was (drum roll please) getting CARLA KORBES' AUTOGRAPH!!!
So we were all at intermission, and saw a tall blonde lady standing by a basket of signed pointe shoes for sale, holding a pair that were signed by Carla Korbes. After doing like a triple take, we realized it was in fact our idol Carla Korbes. Lilia got a pen and we all asked her for her autograph. She was super nice! Everyone else got their Love Stories ticket signed, but I had left mine at my seat, so I had her sign the only ticket I could find in my purse; the one from the Season Premiere performance of All Wheeldon, in which Carla danced her signature piece, Carousel. It will be framed and put on my wall, along with Karel Cruz's autograph (two in one week...SCORE!)
Anyways...that's all I have to say...IT WAS AWESOME!

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THE HUNGER GAMES! ...Plus a Makeup Tutorial, Modern Warfare 3, and littlemissmuff

For those of you that don't know, in addition to being a ballet freak, I'm also the most super charged Hunger Games fan in the entire world! I was bored today in class so I googled "The Hunger Games" and it said that the trailer comes out on Monday!!!
I flipped out. In the middle of World Geography. Oops.
I will post the trailer on my blog when it comes out on Monday.

I was also checking out Jordan's "littlemissmuff" page on etsy, and I am in LOVE with her muffs! Be sure to check that out. I was thinking of getting the reindeer one for myself. :)

Hmmm...what else can I tell you? ...Oh! I saw this video and started laughing! Mainly because it's sooo true! Today at school all the boys were like "Oh my gosh did you play modern warfare three yet?!" "Yeah dude it was freaking awesome!" and I'm just standing back there thinking "...Hello? I'm still here..." Then I watched this makeup tutorial (just realizing how this makes NO sense to you guys unless you watch the video) and I had to laugh because it's so true. I will FOR SURE be wearing this makeup to school on Monday (since there's no school tomorrow! Yay! ...Or...I could wear it tomorrow because it's Veterans Day...oh decisions decisions...) Anyways...enjoy!

Modern Warfare 3 Makeup Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/user/MissJessicaHarlow?blend=1&ob=4#p/u/0/uiFPxwAY6fo

<3

PS: Don't you think Jessica (girl in video) acts and talks and thinks like I do (especially in the bloopers...haha I can totally see myself doing that)...sorta...? ...Or is it just me?

A Couple of Things...

So, first of all, I realized I have made a mistake in my Love Stories Review post. Tess rated "Afternoon of a Faun" a 9, not a 7. Sorry Tess! I will go change it ASAP!
On the note of Love Stories, as I have (hopefully!) stated in my Love Stories post, Lilia REALLY wanted Lucien Postlewaite's autograph. I was reading a tumblr, ballerinaproblems.tumblr.com, (great tumblr, if you have not checked it out please do. :D) and as I was scrolling through posts, this one came up.

(Photo credit ballerinaproblems.tumblr.com)
This made me laugh, seeing this is EXACTLY what happened that night.
Finally, this will be my 42nd post, just a few more until 50 posts! If you have any ideas for what I should do, please tell me!

<3

Contemporary Class Was Great! Ballet Class...Not So Great

The world is backwards! My ex is now talking to me and my FWBish guy isn't as much...I wore my hair in a ponytail at school instead of in my standard waves...I had a caramel frappachino instead of a vanilla one (gasp I know...)...and finally...Contemporary Class was better the Ballet!
I don't know what was happening to me in Ballet class...but I just wasn't having it. My hair was weird, I wore dangly earrings (even though I know they bug me), I like could not turn to save my life, my legs couldn't go above 90 degrees, and my feet were not being nice to me.
Whereas in Contemporary Class...our piece FINALLY is starting to make sense to me, everyone was happier, I got my right split and was SO close in my left (LEGENDARY!!!) and life just seemed better.

GO FIGURE!!!

<3

PS: My 50th post is coming up! I will have a nice surprise for you all...once I figure out what it will be. XD

PPS: I just checked my youtube and I know have 30 views!!! Yayay! Thanks to all who watched!

What I Find on the Internet...Instead of Doing My Homework

This is a tribute to all my fellow dancer friends in Waltz of the Flowers Alice in Wonderland Style. I was on youtube and this video just popped up. I dare you to watch it and not crack up at the stupidity. I know the beginning starts out slow, but watch the whole thing for the full effect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvYOm89IcUU&feature=fvst

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My Dad Has Found the Cure for Dead Pointe Shoes!

Hello my fellow dancer friends! If you were too lazy to read the title, this post will be about how my dad has fixed my extinct pointe shoes. On Thursday, the night before ballet class, I asked my dad if he had any glue that would fix my really dead pointe shoes. He got a wild look in his eye and said he had just the thing! He disappeared into the basement and came back up with some apoxy glue, which might just be the hardest glue in the world. He put it in the box of my shoes (seeing this is where I wear out my pointe shoes the most!) and they will never go soft again! But at the same time, I have an amazing shank that makes my feet look totally awesome!!! The only flaw is that the glue is REALLY hard, but if you put some moleskin in the tips of the shoes they ease the pain!

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Love Stories Review + Studio Happenings

So before I start ranting on and on about my amazing beyond amazing night last night, lets get the boring stuff out of the way. I had Jazz class yesterday, and was sad because a lot of people quit. I was thinking of quitting myself when my teacher pulls out hats and says, "We're doing a Chorus Line!" I will be for sure staying in that class.

Now onto the Love Stories review! (This will end up being very...very...very...long)

Last night, after a hectic day of running around, going to class and rehearsal, going to my brothers swim meet and getting my hair cut (phew!) I managed to squeeze in some time to go to see Love Stories at Pacific Northwest Ballet. I had been looking forward to going to see Love Stories for a long time, seeing it has the Black Swan Pas de Deux in it.
I have already explained my Swan Lake obsession in a post and am not going to go over it again, just keep it in mind that the Black Swan Pas de Deux is my most favorite piece of all time. (and I WILL do it someday)
My friend Isla and I abandoned rehearsal early and my mom took us down to McCaw Hall (I changed in the car!). Once we got there, we were greeted by our other friends Lily and Lilia. We messed around in the gift shop for a while (with these awesome fans!) and Lily told us that she had a surprise for us all.
Lily's father knows a man who works backstage at every PNB performance. Her father told him that Lily and her friends were going to the ballet on Saturday night and he said he would take us backstage during Intermission! I TOTALLY freaked out and hugged Lily. Even if we were just going backstage for Intermission, hey we were still going backstage!
After Tess and Lilia's friend Katie showed up, we all went to the food court at Seattle Center and I got my ceremonial frappachino.

Once I downed the whole thing, I really had to pee so I went to the bathroom with Lilia and Tess. In the bathroom, there was this family going to this event or something and they were doing their make up and took over the whole bathroom (I mean they literally had suitcases full of makeup). So I was like whatever and started washing my hands. I scanned the bathroom while I waited for Lilia and Tess, and while I was scanning, I saw what I though was a girl...except the girl was holding a camera and not putting on makeup...and had a buzz cut...and was not a girl...! Yeah, you read that right, there was some weird guy, with a camera, in the Seattle Center girls restroom. He saw me staring at him and awkwardly shuffled out. When we were walking back to our seats I asked Tess if she had seen him she was like, "...Wait...are you sure it was a boy?" Me, "Yeah I'm REALLY sure." Then we ALL cracked up about it on the way back to McCaw Hall.
Once we got there we got to our seats (not good ones, they were WAY at the top of the theater) we sat down and began watching our first performance of the night.
Divertimento from "Le Baiser de la Fee" tells the story about a baby who is kissed on the heel by a fairy, and is then visited by it on his wedding day (or something along those lines). I found a few flaws with this plot line. 1) We never see the baby being kissed, 2) Why the baby's heel? It's a little creepy..., and 3) There are like 10 fairies, not just one. Confused by the plot line, I rated it a 7 out of 10. So did Lilia's friend Katie. Lilia disagreed and gave it a 5. Tess and Lily both gave it an 8. And Isla gave it the highest score of an 8.5. This is probably because I find Isla to be a bit of a fairy person. :)
After they closed the big shiny red curtain, Lily said we were supposed to go meet her dad's friend down by the orchestra pit. After an elevator ride and may flights of stairs, we met up with her dad's friend, who led us through a door to the backstage area. We walked up a few more flights of stairs (much to Lily's feet's dismay) and, shaking with anticipation, we walked out into the wings of the stage.

I had never been backstage at a PNB show before, and it was all I could do to keep from screaming, crying or hugging the dancers. I saw Laura Gilbreth (who is actually REALLY tall) warming up for the Black Swan Pas de Deux and almost died. Kaori Nakamura walked past me (she's actually REALLY short) and started warming up for Romeo et Juliette. I heard Lilia start hyperventilating and knew that Lucien Postlewaite was coming. He and Kaori started warming up as we were introduced to the lighting, costumes and set crew. They were all really nice!

By this point intermission was almost over and I was sad that they were going to have to shoo us back to our seats. One of the stagehands asked us if we had good seats. When we said not really he invited us to watch the next few performances backstage! We all squeaked out yes! and they said we could sit on stage left.
I died.
After we put our stuff down, we made our way across the back of the stage. "I feel like dancing!" said Isla. "Well it's not every day you're backstage at PNB!" I said as I tombe pauda bourre gliesde assombled, pretending I was a real professional, in pointe shoes, wearing a crown and tutu, having the time of my life.
We got situated backstage and one of the dancers, Lesley Rausch, who would be dancing next in Afternoon of a Faun, walked right up next to us and got her water bottle. Lesley Rausch was Giselle when Lilia and I went to see PNB's World Premiere staging of Giselle, so it was very exciting to see her. (Oh and she has very pretty long blonde hair that I want really badly!)
They dimmed the lights backstage, the curtain rose, and Afternoon of a Faun began. I'm going to have to say, I was a little too jittery to full appreciate the performance, but what I saw was very good. I rated it an 8 out of 10. Isla, Lily, Tess (I corrected it! :D) and Katie all rated it a 9, and Lilia gave it a 10.
Once it was over, they rose the lights and brought down the curtain and we were ushered over to the side so the stagehands could get the set offstage for the next performance. I stood next to Lilia, and before I knew it, a professional dancer was standing next to me! He was incredibly tall, and wore a royal blue, velvet, gold trimmed shirt with white ruffles peeking out of the top, and I knew he had to be Prince Sigfreid in Black Swan! Shyly, I asked him, his name is Karel Cruz, if it was true. He said it was. Lilia then butted in and told him EVERYTHING about my Swan Lake fascination. Oddly enough, I don't think he thought I was a TOTAL freak...in fact he said he greatly enjoyed the ballet as well! We talked on for a little longer about something I cant remember, I was too excited, and then he said he had to go warm up.
How...awesome...is...that...?
We then got to move back into our spots for the next performance of Romeo et Juliette, The Balcony Pas de Deux.

It was danced, as I have previously stated, by Kaori Nakamura and Lucien Postlewaite. It was absolutely fabulous, as I love the story of Romeo et Juliette. I rated it a 10, as did Lilia, Katie and Tess. Maybe Lily's achy feet were getting to her, because she only rated it a 7 out of 10 (Just kidding Lily I love you! Mwah!)! Isla said it was an 8.
I really wanted Kaori's autograph, but the Black Swan Pas de Duex was starting, and I wasn't going to miss a second of it.

I am not much of a crier, but I knew there was some chance of me doing it last night. Sure enough, as the music in the beginning swelled, I began crying a little...or maybe it was just hyperventilating...or maybe both! I guess after watching it on youtube nearly every day (enough so I could memorize the whole thing!), finally seeing it live, backstage, at PNB, after having a conversation with Prince Sigfreid (who reminded me so much of Zane and when I was Odette) finally got to me. I tried to calm myself a little, and was able to eventually, but I still knew I had the fouettes coming, and that I would most likely break down a little again.

Both Sigfreid's and Odile's variations were fabulous, and experiencing them from backstage just put the icing on the cake. I heard the music for the Coda starting, and started hyperventilating again. When Odile came out to do her fouette turns, time slowed down. I watched her turn and turn and turn, and for a second, I was Odile, on stage, in a costume adorned with feathers, my feet on fire, my head dizzy, hot lights blazing into my eyes, but having the time of my life.
That's when I decided I will do whatever it takes to become a professional ballet dancer. For when I try to imagine my life without dance, I cant, and I know that some way or another, I will do it.
Our ratings for the Black Swan Pas de Deux were as mainly unanimous and as follows, 100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000(cont. to infinity)
Lilia was the only stickler, giving it a 9.5. >:(
We then had to leave, because the next piece required a lot of backstage movement and we would get in the way. We collected our stuff and were led through the dressing rooms, through abandoned pointe shoes, corn pads, rosin boxes and stretching dancers back to the orchestra pit. On the way out I noticed a wall that had been signed by all the ex-dancers of PNB. I saw Oliver Weaver's name, along with my idol, Patricia Barker's. I thought it was cool and specifically remember telling myself, "Remember this! This is cool! Blog about it!"
We then went back up to the concession stand and bought ourselves some brownies and soda. While we were in line, we were talked to by an elderly man, who told us that he saw the Beast (Donald Byrd's season opener with Spectrum Dance Theater) and he said he loved it so much he bought season tickets as well as donated money! Yay!
The bells rang to signal intermission was ending, and we all got in line for the elevator when we looked up to see Karel Cruz waving to us and saying goodbye! He walked out the door and started walking towards his car when Lily pops her head out the door and shouts, "CAN WE HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH?!" He said sure and walked back over. I was chowing down on a brownie that had I had suddenly lost interest in, and in a fit of un-ecofriendlyness, recycled my brownie. He signed my program (which I am going to frame) and asked us all if we were dancers. We said yes and then I cant remember what we talked about...I was too jittery and worried that an ecologist had seen my failure to get my brownie in a compost bin.

We thanked him profusely and then ran back to our seats! In the elevator, I reminded Lilia that we hadn't danced in the elevator yet (like we normally do during intermission) and she just looked at me like I was really stupid and said, "Well we were backstage...duh!"
We decided to ditch our original seats and movie closer to the front, seeing no one was sitting there. I had just texted my mom, "I JUST SAW THE BLACK SWAN PAS DE DEUX BACKSTAGE...AND I CRIED!" and had to turn off my phone really quick because the lights went down. Aurora's Wedding from The Sleeping Beauty, was fabulous! Tess, Lilia and Isla were happy they included the Bluebird and Princess Florine, seeing as they had learned the variation themselves.

We all thought of Zane, seeing that he loved Bluebird. Princess Aurora, danced by Maria Chapman, was fabulous (well duh it's Maria Chapman!) and Lilia was happy that Lucien Postlewaite was dancing in the Gold and Silver Pas de Trois.
Oh! I forgot to mention, Lilia, last year at Spectrum's Gala, nearly DIED when Lucien bought raffle tickets from us (a whole arms length too!). She got to measure his arm...I think this encounter greatly increased her liking of the dancer.
I just realized I forgot to get the ratings from everyone from Aurora's Wedding, but I'm positive it was an absolute hit!

After the show Lilia thought it would be cool to stand outside (in like 30 degree weather) at the stage door and wait for Lucien Postlewaite to come out so she could get his autograph. Isla and I stayed there for a while, but her mom came and we had to leave. (Which was fine by me! I was FREEZING!)
On the way home Isla and I talked in the car about hopes and dreams as well as how we were both astonished that we were doing Waltz of the Flowers. Isla however was sad as she will be doing it in a suit (she's the White Rabbit).
We pulled up at my house and I got out. I then ranted on and on and on (much like I am right now) to my mom what I just ranted to you all about. She finally fell asleep and so I ceased to talk. I then turned on the TV and began watching something on Hawaii, not really paying attention to what was on the screen.
Instead I thought of being backstage and watching Laura Gilbreth spin round and round on her pointe shoes in her black, feathered tutu. Laura then morphed into me, and I was dancing on the PNB stage as a professional, thinking to myself, I did it.
And someday I will.

<3

Waltz of the Flowers...In Alice in Wonderland?

So today in ballet class we started our "Flowers" piece for Alice in Wonderland. The catch? It's the Waltz of the Flowers from the Nutcracker! I mean the music and choreography (at least some parts of it) are all the same! I mean we had to add a few changes (like including the White Rabbit) but other than that...we are doing the Waltz of the Flowers!
I am so excited for this, I have wanted to be in the Nutcracker ever since I knew what it was but never got the chance. I would watch all my friends and my cousin be Party Girls and Soldiers when they were younger...and still feel like I missed out having never done it or even been in a Nutcracker production.
I also think that my ballet teacher is feeling sort of the same way. I mean, shes been in the Nutcracker PLENTY of times I'm sure, but I know she really wants to choreograph a piece from it. I mean, why else would she put Waltz of the Flowers in Alice in Wonderland?
Either way you slice it, it's pretty awesome. I will upload a video to youtube after the show (in additon to the Bugs and Cards). Probably the dress rehearsal version because my mom probably wont want to video tape during the show. (If you look on my youtube channel, danceblogger17, my only video of Swan Lake was taped by her...and I think she got sorta mad at my iPod's video camera because she couldn't shut it off! Oh mom...)

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Thank You Blog and Youtube Viewers!

I now have 14 views on youtube! Yayay! It's better than the four or five that were from me! And thanks for reading my blog. I really do enjoy blogging and it makes me happy that there are people out there (even if I know most if not all of you) that read these posts! Thanks!

<3

PS. Coming Soon! Review of PNB's Love Stories! (expect this sometime between Friday and Sunday...not sure when I'm going yet.)

Mad Face >:(

So we didn't start our piece today in Ballet class for Alice in Wonderland, making it 4 weeks until the show (including dress rehearsal). Then, I also figured out I will be a pointsetta in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A fact that makes me consider puking up thanksgiving dinner so as to avoid the awful unitard.

On the bright side of things, I made a youtube channel. It's danceblogger17. I only have last years Swan Lake uploaded, but I will add more soon! (Oh and in a previous post I stated that I was thinking of uploading Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade stuff...but given recent events...no way am I doing that. Sorry guys, being in the parade is humiliation enough.)

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Youtube Channel

Hey everyone out there. I'm thinking about creating a youtube channel. It would have videos of us dancing (like performances) and maybe some of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and stuff like that. If you think its a good idea, tell me tomorrow at dance (or whenever I see you next...).

<3

Happy Halloween!

Hope you had a happy and safe night!!!

...Now let's move on to the Holiday Season!

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Sigh...

So earlier today I wanted to watch a scary movie (Halloweens coming you know). So I was browsing through OnDemand when my mom walked into the room. This was our conversation.

Me: hey mom can I watch Black Swan?

Mom: Egad! No!

Me: okay...umm...how about Paranormal Activity?

Mom: No way! It's rated R!

Me: okay then...Anaconda?

Mom: No again! It has JLo in it and she's too perfect. *scowls*

Me: well then...ummm...Jaws? You have to let me watch Jaws.

Mom: you know, I was just going through our Halloween stuff when I found these. *Holds up old tapes* How about you watch, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. That's a good one!

Me: No way! Mom, I want to watch a SCARY movie.

Mom: Okay then. *Holds up other old tape.* How about the animated version of The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hallow? Now that's scary....

Me: *Smashes hand into forehead.*

Sighhh...sometimes I wonder why I even try.

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