Happy Halloween!

Hope you had a happy and safe night!!!

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

<3

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.

<3

Ballet Class...Was Not So Great

Today, maybe it was the rain or something, but everyone was in a really bad mood. :P myself included on this one. Sorry if I made anyone feel bad with my moodiness. :P
...Anyways, we were going to start our piece today...but we didn't...haha this isn't a very happy post so I'm going to just stop talking now.

Do a rain dance to make the rain go away!!! (...awkward...)

<3

Alice In Wonderland Ballet Videos!

In the spirit of Alice in Wonderland, these are videos from the Ballet. All the pieces are done by the Royal Ballet (In Canada) and it is their most recent production of the ballet. Also, I found out that the choreography is done by Christoper Wheeldon (Go waayyy back in the history of my blog and you will find a review of All Wheeldon, danced by PNB, which features his works). Enjoy!



PS. The picture isn't from the Royal Ballet performance...I just liked it a lot. Teehee....

Cards (my personal favorites! Look at their skirts!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR82fgzy6F4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The Queen of Hearts (A spoof on the Rose Adagio from the ballet The Sleeping Beauty): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTLY0Z5xggk&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Alice and the Knave, known to some as Jack, of Hearts pas de deux (Tell me what you think of this one...it's a little unusual to me to think of Alice doing a pas de deux): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7ETMK3IEbE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Behind the Scenes of Alice in Wonderland (self explanatory): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nlOfUnEOv8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Mad Hatter Tap Dancing! (to all my tapper buddies out there! Sorry it's so short and I think we Advanced Tappers could do this...not as well but we could....): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWnOFh_TtWM

<3

I Hate Being Sick

I got sick at school. :P Now, even though I feel better, my mom probably won't let me go to dance. That'll make my ballet teacher happy.

<3

Contemporary Class Annoys Me

I am not a contemporary dancer. I am 100% pure bread, hard core, ballerina. I like having my teacher say, "Point your foot this way...Your attitude needs to be higher...Tuck your bumpy!" They tell me exactly what I need to do and when I need to do it. Everything is pulled up, tucked in and has to appear perfect. A perfectionist, this style is definitely for me.
I get very annoyed in Contemporary class. I am not good at it at all and since I go to a Contemporary company everyone is super good at it...except little bunhead me. Nothing makes sense to me. I'm like an autistic person who is really good at math but terrible at reading emotions. In my case it's that I'm good at ballet, it makes sense and has rules and regulations like math, and not contemporary, which is complex and confusing much like human emotions.
Oh well...I just have to sit back, relax, and wait until I'm older and good enough to get into the corps de ballet somewhere. Hey, a girl can dream.

<3

In the Process of Decorating my Tutu!!!

Halloween is almost here and I am sooo excited! My tutu and leotard for Black Swan are looking awesome and I just started putting feathers on it! Here's an in-the-making picture!

In addition to this, I was youtube surfing and found this video of the jester from Cinderella dancing!!! It reminded me of my part in Alice in Wonderland so much!!! I wish I could do this instead of telling lame jokes

Jester from Cinderella: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyKaFRc5kKw&feature=related

<3

My New Tutu!

I just got my new tutu and it is sooo cool! It's black, looks slightly gothic and actually sticks out!!! It is literally the best Black Swan tutu ever! It's a little wrinkled, because it was sitting in a box for a while, but eventually it will look even cooler!!! Sorry the picture kinda sucks! :P

<3

I Now Have A Skype!!!

Yay! I finally got a Skype! If anyone wants to chat, let me know!

OH MY GOSH IT'S ME WHEN I'M 10...TAP DANCING!!!

I was youtube surfing (again...) and I came across these videos of me tap dancing when I was like 10 years old!!! I was in Advanced Tap, and was the youngest in the class...by far!!! I'm the shortest one. :)

Part I: http://www.youtube.com/user/my63valiant#p/u/5/8bCzChYSf8w

Part II: http://www.youtube.com/user/my63valiant#p/u/6/NLdbdZg_RUc

Haha I was cute!!! Sigh...that brought back memories.

<3

Crazy Wednesday Nights...

Every dancer has one crazy night. Mine is on Wednesdays. I go straight from school to ballet, am late as usual, and my feet die because I wear out my pointe shoes so fast. Then, I have to eat a five minute dinner and run back into the studio, fully changed out of ballet clothes too, to help out with the Beginning Tap class. Then after that, I'm super tired and have tons of homework and have already danced non-stop for 3.5 hours, I go to my own tap class. In total, I dance for 5 straight hours!!! I'm sooo ready to go home. :P

<3

My Own Mitch Post

Mitch...Mitch...Mitch.... I could KILL him!!! So first of all, in class today in center, he like stood right in front of me so I couldn't see what the teacher was demonstrating. Thus I had no idea what was going on and had a major epic fail. >:(
Then, we were doing a manege (where you travel in a circle with other dancers doing turning steps around the room) and I was behind Mitch and...oh...my...god did that boy needs a shower! I mean, I get that we were dancing and I probably didn't smell too great myself but COME ON! Ever heard of deodorant?! Or soap?! Anyways, the mixture of turning+moving in a circle+smell=SICK DANCER!!! I lost balance countless times and and stopped traveling and got yelled at. :P
Plus, I still haven't forgiven him from way back when I was first going on pointe and he said I did everything wrong and that I shouldn't of been on pointe and was not at his skill level. I'm like oh my god shut up! You're a guy...you're not even supposed to DO pointe. And he was like 18 and I was like 10 and it's like dude...duh your going to be more advanced than me (except some of my friends said that I was the more advanced one...teehee)!

Sorry this is a rant post...I just needed to put that out there to all my dancer friends who go through his antics as well. :)

<3

Alice In Wonderland Rehersal...

Was booring!!! For some reason, I hate doing blocking, it's not very fun at all. Most of the time people just sit there and stare into space then are like, "Oops! It's my line...uhhh...where are we???" Or the younger kids are talking and running around and when I shush them they are like, "You're not the boss of me!!! Nah nah na boo boo!!! You can't control me!" And then there's those kids that you can't hear...at all.... And then there's those kids that you are like, "...Uhh how come you got that huge role? My cat can act better than you can..."

Sighhh...hopefully we will get better...

<3

Another Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Video!!!

Omg I was youtube surfing again and I found another video that has us (the poinsettias) in it!!! Haha just listen to what the lady's saying in the video....

The first 10 seconds is us: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06kg5k7LsS8

<3

OMG THIS JUST MADE MY DAY!!!

Omg fast forward the first video to 3:30...wait a few seconds...and then ITS US IN THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE LAST YEAR (oh and the Snow Dancers are on 2:40)!!! And then the next video at 2:00 has a glimpse of the Ragdolls!!!

Pointsettias and Snow Dancers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88Nv9N8OUGY&feature=related

Ragdolls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBO_-MWr60w

LOL

This is totally off the subject of dance, but this video is hilarious!!! Watch if you love Ray William Johnson or Michelle Phan!

Michelle Phan does Ray William Johnson's makeup!!!: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrPhiZegk7Q&feature=relmfu

<3

Gillian Murphy

Is an amazing dancer!!! She has feet to die for, long crazy legs, and is super amazing at every aspect of ballet!!! She currently dances with ABT (American Ballet Theatre) as a principal dancer, and is in the ABT DVD version of Swan Lake (My favorite version) as Odette.

Dancing alongside of Gillian Murphy in Swan Lake as Prince Sigfreid, is Angel Corella. Corella is the founder of the Corella Ballet as well as a principal at ABT.
Attatched is a link of Gillian Murphy in Odette's variation and the Act II Finale (one of my favorite things to do in class. :D)

Odette's variation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxUk8NP_QEQ&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL2158D8B2431E8F2E

Act II Finale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnUqCOr3nSU

<3

It's Friday!!!

Thank God it's Friday!!!

Today I had ballet V/VI class and it was awesome and fun...as usual! I also learned that my ballet class will be performing in the Macy's Holiday Parade!!! I am sooo excited! I was in the parade last year, but we did a contemporary piece and had to wear green unitards and hold paper umbrellas. :P We were Poinsettias. Needless to say, I hope we get better outfits this year!!! I would love to be either a Ragdoll or a Snow Dancer. Although, it doesn't really matter, being in a parade is cool enough!

Off to the O'Dea football game!!! :) <3

I am...

Very tired. Thank god tomorrow is Friday!!!

Oh and check out this video...I was youtube surfing instead of doing my homework (again...). The dancing isn't super flashy or anything...but I looove the music in the first part!!! Oh and it's the Bolshoi Ballet...just BTW...

The Dance of the Knights (Or the Capulets and the Montagues) from Romeo and Juliet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpQFi5sPz34&feature=related

<3

Haha

Don't you love that moment when it's 10 at night and you realize you STILL have homework but have been watching youtube for the last hour or so? *Sigh...* <3

Whoa...it's Been a While Since I Posted...

Sorry I haven't posted in a long time! I've been busy with homework. :P Yuck! Although, I am super excited because I just ordered my new tutu for Halloween!!! (Crossing fingers and praying that it actually sticks out...unlike the old Paquita costume in the back of my closet that I was originally planning on using.)





That's a picture of it!!! (I ordered black...duh because I'm the Black Swan)








I will confess, I mainly wanted to be the Black Swan for Halloween because of the awesome eye makeup Natalie Portman does. I hope it works!!!

Link to Black Swan Eye Makeup with Michelle Phan (I love her makeup tutorials!!!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZwaKDaSgqY

In addition to that. Those that were in the VI/VII class on Tuesday and did the crazy fouttee Medora from Le Corsaire vairiation...here's what it's supposed to look like. XD (Sort of...she's really good so her variation is harder XP)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq-0kWA6hTw&feature=related

And finally...another really cool video!!! The girl in it is like 10 and she's already sooo much better than me!!!

Adeline Pastor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCMiAj0DDNE&feature=feedrec_grec_index

<3

STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND CHECK THIS OUT NOW!!!

This is sooo cool! It's the Giselle willis and Pirates of the Carribean!!! It's kinda creepy how well it works...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1DBI5mT6fA&feature=related

<3

Halloween!!!

Halloween is nearly upon us! A mere 22 days until it's time to go trick or treating! When I was younger, I knew what I was going to be for Halloween in May. Now that I'm older (and probably should not even be trick or treating), I am having difficulty figuring out what I should be for Halloween.
Most girls, when they get to my age, take Halloween as the one night that they can dress like strippers and get away with it. Not only do I not care to follow this trend, but my family would have a heart attack if I tried to leave the house in a leotard and bunny ears. Plus wheres the fun in that? It lacks creativity most of the time and the costume is not nearly as fun to make (if you even take the time to make your costumes anymore).
This year I have decided to go as the Black Swan, from Swan Lake. (Yeah, I'm obsessed...read the post about it below) I have an old black tutu that I will redecorate and I just bought all the makeup supplies needed to make myself look like Natalie Portman from the movie. Even though I will probably get a hard time from some people because of my dorkiness, but my years of going trick or treating are decreasing rapidly and I want to make the most of them. Plus the more makeup I have smeared on my face, the more it will hide the face that I am indeed in my teenage years.

This brings me to a whole new point. I will be doing the "Black Swan" makeup like Natalie Portman in the movie. I may be in the mood for making a tutorial for all those that read my blog. Comment or tell me at dance. <3

How I spent My Friday Night

Right before ballet class started, the scripts were handed out for Alice in Wonderland. I am the Joker card, and I get to make the most god awful jokes on the face of the planet. Then, I die in ballet class because I am so tired and all I want to do is sleep. Sighhh....the life of a dancer... <3

My Swan Lake Addiction

Ever since about March of this year, I have had a bit of an obsession with the ballet Swan Lake. It all started when we got to do part of Swan Lake for our end of the year performance. It was the first piece that I would be doing en pointe (later I learned I would be en pointe in Giselle too, but that's beside the point...no pun intended) so I was super excited! As rehearsals went on, my ballet teacher told us that one of us would be Odette. When she announced the role I went home and like started freaking out and crying. I was SO happy to finally be the one in the spotlight it was INSANE! This took place last year when the only good male dancer my dance studio has ever seen was there, and he was in my class and was Prince Sigfried. Zane (the Prince) was and still is my friend, and I was super excited to be partnering with him. It was my first time ever partnering (balletwise) and so I was like super flipping out. The show was awesome and Zane's now dancing with Ballet Chicago (LUCKY!!!).
Anyhow, this is how my Swan Lake addiction was started. I have seen ABT's Swan Lake with Gillian Murphy and Angel Corella a grand total of 23 times, have memorized the Black Swan pas de deux, and can hum practically the whole ballet. A little obsessive? Yeah...I know...but hey, it's a good ballet! <3

DANCE MOMS!!!

Oh my god I am obsessed with this show! I just watched two episodes instead of doing homework. Not smart...oh well!!! <3

YOUTUBE!!!

I should be doing my homework right now...but instead I'm doing this! Haha enjoy!

Cool-Ballet-Video-That-Will-Knock-Your-Socks-Off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT334WsfBIU

Nyan Cat for 10 Hours: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZZ7oFKsKzY


Pick Your Poison! <3

This is Going to Be a Long Post

Okay so after Contemporary last night I was way too tired to stare at a computer screen, so I flopped on the couch and watched Glee and ate twice my body weight in ice cream. In Contemporary, we started our piece for Alice in Wonderland. It is soooooo awesome!!! We are supposed to be bugs but the piece is just super awesome. Although now it really hurts to move....
Today in Science class, I gave a super awesome presentation on the science of going en pointe. I showed my class a video of the 32 fouettes from the Black Swan pas de duex and they were AMAZED! I mean the look on their faces was priceless.
Then, after school, I went to my Ballet V/VI class. We did arabesque turns and I actually did a few en pointe too!!! Gahhh my feet hurt now. :P But it was sooo worth it!!!
After class, myself, Lilia and Lily (I MEAN MIA!) (dancer friends) went to Starbucks while we waited for our other classes to start. So we are about ready to order our frappachinos when suddenly we see two dancers from the company walking across the street. They walked into Starbucks and it was SO AWKWARD! We like hid behind our massive Starbucks drinks and like ran out of there! Then on the walk back to the dance studio, I look back and realize they are following us. Myself and Mia wanted to run, but Lilia was being way too slow so we had to walk. Then, to make stuff even MORE awkward, Lilia sees one of her friends from school, who is apparently helping out with the Ballet III/VI class and SHE DOES NOT EVEN TAKE BALLET!!! She took it when she was 10...then stopped before she even got en pointe! OMG THAT SHOULD BE MY JOB! OR LILIA'S OR LILY'S OR SOMEONE WHO IS ACTUALLY CURRENTLY TAKING BALLET! Sorry had to rant there. In case you have not noticed, I am a die hard ballet dancer, having taken ballet at the same studio since I was 2. Anyways...we ran into her and she actually seemed nice, I'm just jealous of her hair and job. Grr...someday it will be mine! BUWAHAHA!
Then in Tap class we started our routine for Alice in Wonderland, and it is super cool! In Alice in Wonderland, I am the Joker card, which seems like a tiny role, in fact it's not in the movie, but apparently it's a pretty good role and I get to make lame jokes. Anyways, in Tap, we are the cards, and I get to be the stupid one. :D Teehee that way if I horribly mess up the piece, I can just say "I'm the Joker!" and everything will be all right. <3

Ballet Class on Tuesday

Of all the classes I take, ballet has got to be the favorite. On Tuesdays VI/VII class, the highest level, I am the young one. My ballet teacher told a story about how when she was my age she was the youngest in her class as well. Teehee I know the feeling. Being in a class with lots of older (and WAY better dancers) can be very intimidating. But ultimately, I know it will make me a much better dancer.
Where I dance, there are virtually no boys. There is one, but...grr...I wont even go into that. We used to have another boy...but he moved to Chicago. Sigh...he was Prince Sigfreid when I was Odette in Swan Lake. Sniff we all miss him. ANYHOW, at the end of the year our studio does a performance. Sadly, one of us will most likely have to dance with the disliked boy (he-who-must-not-be named if you will) *shudder shudder* I can only pray it's not me. And I probably wont have to, seeing that I am the youngest and least experienced.

Off to Contemporary next! <3

Cast of Alice and Wonderland!

Congrats to everyone on their parts! Cant wait for the script. :P <3

BALLET REVIEW: All Wheeldon

On Friday the 23rd of September, I went to see PNB's All Wheeldon with two of my friends. The program consists of four separate pieces, choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. After each piece, I asked my friends to rate the performance out of 10, and give a quote if they felt like it.
The first number of the night, Carousel (A Dance), was first performed in 2002 at the New York City Ballet. This was one of my favorite pieces of the night. Although one of my friends disagreed, saying "Movements were trite. The corps were not together and I disliked it." She gave the dance a 3 out of 10. I heavily disagreed, and gave it an 8 out of 10, "...I loved the feeling I was at the fair!"
With mixed feelings, we all headed back into the theater for the second dance of the night. After the Rain pas de duex first premiered in 2005 with the New York City Ballet. Very contemporary and modern, this pleased one of my friends, saying, "Stunning." and wanted to give the performance an 11 out of 10. After further consideration, she lowered it down to a 9 out of 10. One of my other friends chimed in, saying, "I'll never forget it." and giving the performance a 10 out of 10. Since I am more of a classical ballet person, I only gave it an 8 out of 10, only because I never knew someones body could bend like that. It was inspirational.
After eating a very hard brownie, the curtain rose to reveal the third piece, Polyphonia. This was one of the longer pieces from the night, and we all left with the same feeling, I've seen this before. My first reaction to the silhouetted dancers in purple leotards and unitards was, as my friend so kindly stated, "Hella Balanchiene!" Balanchiene is a fabulous choreographer, no one dares doubt that, but I felt that I had already seen so many pieces like it, it didn't hit home for me. We all gave it a mutual 6 out of 10.
I love ballet, but usually by the last act or piece, I am getting done with watching it. As I yawned and the curtain rose, I first thought I was seeing something out of Narnia. With the lighting and scenery, it gave the effect that it was the scene when Lucy first steps into Narnia and meets the faun. As I watched however and the lighting changed, I realized how far off my first impression was. Variations Serieuses, the fourth and final piece, is a comedic ballet, centering around the life of ballet dancers in a company. The Young Girl is discovered by the Premier Danseur of the company, and he finds she is quite skilled at ballet. Then the Ballerina shows up and disaster strikes! After fighting with the Premier Danseur, the Ballet Master, the Young Girl, and various Corps de Ballet members, she accidentally leaps offstage and sprains her ankle the day before the big show. The Young Girl saves the day and takes her part in the ballet, but then over time becomes just like the Ballerina. The dance ends with the original Young Girl combing her hair vainly in the mirror as another Young Girl comes onstage and begins dancing, just as the original Young Girl did in the beginning of the piece. This piece was extremely funny, entertaining, and was an absolute joy to watch. I went home feeling fulfilled and gave it a 10 out of 10, along with the title of it being my favorite piece of the night.
Overall, All Wheeldon is well worth buying a ticket to go see. I bought another and went again with my friends last Friday. Today was the last day, so I'm sorry but you cant go see it! Next is Love Stories, which I am super excited for! <3

Image Credit: images.google.com

Auditions

Today there were Alice in Wonderland auditions held at where I dance. If I could be any part I would either be Alice or the Queen of Hearts. I am actually kind of really hoping for Alice, but there were a lot of good actresses there...I should not get my hopes up. Now I have to sit and wait until the cast list is posted either tomorrow or the next day...Good luck to all that auditioned! <3

Hi Everyone!

Hi! I am a young dancer, currently taking ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary dance in the big city of Seattle. My favorite type of dance is ballet, and if I were to become a professional dancer, that would be the style of dance I would pursue. I have been on pointe for around four years, starting when I was ten. I have been dancing since I was two and have never stopped.
This blog is about my life. Mainly it will be about dance, but other times it will veer off topic (as I can get side tracked very easily). This blog is for all my friends and those interested in the process of becoming a dancer. If you have any questions ever, feel free to comment and I will answer them. I am new to blogger so sorry if I mess things up. :P

New posts coming soon! Follow me!