First Pointe Class!

Hello all!  So yesterday I had my first pointe class!  I'm taking Pointe I at my school, once a week after school.  The class is an hour long, and it's pretty small, with only 10 girls.  Two of the other girls are in my regular class during the school day, but all of the others are middle schoolers.  It was homecoming week at our school, so the other high schoolers and I were all decked out in face paint and spiritwear, which was pretty funny.
In the first half of class, we warmed up in our flats, then we learned how to tie our pointe shoes.  Then we went to the barre and did a bunch of releves and echappes.  It was pretty basic, nothing too hard.  My toes hurt, but it was more uncomfortable than actually painful.  It was really fun and I can't wait for next week!  Here are some tips for you first pointe class:

1. Remember to cut your toenails!
2. Get to class a little early
3. Check and double-check that you have your shoes and your toe pads
4. Convertible tights are a must!
5. Don't stress about getting everything right.  It's your first class, you have the whole year to learn and improve.

Comment below if you're starting pointe this year!  Keep dancing!

First Pointe Shoes + Ankle Stretching Tips!!!!

Hey guys!  So....I got my pointe shoes today!!!!

Last Friday, two other girls in my class and I were approved for pointe!  Today, my teacher was at a local dance store to help us get fitted, so a girl in my class and I went.  We both got really lucky; she got the first pair she tried on, and I got the third pair I tried.  My biggest struggle was the padding; they gave me Jr. Ouch Pouches to try at first, but the seam across the toes bothered me.  They'd decided I didn't need a toe spacer because my toes are straight, but they gave me one to try to see if it would relieve the pressure on the seam.  It did, but not very much, so then I tried the Pillows for Pointe Super Gellows, which are seamless, with the toe spacers and it was a lot better.

The first pair I tried were by Mirella, not sure of the name, and they just looked wrong; the second pair were by Bloch but were too narrow; and the third pair were the ones I got: Bloch European Balance, size 6.5 XXX.  They make my feet look waaaayy better than they actually are, and they're pretty comfortable (I mean, for pointe shoes).  But I was really surprised by how much it hurt the first time I went up, but it hurts less every time.  It's something you get used to, I guess.

When I got approved, my teacher said that I'm strong, but my ankles aren't very flexible, so I might have trouble getting on top of my box.  And, as you can see, I can't quite get on top of the box.

That's okay though, she said if I stretch my ankles twice a day, they'll improve fast.  Here are some ankles stretching videos you all might find useful:

So, our first class isn't until late October, but I sewed my ribbons and elastics as soon as I got home today because I just couldn't wait!!  Besides these pictures, I'm not going to go up on pointe again until our first class...no use in getting hurt before class even starts.  Anyone else starting pointe soon?  Comment below!!  I'll update again after the first class, but until then, keep dancing!

Quick Update

Hello!  Since my last post, some things have changed, so I thought I'd just do a quick summary of my current situation so I don't have to clarify in another post.

So, as you could probably tell by the lack of posts, I didn't do the summer intensive in August.  And I ended up not being able to fit Contemporary dance into my schedule this year, so I'm not taking that either.  But I am still in Int. Ballet, the same class I took last year, but this year it's only three other girls!  Since it's such a small class, we get a lot of corrections and have more time to work on things.

Also, this week we're getting evaluated for pointe.  Pointe classes start in October, so if I get approved, the next post you'll probably see here is about my new pointe shoes!  Keep dancing!

This Isn't Goodbye

Hello, all.  As you might have noticed, I haven't posted in forever.  It's just been a crazy year, starting school and all, and I don't expect next year to be any easier.  This fall, I'm going to be a junior, which is said to be the hardest year of high school.  I have three AP and three honors classes, and I'm planning on joining another sport and several other activities.  So, fact is, I might not be able to keep this blog up.  Now, I'm not going to delete it; my past posts will stay here for any other hopeful ballerinas who come along and could find it useful.  And I still have hope that I will be able to put a few other short posts up.  Please don't feel like I'm not here for you guys, though.  If anyone leaves a comment, or any question, I get an email and will answer as soon as I can.

Although my blogging has dwindled, I'm dancing more than ever.  For this upcoming year, I decided to choose Beg/Int Ballet again, because I really like dancing everyday.  I also chose Contemporary as an elective, so now I'll be dancing twice a day!  I'm going to start pointe this fall, too, which is once a week, after-school.  And I already signed up to be in the ballet again next spring; this year, it's Coppelia.

I might be doing a ballet intensive next week, not certain yet-- but if I do end up doing it, I'll have some updates for you guys.  So, look out for another possible post in early August!  And I love seeing comments and reading about your dancing.  Please comment, tell me about where you danced this summer, your own blog, or just say hi!  Anonymous comments are always welcome, as well.  Keep dancing!

Cinderella + More (Extended "Well I've been gone for 3 months" Edition 100th Post!)

Well, I've been gone for 3 months.  I actually thought I'd posted last month!  Anyways, a lot has happened with ballet since January so I'll try to summarize.

First, let's cover the show.  Last week was performance week.  We had two videotapings on Monday and Tuesday, then our four live performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  It was actually really hard.  We would leave our school classes and go straight to a ballet class (on Friday we were also dismissed from our last period class for opening night) and then we'd be there until around 9pm.  By Thursday morning's show, I was already super tired and ready for it to be over.  I'm also kinda upset that I missed a whole week of lacrosse practice and a game, but I did manage to make it to one practice and a game.  And we all have a ton of schoolwork to make up, since there was basically no time to study.

So before each show we had an hour warm up class taught by a senior, then dinner in the cafeteria, and then an hour to get our make up and costumes on.  Since I'm only in Act II, we also had the entire Act I (about 30min + 10min intermission) to get ready.  I ended up helping a lot of people with their buns; not counting my own, I did about five or six every show, before starting my make up.  So usually, I barely made it on stage on time.  Life is hard when you're the best in the bun game ;)

Friday night was our opening night, so before we had dinner, our teachers read us some emails from the alumni.  It's a tradition every year during the ballet, I've learned; dancers that have graduated write encouraging letters to the cast.  Everyone was crying and hugging and we all just felt like a family.  Then all the seniors in the ballet gave their speeches, since this was their last ballet with the school.  I didn't cry until one of the guys that was volunteering gave his speech, the last speech, and it was exactly what I needed to hear.  After the letters and speeches, we were all ready to dance.  The rest of the shows went great and even though I'm really glad this week is over, I can't wait for next year's show.

Oh, and tutus are a pain.

Now besides the show...we were selecting our courses for next year, and I chose to take Intermediate Ballet again.  I didn't ask my teacher if I could take Advanced because I'm not sure if I want to.  I can always change later, of course.  Here are the pros and cons of Advanced vs. the pros and cons of Beg/Int.
Advanced
Pros:
Honors credit
Kinesiology and dance history
New things to learn
Cons:
Actual tests (like with paper and a pencil)
Double period every other day
Much larger class
Choreography
Different (more strict) teacher

Beg/Int
Pros:
Same teacher
Class everyday
Familiarity with course (easier during a tough junior year)
Very small class
Only dancing/terms (no tests)
Won't get in trouble on days I don't feel like dancing
Cons:
Learning same things
Regular credit

Opinions?

Sometime last year, I posted about starting pointe next fall right?  Okay, let's just assume I did.  So I was talking to one of my friends who's planning to start pointe next fall too and she mentioned that she's going to start over the summer at her dance intensive.  I'm probably going to go to the same dance camp I went to last year, so I'm thinking I can probably start pointe there!  We talked about getting pointe shoes together and I'm super excited for summer!

So this is about it, the end of this never-ending post.  I hope my readers are still there; comment below if you've had a ballet performance recently, or about your pointe plans!  Or just say hi!

Oh, and funny story...I missed bows during the first recording.  Oops.  Keep dancing guys!

Cinderella Rehearsals and Semester Projects

Rehearsals for Cinderella started on the 11th of this months and are every Saturday.  They run rehearsals from 9 - 5, but we only need to go for the times for the rehearsal of our parts.  The schedule changes every week, though, so we highlight our schedules for our times, and we also need to know where (Studio1, Studio2, Auditorium, or Lower School Studio).  They have two warm-up classes in the morning, one at 9am and one at 11:30am, and we go to the one before our first rehearsal.  So if I have an 11am rehearsal, I'd go to the 9am class.  If I have a 1pm rehearsal, I'd go to the 11:30am class.  I'm a court lady, and we're only in two scenes, so we have a lot of time between classes and rehearsals.  We mostly do homework, sit in the hallway and talk, or watch other rehearsals.  Yesterday, we had an hour and 15 minute break, so even I bought my lacrosse stick and practiced a bit!  Yesterday's rehearsal was also the first rehearsal for the court men too, so we finally got to see how the court dance is actually going to work out.

For second semester, we have two projects.  The first one is for this quarter, and we have to make up at barre and center combination and teach it to the class.  For next quarter, we have to choreograph a 1 - 2 minute routine to any song of our choice.  I'm really excited/nervous about this one!  I'm still working on choosing a song; I'm trying to narrow down my list from about 30 songs.  We're allowed to mix ballet with another style too, so I'm probably going to do lyrical/ballet.

Lacrosse season is starting up next week, so posts might be less often and shorter.  Hopefully I'll learn some new stretches or exercises to share with you all, though.  Keep dancing!

Winter Break

So much has happened since I last posted.  I didn't realize that the last time I posted was in October...it feels like it was just a couple weeks ago!  I guess time really does fly when you're having fun.  This post is going to be a giant catch-up post, and I'll try to remember everything that's happened since I last posted.  I'll try to keep it in chronological order!

They put out the cast list for Cinderella!  I'm a "lady of the court", not sure what that's supposed to be, but I'm really happy that I got cast for both the A and B showings.  Rehearsals start sometime in early January and we've already been fitted for our costumes.  Our costumes are a bright pinkish-purple with romantic tutus and sequined corsets, really pretty (and fluffy hehe).  Some of my friends are also court ladies, and I convinced one of my guy friends to sign up, so rehearsals are going to be super fun!

We had our vocab test, which included a performance section that I did not know about.  So it was the day after the written test, and my teacher hands me a piece of paper and says, "You have a few minutes to practice, I'll come get up when it's time!"  And I was just standing there like "what is this."  Apparently we were supposed to learn the combination that was on the paper then perform it.  For not knowing what I was doing, I don't think I did too bad; 94% overall for the written and performance tests.

So that was all good, but I kinda pulled my hamstring.  Again.  Did I post about that last times I pulled my hamstring?  I don't know if I did, but this is the 4th time it's happened since I started ballet (left three times, right once).  This time, it happened in class, during an exam.  One of our combinations was a barre stretch that ended with split.  I went into the split and it was fine until I tried to sink a little lower, but then my hip sorta popped.  When I talked to my teacher about it later and mentioned how it's a rather common occurrence, she recommended that I go talk to the athletic trainer.  We have an athletic trainer on campus (one of the many things I love about my school, they have everything on campus), so I went with a friend to talk to him.  He said I've been overworking by hamstrings by stretching so much, so I need to work on strengthening them and stretch them less aggressively (not exactly what he said, a shorter approximation).

Not really ballet related (meaning: you may skip this paragraph if you're on this ballet blog to read about ballet), but I finished my first semester of school ever!  Well, not ever, but does 1st grade really count after 9 years of homeschooling?  I took my first midterms last week, and they were surprisingly fun.  By the time we had to start studying for midterms, I was like 510% done with it all, so I just reviewed for Physics, since it's pretty much the only class where I care about my grade.  It actually turned out pretty well.  While most other people were stressing and doing all-nighters to cram, I just got lots of sleep and watched a lot of Doctor Who.  The tests were soo easy, I'm glad I didn't waste time studying.  I got an A on my Algebra II midterm (my first A in that class!!), but I'll have to wait until Winter Break is over to see how I did on the rest of them.

I know this was a really big post, but I guess we're all caught up now!  I'll probably be posting like crazy for the next couple of days.  I'm really sorry that I left for so long, and I don't want to stay away for so long again, no matter how mad life gets.  I have a personal goal to post at least once a month, if not more, and I plan on sticking to it!  Ballerinas, comment below, tell me what's been going on, how your classes have been going!  Is your studio starting recital prep soon?  Keep dancing!

Big Exam Grades, Pointe, and Cinderella Update! And Tip for Fast Improvement

Last week we had the big ballet exam.  The BIG one.  It was written and physical, over two class periods.  We needed to know the 8 positions of the body, the pas de bourrees, the Cechetti and Vaganova arabesques, the Cechetti and Vaganova walls, the 5 things that make a step happen, and the 3 types of releases.  Being a master procrastinator, I didn't get around to learning or memorizing any of this until two days before the tests.  Oops.  I did very well though; 96/100 for my written and 48/50 for my physical.  This boosted my class grade about 4 points.  Yay!

So a few weeks earlier, I was talking to my ballet teacher about pointe classes.  They aren't a part of the ballet classes, but an extra after school class.  She said I could have joined the pointe class this year but I missed the time to sign up, so I can sign up next year.  So guys, pointe next year!!  Unless I decide to join my friend's dance class outside of school this year-- they're starting pointe, too.  I'll have another update about what I decide sometime later.

This Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, we didn't have class because the teacher's were at a convention.  But on Monday and Tuesday we did have class, and the people who signed up for Cinderella got fitted for costumes.  I don't know when they're going to decide the cast, though.  Our teacher mentioned that they needed extra boys (not to dance, just sort of like props), so I've been trying to talk all my guys friends into signing up.....that hasn't been going too well. *sigh*

With class every day, I noticed how fast I'm improving.  Practicing every day, stretching every day can help a lot.  Even just taking 10 seconds to touch your toes every day and in just a few weeks you'll see the difference.  So here's my challenge to you; pick one thing that takes less than five minutes, that you can do anywhere, and do it every single day.  It's so easy that you don't have any excuse!  Let me know if you try this, and keep me updated on the results!  Keep dancing!  :)

Exams And Grades

Hey guys!  I know, I've been gone for a while, but things are so busy.  I won't be able to post as much this year as I used to :(  So anyways, we had our first ballet exam about 3 weeks, and another last Friday.  They were both on the barre routines we'd been learning. I got my grades back; 84% on the first, 86% on the second.  I'm kinda disappointed, I thought I had done better, but I'm happy that I got feedback too.  Here's some of the corrections I got: "Don't forget to cross your 5th esp. to the back.  Your arabesque need to be "up" as well as forward - keep shoulders square."

We have a really big exam coming up in October, a written test this time.  We've been learning the eight positions of the body, and the pas de bourrees.  For the test, we need to know the names, how to do them, and the definitions.  It's all a lot to process!

First Ballet Exam

On Friday, we had our first ballet exam.  It was just a quiz on the barre combinations we've been learning for the last week.  I think I did pretty well, besides messing up on battements.  I'm not sure when we're going to get our results, but soon, hopefully.  I got some new ballet slippers last Sunday that I finally finished sewing the elastics on, so I wore them for the exam and class on Friday.  They seem nice so far, they feel like my full-soles but softer and they fit better.  They are Bloch Pro-Lite II Hyrbid, I'll post a review of them in a few weeks.

This week, we have no school Monday, half day Wednesday, and no school Thursday so we only get to dance on Tuesday and Friday.  Wednesday is only half day, so the periods will be too short to have enough time to get changed and have a reasonable length class.  Instead, we're just going to stay in our clothes and learn the eight positions of the body.  I'm not sure what this is...we learned the first four positions last week, but I can't remember any of them (oops).  I'm going to try to stretch Tuesday and Thursday, even though I have class Tuesday.  Lacrosse tryouts are coming up in January, so I've started running to get ready.  Running can make you lose flexibility, so I'm going to need to stretch a lot more, outside of class.

So, it's like 1:30am.  I meant to write this post last week when I had nothing to do...but now that I'm trying to finish this physics assignment, it seemed like a good time to write it.  Good night (or good morning?) ballerinas!

Also, I extended the poll in case you didn't get a chance to vote!

First Class!

School started this week, as did ballet.  We started on Wednesday, but we only actually got to dance on Thursday and Friday, because the first day we just got our lockers and talked about the class.  At my school, we have nine periods which are 45 minutes each.  Since we have five minutes to change before and after class, that leaves us with a 35 minute class.  Not very long, no, just enough time for therapeutic exercises, barre, stretching, and a center combination or two.  I don't mind though because I feel like I'll improve more by dancing everyday, even if it's not a full class.

Since ballet is 7th period and I have 6th period free, I spend the first 40 minutes in the library doing homework, then I walk to the dance studio and change in the locker room with about 15 minutes left before class starts (including 5 min class-change time).  That gives me plenty of time to get dressed, stretch a little, and talk with my other classmates who have 6th free.

On Wednesday, we talked about what to expect in class.  We learn a new therapeutic barre routine and some combinations that we will repeat for two week, then learn new ones.  So we have 10 classes to memorize and perfect the combinations, which I really like.  We also have ballet exams.  I'm kind of excited about these, I feel like they will help me realize what I need to work on and I can improve even more!

The dress code is pretty simple; any solid color leotard, pink tights, pink ballet flats, no warm-ups (except Wednesdays, which are ballet skirt days).  I don't really like the "no warm-ups" rule, because since the class is only 35 minutes and the studio is freezing, I'm just getting warm by the time it's over.  But I like it too because this is the first time I've worn a leotard and tights without shorts over it and it makes my legs look longer and I look leaner!  If you've always wear shorts too, you should definitely try class without them one day!

I'm really glad to have the opportunity to dance here.  The teachers are amazing, and it definitely shows in their students.  I heard them talking about some of the summer intensives the students went too; Kirov, Joffrey, Atlanta, etc, and I just kinda choked on my water.  Like, whoa.  I thought this was just a school dance program.  But it's obviously waaay more than that.  I already signed up for Cinderella in March since the only requirement was to agree to attend every rehearsal (beginning in January, every Saturday from 9am to 5pm).  I had this nagging feeling as I signed the sheet that I was signing my life away...but anything for dance, right?  Keep dancing, ballerinas!  Comment below if you've started your fall classes already :)

Plans for 2013 - 2014 Dance Year

Hey there ballerinas!  So summer is coming to an end, and we're getting closer to that day when we can go back to dance again.  When's the date for you?  Are you dancing at the same studio where you danced last year or are you going someplace new?  What are you looking forward to most this dance year?  Comment below, I'd love to hear your responses :)

My 2013 - 2014 dance year begins August 21st.  Which is also the first day of school.  I posted sometime last month about leaving homeschool.  Well, I'm going to be dancing at my school now.  EVERYDAY.  FOR CREDIT.  I'm screaming from excitement if you couldn't tell! Ballet is an option at my school for health/physical education credit so when I was choosing my classes for the year I was like "Give me ballet!  Yeah, Physics, US History, whatever just give me ballet."  I'm super excited because last year we could only afford one 60min class a week.  Now I'm going to be taking class everyday!  And the studio at my school is so beautiful!  It's huuuge and open and has a door that connects directly to the backstage of the auditorium.  I will definitely try to get a picture.  Also, they have an annual ballet, and this year we're doing Cinderella in March.  I can't wait!

Also, the blog has just passed 5000 views.  I can't even believe it, thank you all so much!  I never thought it would become something like this, and I'm so glad to have found my way to the ballet blogger's community.  This is the one place where late beginners can unite and share their joys and their struggles and no one will ever judge you.  So, a massive thank you to all my readers and all the bloggers of the many other ballet blogs!

I almost forgot (no, I did totally forget, I had to re-edit this post); there is a new poll up in the sidebar.  Please vote for your favorite kind of post.  I want to know what you want to see more of, so please vote!

Summer Dance - Day 5

I realize that Day 5, Friday, was several days ago, yes.  Unfortunately, I got sick on Friday afternoon and have been pretty useless all weekend.  I started feeling it sometime after lunch, but I stayed through contemporary and hip-hop because it was just a sore throat at first.

Day 5 Schedule
Stretching/Recovery
Ballet
Lyrical
Lunch
Contemporary
Hip-Hop

Stretching was very interesting.  We learned a lot of different ways to stretch and which stretches with help with certain things like turnout, arabesque, etc.  I also learned that I have really loose hamstrings (I find that hard to believe...but don't argue with the teacher), and a well-streched psoas.  Therefore I should have no problem with high extensions, right?  Wrong.  Gotta work on that leg strength.  Also, the only thing holding me back from my front splits are my hip flexors.  I always stretch them on the sides, but not much in the front.  There's so much to fix!

Ballet and lyrical were really fun!  We had the same teacher a room for both, so we did barre for around an hour then center for about 15 minutes, then we learned some lyrical choreography in the remaining time.  I was really proud of myself, the choreo remembering part of my brain was on!  I remembered most of the routine we learned in lyrical, then after lunch in contemporary, I remembered most of choreography we learned there too!  In contemporary, we learned a piece to an instrumental song, which I've always wanted to do :D

Overall, it was a great week and I really hope I can go back next summer.  I feel like a better dancer, even in just the five days.  I loved trying other styles and learning my strengths and weakness.  I have a whole new list of things I need to work on now, but that's good.  Having small goals to work toward and specific things to improve are why I love ballet.

Summer Dance - Day 4

Today's schedule
Floor Barre
Ballet Barre
Ballet Center
Lunch Break
Tap
Acro

So today was great!  It started off with floor barre, like on Monday, so I know I'm going to be hurting tomorrow.  I hadn't had the teacher we had for both ballet classes today in any previous classes, but I really liked her.  We got to try a lot of new things and she gave lots of corrections.  Also, there were only three other girls in class today.  I'm not sure what happened to the rest of them, there are usually between six and nine other girls, but not today.  Not complaining, I love smaller classes!

Today was my first time trying acro.  It was fun, but I don't think I'll keep taking it.  I mean, I might take a class occasionally, but not consistently or weekly.  We started off real small, with bridges and bridges on our knees.  Then we moved on to backbends.  I tried, but I had this feeling I was going to slip and crack my head even with a wall behind me and the teacher holding my back.  She said I didn't have to do it today if I didn't want to, so after a couple more tries I just stopped.  Then we did some stuff across the floor.  I tried to crab walk, but I half-failed.  But I half-succeeded too ;)  There wasn't anything I completely "got" until we did the side round cartwheels.  I'm not sure that's the actual name though.  Anyways, I loved those.  I also really liked teeter-tots and cartwheels.  My cartwheels to the right were good, but my left side was horrendous.  Oh well, practice makes permanent!

Summer Dance - Day 3

Today's schedule
Conditioning
Ballet
Zumba
Lunch Break
Contemporary
Hip-hop

Not much to say for day three.  We had just gotten to our second activity, ballet, but I wasn't feeling good so I called my mom to come pick me up.  I'm not really sure what happened, but I didn't really have enough energy to move anything.  I sat out of ballet and the first 15 minutes or so of Zumba, but I was feeling a bit better so I finished the rest of Zumba.  Zumba was really awesome and fun, so I'm glad I didn't have to miss out on that.  Conditioning was really fun, too.  We had about 12 different strengthening activities set up around the room, and we all had partners.  Every two minutes, we would switch activities.  It was really good, I'll do a post later about some of the exercises I've learned.

My mom picked me up just as Zumba was ending and took me home.  I felt a lot better after I showered, ate, and slept, so I'm going to try going tomorrow.  I'm really excited for tomorrow too, because we have two hours of ballet in the morning and in the afternoon I'm doing acro for the first time!

Also, does anyone have a type of ballet slipper that they really love and recommend?  I'm looking for a new pair, so if anyone has recommendations that would help so much :)  I got some new leotards too, so I'm going to put together a few reviews next week.  Keep dancing!

Summer Dance - Days 1 and 2

Well.  The last two days were my first two days of dance camp.  Let's just jump right in and start this post off with how sore I am.  Yesterday, we started off with floor barre.  That was yesterday at 9am.  Today, 11pm and MY ABS ARE STILL DYING!!!!  Seriously, if you ever get the chance to take a floor barre class, you better jump all over that!  So our schedule for the last two days has been as follows, each an hour long:

Monday
Floor Barre
Ballet
Jazz Hip-Hop (Jazz teacher was absent so we had hip-hop instead)
Lunch Break
Contemporary
Hip Hop

Tuesday
Pilates
Ballet
Tap
Lunch Break
Leaps and Turns
Jazz/Lyrical

In ballet, hip-hop, contemporary, and tap, they're getting ready for their summer showcase next week.  I really like how they are teaching here; they don't focus too much time on the routine, and when they're working on it they encourage the girls who aren't in the showcase to still participate.  Some of the teachers have even retaught it from the beginning for us new students.  I hated my last studio during recital time because the entire class would become rehearsal and the girls who weren't in it were just sitting bored.

Plus, I really love the choreo we've been learning for hip-hop, contemporary, and tap.  In hip-hop, we have Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke (that's my jam!), and in contemporary we have The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice (also a favorite).  In tap, I don't know the song and I don't have tap shoes, but I did it in bare feet and it was still really fun.  I might even have to invest in a pair of tap shoes ;)

So yeah, it's been really fun!  I'm still terrible at hip-hop, but better...slightly better.  That makes me happy :)  I still have trouble remembering choreography, but I'm working on it.  I just really need to focus.  Three more days of camp!  I'm exhausted already, but I'll try to make the most of it.  I can't wait until Thursday when we have 2 hours of ballet :D  Has your summer intensive ended already, or is still going?  I'd love to hear about your summer dance, and good luck with whatever goals you have!

Recital Update

Hey guys!  I know I've been absent this week again, but we had our first lacrosse tournament last weekend.  It was awesome!  I got moved from middie to attack, and I scored 3 times!  We lost two games, but the third match we beat the other team, as I was told, 21 - 6 :D

I have another tournament this weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday actually, this one's huge) and this Saturday is dress rehearsal!  It turns out our dress rehearsal isn't really rehearsal time, it's like a first show.  It's free and open to the public, and they said last year over 1000 people showed up to watch. O_o  Since I need to be at lacrosse, I'm not going to the theater until Act 2 and my teacher is going to let me out after we get off-stage.

I'm kinda nervous.  The younger class we're grouped with tend to rush through the choreography, so my class is left to either go through it at the right timing, or try to keep up with them so at least we're in sync.  I also don't have my stage makeup yet!  I went to Walmart last night, but only found eyeshadow and lipstick that suited me.  I still need liquid eyeliner, hairnets, foundation, and blush, so hopefully I'll get them today before dance.  And 17 days until recital, and I still have like two more inches until I can sit in my splits!  I want to get them before the show, because I have a grand jete right across the front of the stage.  There's been so many changes in the choreo I barely remember where I'm supposed to stand, or how my arms are supposed to look anymore D:

....okay, I'm done ranting now.  Thanks for listening/reading lol.  I'll have posts about stretching and stage makeup coming soon :)  Is your spring performance coming up soon?  Has it already passed?  Tell me how it's going!  Keep dancing!

Update

Guys, I am soooo sorry I haven't been posted in like two weeks!  But I have a really good excuse, if you want to hear it!  Ok, it's kinda cliche, but true; I've been busy.  Really!

Summer lacrosse started last week, so it overlapped a week with spring lacrosse.  Spring lacrosse ended this week, and we lost every single game this season! *fist pump!*  Not a fist pump for losing, but a fist pump because we improved a ton!  The games when from being 12 point differences to only 4 or 5 point loses.  Pretty good for 10 weeks, right?

This Friday, I went to my very first concert!  Yeah, finally -- I refused to miss this one, after I missed All Time Low and then Maroon 5 >.<  But this was Ed Sheeran...even with the rain, the hour drive, my friends ditching me to go to prom, and my mom complaining most of the time, I would not miss it!  And I didn't!  And he was soo amazing! :D

Class last week wasn't that great.  My brother's practice was rained out, so I couldn't stay after to practice.  Also, the foot stretcher has mysteriously disappeared from our classroom O.o  Since spring lacrosse is over now, I don't have practices on Monday, so I can go to the other class now, yaaay!  I went this Monday and it was pretty fun.  I was assigned my munchkins (my nickname for the younger girls lol).  I have to lift one, then two others use my shoulders to hold an attitude.  I'm so scared I'm going to drop my munchkin...I nearly dropped her twice while learning the lift :O  It's a common misbelief that lacrosse players have upper body strength XD  So I'll be hitting the push ups and arm circles as much as I can before dress rehearsal.

Oh, and I started French this week.  I always take one or two classes over the summer, so this year I chose French (and involuntarily, Geometry.  I finished the first segment but I need "special help" on the second segment...poo).

So yeah, busy busy!  But I'm still sorry :(  I'll put a quick update about class tonight or this week's motivation post later this week.  And I have a DIY post I keep meaning to finish...hopefully I'll get around to it before next week!  Keep dancing :)

Picture Day

Hey guys!  So this week was picture day for recital.  It was really crazy...I'm a little disappointed.  I really hope my pictures turn out good.  I wasn't really ready when they told me they were ready, so I forgot to pull my costume down so my leotard wouldn't show.  My mom noticed my leotard straps sticking out just before the head shots, which was after all the posing.  And my smile didn't feel right, I was nervous and it felt kinda fake. *sigh*  So I really hope they turn out nice, I'll get them sometime in May.  They had the picture stuff set up in our classroom, so there was no class :(  We just ran through our recital choreo in the next classroom with two other classes and the company.  I'm kinda sad that we didn't do much, but we got to see the advanced class and oh my gosh they were awesome!  There was this one girl, maybe 10 or 11 years old, and she was doing these triple fouettes things, she was amazing!  I also learned this pique/emboite/fouette type turn from watching them, it's really fun.

Can't wait until class next week!  I need to start my weekly challenge, I've been too lazy this week to start.  I already decided on turnout exercises for this week.  Also, I think the Turnboard is helping my turns!  I've been landing triples pretty easily lately which usually only happens on really good days :D
No post this weekend, sorry, I'm going to be away.  I'll probably have a new post up by Sunday night or Monday though.  Keep dancing! :)

Update(s)

Hey guys!  A lot has happened since my last update post! :O  I guess I start at the beginning-ish....

Tuesday I went to a lyrical class, the same one I went to for winter break make-up.  Some of the girls remembered me from last time.  The teacher didn't ignore me like the one in the last make-up class I went to, and said I could stand in the back and pick up what I could (no one was absent).  I already knew part of their dance, and I got about 10 more steps or so after what I remembered.  The girls were so cute though!  When I told them I was 15, they all started talking about how I should be on our studio's competition team.  They were really surprised when I told them this was only my first year in ballet and lyrical.  I thought it was really sweet that they thought I should be on the team :)  Ballet on Wednesday was good too, we only have like 20 seconds left of our dance to learn.  Picture day is next week, I can't wait!  Does your studio do pictures?  Have you had yours yet?

I completed my challenge from last week.  I stretched everyday from last Tuesday to this Wednesday, so I actually did eight days in a row and I'm really proud of myself :D  This week's challenge is going to be turnout exercises, I'll probably start tomorrow.

I've got most of my summer plans ready.  I'm (hopefully) going to volunteer at a camp this June and the beginning of July.  The studio I'm going to for summer just released their official summer dates and rates, so I decided to do two weeks in July; four days the first week, five days the second week.  I'm waiting to be accepted as a volunteer before I register.  Some of the classes they have on this year's schedule are Tap, Acro, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Pilates, Lyrical, Conditioning, and of course ballet.  I'm really excited to try all of them!  I don't have anything planned in August yet...I'm probably going to be visiting a lot of studios and trying out classes.
Anyone else super excited for summer?  Do you have any special plans?  Keep dancing :)