Before I officially explain this blog, let me just say I postpone showers like the water will kill me. Too personal to put in a blog? Sorry, I'm very open. Anyways...
My studio is about 30 minutes away from my home, and the drive there is always filled with traffic and break lights. Usually my routine is to squeeze in a nap, wake up at 5, stretch, get dressed, and leave by 5:30. (Keep in mind today is Friday. Fridays are my pointe classes, my most important class of the week.)
Today, however, my routine got slightly jumbled. I got up at 5:00 jumped in the shower, tied my hair in a tight bun, threw on some make-up, and looked at the time. 5:40...I didn't do a double take, I just stared with a furrowed brow. By the time I got my multiple layers of dance wear on it would have been 5:50. By the time I got to the studio it would have been 6:20-6:30. Confused as to how the time went by I remembered...shower. If only I had done it 2, maybe 3, days ago I would have been on time and dancing rather than typing about my missed class.
In order to make up for my missed practice, I tied up my pointe shoes and did about 30 minutes of plies, degages, eleves, releves, and battements. My ballet barre was the back of a computer chair, BUT at least I danced today. So, please note, it is day 2 of my 365 days of dancing.
Note #2 Don't postpone the little things, getting gas, doing the laundry, picking up a gift, or even taking a shower. It's not worth the rushed time.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
success.
Every Thursday I teach Beginning jazz, hip-hop, and ballet to 4-5 year olds. It's very new to me because I have never taught children so young...I have never taught children period. Today, however I felt much more confident than last week. Most of the kids willingly went into the dance room and were excited to start. I started them off with some very simple and basic stretches then jumped right into the hip-hop. It was probably the only time I ever found little kids with attitudes adorable. I had them cross there arms over their chests, stomp there feet, and nod there heads.
After 30 minutes of stretching and hip-hop I started basic jazz. I learned from last week trying to teach the kids terminology such as, chasse and shanae mean nothing to them. So instead I had them "skip in the field", "leap over puddles", and "turn like the wind". This was much easier for them to understand. Then came ballet.
I had all the kids migrate to the ballet bar. Now no matter what kind of bar it is, in the children's mind it is looked at as, a monkey bar. My 20 minute bar schedule turned into 5 minutes of telling them not to climb on it, 3 minutes of "I'm thirsty", 5 more minutes of explaining how to turn out your feet, the remaining 7 was rushed plies, releves in 1st and 2nd position.
Despite the ruined schedule, mixed terminology, and rushed timing, the class went very well and I enjoy teaching them as they teach me.
After 30 minutes of stretching and hip-hop I started basic jazz. I learned from last week trying to teach the kids terminology such as, chasse and shanae mean nothing to them. So instead I had them "skip in the field", "leap over puddles", and "turn like the wind". This was much easier for them to understand. Then came ballet.
I had all the kids migrate to the ballet bar. Now no matter what kind of bar it is, in the children's mind it is looked at as, a monkey bar. My 20 minute bar schedule turned into 5 minutes of telling them not to climb on it, 3 minutes of "I'm thirsty", 5 more minutes of explaining how to turn out your feet, the remaining 7 was rushed plies, releves in 1st and 2nd position.
Despite the ruined schedule, mixed terminology, and rushed timing, the class went very well and I enjoy teaching them as they teach me.
failing at flailing gracefully
Yesterday I worked on my solo. There is a combination I have been trying to conquer and am determined to put in my solo. The combo is a double shanae right into a single stag right into a double stag and ending with a "C" jump.
Now for those of you who have no idea what that is, the best way I could explain this is by saying the dancer is constantly jumping into the air while turning with the legs bent in different positions for each jump. It is, what I call, flailing gracefully. I however just flail.
I get up in the air for the single stag and complete it nicely, then the double stag, and by the "C" jump...I am simply flailing. My head can't comprehend all the turning and no gravity, my legs stiffen when I attempt to bend them, and my arms do something I can't exactly call graceful.
I have 2 weeks until the auditions and I will learn to dominate the single stag, double stag, "C" jump ending. I WILL flail gracefully.
Now for those of you who have no idea what that is, the best way I could explain this is by saying the dancer is constantly jumping into the air while turning with the legs bent in different positions for each jump. It is, what I call, flailing gracefully. I however just flail.
I get up in the air for the single stag and complete it nicely, then the double stag, and by the "C" jump...I am simply flailing. My head can't comprehend all the turning and no gravity, my legs stiffen when I attempt to bend them, and my arms do something I can't exactly call graceful.
I have 2 weeks until the auditions and I will learn to dominate the single stag, double stag, "C" jump ending. I WILL flail gracefully.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
official 1st day.
So today is my official 1st day of beginning my 365 days of dance. Since I don't have work until 4 today I have made it my "todo" day. After I finish tending to my firebelly toads, I will begin working on my solo for a performance at my old school. The auditions are Feb 5th, and it has to be perfect. I'll write how it goes tonight. Stay tuned!!!
-Marissa
(love you mamma)
-Marissa
(love you mamma)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
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