craaazy on you

"crazy on you" heart.

Five weeks: complete.  Home, unpacking at the moment (well not really this moment since I got distracted with catching up with emails/etc.)  Other than getting shin splints and the horrors of apartment shopping, I must say this was such a fun summer intensive!  Going to miss everyone, but can't wait to go back for the Grad Program in the fall!

The pictures from our spring show came in!  Here's a look (and forgive me, there are so many, and these are only the pieces I was in). 

We did Swan Lake Act III (Black Swan) where I danced one of the Spanish Brides.  I was also in Mark Godden's piece called Fable.  It's called Fable for a reason, a girl (myself) cannot fit in with the other group of girls.  They keep making fun of me and playing games that almost end up tragic for me.  Then I meet an older couple (who are for some reason supposed to be jungle animals?)  This part was never explained to me, but I always interpreted the couple to be very wise and very much in love to the point where they can go through anything.  This part wasn't explained either, but I think I was so intrigued by this couple that it drives me mad and I faint.  The third episode is "Shadows" which was one of my favorite parts of the whole ballet.  I always thought of this scene as my own conscious attacking me because of confusion, hurt, and frustration of not fitting in and not being in love.  Six girls dressed in all black (super scary) veils shadow my every movement until they eventually consume me and entangle me.  The fourth episode "Forever After" was the most fun to dance because I had the opportunity to interpret so many different feelings and emotions in my dancing.  A prince finally comes, and although he completely doesn't acknowledge my existence at first (because he is too busy admiring himself), he finally notices me and... well... forever after.

Swan Lake Act III... Black Swan

This piece literally killed my back.  Think I'm finally healed, now just need to regain all my flexibility.

I don't think it smelled too good at the moment

controversial christian communion.... ended up licking her butt instead

by far my favorite photo.  Her legs are so beautiful and the flower continues the line (sin(x) graph anyone?)

they look like dementors. so scary.

being consumed

my prince. haha sounds so corny

LOVE this picture

forever after

Do you collect anything? If so, what is it?

pez dispensers

Ask me anything!

sad sad city

"sad sad city" ghostland observatory.... cool song, cool band, check it.

Last week for this summer intensive! My achilles tendonitis started acting up (suppose I need another cortisone shot?) and I think I may have shin splints.  Taking it easy this week since the shows are Saturday.  Hopefully once I get home, I can find some miracle-ballet-physical-therapist who works for free.

Anyways, we went on a boat cruise around Pittsburgh in the rivers and such... It was really fun!

downtown pitts.

one of the billion bridges

yet another bridge...

It does worry me that I'm not going to college.  I mean in this day of age, doesn't that make me a minority?  The internet doesn't even have a percentage of kids who don't go (that's how insignificant our race is).  Yes, "race".  I am hereby declaring a new race of high school graduates not going to college.  We're mostly ballet dancers and struggling artists who refuse to conform to a society that spends thousands and thousands of dollars just to get a slip of paper that says "diploma".  I feel like I could just pull a Frank W. Abagnale (just watched catch me if you can), and just make my own diploma and do anything I want.  I mean, Frank ended up working for the FBI?  That doesn't sound too bad.

Besides what's the point of going to school where you only spend a few hours (if anything) actually studying what you want to be?  Sure, being well-rounded is a good thing, but honestly do people even remember what the quadratic formula is?  No.  They don't.  That would just be mental.  I'm definitely not saying that I never want to study again, because I do.  I truly enjoy learning; especially languages, culture, literature, and art. Another point is that most kids don't know what they want to do.  (I'm lucky that I do!)

Everyone has diplomas these days anyway.  I think I would actually stand out more in a job interview. haha  Why don't they just make a test that shows how smart you are and what you study?  Like the SAT, except actually applicable to knowledge (and not how much you pay tutors to tell you how to calculate if it's A, B, C, D, or ALL).

I always re-read my posts before I post them, and WOW this post is a bit severe.... just some thoughts at the moment =P

dazed and confused... music post

"dazed and confused" led zepp.  did you know, Page used a violin bow? watch it on youtube soooo good.

oh, how much I love music.  And oh, how much I love Led Zeppelin.  They're probably my favorite band ever.  I mean every song has so many cool and different sounds.  I must admit, I have every song and every album.  Obsessed? a little...

My favorite song ever is "stairway to heaven", but my favorite song just from led zepp is "ramble on".  How cool is the guitar in that beginning bit?  Another song I've been listening to alot is "Dy'er Mak'er".  Don't know how to explain... it's just pure genius amazing and almost 'beachy'

These are some of the songs/albums I've been listening to recently, not in any specific order:

1. dy'er mak'er - led zepp

2. spanish caravan - doors

3. ramble on - led zepp

4. animals album -- pink floyd (pigs, sheep, dogs)

5. atom heart mother album -- pink floyd (atom heart mother, if, SUMMER 68' -- obsessed with right now, fat old sun, alan's psychedelic breakfast

6. something -- beatles

7. jesus of suburbia -- green day

8. comptine d'une autre ete -- amelia poulain soundtrack

9. somos novios -- andrea bocelli and christina aguilera

10. que onda guero -- beck

11. lithium -- nirvana

12. girl, you'll be a woman soon -- pulp fiction soundtrack (tarantino films have best soundtracks ever)

13. wincing the night away album -- the shins

my beautiful Takamine

Right now I'm learning Green Day's "Good Riddance".  Still (and forever) working on Bach Prelude in G and Stairway to Heaven.  Need to change the strings because something is rattling... not good, no.

this post inspired by fashion over groceries

echoes

"echoes" pink floyd.

Woah!  Fourth week in Pittsburgh!  Only about 11 more days to go!  I must say, I am super oober ready to go home and relax in the sun with my family and friends, maybe hit the shore as well.  I really do miss being home (even if it's in the hickiest place ever)... you don't realize what you have until it's gone.  Missing my last two years of high school at home really made me appreciate where I used to live.

Today I saw another apartment, and it looks as if it's the winner!  Just need to do the whole 'credit check' thing and paperwork.  It's absolutely gorgeous and has an AMAZING view of Pittsburgh from the porch.  Seems as if I will be having really nice roommates.  Can't tell you how excited I am to move there.

Last weekend was fun; we went shopping.  I promised myself (and my wallet) to not buy shoes, and I didn't, thank goodness.  But I did do some thrifting, and bought a new sweater, a scarf, and beyond-cool earrings for all $20!!  Also bought "Catch Me If You Can" -- I'm a HUGE Leo Di Caprio and Tom Hanks fan, so it was about time that I bought the dvd.

We had a mini-show for some day-camp kids, and it went very well (and no one fell on the floor!).  Even though I love it here, I can't wait to get back home (as if I didn't already stress this out before).  Will post some pictures soon!

brass monkey

"Brass Monkey" Beastie Boys.

in class. in-between steps?

Sorry I haven't posted in a while; this has been an extremely crazy week.  I already had a great apartment, but we lost it due to some "complications" (lets just leave it at that), so I've spent the past three days searching for everything and anything in Pittsburgh, and wow my eyes hurt from so much computer-work!  Anyways it will work out as it should (even though I've had so many anxiety attacks these past few days).

Update:  It's Week 3!! Only two more weeks to go until I'm home for another mini-vacation before leaving home yet again.  The intensive is very uhmm.... intense.  That's the only way to put it.  We're doing excerpts from  "Etudes" for our showcase (if you know anything about this piece, you'd know how crazy it is).

I'm doing the "Three Little Pigs" part with the crazy petit allegro that's super fast as well as the black tutus.  But I love it, it's actually really fun and challenging.  The only problem I foresee is that I don't know how we're going to be able to fit this in the performance studio (especially crossing sides since there is a foot of wing space and 25 girls in tutus).

Last week we learned the Laurencia variation.  It was so much fun especially since I'm a jumper.  Check out Osipova doing it.  And here are some pics from the same variation class:

Laurencia variation

Laurencia variation

And today we learned Balanchine's Sylvia variation which I also loved!

Right now I'm icing, and hoping my achilles will shape up for tomorrow's rehearsals.  My back was alright today (lets hope that doesn't change).  Good night all!

P.S.   RIP  Roland Petit. amazing dancer and choreographer.

are you still the master of your domain? - - - seinfeld-crazy

It is very easy for me to say that the best show ever made was and is Seinfeld.  Funny hearing this from an eighteen-year-old who didn't even watch the show when it was on air (except of course in the womb and through adolescent ears when my mom was watching it).  I'm not at all embarrassed to say that I have all nine seasons on dvd, and they're always with me when I travel.  They dvd's have been a series of gifts from santa, my parents, my brother, and birthday money.  My collection was completed in October of last year, I am proud to say.

What makes this show so amazing is that it really is a show about nothing.  It's very accurate about the typical life of a New Yorker (at least back in the nineties).  Each character is so perfectly developed that it makes you love them even more because you know their motives.  For instance, we all know how critical Jerry is of his future-girlfriends.  His first priority (cleanliness) is understandable, but once he meets them and notices for instance, that they eat their peas one by one... he just can't handle them.  Or how George always takes back a dollar or two from his tip at the diner?  Or how Elaine always pushes people when she is in disbelief? And don't even get me started with Kramer....

This post is inspired by a late-night sketching session I did with the four characters.  (Well I mean I wish I literally had a session with the people, but google images worked just fine).  I started off with Kramer, then Jerry, Elaine, and George.  I used four separate photos so that I could get each person's persona in perspective (woooah there! alliteration?)  It was actually alot of fun, and much quicker than I thought it would take.  I only had my sketchbook, and I wanted to experiment with some charcoal sticks I just got.  Great success especially in so little time!  Enjoy =]

Kramer. this sketch definitely came out the best. didn't use an eraser on this one at all.

Jerry. a little more challenging, but i got the smirk. eyes are probably too close together, but not bad, eh?

Elaine.  still not satisfied with this one.  anyways love how she's smoking the cigar. typical.

George. my favorite character from the show. this was also more challenging since it was the last one i drew super late last night.

Some of my favorite quotes from the show:

"It became very clear to me sitting out there today that every decision I've made in my entire life has been wrong. My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to eat - it's all been wrong." – George Costanza

"I'm not a lesbian. I hate men, but I'm not a lesbian." –Elaine Benes

"Jerry, just remember, it's not a lie if you believe it." – George Costanza

George Costanza: I want to make a good entrance. I never makes good entrances.
Jerry: You have made some good exits.

Newman: Hello, Jerry.
Jerry: Hello, Newman.

"Hi, my name is George, I'm unemployed and I live with my parents." –George Costanza

George Costanza: What kind of a person are you?
Jerry: I think I'm pretty much like you, only successful.

George Costanza: You're gonna over-dry your laundry.
Jerry: You can't over-dry.
George Costanza: Why not?
Jerry: Same reason you can't over-wet.

_________________________________________________

Favorite episodes or incidents:
The Cashmere Sweater (or The Red Spot), Elaine's ridiculous relationship with Puddy, The Sponge, The Bro, the Barber, Shrinkage, Master of Your Domain, The Soup Nazi

shrinkage.

the puffy shirt

and of course Larry David.

Well. That's all folks.

dancer spotlight: Alina Cojocaru

alina cojocaru. [principal of royal ballet]
 There is much to say about this incredible dancer, but first and foremost is that she is an artist.
Alina Cojocaru is from Romania, and she trained at the Kiev Ballet school and the Royal Ballet School.  At age 17, she accepted a principal contract with the Kiev Ballet, and a year later she accepted a corps de ballet contract with the Royal Ballet.  Only two years later, in 2001, she was promoted to principal dancer by Sir Anthony Dowell after her first Giselle performance.

Giselle

Sleeping Beauty guesting with ABT.  I actually saw this show, and she was incredible!!!

Chroma. youtube it

love this picture soo much

Romeo and Juliet

 She suffered a major neck injury in 2007/2008 and was not dancing for a year.  But she's back and she's even better.  I saw her perform last spring with ABT in Sleeping Beauty.  She has the most perfect balance in Rose Adagio.