Dear Prudence

The next few pics are from the fouettes, so I tried to put them in the right order =]

Here are some pics of my contemporary piece from this weekend.  Sorry it's been a few days, I must get myself up to date.  The competition went really well!

My contemporary was the first of my two variations to perform.  I went onstage rushed because I didn't know I was on deck until I heard my name called (the number before me dropped out of the competition or something)... so I ran to the rosin box and than literally walked onstage.  It was my own choreography, and I had been the most nervous about this piece because I've never choreographed before and it felt choppy.  So backstage I was just going over it again and again and doing some improving.  Everything was going fine (maybe a bit rushed actually), until one part where I completely forgot the choreography.  I didn't blank out for a second; I just started improving and it turned out fine!  Then I caught up 20 seconds later and did my rotating fouettes (I mean like changing the spot to each side of the room - or theatre).  The judges enjoyed it I think, especially the music ("One of These Days" by Pink Floyd, edited by my brother) and the fact that I choreographed it.  I noticed that my piece was different from all the other contemporaries because all the other ones were more lyrical (some even had lyrics!).  Anyways this piece won the "Medallion" (which I suppose is a platinum equivalent!!!!).

My classical didn't go as well.... I had been practicing backstage for what felt like an hour, and I had done everything perfect - I had even done triple attitude pirouettes!! Then it came my turn (again I was surprised because the number before me dropped out).  So again I rushed for rosin and rushed onstage.  No worries, I had been prepared to not be prepared this time (if that makes sense).  I did the first diagonal well, and then I fell right before the second diagonal.  It all happened so fast, I don't remember how, but I know I slipped in the downstage right corner.  I got right back up, but the rest of the variation suffered because I felt shocked.  I fell out of my pirouette menege (that I had perfected only an hour before!).  Oh well. That was that.  I still managed to get a gold though!

I also was awarded a scholarship to Ajkun Ballet summer in NY.  I hate this because it feels like bragging, but I'm just so happy and glad that I decided to do this competition even though everyone was telling me not too (including my director and parents).  I really enjoyed seeing other people in the senior division perform.  Although I must say, that I felt like all they do is prepare for competitions which isn't good for training.  I am appreciative for my studies last year with my Vaganova teacher.

This is all for now, I think I've bragged enough, no?  haha. Enjoy the pics, my uncle took them =]

Day 1 Complete

Phew.  I finished Day 1 of the competition.  Still have two more days, tomorrow is especially the toughie.  Today we had to learn a short contemporary in half an hour, then have a technique class (with 3 judges and cameras all over), then learn a variation in an hour, and then perform the contemporary and variation.

The contemporary was very short and to the point.  I didn't really like it as much, but giving the time and space constraints, it went well.  Technique class was alright. Just very crowded.  I had actually forgotten to go with my group for the tendu combination.  I can't believe how empty-headed I was.  The variation was Swanilda's entrance from Act 1. 

I have never learned this variation, only watched it on Prix de Lausanne.  I thought it was hard, but when I did it, it was actually very easy. 

I'm so bushed, I'm going to bed.  Need alot of energy for tomorrow. and God bless my mother for doing all this driving.  Will write more tomorrow if I can!

xoxo Wish me luck!

no sleep til brooklyn

My Mom sewing my tutu =]

Florida Turnpike around 4PM

"No Sleep Til' Brooklyn" Beastie Boys

Just some quick picks in our room.... We had to fix the tutu, it's quite old apparently.  It was originally a Raymonda tutu. Anyway my Mom wanted to take some pics, and she is quite humorous as you can see.

visions of johanna

"Visions of Johanna" by Bob Dylan

So the first photo is Gamzatti with POB... And underneath should be a link to Natalia Osipova in Gamzatti with Bolshoi.  I am doing half and half; everything is what Osipova does except the turning sequence I am doing POB Elisabeth Platel style with the mini-menege.

Anyways I am leaving very soon, just waiting for my mom to come pick me up.  I am very very very VERY excited!  

We're going to go out for a jog, then shower and see my chiro for any last minute adjustments and massages.  Then we're driving to Orlando!

I promised my friend to blog my series of events this weekend (of course I would have anyway).  My Mom had some bad luck.  First of all, she drove all the way from New England to Florida by herself without stopping to sleep.  Second, she got stung by a jellyfish four times on her leg, and she didn't go to the hospital (she is so strong).  Third, she lost her car keys.  No worries, a billion dollars later, she now has a replacement set.  I suppose we won't be going out to eat anymore.

List of things to do: buy false eyelashes (those nasty buggers... hate them), buy bobby pins, sew hooks and eyes on tutu, go over choreography.  That's all I can think of for now.  I feel like I'm forgetting something.  I burned all the CD's yesterday (three CD's per variation just in case).  Oh, I still need to go through pointe sheos and find good turning shoes.

Yesterday I had a quick five-minute rehearsal that I wasn't prepared for (i wore my bad turning shoes), and everyone was watching including the director and teachers and entire student body AND my mom.  It went well except the turning sequence menege.  My right shoe just wasn't cooperating.  Very embarrassing, and I'm sure everyone felt obligated to clap at the end (or at least my big menege allegro was decent).  I do feel that my stamina as tremendously increased and I can easily do this variation as long as I remember to breathe.

So I promise to take photos of my crazy weekend!! Much love xoxo

roadhouse blues

 "Roadhouse Blues" The Doors

So my auditions are over! Well technically I have one more, plus the competition this weekend.  OK, so my first audition I think i got a contract, but it is not for sure, so I will let you know.  The second audition was BalletMet in NYC.... there were over 100 people, and the combinations were made impossible.  No joke. They wanted us to promenade en pointe.  We also had a very difficult turning sequence (in  arabesque, attitude, arabesque, and then a la seconde) finishing into a penche en pointe.  Oh and petit allegro.... sooo fast.  This is when I wish I liked Balanchine training.  Anyways I got cut the second time around, I'm not surprised.  However there is still a possible trainee opportunity.... so maybe I will hear back from them.  For the mean time, I have the competition this weekend and then Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre audition in two weeks.  Then I will be officially finished.  Oh and I also got into University of Cincinnati's Ballet program!!  I don't want to go, but now I can say that I applied and got into a college.

protesters in Boston Saturday morning... they were supporting free choice for abortion. There were also Libya protesters, but I couldn't get a picture

So I was an official vegetarian this weekend (not vegan)!  And so I got French Onion soup (It had mozzarella in it).  It was over-spiced, and my mom's soup is waaay better.  But hey, nice picture.

And I got the typical tuna-seared salad... It was fine. Nothing special, getting my protein in

Anyways I had a good time in Boston, NYC, and home.  I miss my cat and my family and friends.  92 days until I am officially done with school.  11 until spring break!

in a hotel.... somewhere in boston

WoooO!!!! I am in Boston! The drive up was a bit scary because it was raining like crazy and there were tractor-trailers all over the place! ANyways we made good time, checked into our hotel, and then met up with my brother.

We went to the "Pour House"... I had a "Giant Burrito" made with vegetables of course =]. My brother had a burger and clam chowder, my Mom had the fish n chips. Both my mom and brother had Blue Moon beer while I sat there sipping water.... Oh the thrill of being underage.
(By the way, did you know that not only do they card you in Massachusetts, but they also ask for a credit card to confirm!)

After dinner, we went to my brother's apartment which he rents with four other students. Wow. College apartments are gross. Or maybe that's the result of five men living together. I don't know. My brother took me through five levels of spiraling stairs up to the roof. The view was awesome (I forgot my camera!), and we could see the whole city! Beautiful. Although the trip up and down the stairs were scary because only my cell phone light guided us :o

And then it started to snow!!!!!! wooo

After hanging out, we went to the New England Conservatory to watch a jazz band perform for about an hour and a half. It was ok. Honestly I got bored. I felt like they played too loud and it sounded like whining sometimes. But I really loved the bass and one of the saxes. My brother had to take notes because he has to write a critique on it for school.

Now I'm in our hotel room; mom is reading The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. Gosh, I haven't read that since the eighth grade! Maybe I'll watch some of a movie before bed or read The fountainhead and doze off...

Ajkun audition tomorrow! Tres tres heureux!!!!!


Somewhere off of 90 in MA



Tappanzee Bridge before NY/CT



In the Pour House with my mom and brother



My Prom invitation! Theme is Las Vegas... wish I could go

early morning HOME!!

not listening to any music right now... but I am finally HOME!! Well temporarily. I"m leaving within the next hour for Boston for an audition. Yeah, that's right. Boston. Hopefully I will get to see my brother who studies at Northeastern University.

Itinerary:
Friday: drive to Boston, sleep in hotel
Saturday: ballet company audition, drive home
Sunday: company audition in NYC, drive or take train home, sleep in my own bed
Monday: leave back for school =[

So as you see, I'm really not home...
I arrived here last night. And found our family room furniture rearranged, my cat stole my fluffy green blanket, and my eating utensils felt so heavy compared to my school's plastic ones. That's kind of sad.

What's nice? I literally don't have to pack because my suitcase is already packed from yesterday!! Talk about convenience.

I need to find some way to entertain myself in the car. ipod is fully charged, brewing some hot chocolate with soy as we speak, The Fountainhead, camera (I don't think my mom will like this), uhmm what else? I haven't had a long car ride since we drove to Pittsburgh last summer. Now that was one hell of a drive!

Anyways will write more tonight in the hotel.