My Dance History

I started dance when I was about four years old. My first ballet class was surprisingly in school. At the time, I was living in London and going to school at a private school. All children, even the boys were required to take ballet class. I don't remember how many times a week because, you know, I was four. I started taking classes outside of school because I loved so much but  also because my mom wanted to get rid of me for an hour. Already, at such a young age dance was consuming my life. The school I went to was very strict. I remember we had to stand in perfect lines for role. The teacher would say our name and we would have to curtsy and say, "present" not "here", "present." Also at the end of class we would walk in a straight line one by one to our pianist and curtsy and say thank you. If we did not curtsy properly we would go back in line and try again. According to my mom this was a struggle for me because I could barely stand on one foot. The teacher would yell at me and apparently I would laugh because I thought she was being sarcastic?

Yes, that's me on the right. How embarrassing. S/O to Luiza.
Follow My Instagram

When I moved back to the United States when I was 6 1/2, I joined a local dance studio. They did all kinds of dance, not just ballet. I remember it was a very different environment than the one I was used to. No pianist, no taking role and no curtsying. I had also never done jazz or tap so that I was different. In the 4th grade, I changed studios to somewhere much far away. In my opinion, it was much more serious. They spent much more time on ballet because they understood how important it is if you want to be good in any kind of dance that you do.

Let's fast forward the end of August and the beginning of  freshman year, when I started my blog. I started my blog because of an assignment for english class. At first, I thought it was an awful idea because it was just one more thing to do. At the same time, it was kind of exciting because it was finally something in school that I could write whatever I wanted to and not in MLA format. Also, it was a great way to document my freshman year. Obviously, I was not the same person I was at the beginning of 9th grade. I feel that this year I have challenged myself grew as a dancer. I went to 4 summer intensive auditions and YAGP. None of these I have ever done before. I was definitely out of my comfort zone. I have also become much more confident. When you challenge yourself you feel much more accomplished by completing the task. I made 3 of my 4 auditions and that is something that I would never see myself doing a year ago. Last year, I was terrified of even going to YAGP so I chickened out. This year I ended up going. Sure, I didn't get top 12 or top 24 even but I got on stage and did the best I could do. It's funny what a years difference makes.  As for the progress in my blog, do I even need to write anything? My first post sucked. I think I was shy about putting my thoughts out there. I'm just a shy person in general. As I started writing more post they started to get better. I wrote more personal things and maybe threw some bad humor in there. Of course I still have a ways to go. I can always improve, just like in dancing. Like Einstein said, "Life is like a bicycle. In order to keep your balance, you must keep moving.

  

Extraordinary Dancers

There are dancers we look up to because of their beautiful technique and artistry. Then there are others that stand out from the crowd and do something extraordinary (and they are wonderful dancers as well.) These are the dancer that are truly inspiring and pave the way for dancers to come.

Now who has heard the song, "Take Me to Church" by Hozier. Ummm everybody because it was on the radio like every.other.song. Anyway, a ballet dancer named Sergei Polunin put the music behind the dancing and it turned out absolutely beautiful.

If you can't tell does not look like your average Joe dancer. What you don't see every day is a dancer  all tatted up. Now that isn't the only thing that makes him outstanding. He is the youngest ever to be a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet. He was only 19 and only 13 when he started training strictly ballet! He quit the Royal Ballet because he said he was so unhappy that the artist in him was dying. 

Lately, Misty Copeland has been blowing up in the media, and for good reason! Most people know her story, but incase you don't I'll give you a summary. She started dancing when she was thirteen. Thirteen! That is really late to start dancing. Yes she had incredible natural talent, but it didn't come easy for her. If you read her book, Life in Motion, it will go into more depth. Her family had financial issues with paying for the classes and her shoes and it was hard being accepted into summer intensives and ballet academies because she had colored skin and her body shape wasn't ideal for ballet. Through all that, she persevered and is now a soloist with American Ballet Theatre.

You can order her book on Amazon 
or at a local Barnes and Noble

   Today, a Russian ballerina, Maya Plisetskaya died at age 89. She joined Bolshoi Ballet at age eighteen and danced in the company until she was 65! Your heard me right, 6-5. (Fun fact: did you know that Bolshoi in Russian means best or great so it is literally called the best ballet.) For some time she wasn't allowed to tour with the company because of her family background with the Soviet Union. You are never too old to dance! 

She is 61 in this video. And look at her arms! 

Is it even human for them to move like that?

You can read more about her in this article

5 Reasons Why Ballet Dancers are Better

1. We turn out better (duh)

Not only is our legs able to turn out to 180 degrees which is impressive to the average joe, we are just awesome people. We learn discipline, manners, and good work ethic. These are skills we will carry on for the rest of our life no matter what career path we choose to take. 

2. We are Flexible

Not in our time because I don't know about you but I have dance almost every day leaving no time for regular stuff. The reason this makes us awesome is because we can reach things that fall off our bed with our feet in any position. I mean, why else would we stretch?

Look how heavy metal this is
Courtesy of: Pinterest

3. We are way more hardcore than you

We have to put all our body weight on our toes. Look me in the eye at tell that is not hard. So next time you explain to us that ballet is SOOO easy, we will cut you. 

4. Our makeup will look way better than yours

Trust me we have had plenty of practice. It can take hours to put on stage makeup. And those fake eyelashes. Don't even get me started. If you want to your makeup to be on fleek, I would consult a dancer not a makeup stylist. Have you seen the makeup they wear at Sephora? S

5. We basically know another language

Lets not forget that ballet terminology is all french. There are a bagillion terms that we know from the top our head. What does Jeté mean? Easy, to throw. Fondue? No not strawberries and chocolate it means to melt. You were close though. We are basically fluent. 

Check out this article explaining all the other things we put up with everyday

The DON'TS of Taking Ballet Pictures

Every dancer will get a photo taken of them for whatever reason: Instagram, Christmas Cards, audition photos, you name it. But there is a right way to do them. At least if you actually want to be taken seriously.

1. Tuck in your ribbons!- I went to Ballet West's performance of Swan Lake and in the program was a picture of a obviously inexperienced dancer's feet en pointe. That's not the point (He He get it).  HER RIBBONS WERE COMPLETELY OUT!¡! I can understand if your ribbons come out in class (and in class only) on accident, but when you are taking a picture of only your feet, it's not that hard to tuck in your ribbons.

Ewwww
Courtesy of: Durham Jones & Pinegar

2. Have good technique- oooohhh where do I even start with this? It is pretty self explanatory. Instead of explaining my self I will show you a video where someone has absolutely no ballet training but decided to film an ad anyway.

Seriously, what the f**k is this?

Courtesy of: Free People

Has she really been dancing since she was three? I don't think so. Here are some links to the response of the public. People were obviously not happy so they hired professionals to do it instead. Thank god.

Much better

Courtesy of: Ballet Zaida

I found this parody of the Free People ad and it was absolutely hilarious. I peed myself a little. Here it is .

3. Wear the right outfit- you shouldn't be taking dance pictures in skinny jeans. It's just common sense. If you want to look more casual in your photos I suggest wearing a leo with no tights and your hair down.

Probably not a good idea

Courtesy of: Img Arcade

Those are all my tips for ballet photos. If you have any other suggestions leave them in the comments!

Finding Confidence

One of the things that is said most often to me is that I need to have more confidence. I think to myself it isn't just that easy. So, how do you find confidence? The dictionary definition is as follows: "a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something." Just reading the words feels empowering doesn't it? If you believe that you can you will! It's not as hard as you think. Now for a little story 3...2...1...

The winter of 2014 I was about to audition for my first summer intensive at Ballet West. I remember being so nervous I could barely talk. It was in a setting I had never been in before. 80 girls packed into a studio, a piano player, different teaching syllabus, and the whole class was on pointe. I was not doing well. In between barre and center I remember thinking to myself, " I need to relax." I pretending that I was just taking a regular class. Once in that mindset I was more comfortable. When I was dancing I was doing way better than before. Long story short, I was accepted! It made me realize that I can do anything if I have the right mindset. I also realized that beating myself down isn't going to get me anywhere. Great story right?

Finally, I will link to Juliet Doherty's TED talk. It was about being great. Everybody can be great and is great in their own way. It is time for dancer to stop comparing themselves. If we do we will never be happy because there is always someone better than us. One of my favorite quote from her speech is, "It is time for you to stop competing and start dancing." Of course you will still be in the competitions that you enter in, but the score that is on the sheet does not define you. Another favorite quote of hers that is, "I authorize myself to be great." Remember, you are the only person that make yourself be great. 

Keep this is in mind whenever you are feeling down on yourself or when in a stressful situation. When in the right mindset, the sky is the limit. We are all great in our own ways. Authorize yourself to be great. 

Courtesy of: Polyvore

The Perfect Christmas List for a Dancer

I know him! I know him!
Courtesy of: Celebrities in View

Now that Thanksgiving is over, everybody is in the Christmas spirit *cue Feliz Navidad* If you're anything like me, I have a hard time putting together a Christmas list. So, that is why I find this post relevant unlike my other posts.


To make myself seem the smallest bit organized I have decide to create a table of contents. Woah...

1. Stocking stuffers
2. $15-$50
3. Money is of no issue

Fancy, I know right.

Stocking Stuffers

• $6.95 Bunheads Stitch Kit- This thread is stronger than most peoples relationships

      •   Hair Bows etc.

      •   $10.00 Foot Spray- The Body Shop has the best money can buy

      •   $12.00 Pointe Shoe glue- You can also get it at Discount Dance, but by buying this one you save money and all proceeds go to her ballet training :)

      •   Nail Kit- Gotta keep your feet looking pretty even though it seems impossible

$15-50

• $16.99 Thera-Band Stretch Strap

      •  $32.75 Ballet Turnboard- Incase any of you are unfamiliar, this simulates turning more times        than what you are used to.

    

      •  $36.75 Dance Booties- Found at Discount Dance or at Bloch's website. Comes in variety of colors and keeps your feet warm

      •  $29.50 Knit Leggings

      •  Leotards!- You can never have too many of these.

Money is of No Issue

• Pointe Shoes- News Flash: Pointe Shoes are expensive. If you get all your relatives to buy you a pair, you can save a lot of money.

      •  $200.00 Wireless Beats Earbuds- These can be helpful during performances and competitions   when you are trying to listen to your music and dance at the same time backstage. They are a bit expensive if you can't tell, so it depends on your budget.
 
      •Gym membership- Surprisingly these can be expensive. They can cost anywhere from $35-$60 a month. If you are lucky to have a Planet Fitness near you, they cost $10 a month.

      •Ballet Tickets


If you have any other suggestions leave them in the comments.
   

Happy Holidays!
Courtesy of: Redding International Folk Dancers

    

A Farewell to NYCB's Wendy Whelan

As many of you may know, yesterday, October 18,  Principal dancer Wendy Whelan did her final performance with the New York City Ballet. I have known about Wendy for many years now. Whenever I watched performances of Wendy Whelan on youtube I would always be moved by the freedom she had. The performance was sold out with in minutes. This is because she can tell a story like no one else can and her dancing is absolutely mesmerizing.

Wendy Whelan in "By 2 With & From" 

Courtesy of The New York Times

On September 29, my dad showed me this article and told me it was about Wendy Whelan. Of course I was so excited to read about her. However, I was disappointed to find out that she would be retiring. This continues to be my favorite article because it is one I can relate to. In the article it says that she has declined the role of dancing the Sugar Plum Fairy. In an interview she once said "that she didn't feel pretty enough."

Wendy Whelan as the Sugar Plum Fairy

Courtesy of Dance View Times

When I said in my first paragraph I love the freedom she had when she danced. She didn't alway have that. She has insecurities just like all of us.It wasn't until she was thirty that she learned to become relaxed in her dancing. "I ... learned to detach my claws from dancing," she told the New Yorker. This is something that I think a lot of young dancers need to learn, myself included. No teacher can teach you this. You can have the most beautiful technique, and of course you need to have that, but if you're not relaxed and having fun you're just going to blend in with the crowd. Wendy didn't learn this until age 30. If you can start applying this even to barre you will improve so much. We all have insecurities, but when you forget them that is when you really shine.

If you wish to read the full article click on this.

Look at all those flowers!

Courtesy of The New York Times