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

Delicious Green Smoothie

I'm not huge fan of raw spinach. However, it is very good for you. I came across a blender advertisement at Costco. I took a sip of this green smoothie and I was surprised that the main ingredient was spinach. I took a picture of the recipe and now I drink it almost everyday.

What you will need for this treat is:
-A blender (duh)
-A large handful of spinach
-1 peeled orange
-1/2 inch slice of pineapple
-A thin slice of lemon or lime (This will make your smoothie a little less sweet. It is totally optional)
-A squeeze of agave or honey to your liking
-1 cup of ice

Now that you have all your ingredients, throw them in a blender. Blend to preferred consistency, but before you do that make sure to put on the lid. I've forgotten that step before.

Yummy!!
Courtesy of two peas & their pod

Strengthening Exercises For Pointe

Very few dancers have perfect and strong feet when they first pointe; I definitely didn't. There is a way to get around these weird characteristics that make it difficult to start pointe. With some Thera-Band and pointe exercises (Plus some blisters), your feet will be stage ready in no time!



Thera-Band Arch Strengthening (This one is very common but I thought I'd share any way)

1. Start with your Thera-Band around the ball of your foot.

2. Slowly flex and point rolling through your foot. (20x or more)

Thera Band Ankle Exercise

1. Start with your Thera-Band around the ball of your foot.

2. Cross your opposite foot on your ankle and press the Thera-Band tight

3. Sickle your foot, ew (20x or more)

4. Opposite way. This time you bebbel your foot.

Bonus!

Try picking up pieces of clothing with your toes. This will make your toes super buff


Pointe Shoe Toe Exercise

1. Rise up on to the the pleats of your shoe (3/4 pointe)

2. Push up onto to top of your box

3. Go back to 3/4 pointe (16x or more)

Exercise for hops en pointe
1. Rise up onto full pointe in parallel or first position

2. "Lock" your ankles

3. Return to first position or parallel (16x or more)

If you seek help with your alignment of your feet en pointe, then check out this video

The Down Low on Ballet West's Summer Intensive

This summer I attended Ballet West's Summer Intensive. I learned a lot, met some cool people, and most importantly it was super fun!

It being my first SI, I thought it was a perfect choice. It was one of the easy ones to get into. The majority of the people that auditioned got in, which was great. Even if you didn't get in you were accepted to attend a pre-intensive. It is 4 weeks long and the same hours of dance. It's a great opportunity. I got in to the full summer intensive so I don't have all that much info about the pre-intensive.

Everyday you start off at 9 am with a two hour ballet technique class. This was personally my favorite class because we could take our time doing barre exercises. We never need to cut class short. It was awesome! After, depending on your level, you had a hour and a half lunch break or pointe class. Everyday you take a repotory or variations class. That's a total of 3 hours on pointe D: Bring lots of Band-aids. You end the day with jazz or contemporary. Not too bad.

One side note is that most intensives I've heard of have an end performance; Ballet West does not. I personally like performing but it is way more fun dancing rather than cleaning formations. Another side note is that Phillip and an assistant come from Empire Dance Shop in Spokane, Washington. I would definitely take advantage of this opportunity, even if you think that your pointe shoes are the right ones for you. I had the hardest time finding the right pointe shoes and he found the perfect pair. He also brings in tons of leotards, Muk Luks, unitards, tights, and pointe shoe essentials.

Of course, there are many other programs you can go to, but if you can't decide which one visit this site.

BW Corps Artist Joshua Whitehead

BW Soloist Beckanne Sisk

BW Soloist Allison Debona