And so a season ends. Recital was great. It's always so exciting to see the kids show off all the skills they learned in the past season. And an emotional one this year at that. Our first grads. Such amazing students and young adults, now going out into this harsh world to fend for themselves. It's hard trusting that they're ready for it. That they're going to be able to know when to be bold and when to hold back and protect themselves. To know that they will inevitably fall down and make mistakes and get their hearts broken. But eventually you have to let them stand on their own. I hope they keep in touch.
After recital I did something I never do.... NOTHING. I actually for the first time in years took the time to take a deliberate rest. A deliberate break away from what I do. I spent time with my friends. More time in the last 2 weeks with them than I had spent this entire year combined. I went to bbqs and hockey games and sat on my porch people watching for hours on end. It was really great and I needed it. I'm now coming back to work refreshed and ready. Bursting with energy. I'm trying this new balance thing and maybe sometimes I think it's working. We'll see how that continues.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
So In Love With the Wrong World...
Time to play some catch up. It's been a hectic fucking month. Back to back competitions, moving day, teaching regular classes, recital prep... Time is not something I have in large supply. That being said, the summer is gearing up to be something special. I'm not going to give away all the details yet, suffice to say there is big shit ahead. In the good way. I can tell you some things though.
-Competitive summer program! 10 weeks, for not only our regular comp students, but also we have a BRAND NEW JUNIOR SUMMER PROGRAM. Jazz and ballet, for the wee ones. They are the future after all and these students are so very talented. So much to do with them!.
-Summer camps July 11-29, three different weeks you can attend. My teaching will be sporadic (few days a week at each camp) as I am....
-In Toronto for my 2nd year ADAPT training from July 13-20 (I will be back for classes the evening of the 20th so don't fear). And then I am....
-In NEW YORK FUCKING CITY for the Dance Teacher Summit!!! From July 29-31 I will be doing nothing but taking class with the best faculty in the world, attending seminars, buying too much from vendors, and watching the ACE awards. Consider me a lucky and stoked girl.
On top of all this, I am looking forward to teaching my regular drop in classes (check the website for full schedule, let you know which ones I'm teaching when I do). I'm also getting my own training kicked up a notch, taking some private lessons, actually having the time to work on myself a little bit, which I'm really looking forward to. It's going to be great to focus on my own stuff for a while. I'm realizing that sometimes you need to take a step back and take care of yourself. I can't neglect that any longer. It's starting to wear me down just a little bit. So I won't anymore. There are too many people willing to help me get where I want to be and too many who believe in what I do to not, you know, do it.
-Competitive summer program! 10 weeks, for not only our regular comp students, but also we have a BRAND NEW JUNIOR SUMMER PROGRAM. Jazz and ballet, for the wee ones. They are the future after all and these students are so very talented. So much to do with them!.
-Summer camps July 11-29, three different weeks you can attend. My teaching will be sporadic (few days a week at each camp) as I am....
-In Toronto for my 2nd year ADAPT training from July 13-20 (I will be back for classes the evening of the 20th so don't fear). And then I am....
-In NEW YORK FUCKING CITY for the Dance Teacher Summit!!! From July 29-31 I will be doing nothing but taking class with the best faculty in the world, attending seminars, buying too much from vendors, and watching the ACE awards. Consider me a lucky and stoked girl.
On top of all this, I am looking forward to teaching my regular drop in classes (check the website for full schedule, let you know which ones I'm teaching when I do). I'm also getting my own training kicked up a notch, taking some private lessons, actually having the time to work on myself a little bit, which I'm really looking forward to. It's going to be great to focus on my own stuff for a while. I'm realizing that sometimes you need to take a step back and take care of yourself. I can't neglect that any longer. It's starting to wear me down just a little bit. So I won't anymore. There are too many people willing to help me get where I want to be and too many who believe in what I do to not, you know, do it.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Feel the Fire Burning
3 days until competition! More rhinestones, more sewing, last minute disasters and triumphs. I'm really looking forward to it all. It's going to be interesting and extremely nerve-wracking to see if my risks pay off. Fingers and toes are crossed.
I never thought that it could be so simple. That all I would have to do is ask to have someone say sure, no problem, I can help you. I can point you to the right people. I'm breathless to see where this might take me. Could be anywhere. I can't wait to find out.
I never thought that it could be so simple. That all I would have to do is ask to have someone say sure, no problem, I can help you. I can point you to the right people. I'm breathless to see where this might take me. Could be anywhere. I can't wait to find out.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Ok Repeat After Me... I'm Gonna Be Free.....
Just came across this song... and died a happy death. I needed to hear this so I pass along the lyrics to you.
If you really love me, then let's make a vow
Right here together, right now
Ok? ok
Alright, repeat after me
I'm gonna be free
And I'm gonna be brave
Good?
I'm gonna live each day as if it were my last
Oh that's good. You like that? Yeah, Say it
Fantastically,
Courageously,
With Grace
And in the dark of the night,
and it does get dark
When I call a name it'll be your name
Whats your name?
Never mind, let's go, say it, let's go
Everywhere, even though, we're scared
Cause it's life and it's happening
It's really really happening
Right Now
I have found myself surrounded by some of the greatest people during these last few days of devestation and adversity. People rally behind me. They believe in me. And I have finally learned the fine art of finding a phoenix to rise from the ashes. God forbid one shine so bright. There is always more opportunity. And I'm ready to take it. Because it's there. It's ready for me if I'm ready to walk through the door. And I am. And I will. With Grace.
If you really love me, then let's make a vow
Right here together, right now
Ok? ok
Alright, repeat after me
I'm gonna be free
And I'm gonna be brave
Good?
I'm gonna live each day as if it were my last
Oh that's good. You like that? Yeah, Say it
Fantastically,
Courageously,
With Grace
And in the dark of the night,
and it does get dark
When I call a name it'll be your name
Whats your name?
Never mind, let's go, say it, let's go
Everywhere, even though, we're scared
Cause it's life and it's happening
It's really really happening
Right Now
I have found myself surrounded by some of the greatest people during these last few days of devestation and adversity. People rally behind me. They believe in me. And I have finally learned the fine art of finding a phoenix to rise from the ashes. God forbid one shine so bright. There is always more opportunity. And I'm ready to take it. Because it's there. It's ready for me if I'm ready to walk through the door. And I am. And I will. With Grace.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
To Do?
This is what my to do list looks like.....
1- Finish/hand in rest of my work for Adapt (update- just did this)
2- Finish headpiece for solo costume. Time to plug in that glue gun
3-Go to bank
4-Get boxes and packing tape
5-Pack my life into said boxes
6-Class plans for while I'm away at competition
7-Teach, teach, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
8-Sew elastics onto costume prop
9-Sleep?? Should I bother trying to put that on here??
Um... I think that's everything. I fervently hope that's everything because if I forgot something it will clearly not ever get done. Which would be bad because Everything Needs to Get Done. I feel better for simply having written that stuff down though.
And now, time for AN APPEAL TO THE VOTING MASSES! Now, I am well aware that my generation is apathetic about voting. You feel your vote won't change anything. Or you're ill informed about politics and don't know who to vote for. Well, I'm here to help. Your vote DOES MATTER. If you're not happy with the current state of things, there's a lot you can do to show your unhappiness besides not voting. Because what happens when we don't vote? The government that gets in power is not a true representation of what the country wants. So here's what you can do. Get yourself informed. Here are links to every party's website. Read their platform. See where you stand. Or go to CBC Vote Compass which asks a series of questions about where you stand on certain issues and flat out tells you which party you most align with.
www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompasswww.conservative.ca
www.liberal.ca
www.ndp.ca
www.blocquebecois.org
www.greenparty.ca
A few more things before I wrap this up. If you're still unsure of who you want to vote for, or don't care to take the time to get informed, there is one more thing you can do instead of not voting. DISCOUNT YOUR BALLOT!. Go, vote, and check off more than one party. Vote for every single person on that ballot. That renders it useless, but you've shown up so you can be counted as having voted. That sends a much clearer message to the powers that be in Canada than simply not showing up. It's time to stop being apathetic about the state of our country. Because let's face it. This generation is no longer the future. We're having kids. Getting married. We have jobs. We buy houses. We pay taxes. Our kids are now the future. Which makes us the present. And makes us accountable and responsible in a way that we weren't when we thought of ourselves as the future generation. Time to be in the present. VOTE! One more thing.... May 2nd not convenient for you to vote? It isn't for me either. Go to www.elections.ca to find out where to vote, how to vote, and when your advance polls are. It's time for change Canada and it starts with us.
1- Finish/hand in rest of my work for Adapt (update- just did this)
2- Finish headpiece for solo costume. Time to plug in that glue gun
3-Go to bank
4-Get boxes and packing tape
5-Pack my life into said boxes
6-Class plans for while I'm away at competition
7-Teach, teach, rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
8-Sew elastics onto costume prop
9-Sleep?? Should I bother trying to put that on here??
Um... I think that's everything. I fervently hope that's everything because if I forgot something it will clearly not ever get done. Which would be bad because Everything Needs to Get Done. I feel better for simply having written that stuff down though.
And now, time for AN APPEAL TO THE VOTING MASSES! Now, I am well aware that my generation is apathetic about voting. You feel your vote won't change anything. Or you're ill informed about politics and don't know who to vote for. Well, I'm here to help. Your vote DOES MATTER. If you're not happy with the current state of things, there's a lot you can do to show your unhappiness besides not voting. Because what happens when we don't vote? The government that gets in power is not a true representation of what the country wants. So here's what you can do. Get yourself informed. Here are links to every party's website. Read their platform. See where you stand. Or go to CBC Vote Compass which asks a series of questions about where you stand on certain issues and flat out tells you which party you most align with.
www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompasswww.conservative.ca
www.liberal.ca
www.ndp.ca
www.blocquebecois.org
www.greenparty.ca
A few more things before I wrap this up. If you're still unsure of who you want to vote for, or don't care to take the time to get informed, there is one more thing you can do instead of not voting. DISCOUNT YOUR BALLOT!. Go, vote, and check off more than one party. Vote for every single person on that ballot. That renders it useless, but you've shown up so you can be counted as having voted. That sends a much clearer message to the powers that be in Canada than simply not showing up. It's time to stop being apathetic about the state of our country. Because let's face it. This generation is no longer the future. We're having kids. Getting married. We have jobs. We buy houses. We pay taxes. Our kids are now the future. Which makes us the present. And makes us accountable and responsible in a way that we weren't when we thought of ourselves as the future generation. Time to be in the present. VOTE! One more thing.... May 2nd not convenient for you to vote? It isn't for me either. Go to www.elections.ca to find out where to vote, how to vote, and when your advance polls are. It's time for change Canada and it starts with us.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
This State of Emergency
They say April showers bring May flowers. In my world it's more like April showers bring COMPETITION SEASON. I'm currently gearing up for stage rehearsal and all things comp. This includes the tedious tasks of tweaking music cuts, making cds of said tweaked music, creating makeup face charts, compiling lists of the cosmetics needed to do what is on said face chart, rhinestoning (endless stoning, only to be done in the company of fellow teachers with copious amounts of wine), make up trials for those pieces that require over and above the usual, still more rehearsals and regular classes, worrying about costumes that won't be finished on time... The list of "things to fucking do" is endless. And there will always be more to do, some last lurking task that remains hidden until it's "HOLY FUCK WE FORGOT TO DO THIS WE HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT NOW!'
We have stage rehearsal on Saturday and stage rehearsal always fills me with excitement and dread in equal measure. Excitement since it's all coming together and it gives me a chance to see my work from a distance and get an idea of what it's actually going to look like. Dread because spacing is always a disaster and dancing in costumes for the first time can be tricky. Particularly my group that actually uses their skirts... it will be their first time doing so. I get the distinct feeling it's going to be scary. But then again we have another two weeks after that to do even more rehearsal. It will be ok. Yes that is the sound of me trying to convince myself more than anyone.
On Monday there was a freak power outage at the studio. After calming the kids down, we had a lovely time dancing in the pitch black studio, with nothing but cell phone and candle light. It was very earth hour of us. When the power came back on however, so did the heat.... in full force. And they are unable to shut it off. So the studio is like a steam bath. Akin to dancing in a sauna. I'm now sweating by the time my warm up has hit "and stretch forward...". Keep in mind I'm about 8 counts into the warm up at this point. But sweating is good for us. There are definitely no toxins left in my body. I don't see how there could be.
We have stage rehearsal on Saturday and stage rehearsal always fills me with excitement and dread in equal measure. Excitement since it's all coming together and it gives me a chance to see my work from a distance and get an idea of what it's actually going to look like. Dread because spacing is always a disaster and dancing in costumes for the first time can be tricky. Particularly my group that actually uses their skirts... it will be their first time doing so. I get the distinct feeling it's going to be scary. But then again we have another two weeks after that to do even more rehearsal. It will be ok. Yes that is the sound of me trying to convince myself more than anyone.
On Monday there was a freak power outage at the studio. After calming the kids down, we had a lovely time dancing in the pitch black studio, with nothing but cell phone and candle light. It was very earth hour of us. When the power came back on however, so did the heat.... in full force. And they are unable to shut it off. So the studio is like a steam bath. Akin to dancing in a sauna. I'm now sweating by the time my warm up has hit "and stretch forward...". Keep in mind I'm about 8 counts into the warm up at this point. But sweating is good for us. There are definitely no toxins left in my body. I don't see how there could be.
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