the ballerina project

While I'm at rehearsals today for an upcoming performance (more on that soon!) I thought I'd share some beautiful pieces by Dane Shitagi. These pieces are a part of the Ballerina Project!

Four Cities Tour in Souvenirs (and Such) Part II and III

The second and third stop on my Four Cities tour was Washington, D.C. and Gettysburg respectively. I've been to D.C. once before in eighth grade and absolutely loved it. I’m a history person so D.C. is always a great place to be. We performed at the Old Post Pavilion, had a moonlight tour of the monuments, went to the zoo (pandas!!!), visited the Holocaust museum, the Natural History museum, got rained on and took a hike to get dinner. D.C. was a very eventful and fun place!

Gettysburg, our next stop, was interesting to say the least. We were there on the 30th of June and 1st of July. On our first night there we went on a family friendly ghost tour and then a few of us proceeded to do a séance. (For those of you have no idea what a séance is, here is the Wikipedia link-ours was a theatrical recreation but it was still scary and cool!) The 1st of July, our second day there, marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the battle of Gettysburg. We toured the battle grounds that day!

D.C. Souvenirs and Such: Washington, D.C. coffee cup, keychain (inside this is a picture of the capital building and the Washington monument)* and a D.C. Metro Ticket.

Gettysburg Souvenirs and Such: Séance Ticket and Fortune teller ticket, and a flattened penny**

*-Gift

**Not Pictured as it was a gift

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Four Cities Tour In Souvenirs (and such) Part I

Guess who's home?!? I'm so excited. Last night I slept in my own bed for the first time in 9 days. Crazy, huh? I know that some of you are probably dying to know what I did on the Four Cities Tour so I thought I'd show it to you in souvenirs (and such) since I bought (and acquired) a ton of stuff.

 Souvenirs (and Such): Wicked Ticket, Wicked Playbook, Elphaba's Hat Keychain From Wicked and Liberty Bell Shot Glass (gift). 
I got the least amount of stuff in Philadelphia and Gettysburg. The two towns are incredibly historic and while I drank all that in I didn't grab a lot of souvenirs from them. In Philadelphia we saw Wicked (on opening night!!!) and it was the highlight of the stay! It's such a beautifully put together musical and everyone loved it. We all loved it so much that we kept doing Elphaba's "toss, toss" for the rest of the trip.  I personally loved it so much I've started talking my parents into seeing it when it comes to Buffalo in January!!!!

Happy Fourth of July to all my fellow Americans! Stay tuned for Philadelphia in Ipod photos tomorrow. 

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"5-6-7-8"

[2013 TGDT Performance Cast

Top Row L-R: Claire, Courtney, Abigail(Abby), Myself, Jill

Second Row L-R: Brittany, Courtney (Little Court), Christina (Tina), Morgan (Mo-Mo), Katherine (Kat), Katie

Third Row L-R: Julianna, Leann (Lee-Lee), Gabby, Laurie (Miss Laurie), Abigail (Abbie)]

Tomorrow I leave with this group of girls, a bunch of moms (some dads and a few brothers too), Miss Terrie and Coach (her husband, Russ). Over the course of this year these girls have become the ones I look to for advice when I really need it. These girls, all 17 (Miss Terrie included) of them, have the ability to make me smile, laugh and cry all at once. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls to dance with or spend 9 days with in different four different cities. I have no doubt that this trip will strengthen our bounds. 

I really want to thank Miss Terrie right now for giving me the opportunity to be a part of something like this. When I'm old and gray I have no doubt that I'll look back on this and say that it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Thank you for believing in me as well because with you I don't think I'd be half the dancer or person I am today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ♥ 

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"Singin', Swingin' & Swayin'" Part II

This month has been crazy. Recital ended on Saturday and last minute rehearsals for the Four Cities trip started on Monday. Life's crazy but I'm enjoying it. My cousin took some pictures during the recital (Saturday night) and I thought I'd share them, some of them surprised me even. 

[Getting ready/ Final tricks in acro/This made my heart melt, Peyton and I dancing together! (Side note: She was ill Friday night and came to dance with us on Saturday night because she felt a million times better but if you look closely you'll see that she's missing her right shoe. I threw it off because it was untied and would have fallen off either way. She kept dancing though! ♥♥♥/Strut your stuff, work those "high heel walks" (side note: that thing that makes our pants look puffy is feathers...)/Holy panche/Ya know just chilling on my chin.]

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Saturday Morning Tap: What I learned.

Back in December I stepped back into tap shoes for the first time since I was 7. At the time I knew that I was putting a pair of tap shoes back on but I didn't know that I'd walk away with knowledge and skills that I wouldn't have if I didn't put the tap shoes back on.  I'm not talking about tap skills or knowledge, I'm talking about knowledge and skills that I'll cherish throughout my life.

Through working with Peyton, a shy girl who has separation anxiety, I learned that a smile can make hard work worth it. When she looks up at me smiling after crying in the beginning of the class I can't help but smile back down at her because I know that it's there through something I've done whether it be hold her until the music comes on, make funny "peek-a-boo" faces or just rub her back until she's calm. Peyton, a three year, has taught me to be patient and understanding. I can never thank her enough for that.

***[Picture taken by my cousin, who can't follow the rules...]***

I have to thank Miss Terrie, who knows tap isn't my forte, for asking me to be apart of something that I will forever cherish. I never expected to become so attached to Saturday Morning Tap but along the way, throughout the ups and the downs I did. If I only thank you for one thing Miss Terrie, it'll be for this experience. Thank you, thank you. You are truly a gem and this is one experience I'll never forget. If you'd like to have me and my falap-less self back next year, I'd be delighted. ♥

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"Singin', Swingin' & Swayin'"

Just some behind the scenes from this week's rehearsal. It went well except I won't be able to show my legs for days because I've got way too many bruises and I have a cut on my hand from a good whacking courtesy of Abbie. Oh well, I loved it still. 

[Front/Back TGDT 2012 -2013 Shirts (Thanks, LeeLee I love it!)/Abbie (yes, that one) and me/MaKenna and me/Elbow stands/Sometimes you get tired and do your handstand up against the wall (L-R: Abbie, Me and Katie)/ A really fun trick I love during our acro dance /Saturday Morning Tap babies ♥♥/All the pretty costumes lined up/Sparkles/My Three Favorite costumes (L-R Acro Solo-I Love a Piano, Lyrical- Everytime We say goodbye, Acro- Great Day)]

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Saturday Morning Tap

I've been a bit absent this week but I've been wrapped up in a theme tray auction for dance that is taking place today. But I want to share this little story that happened while I was assisting Saturday morning baby tap.

My partner, Peyton, is quite shy. I've never gotten her to say two words to me but this Saturday I did! She came into class crying because she wanted her mommy. She latched onto our studio owner and teacher, Miss Terrie for a few minutes before her cousin (another TA) calmed her down. After warming up we were going to split into our partners. I wasn't sure if Peyton would take to me since she’s shy but she was okay with working with me. (!!) We started dancing and during each break I would talk to her, ask her goofy questions and she’d answer me. For me that was a huge step toward her actually doing all the steps without being so shy around me. By three quarters of the way through she and I were cuddling, playing peek-a-boo and she was begging me to pick her up. Also there’s a part in there dance where we they hide behind us “big girls” and we they peek through our arms, Peyton had the most adorable face during it. It was a happy silly moment and I wish I could have taken a picture of it! It was that cute. She was happy and in return so was I.

[We give them suckers every week and this is the one from this week!] 

 

This is what makes waking up early on a Saturday worth it. Making these little girls happy and creating a bond with them is irreplaceable. Their smiles and joy make everything better. 

Giving Tree Performance Snapshots.

I've been talking about this since October and now it's over. Our annual giving tree performance has come and gone. Our hard work has paid off and we pleased the ones we sought out to. We also loved seeing the kids faces when they opened their gifts. Pictured above is the full cast. Here are a few snapshots from rehersal taken by some of the moms. 

Miss Amanda during her solo. 

Tap dancers during rehearsals!

We had Christmas zombies! Funniest thing ever. The little kids were 50/50 with it.  (From backstage we saw little kids with their ears covered and others who weren't phased by dancing zombies.)

The little ones in the beginning of our acro number during rehearsal  (I believe they were doing backchest rolls at this moment. haha.) 

Elbow stands during rehearsals! (One of my favorite tricks ever. )

Giving Tree Cast (And Miss Terrie) introducing themselves to the children of PS 30. 

Full Giving Tree cast with the 5th graders of PS 30 after we handed out their presents!! 

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