Grati-Tuesday

Welcome to Grati-Tuesday!

Today I am grateful for:

1. my lover and eternal families

2. This great big crazy family of mine! 

[as well as all my in-laws but I have no photos of everyone together]

3. Disneyland

4. Friends

5. Dance . . . especially this beautiful piece!

And, of course,  6. BOOKS! 

What are YOU grateful for today?

Why I Do It

        I have had an absolutely fantastic week! Both of my jobs have been going well, but it's been an especially successful week as a dance teacher. My girls have done fantastic and made me so proud! 
        On Monday, Company 2 performed at the Fight Like a Girl concert and there was an overlay of a commercial (or something!) periodically throughout their song. That's not supposed to happen! So Jenny (the studio owner) and I are backstage freaking out, wondering what is happening, but the girls didn't miss a beat! They just kept going straight through! Perfect! 
        All of my classes have been  working so well this week. Things are really starting to click and we've already finished a tap dance in one of my classes! It's darling, if I do say so myself. :) And all of them are really progressing right now. In my Broadway/Character class I have some girls working on doubles, and they have gotten really close. And almost everyone in that class has gotten their back leap. Some one of my other companies was subjected to some new things this week and just kept trying over and over. But the best thing of all? I did a private today with a girl who wants to try out for drill team. She did amazing! I worked her pretty hard, but she was hitting most of her triples and her kicks got higher. In one class!! It was great! 
        I love it when my students succeed.  It makes me so happy when they try and try and try, and then it clicks, and they finally do it -- It's perfect! And that is why I'm a dance teacher. It's those little moments that I live for. They make it all worth it. 

Flashback Friday: The Pulse

One time, we met Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, and some other cool dancy-dudes.

And took dance classes from them.

It was November of 2007 at The Pulse Dance Convention.

And it was totally awesome. 

CVHS Craft Fair

Every year the CVHS Talons have a craft fair as a fundraiser and have dancers from around town come for entertainment. My first visit was in 2006 and was my first date with Cass. Sort of. As long as a bet doesn't make it not a date, for he and I made a bet. He thought I couldn't go a week without tv. Turns out I'm pretty stubborn, so I won the bet. So he had to take me out on a date. [I'm not actually sure if this was my idea or his, or what would happen if I lost the bet. Okay, so I just asked Cass what would have happened if I lost. His response: "You would have paid for dinner. Or that's what I told you." -- "So really you just wanted to take me out to dinner?" -- "And get you to stop watching tv" -- "So I would spend time with you?" and he smiled sheepishly. Oh my husband :)]  Since won, I got to choose the date. There was only like three places to eat in Cedar back then, so I chose Wingers. I also had to dance at the craft fair with Waukeenyans that night, but I wasn't taking any chances. This date would not be postponed! We had a lovely dinner at Wingers, well, I did. He ordered something gross. He's since learned the error of his ways. We then sojourned to the craft fair where he paid to watch me dance. Afterwards we went back to my apartment and watched Gilmore Girls. I thought I would punish him for making me go with out :P However, I quickly fell asleep, mostly due to a lack-of-caffeine migraine because I'm a good date and only got water at dinner. And Cassidy left, lonely and dejected. Poor guy. I make a pretty bad date!

This year I was a much better date for the craft fair -- at any rate, I didn't fall asleep or subject him to Gilmore Girls! Again, we went to Wingers; I just love their sticky fingers! And fries!! mmmm :) The girls I teach were dancing at the craft fair, so we had to get their half an hour before they went on and then be there for the dances. I was busy with the girls for the first half hour, so lucky Cass got to walk around and look at all the cute crafty booths. Then my girls danced; Cass got to record them for me while I stood on the side, shepherding them on and off the make-shift stage. (You can watch their dances on my "choreography" page) After the fair we came home and played Risk. Don't worry, I totally won. And, thanks to the diet coke I'd had that afternoon, I was still good to go, so we watched 10 Things I Hate About You, which we both enjoyed, so it was a win-win situation! Overall, I had a great night! Date nights are always great and my girls did a great job at the craft fair!

My Family Came to Visit

This past week was UEA, so my parents and siblings (minus Jenn and Adam, who had school, and obviously Elder Stone :)) came to Cedar to visit. They rolled into town Thursday afternoon. We just hung out  that afternoon and went to the Hong Kong Buffet for dinner. As always, it was delicious. I love me some Chinese food! After dinner I went over to their hotel to swim (Cass stayed here to do homework). Jordyn was a chicken at first, but then she warmed up.

Friday Cass still had class, so my mom and I planned for our activities to stay local, thinking we could go to St George and on our hike on Saturday. So we went to the Iron Mission Museum that morning. Dad thought it was super cool. Jordyn liked the Shakespeare exhibit and dressing up. Ammon and Matthew just liked the candy from the gift shop. Next we headed up to Park Discovery so Jordyn could play. She had a blast-- and Ammon even played on the tire swing! That afternoon we saw Footloose. I thought it was great. The dancing was awesome. Oh I miss it!

That night we all went to Mexican and then back to the pool. Cass came and Ammon even came down to the pool for a little bit.

Saturday we were supposed to go to St George and to the Lava Tubes, but my parents' van was being a butt, so they decided it would be better to just head back to Mapleton. Good thing they did -- the engine burned up and died in Nephi!

It was great to have my family come down and visit! Love you guys! Ya'll come back now, ya hear?

Things I Love

1. When Glee does West Side Story . . . mmmmm :) 

2. Teaching my dance classes; the girls are so cute and are quickly adapting to the way I teach and what I expect from them.

3. Reading Books [duh]

4. My Family -- Old & New! 

Wii Like to Party!

For  my birthday, Cass got me Just Dance 2 and Super Mario Brothers for the Wii. I've played the dance games before; my mom has The Michael Jackson Experience and Just Dance Broadway. Just Dance 2 is more hit songs, but it's been really fun! I play the "Just Sweat" mode and it's great. Also, it has some African style dances and a Bollywood! Love it!

So we play Mario almost every night! But it's so crazy; I always get so frustrated! But it's fun and it's a great way for the two of us to spend time together! And if you have any hints on how to do better *slash* not get so frustrated . . . Lemme know!

And I want someone to play the dance game with! Cass won't play with me :( But I still like it! So . . . Wanna play? 

First Week of Dance Classes!

Tuesday

The first class I taught was the JBT, or Jazz/Ballet/Tap, class for 11-14 year-olds.

Only two girls showed up, but we had a good time. 

Two more girls showed up for company (they had missed registration). We weren't going to hold company this week, but since they missed JBT (and the two other girls thought there was company) we had class. 

Since we're not starting on choreography yet, we did conditioning and across the floors.

It was a much more intense work out then I was planning on! 

But it was really fun to get out there and dance again! 

Unfortunately, I walked to the studio in some shoes I that are either too small or I haven't worn in (I'm not sure cuz I'm a flip flop girl) and I ended up getting a huge blister!

It's about the size of a quarter.

It's super gross. 

And it hurts. 

But other than that, dance class was great!


Wednesday
I only taught the one class, since we are holding off on company class 
until we have company.
I taught a JBT class to 1st-3rd graders.
There were nine of them, and they were chatty!
But they were super cute and it was great fun --
I'll just have to be patient with them until I instill silence in them! 
haha :) 

Thursday
Again, I only taught one class, but today it was my Broadway/Musical Theatre Class.
We had a wide range of dancers ages today.
Three 14ish year olds, and one 8 year old.
We had two more 8 year olds that didn't make it today. 
It was a blast though!
But so Jenny and I decided we'd split the class, so now I'll have
a class for the older girls, and a class for the younger girls.


Over all, this week was great teaching dance! I'm excited for the rest of the year!

So I Wish I Could Dance!

So somehow I missed that So You Think You Can Dance was on Hulu until about mid-July, but I've been watching it -- or at least the dances -- when I can. I mean, I enjoy the show, but I don't always enjoy the commentary. So sometimes [a lot] I skip it. Although I did enjoy some of the guest judges: Kristen Chenowith, Neil Patrick Harris, the red-head from Modern Family.  They're cute and snarky. Or I love broadway. Possibly both. :) 

I have always loved dance, but I just couldn't let it be my entire life.  Yet I still love dance and need it in my life. So sometimes it's inspiring [and sometimes it's discouraging] to watch others dance. But this fall -- in one week! -- I start teaching dance classes! I'm excited to make it a part of my life in a positive way, so here is some inspiration for you from So You Think You Can Dance!

1. I love group numbers!  

mmm . .  . Tyce Dioro

Just like Chicago!

And a nice moody contemporary piece

 

2. I hate Hip Hop but I *love* Contemporary Hip Hop

NappyTabs does it for me everytime

 

And who couldn't love this?

(And it's a beautiful cover!)

 

 

3. And who doesn't love a good-old-fashioned SYTYCD Contemporary love story?

4. A little commentary. Melanie won SYTYCD. And no doubt she is a gifted dancer, she's in many of these pieces. But sometimes she just drives me crazy! Like, I hate her! Why is this?? Maybe it's her hair . . . [wait . . . Mom? Jenn? Maybe does she remind me of someone we don't like?] But here she is, one last time

Mao's Last Dancer

 

Since it was my birthday yesterday, Cass decided we could splurge and redbox a movie. We chose Mao's Last Dancer, figuring as it was about China and Dance, it would appeal to both of us. And it did! I really enjoyed the movie. The dancing was beautiful, and at the end we realized it was based on a true story, so that's really cool! It isn't action-packed or overly emotional, but I thought it was a nice little international indie (is it indie? What is indie?) flick. It's about this boy, Li, who is taken out of his school and away from his family to go to Beijing to serve Chairman Mao by learning to be a beautiful ballerina. Li is good; he is flexible and graceful and has the emotional connection to the dance. Yet the teachers are not overly fond of Li and he is constantly being called 'pig head.' So he works harder. He sneaks out of the dorms at night to practice. And when an American company comes to Beijing, they love Li.  They choose him to come study with them, an exchange student of sorts, for the summer. And Li realizes that he loves the freedom of America much better than the strict regime of communist China. Watch the movie to see where Li ends up! (Oh I sound cheesy!)

Over all, I give it a thumbs up! (mostly for the beautiful dancing. *loves*) So watch!

Art and Entertainment

In my dance studies, especially concerning my thesis and Isadora Duncan, there is always the discussion of dance's role in society. Is it art? Is it entertainment? Is it art inherently? Does it aspire to be art? What is dance? and what makes it art?

I really think that any blanket statements about anything are going to be intrinsically incorrect. And with dance, it gets rather sticky. If you ask a dancer, especially a professional dancer, it is art, if not Art! (The A makes a difference) It is dance by its intent, and it is art in its nature.  I personally, have a very different view. I believe it is dance in nature and art and/or entertainment by intent. Three-year-old's dancing does not constitute art, sometimes not even entertainment. Drill team and cheerleaders performing at halftime? It is entertainment -- their intent is to entertain the crowd while the players are otherwise occupied. Modern Dance, however, can often be found artistic, if so designed, but is it not also entertainment? Or can one not enjoy the piece, rendering it artistic without entertainment? And what of other dance? Could a kickline be artistic? Can there be artistry in the lines found in the bodies of the dancers? In the beauty of a well executed kick or leap?

But then we get into the quandary of not fulfilling your expectations or intent as a choreographer. The choreography could be artistic but executed so horribly that it is not artistic or entertaining, or entertaining in its lack of artistry! 

All growing up I danced because it was fun. I enjoyed it and it gave me a work out. And I enjoyed performing. I definitely considered myself a dancer, and in a broader sense, an entertainer. Then I got to college and apparently everything I ever attributed to dance was wrong. I'm not a dancer [said with disdain]; I'm an Artiste!  But I just don't buy it. Dance isn't about art for me (I acknowledge that it can be and is for others).  Dance is for fun!! 

I just wish that the Artistes could see it from my point of view, too. Why can't my dance be entertainment because I want it to be? Because, honestly, what they consider to be Art can often be found a bore!