Nutcracker Season is Starting!

Hey everyone! Like the title says, Nutcracker season is about to start! I'm so exited this year, I can't wait. The official castlist went up on Saturday, my Facebook feed was filled with girls from the company posting about their parts! It was very bittersweet for me, because I couldn't join the company, I was only able to dance one part, Soldier Doll. The girls in the Jr. and Senior company are the only ones who can get any major roles, so unless you shell out $1,000 for summer intensives, you can't be anything but a soldier. I was am "Extra Soldier" last year, mostly I just marched around and then stood on stage. This year, due to a lack of soldiers, I'll most likely be a "Dancing Soldier" which I suppose is an improvement from last year! Hopefully I'll be able to join the company next year and dance something a little bigger, like Snow, Flowers, or one of the country dances.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to Nutcracker! Have any of you started rehearsing? Tell me what parts you got in the comments!

Perfection

Hey everyone! Last week, during my Tuesday ballet class I was thinking about how ballet is a very precise art. Everything is very "set in stone", if you know what I mean. There is a perfect way to do everything, from a simple passe to a fouette en tournant. I think ballet dancers in general love ballet for its perfection, beauty, and grace. Otherwise, why did we pick ballet and not lyrical, jazz, or hip-hop? Even though most of us ballet dancers strive for perfection, I think it's important to remember that nobody is perfect, even the best ballerinas mess up sometimes. When you're having a rough ballet class and nothing is going right, just remember that we want perfection, but we should aim for the best that we can be. 

Classes Updates

Hey guys! So Monday and Tuesday I had my ballet classes. I think I mentioned before that our studio has a new owner. I was very curious as to how things would change with him in charge, and I'm starting to see some differences. We now have uniforms. We need to wear a specific leotard, this one, in the color burgondy on Monday, and any black leotard on Tuesday. I sort of like the leotard (not a fan of the sleeves though). It covers bra straps and is very flattering and supportive. I am a little disappointed though because I can't get any cool funky leotards for class (like this one, on sale for $8!)

Other differences include a "back to basics" type attitude. We aren't allowed to do double pirouettes in class until our singles are "perfect", despite most of the girls in the class having very good single and double pirouettes. We've also started simplifying chaine turns by keeping our hands on our hips or shoulders instead of out in first. This policy kinda gets on my nerves, because I feel like most of the people in my class can do the basics pretty well.

Another difference is the leveling. Last year, the levels were pretty weird. There were levels 1, 2, 3, and 3a, and also intermediate and advanced. I was in 3, moving to 3a. Now the levels are 1-7, with me at 4. I like this new leveling because it means, if I go up a level a year, that I'll be in 6 when I graduate, which is only one level from the top.

I really love pointe. I'm the only girl in my class that is actually on pointe, all the other girls have pre-pointe shoes. We only do pointe for 20-40 minutes during Tuesday classes, and now most of it is barre work or chaines across the floor. Pointe is definitely a lot of fun though, I can't wait until we move on the the bigger things.

Tell me how your classes are going in the comments!

First Class of the Season!

Hey everyone! I just got back from my first class at the  academy this season. It was 6:30-8:30, so I'm pretty tuckered out. We had a different teacher today, the owner of the academy actually taught my class. It was a little different because of that, and it seemed like I hadn't taken a class in forever! It took me a while to warm back up to ballet. There were 5 other girls in my class, around 11-13. Only I and one other girl were on pointe, the rest were demi-pointe. We did a normal 90 minute class and 30 minutes or so of pointe exercises and strenthening. About 10 minutes to the end of class while I was doing grand jetes across the floor, I heard a "snap" and looked down at my pointe shoe to see one of the ribbons had come unattached to the shoe! I finished the jetes very poorly and went over to untie my pointe shoes and had to finish the class in flats. 

Overall, it was a good class and I'm glad to be back to ballet! Anything cool/fun/interesting/weird happen in your first class or first class of the season? Tell me in the comments!

The Dance Season is Almost Here!

Hey everyone! I know it's been a long time since the last post, but nothing dance related has been happening lately! I am officially registered for dance, and my first class is Monday. Unfortunately, because of limited funds, I can only take two classes a week this year :/ Hopefully I'll start working soon, and then maybe I can move up to three for the second half of the year. It's a blessing and a curse type situation, because even though I get to dance less, I'll get to focus on my classes more. Since I'm taking 4 honors classes and a AP class, I need all the studying time I can get. Plus now I can start applying for part-time jobs.

My classes are Monday from 4-5:30 and Tuesday from 6:30-8:30 (late, right?!). Both classes are at the academy and are level 4, which at my academy is beginner and pre-pointe level. The academy was sold at the end of last year, so there is a new directer (but I have the same teacher). So there have been a bunch of little changes, like, for example, we now have uniforms. On Monday we have to wear burgundy leotards, and Tuesday is black.

These are my pointes! Bloch Serenades,  size 3.5. I'm modeling the right one. Sorry about the weird shadows!

Last night I finished re-sewing my pointe shoes because my elastics weren't quite right. I did some strengthening en pointe last night and today, I can't wait to get back to class and learn more en pointe!

Are your classes starting up again? Or are you starting classes for the first time? Tell me about it in the comments!