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Hey guys! Anne here:) So, my computer decided to break so I can't blog as much, BUT luckily my boo let's me use his laptop whenever I need it. High five, boifriend, high five.

ANYWAY! As you know, I'm putting A LOT on my plate this semester: I am doing Taste of the Arts, Midsummer Night's Dream, Dance Showcase, AND Nutcracker all while trying to maintain my grades. I thought it'd be helpful for you guys to have a little brief explanation of all the shows and what I'm doing in them. yaayyyyyy!

Taste of the Arts: This is an event to raise money for all the arts at Darton College! Majors from the Theatre program, the Art program, the Music program, and (you guessed it!) the Dance program! The theme this year is Roaring 20s. Doesn't that make you want to die?! I am so excited! The Dance program will be doing three pieces all inspired by 1920s pieces! One of them is a ballet number and we have to wear 1920s inspired swimsuits which means SWIM CAPS! YAYYYY!! We are also doing a modern piece which is inspired by Salvador Dali and it's sooo cool. It is very geometric and awesome. The third piece, which I couldn't be in but Brianna is in, is a Charleston musical number! It's super cute!:) What's really awesome about this performance is that it is on my birthday:) Oct.1,2010 is the date, yo!
Here's the website: http://atasteofthearts.org/

Midsummer Night's Dream: The Theatre and Dance program are always trying to be collaborate in showings and Midsummer is perfect! It is by Shakespeare and it is freakin' hilarious. Most of the dance majors are fairies:) Brianna is Titania, Queen of the Fairies, and I'm Puck! This is my first straight play and my first role in a play sooo I'm really excited. And there are hopes that I will fly!:) It will be Nov.11-13. YAY!

Dance Showcase: This is basically a show that has everything in it! Dance majors are choreographing stuff and we are always doing stuff from Taste of the Arts. Brianna is choreographing a piece, but I will let her talk about that:) I'm really excited about the dance for my ballet class. We are dancing to Train's "Marry Me." We are all in this knee-length wedding dresses. There is only one guy in our ballet class (perks of living in South GA) and he is supposed to be our ideal guy. It is so beautiful and breath-taking! It's going to be Nov. 19-20!:)

Nutcracker: I was asked to be in FRDA's Nutcracker! But due to my crazy schedule, I couldn't get all the parts I really wanted. But I am in Snow, Flowers, and Lead Bon-Bon. Don't look up Bon-Bon, because all that will come up is Mother Ginger. The choreographer made a new variation because some many people are in it. I'm really excited! It is going to be Dec.10-12!:)

Pictures of all of these fun events will be posted:) Oh and I promise that I will get a picture of my arabesque improvements soon too!:)

Here's the PERFECT signing off picture:


Hugs, Kisses, and Classy Dancin'!
Anne:)

Hi my name is Brianna, and I'm a dance major.

I feel this title is appropriate, because I feel like I have exposed myself to something highly addicting and intoxicating: being a dance major. Like Anne said in her absolutely hilarious post, I suddenly want to be in everything. I'm actually surprised at just how many pieces I'm involved in, but at the same time, I feel like there is so many more I could be doing. So, for you, I will do a pros and cons list of being a dance major. Sorry, I'm too lazy to find hilarious pictures like Anne did.

PROS:
1. Getting credits and grades to dance.
-This is the best thing that could have possibly ever happened to me. Especially since I want/need to get my gpa up.
2. Constantly having the need to be in shape.
-As Anne stated, we have to have 28 hrs. of cross training.
-I really love to exercise.
3. Pushing yourself to a higher level.
-There are so many different levels of experience in our dance department. You learn from all levels. Sometimes it's what not to do, others it's to remind yourself that there is always a higher bar to reach!
4. Learning how to put my ideas out there.
-I'm an extroverted person, yet sometimes my own choreography ideas intimidate me. That's changing.
5. Just going for it.
-Sometimes, even if you don't feel confident about a step or combination, you just have to go for it and see what you're really capable of. You'll be amazed at what you can do.
6. Being able to actually put all my pieces together and see my choreography performed.
-Nuff said.

CONS:
1. Being sore frequently.
-Sore muscles, marley burns, and bruises have become my best friends.
2. Not having free time.
-What's a social life again?
3. Never having enough dance attire.
-Like Anne said, I see everyone with amazing dance attire and I suddenly NEED everything. I spent about $90 dollars on dance/workout clothes today. Take it in.
4. Lulu Lemon
-Old Navy eat your heart out. I wish I would have spent $90 bucks here...is it too late to return my purchases?
5. Just not feeling it.
-Sometimes, I just don't have the energy to go and dance my heart out.
6. Late night practices.
-Some of my dance practices are until 10 at night.

There are so many pros and cons, but overall I LOVE being a dance major. I guess this would fall under pros, but it feels absolutely amazing to go to school everyday to better yourself and do what you love more than life. Breathe dance, live dance, be dance.

-Brianna

Stuff Dancers DONT Like

Brianna and I have just started school and have been thrown into a whirlwind of dance productions! It is so exciting and just where we want to be:) To be funny, I thought I'd make a list of what dancers DON'T like. Enjoy!

10. Not Being Able to Do Everything
Ok, this is so me. A lot of dance majors are doing choreography this semester, and I want to be in all of their pieces! They all seem like a challenge (emotionally and physically) and it is so sad that I can't be in all of them! But I know that I can't overload myself and I hate it! Darn you, BALANCE!
Which brings me to my next subject:

9. No Time
Just started school, and I am already involved in a number of pieces which means long rehearsals. My laundry hasn't been done and my room is a mess. Messy room+dirty clothes= mad Mama Beth. Oh, and even though my boyfriend and I go to the same college, I haven't seen him for like a week. All we have been doing is talking on the phone. So, No Time= Mad Mama Beth and Lonely Boyfriend.


8. Melting Water Bottles
So, I just got this new cute water bottle. I used it every day and I loooved it. My mom was trying to help me out and washed it in the dishwasher. I woke up to find that it had melted! So I had to buy some SmartWater because you just can't throw those bottles away!:)


7. The Gym
As a part of being a dance major, Jennifer (the director of the dance dept.) wants all dancers to do cross training. She does this so that we will become stronger and less likely to injure ourselves. I have to go to the gym 28hrs this semester. I know it's for good, but I still hate it. n I guess because I'm still scared I'm going to end up looking like some body builder...even though I've been told I will not.


6. Jobless....?
Before I start this one, I technically DO have a job. I teach dance for an hour once a week. But that's it. And I looooove it! Anyway, this is more so for the other dance majors:) Due to performances and rehearsals, it is hard for a lot of dancers to maintain school, dance, AND a job. I know some people do it, but I am not one of those people! One of my friends just had to quit her job so that she could participate more in the program. I guess it's BROKE artist before STARVING artist!;)

5. Not Getting a Certain Step
My problem is that I make steps too "pretty" or too "ballerina." SO FRUSTRATING! I try and I try and I still look like I belong in a tutu! It wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't in my modern or dance improv. class! I hope I will be able to transfer my steps to modern better....seriously.

4. Realizing You Need More Dance Supplies
I look at all the dance majors and see their cute supplies, and suddenly, a want turns into a need. A fellow dance major had these leg warmers that covered her whole leg and had a drawstring on them! I can't find a picture of them online but holy cow they were cute and would come in handy!


3. Not Remembering Steps or Timing in a Dance
Happens to me all the time. And I don't realize that I have missed a step until it's too late. Wah wah waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh.

2. Physical Ailments
Trying to do ANYTHING with a physical injury is hard, but I often find it hard to be a dancer with such injuries. I am recovering from TWO right now: scratched cornea and pulled hamstring. With my scratched cornea, I can't wear my contacts, so I have to wear glasses while in dance class which becomes a problem. They get in the way and I have to take them off for partnering or spins. So bothersome.
On WebMD, it says to stop doing the activity that caused you to pull your hamstring. But I'm a dance major, I can't stop dancing ever! I enjoy it far too much. But come auditions, I have to dance full out which really hurts the next morning!
For your pleasure: I was really sensitive to the light at first, so this was what my eye doctor told me to wear until I was able to be in the light.



AND THE NUMBER ONE THING STUFF DANCERS DO NOT LIKE IS:
1. Pointe Shoe Damage
True Story: I was running to get out of the rain (which was like bullets of water) and one of my pointe shoes fell out on the road. I didn't realize this until I got home that night. The next day, my friend texted me saying that she found my pointe shoe. I ran to go meet her only to find that my poor shoe had been hit by a car. I have never been so upset in my life! Luckily, a fellow dance major accidentally ordered the wrong sized pointe shoe which just so happened to be my shoe and my size! HOLLA!:) But here is my poor, poor, poor pointe shoe who was hit:


Moment of silence please? ......thank you.

Well, I hope you were able to laugh a little and relate to this!
Hope you enjoyed!
Hugs, Kisses, and Uninjured Bodies!
Anne:)