Alabama Dance Festival

Brianna here! This past week dance has COMPLETELY consumed my life ten times more than it normally does (which I didn't think was possible!) I've had two amazing events happen in the last two weeks that I'm going to break into two posts (I don't like lengthy posts) So here's the low down on the Alabama Dance Festival:

Last weekend, I went with my dance instructor to Birmingham, Alabama for a dance conference. I felt really anxious because I had never really been to a conference for dance and I feared that I would be way out of my league. Luckily, I didn't feel that way at all! I took 4 classes and they were all such an amazing experience!

Modern Partnering: My modern partnering class was instructed by Margi Cole and it was SUCH a great class! Margi had an amazing personality that made you feel comfortable and her warm-up exercises made me really aware of my body and the connection that my body has to itself and the floor. Unfortunately, we learned a lot that I had already been taught about modern partnering but it was really nice to be able to focus on the basics to perfect the basics!

Musical Theater Jazz: I. Love. Musical Theater. There, I said it and I'm not ashamed. But this class was the one class I really struggled in, and it may be due to the fact that my instructor was Jeff Shade who was trained by THE Bob Fosse...I know-I died a little too. He was brilliant and amazing, but he moved so quickly in choreography that sometimes I just couldn't pick up. Though I struggled in it, I wouldn't trade the experience of taking a class from him ever!!

Creating With Intent: This was one of my absolute favorite classes! It may have something with that fact that it was a class on choreography! My instructor, Diana Green really made me extend my thinking as a choreographer and really taught me how to envision what I want before I tell my dancers what I want. I wish I could take more classes from her. The link I posted is to her book she has recently finished writing. I'm buying mine A.S.A.P.! She also really inspired me because she told me that I would make a great choreographer one day and that made me smile from ear to ear for the whole weekend!

Contemporary Lyrical Jazz: My last class I took was extremely intense, but it became so emotional for me as a dancer. My instructor, Derek Mitchell really inspired me as a dancer, and that's not something I ever really feel (as a dancer). he felt strongly about us not watching ourselves in the mirrors because we (especially girls) like to like to ourselves when we look in a mirror and tell ourselves things we think we need to do to approve how we look, so why would we think differently just because we're dancing. He really wanted us to be raw with our dance and to not hold back. As soon as I actually did that, I truly felt the choreography and it was the only time I didn;t really struggle with the choreography. He really helped me find that drive as dancer and he helped me to remind myself to keep pushing.

I also got to watch the Merce Cunningham Company and they were breath-takingly amazing and there are not enough words to express how intriguing their performances were! Since the Alabama Dance Festival I have felt so driven to push myself beyond my limits as a dancer because that's the only way you can improve yourself. Always push, always persevere, always stay determined!

To drive and hardwork!

Brianna<3

Finding Balance

Hello everyone! My oh my how quickly time has been flying! Well this year my life is going to be completely insane! I thought I had done a super amazing job making an awesome schedule, but I'm already having conflicts! I have 22 credit hours, 3 jobs, and dance practices. The problem I'm having currently is that I can't be in certain dance pieces I was originally in because I'm working. It sucks SO bad. So now what I'm learning is that I may have a very organized schedule but, especially with dance/dance practices, certain parts of my schedule are going to fluctuate. So next semester I'll be more prepared to learn how to balance my schedule. The key to remember is that an organized schedule doesn't mean a balanced schedule. I honestly didn't take in the account of having harder classes meaning more homework and study time, or making sure I leave time to eat and sleep! So if you're like me and Anne and love to have a lot of stuff on your plate, make sure you're still well balanced to be able to SUCCEED in everything you've put on your plate! To well balanced lives and schedules!

Brianna<3

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

"Big girls you are beautiful"

Brianna here! As Anne explained, I have been in lack of internet access BUT not anymore! [: So I'm not exactly a size 2 or a size Anne [; But I was watching SYTYCD and this bigger girl auditioned and she was an absolutely beautiful dancer. She came to life when she danced and that's completely how I feel when I dance. I come alive. Well when she danced it really hit home with Mia Michaels who also struggles with weight. As a matter of fact, Mia Michaels never got a job because of her weight. So she became a choreographer...a creator of these beautiful pieces. If you don't know me, I plan on getting my degree in choreography. I create dances in my head ALL. THE. TIME. If I'm with you and I'm being quiet, I'm probably creating a dance. If my eyes are closed or I'm staring at something random, I'm probably choreographing a dance. Choreographing is part of my passion for dance. I'm constantly observing other choreographers (like Mia Michaels) and learning how to create different things with my dances. I've rambled too much. Anyways, I know with my weight, and my lack of technique, etc. that I will never be an incredible dancer. As a choreographer, Mia Michaels already inspires me so much. She thinks so similar to me (or vice versa). The emotion she puts through her pieces, the understanding she has for dance being from the heart and not just from being a beautiful dancer.
So, all those girls out there who know what it's like to not have the ballerina body, if dance is your passion, look at the other ways dance can be a part of your life and what you can do with it. Don't be discouraged. If dance is birthed inside of you, you can use it [:

"I wanna feel music to know what it taste like."

Brianna here! If you watched the premiere of "So You Think You Can Dance" this season, then you saw the black, deaf guy that auditioned. I sat there, texting Anne the whole show, critiquing each audition. Then, I saw him. At the end of his audition, I had chill bumps all over me and tears in my eyes. I don't know if it's the fact that I also have a high interest in the deaf and sign language or what, but I suddenly had a revelation after watching him dance. I suddenly realized that everything I have been dealing with in my head, everything that overwhelms me, that it was okay...because I have dance. I don't only dance because it's my passion or because I love praising God with my dancing. I dance because it's what makes sense to me. If I can just dance, I know that I'm okay. Everything suddenly becomes so clear and real to me when I dance. I face my problems when I dance. I face my fears. So if you're out there, no matter what you do, be it dance or not, never lose sight of why you do what you do. Always keep that inspiration alive, the fire. Learn to FEEL to know what it TASTE like.