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
Showing posts with label stuffdancerslike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stuffdancerslike. Show all posts
Friday, February 4, 2011
Monday, September 6, 2010
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
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
Friday, August 6, 2010
New York New York!!
Brianna here! I'm soso sorry it's been a billion and one years since I've posted something. Anne and I have been pretty busy getting ready to start college and everything. Things are finally starting to slow down, and I have time to write! So at the beginning of July, I went to *sigh* New York...you need to know my heart is completely taken and it is aching for the Big Apple!!! While I was there I saw two shows: Mary Poppins (magical) and American Ballet Theater's Romeo and Juliet (no words). I'll start with Mary Poppins:
Think of any fantabulous word and you just described Mary Poppins on Broadway. Not only do I absolutely love musical theatre, but of course I L-O-V-E the dancing. The choreography was absolutely astounding. I sat there bedazzled and in awe in my seat. I cheered, I clapped, whooped, and hollered...especially after the number, "Step In Time", an absolutely incredible tap number...did I mention Burt (played by Christian Borle)tap dances on the ceiling?!! Yeah, I know! Not to mention whenever I watched the number "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", I thought to myself, "How did the choreographer come up with that?!?" So incredible. One thing is for sure and that the choreographers on Broadway know what they are doing, and they are good at it...but then again, it IS BROADWAY!! I highly recommend the show!
And then there was the American Ballet Theater production of "Romeo and Juliet." Though ABT did present it, it seemed to mainly be students from there school and summer programs. And though I didn't see any principal dancers such as..oh I don't know Gillian Murphy, the ballet was beyond incredible. Since "classy people don't woo" (which is what I told my father), I oohed and awed and repeatedly stated, "Oh that's so beautiful." over and over again. As always, not only did I sit in my seat and find everything that happened on stage unbelievably beautiful and impressive, but I was amazed by the choreography. It was so beautiful. For instance, when Juliet appears to be dead, her and Romeo are doing all these beautiful lifts. But, she has to maintain the appearance of being "asleep" while at the same time doing her job to keep her muscles tightened, and her feet pointed...it was just so amazing. If you ever have the opportunity to go see any type of professional ballet...GO! It will blow your mind...and make you want a ballet class right then and there.
Well that's all I really have to say. I wish I could have been a little more articulate, but there's only so many words to describe the experience of Broadway, or a ballet! See you next time! Oh! And here's Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins in the number supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkHV6THFoDs I saw Laura Michelle Kelly (the original Mary on broadway) and a different cast but I didn't think you would mind!! [:
Hugs and kisses,
Brianna
Think of any fantabulous word and you just described Mary Poppins on Broadway. Not only do I absolutely love musical theatre, but of course I L-O-V-E the dancing. The choreography was absolutely astounding. I sat there bedazzled and in awe in my seat. I cheered, I clapped, whooped, and hollered...especially after the number, "Step In Time", an absolutely incredible tap number...did I mention Burt (played by Christian Borle)tap dances on the ceiling?!! Yeah, I know! Not to mention whenever I watched the number "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", I thought to myself, "How did the choreographer come up with that?!?" So incredible. One thing is for sure and that the choreographers on Broadway know what they are doing, and they are good at it...but then again, it IS BROADWAY!! I highly recommend the show!
And then there was the American Ballet Theater production of "Romeo and Juliet." Though ABT did present it, it seemed to mainly be students from there school and summer programs. And though I didn't see any principal dancers such as..oh I don't know Gillian Murphy, the ballet was beyond incredible. Since "classy people don't woo" (which is what I told my father), I oohed and awed and repeatedly stated, "Oh that's so beautiful." over and over again. As always, not only did I sit in my seat and find everything that happened on stage unbelievably beautiful and impressive, but I was amazed by the choreography. It was so beautiful. For instance, when Juliet appears to be dead, her and Romeo are doing all these beautiful lifts. But, she has to maintain the appearance of being "asleep" while at the same time doing her job to keep her muscles tightened, and her feet pointed...it was just so amazing. If you ever have the opportunity to go see any type of professional ballet...GO! It will blow your mind...and make you want a ballet class right then and there.
Well that's all I really have to say. I wish I could have been a little more articulate, but there's only so many words to describe the experience of Broadway, or a ballet! See you next time! Oh! And here's Ashley Brown as Mary Poppins in the number supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkHV6THFoDs I saw Laura Michelle Kelly (the original Mary on broadway) and a different cast but I didn't think you would mind!! [:
Hugs and kisses,
Brianna
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