…you’re in a fender-bender and your first thought is, “Dammit! I better not have injured myself ’cause then I won’t be able to dance!”
Archive for February, 2009
You Know You’re Obsessed With Dancing When…
Posted in Life with tags Accidents on February 27, 2009 by KarmelaWhat Makes a Good Ballet Teacher
Posted in The Dancing Life on February 26, 2009 by KarmelaI’ve started to develop a groupie-like devotion to one of my ballet teachers I’ll nickname Señora Allegra, so much so that a week without going to one of her classes is a week without sunshine.
What makes her class great? It’s the combos, baby! They’re always graceful and fluid, PLUS — and here’s why she’s great while others are merely good — she gives us full 32 count combos for center routines.
Why is this good? Music is to dance the way food is to meals. Okay, you can actually dance without music, but where’s the fun in that? La Señora, if I may continue my food analogy, gives us a complete meal, 32 count combos that leave us sated. I hate it when a teacher gives me a 24-count combo. Music for ballet always comes in four eight-count increments. If I only dance to three measures instead of four, the movement feels incomplete.
Which is the genius of Señora Allegra. Her routines make sense and feel natural. You can tell her strong sense of musicality by the combos she unveils. Love them. Wish all ballet teachers were like her.
Superbeginner No Longer
Posted in The Dancing Life with tags Ballet Class, Lady Cheerleader on February 25, 2009 by KarmelaRemember my ultrabeginner class on Tuesday nights with Lady Cheerleader? I went again last night after a two-month hiatus and guess what? I found the class way too easy for me. I missed lots of the things that are normally included in an advanced-beginner class: the complicated port de bras, the long barre patterns that grow more complicated the second go-round, the double frappés, the lightning-quick degagés. At the center, I missed the moving-across-the-floor exercise, pirouette en dedans, chainés turns.
Which can only mean one thing: in the five months since returning to ballet, I’ve improved. Yay! Now if I can only nail that double pirouette already. And make my left arch stop hurting in the middle of class.
Fundraising
Posted in Fundraising on February 24, 2009 by KarmelaBecause I love Science Boy’s ballet school so much, I have agreed to co-chair a fundraising event for them this spring. It’ll be a swing dance party with a book sale, silent auction and door prizes. I’ve done fundraisers for nonprofits before so I know what the job entails, which also means I know the enormity of the task and how exhausting it will be. The most daunting part of it will be soliciting free food and drink for the party — good thing I work in an office complex with lots of nearby restaurants.
Fundraising for small arts organizations is always a challenge even in the best of times, and in this terrible economy, the job has become even tougher. And yet never has the need been greater. I’ll keep this blog posted on our progress. Wish us luck!
Disappointing Swan Lake
Posted in Performances with tags ABT, Swan Lake on February 23, 2009 by KarmelaGod, I can’t believe I haven’t posted in such a long time! I’m going to post more often, but I’m going to post much shorter pieces. Unfortunately, it’s all I have time for. Let’s see, today’s topic is…
ABT’S PERFORMANCE OF SWAN LAKE, Sat., Feb. 21, 7pm.
Nina Ananiashvili as Odette/Odile, Jose Manuel Carreño as Siegfried.
My impressions: The corps was phenomenal. Loved them. The performance of the Pas de Quatre was stunning. But the leads disappointed me. I went into the performance willing to forgive 48-year old veteran ballerina Nina Ananiashvili’s technique, sure that because of her age, she might not have the extensions and power, but that her experience and wisdom will result in great passion and drama instead. She was wonderful as gentle Odette, but her Odile totally lacked fire and drama. Totally left me flat. And Carreño’s performance equally disappointed. I expected a lot more power and aplomb from him. Instead I got…meh.
If I’d known when I’d bought the tickets which performances starred which leads, I would have picked either the Michele Wiles or the Gillian Murphy show. Ah well. Lesson learned.
Dancing Weekend
Posted in Performances, The Dancing Life with tags Ballet Class, Filipino Folk Dancing, Hip Hop Class, Showcase on February 3, 2009 by KarmelaThis past weekend was one helluva dancing one. Let’s break it down:
FRIDAY NIGHT: Ballet class with Lady Glissade. It was our last one of the semester and she’s moving me up to Ballet 2. For our last class we did something really fun, a pás de bas for our adagio and a jumping fouétte turn for the across-the-floor section. I was so confused at first and kept turning it into a tour jeté, but I eventually got it somehow.
SATURDAY: After a morning of Intermediate Ballet with Lady AD, I trekked all the way downtown for five hours of folk dancing with the kids from my college alma mater. Fun, fun, FUN! First off, we warmed up and did some stretches. Then I learned their names, talked to them about shoes and strengthening their fingers (for clapping the castanets), then we started to dance. Whew! Despite Gatorade and energy bars, I felt my energy waning towards the end. Next time I’m going to bring a full meal with me. Nothing boosts like food. I didn’t have an opportunity to take pics or videos but will do so next time.
SUNDAY: My show! The four hip hop classes at my home studio put on a little showcase for friends and family. It was so much fun! Loved it. Here, take a look:
Whew! I was definitely feeling the pain Sunday night. Everything hurt — hips, feet, sore muscles, achy shoulders. Thank god for Advil, eh? But so, so, so much fun. Dancing = Karmela’s soul. What would I rather be doing than dancing? Nothing.
