Thursday, January 28, 2010

January is coming to a close

Wow, January sped by. I can't believe it's February in less than 1 week. I feel like I've done so much in one month that I'm excited to see what lies ahead. As long as I keep motivating myself, I don't think I'll have a problem!

This week in the workshop I'm in we had 2 ballet classes, 1 theater, and 1 modern. All the classes were great but I CANNOT not go into detail about the modern class. Our teacher was Rosie Fiedelman who is currently in In the Heights and Jennifer Mueller/The Works. That sentence alone illustrates the amount of versatility this dancer has. Since I'm constantly talking about versatility and knowing different styles of dance, it was great to finally work with someone that had achieved something of great importance to me. I have so much respect for someone who has successfully managed to have a career in both styles. It may seem easy but being able to adapt to one kind of movement, such as modern, and then immediately switch to latin or hiphop movement really takes skill. It can eventually feel like simply turning a light switch on and off in your head but it doesn't start out that way. I can go on and on...but anyways. The phrase she taught us with very grounded and, like one of the people in the workshop said, included "sneaky technique." It wasn't one of those turn-turn-turn, leap and kick dances. One movement easily transitioned into the next movement. And, surprise surprise, I caught myself being able to breathe! This is a hugeeeee deal for me because 9 times out of 10 I am "fake breathing" or not breathing at all while I dance. (Fake breathing to me is when I let out or take in small breaths) This phrase allowed me to actually feel my lungs expanding while I was moving.

What was also really great about this class was that I felt the collective excitement from all the dancers in the workshop. We were overly talkative and rowdy, which I admit was getting us into trouble, but it was justifiable because we were so excited with the phrase. It's like when kids are at recess or in gym class, they are screaming and yelling cause they are having fun, they aren't mute lol. I also caught myself almost showing a giddy smile while waiting for the cue to start dancing. You know, that smile you have when you're just so excited about something and it feels like your beaming on the inside. That's exactly how I felt. I can't say it enough, but this program is so....I don't know the word, I'm just so grateful to be a part of it. We are being exposed to different teachers/choreographers/dancers that don't teach open classes or we haven't had the opportunity to take class from. It's also nice to be a part of an organization where you can meet other people who have the same passion as you. I can't wait to see what's to come; I actually look forward to Mondays now! That's going to be my new way of kick starting the week. Doing something fun and exciting on Monday's s it doesn't feel like such a drag.

Auditions are coming up and I feel even more eager to attend them. Although I will admit, I did make a pact to become incredbily versatile in hiphop/freestyle in time for a certain audition but I didn't realize it was coming up so soon! I know I should "dare to go beyond" but I still don't feel ready! sigh...I guess I still have some things to work on! I've 2 weeks to figure out if I'm going to go or not. We'll see what happens!

Monday, January 18, 2010

Hitting the ground, and running Part 2

Okay, this post is just going to be ALL over the place because I had SO much to say, and I don't even know how to say it.
Last week I stumbled upon a great opportunity with an organization known as R.Evolucion Latina. They were offering free workshops in singing, shakespeare, and dance. A couple of years ago I remember coming across this organization and they were offering classes. I remember emailing them and asking what level the classes were. They said open level, but typical me though that I wouldn't be good enough so I chose not to go. How interesting it is that I stumbled AGAIN upon this organization, only this time I knew I had to just try it. There slogan/motto is Dare to Go Beyond and that is exactly what's happening in my life right now.

There were 2 days of auditions and after the first day, I already knew I wanted to be apart of the organization. Everyone was so welcoming! We learned two contrasting pieces, one was lyrical jazz and the second was Latin. For someone who has never really explored latin dance, it has consumed my life in the past week and I love it. Now, I felt really at home with the first combination and completely out of place in the second. The latin was so fast and I felt like I had two left feet. Instead of just breathing and enjoying what I was doing, I was sooo my typical self..stressing out and only thinking of the steps. I began to learn after the audition, when we were discussing what just happened, what the program was going to be about. The workshop is heavily focused on self awareness and YOU allowing yourself to Go Beyond and reach the next level. This is actually one of my biggest problems in dance. I do the movement, I don't feel the movement. The funny this is that within the 2 days of auditions, ALL, I repeat ALL the choreographers/teachers had come up to me at different moments and asked me to "give more" and "let go." Now if that's not a sign of what I need to work on, then I don't know what is! Usually when people give me that critique, I'm just like ughhhh i dont know what to do but now I'm finally thinking WOW I need to work on this now or I won't get anywhere!

The second day of auditions was even more exciting than the first because there was so much anticipation as to what was going to happen. This time we did a contemporary jazz combo and a musical theater combo. Both were equally great. The Contemporary Jazz felt really good but then the musical theater combo was very fun and exciting. I sometimes forget that I love theater and was in musical theater camp growing up. I surprise myself when I get giddy when the music comes on because for the past couple of years I've been heavily based in modern, jazz, and contemporary. Again we stopped and discussed what was going on and this was when I realized I really need to work on myself and projected my dance externally and not internally.

Now I'm going to jump to today, the first day of the workshop. Boy were we worked out! We started with a theater piece and I just can't get over the interesting perspective that choreography can sometimes seem so foreign but once the music comes on it's like completely decoded. Amanda Turner was our teacher and it's almost like opening a present when the music comes on because there's so much excitement when you realize how well the movement goes with the music. I think I was definitely stiff to start with but as we continued to progress, I was loosening up. I forget sometimes that this like my new family, I'm not just in class.
The second class was with Carlos Sierra and we did a contemporary jazz combination. Wow, talk about beautiful. The movement was so expressive and when we would watch him dance it, it was above and beyond. The only thing that got in my way was the fact that I was so tired and hungry LOL. I kept thinking, I need to pull through this and it wasn't an excuse but man that was really dragging me down.

Anyways, I'm so happy to be apart of this workshop. It's for the next month and it just feels great to feel like I'm in a program and working on my craft. Being in open classes is great but you don't always feel connected to the class unless you take in on a regular basis. I'll be sure to post what goes on in the next coming weeks. This is something I definitely don't want to forget!

Hitting the ground, and running Part 1

Wow, the events in January have been a very good start to 2010. I don't even know where to begin. I've been doing well in the yoga classes. My body feels like it is slowly becoming more open with the more classes I take. And, I'm no longer struggling as much as I was when I first started. I will say however that I do prefer the Yoga To the People studios rather than the BikramYogaNYC studios and the main reason for that is that YTTP doesn't have clocks. I've been at BikramYoga for a bit and I've noticed I've become heavily concentrated on the clock. I'm not focused on "when are we gonna be done" but rather mindless stuff like "how long does this series take/last." It's not necessary for me to know that but because my mind wanders VERY easily, I've become fixated on that one, minute aspect of class. I prefer not knowing the time because of focus better. I guess for now I will just have to make pretend there's no clock in the room.

On another note this past week as been a major blessing in self awareness and my potential in terms of dance. I will start with a dance seminar I did through StageDoor Connections called "The Business of Dance." First off, StageDoor is amazing because they allow people the opportunity to experience a part of the entertainment industry that one would not be able to do normally. I've been keeping tabs on the different programs they've been having, whether a master class with a modern dance company or a singers program for dancers and I finally decided to try one of there programs.
Lucille Di Campli, an agent and I believe director of the dance department at MSA agency and Maria Torres led us dancers in a discussion of the ins and outs of the industry as well as a mock audition(but I think it was actually for real) for both of them. I can't stress how rewarding this seminar was. Lucille was so incredibly nice and provided us with so much information about the industry and what MSA does for their clients. She really broke the stereotypes of agents being "pushy" because she was so far from that. What's more is that she was a dancer too and has been in the business for many years. It just added to her credibility because she really knew what she was talking about.
Maria Torres really gave us the industry type feel in terms of dance. She didn't baby us with choreography, she threw it at us and we had to either grab it or go. It was great. We started with across the floor and even that was on the New York minute.  We did a Latin jazz combo that was so much fun! I was nervous I would be all over the place because of my lack of Latin knowledge but that wasn't the case at all. The entire time we were learning the combination and performing it both Lucille and Maria were giving us so much feedback, something you never/rarely get at auditions. They made it such a comfortable environment which was definitely needed when we had to go across the floor one at a time and just "show ourselves." Now I'm usually very hesitant with improv, but it's not like I could have avoided it so I just tried my best. I definitely learned a lot about myself and what I need to do to become more comfortable with the improv. The ladies also gave a different perspective on why people do improv and thus I actually came to appreciate it more.
Overall, I left on such a high. I didn't know what to expect going into the seminar but they surpassed my expectations immediately. I took notes, especially when it came to the business side of the industry. I always knew versatility was key but after hearing there stories about the crazy things people ask for, I'm really going to try and get myself to a point where I'm not just a type A dancer but rather someone who is just all over the place in terms of things to offer. Yep, that means I have to get back into singing. They way Lucille explained the whole "singing" bit put it into a better perspective. It's more of a you just have to do it rather then trying to avoid it.
In keeping up with what I learned, I plan on taking Latin dance and it's even more exciting to know that Maria will be teaching so I can start learning from her in a different environment. I will admit that dancing in heels(character heels), something I JUST started doing, is not easy but slowly I'm beginning to like it a lot.

Monday, January 4, 2010

A reminder of my goals for myself...

Happy New Year!

After an awesome, energy pumping conversation with my friend Katina last night, I thought it would be a good idea to list my personal goals for 2010. Now that I am out of school and it is a new year, I feel like I have so much power and the things I do are much more weighed. Something about the fact that I have 361 days to make huge improvements in my life has inspired me to be overly proactive in 2010. It's also just nice to talk with someone who has similar goals as you, so you can be each other's support system.

In 2010 I want to dance for a living, travel, and become fluent in another language. Possible? Yes, very much so. All I/we have to do is make it happen! 2010 is full of opportunities!

On a more regular topic, after receiving at 30 day bikram pass, I decided to start it yesterday. I started taking bikram in December so my body wasn't in shock, but it was interesting to try a new place. BikramYogaNYC is my new home for the next 30days, which, hopefully, will be 30 consecutive days. I want to get the most out of my membership! Like Yoga to the People, BikramYogaNYC has showers which are a must if you are going. All I need is showers and I am easily a happy camper. Both classes are run pretty which is nice so I don't have to think to much while in sweltering heat! The last thing you want to do is THINK while every part of your body is sweating.

Adding to more yoga in this post, tomorrow I, along with other yoga participants and Katina, am doing a promo event in Grand Central for Zendough, the first product ever to combine a consumer's credit reports and score, det management tools, and identity theft protection into one place, in a unique, at-a-glance format. Basically we are going to do a yoga demonstration during the hustle and bustle rush hour, should be tons of fun! What's cooler is that at the same time there will be another demonstration in Chicago.

Finally, I did a photoshoot last week for the first time. It was a group of us in a casual setting and it was tons of fun. I hope I will see the photos; the ones I saw while I was there were coming out really good. Twas a fun day and a nice way to end 2009.

Now, I'm off to take yoga, Day 2.