In the Heights

As promised, below is my review of In the Heights:




Either I haven't been around good theater lately or In the Heights is one of kind. I can honestly say that it has been a REALLY long time since I have completely enjoyed a musical from start to finish. Everyone has been encouraging me to see this musical since its conception and, for more than a year, the stars hadn't aligned; until tonight. I enjoyed every minute of it and I must say that part of it was thanks in part to the successful flow that remained throughout the show. I was never bored or wondering what the next scene was. This musical kept me wanting more by balancing their slow song sections with the high energy ones.

One thing that really stood out about the musical was the versatility. Of course the musical is deeply rooted in the Hispanic culture but the storyline touches on a variety of socio-economic issues that are not culture specific such as education and economic survival. Maybe it's because I am a college student that is, A) about to graduate and B) at one point had to reevaluate my college experience in order to come to the conclusion that I would need to transfer. Although the story lines don't match perfectly, they both parallel each other and provided a connection between me and the musical.

Another element of versatility was in the dancing. Thank you Andy Blankenbuehler and Luis Salgado(Latin dance choreography) for the combination of hip hop, jazz, latin, AND contemporary. I loved seeing such different types of movement fused together in one show. Now I understand why the audition postings always recommend that you see the show before auditioning. I'm almost happy that I have, in the past, been unable to attend the audition. I learned so much about the show and casting while watching it. It is truly unlike any other musical.

Overall, I can honestly say that I left the theater wanting more and now have the songs of In the Heights imprinted in my brain. Boy can those singers SING! Forgot to mention this before, the strength of the entire cast is another asset. Aside from the great ensemble, the principles are breathtaking between their singing and acting. Ugh, I just loved every minute of it.

If there's one show that really made me want to jump up on stage, its In the Heights. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. With so much versatility, everyone is bound to love at least one, if not all aspects of the show.

Starting Over

I'm going to try this again and actually attempt to post on a frequent basis. Right now I'm on Spring Break and, although I planned to do work every day, I'm finding it hard to actually get my work started. I have so much to do and so much to think about that my mind is on overload.

Today I'm going to see In The Heights with my mom and sister. I had been dying to see this since it opened but never had the courage to ask one of the "connections" I had if he could get me tickets. I always feel weird in those situations becuase I don't want the person to think I'm using them. Well it doesn't matter now since my mom ended up getting the tickets. I'm really excited to see this because I want to eventually audition for this show and they do recommend you see it first.

On the topics of auditions, I have gone to some but not all that I could be. It's April and I have no offical plans after graduation which isn't good. SO, I'm literally going to start putting the wheels in motion and getting my face out there. If I want to dance, I'm going to have to go out there and get it. That being said I'm going to my first agent audition on Saturday...along with everyone and their mother. Yes, that discourages me that there will be so many people but I'm gonna try and look past that because that is the very thing that intimidates me and prevents me from getting to the next level.

Considering this the beginning of a new start, I'm not going to harp on the past. ....well, TRY not to harp on the past. I will post my thoughts on In The Heights sometime tonight or tomorrow. I hope I enjoy it! The only reason I say that is because of certain other popular show that I saw and did not enjoy as much as I thought I would. I may be the only person on the planet that did not greatly enjoy Billy Elliott. It was good; I won't deny that but I was so disconnected from it. The best way I can describe it? To me, it felt like a movie on stage. Now that's neither a good or bad thing. The problem I had was calling it a musical. Yes there are songs and there is dancing but it felt more like a play to me. The music wasn't memorable or something that I'd want to buy and hear later on(being a merchandise sellar made me wonder how on earth they would be able to sell that CD). I really enjoyed the movie and I think if I was intending on seeing a play I would've really enjoyed it. But, I intended on seeing the typical happy-go-lucky, bright lights type musical. I will say though that because it seems to be a musical in its own category, I will applaud its attempt at a "new" definition of a musical. Sure fooled me.

Updates.

I will in fact be updating more frequently starting today...I hope.

Topics I need to discuss:
my internship
dance
auditions
school life
personal life

So much has happened and I need to keep up with this. I did say that I was supposed to document my senior year right? Yea, I'm going to need to stay true to my word!

Accepted, Rejected, or Waitlisted

I keep telling myself to update, but then I stop myself. Not because I don't want to blog but because I don't think I have time to take a moment for myself. Well...now I do. I'm going to try and recap but who knows how far that will go.

One thing that has really stuck with me for the past couple of weeks is something that a friend said to me. Every week when I'm catching up on life with my friend she will ask me, "so what's new, how was your week." And, everytime without thinking twice I will say, "nothing exciting." Recently, she asked me why I always say that whether it's true or not. My response was something along the lines of the fact that nothing really exciting is going on or that my definition of exciting is when something "amazing" happens to me. I'm literally still baffled by the question. This happened probably a month ago and I can't stop thinking about it. Why do I sell myself short? It's so easy for me to say that nothing is going on when really a whole lot has been happening. This one little comment has sent me towards a huge self-evaluation. I catch myself now when I get ready to say the same line if someone asks me how my life is. I have come to the realization that exciting things have happened to me but they just come in different forms. Instead of living like the glass is half full, I'm going to attempt to do the opposite and actually be happy for the little moments. If I continue to override these moments carelessly, I am basically overriding my life.

Aside from that haunting experience, things have been going fairly well (see I'm already trying to be positive). In terms of dance, I've solidified my spring schedule and have been going on auditions non-stop every Sunday for the entire month of February. I did it for the experience and so far all of them have been worth mentioning, no matter how good or bad they went. I'm finding out a lot about myself and, depending on the way I view it, these auditions have been life lessons. My first audition for Lines Contemporary Ballet's summer intensive was really exciting. From here I learned how much I would have loved their program. The audition made me enjoy ballet and just created such a good environment. I wasn't nervous or anxious but rather calm and able to enjoy the "class." The result was being waitlisted which I have come to take positively considering the, in my opinion, prestige-ness(I've created a new word) of the program.
Another exciting experience was taking a masterclass with Desmond Richardson of Complexions Ballet. This was an eye-opener as well because I came to realize again my love for this "new age" of ballet. I'm all for tradition but these contemporary barre techniques are teaching me so much. They are still rooted in tradition exercise but they take ballet to the next level for me. The choreography was great too. Personally, though, I felt I could have done better. I don't want to blame it on lack of food or being tired but near the end I wasn't as focused as I could have been. BUT, I will say that I was probably the most stretched out I had been in awhile from that barre warmup.
With all good moments, there always comes a bad audition right? Well...thats what happened when I went to LydiaJohnson. This was my first company audition and I really have no idea what happened but boy was I given a hard reality check after it. Everything started out fine and almost too "perfect" before I actually went to the audition. I was able to stretch and warm myself up before the audition. It felt like they stars aligned until I got into the room. Once we started learning the choreography, which wasn't difficult, I just wasn't connecting. I was trying to learn it and thought I had it, but I didn't. After going over it once or twice we started doing it in groups. Well I enventually went and it was probably my worst experience ever. I couldn't turn, the floor felt so slippery; I couldn't fully do the choreography as taught either. I was really surprised at myself but tried my hardest not to freak out. I still to this day cannot understand what happened to me. After I was cut I was dying to ask for a second chance, which you never do, but I was convinced that I deserved another try. I think because of that I am waiting for another audition to go back and prove myself to them. I know that they way I danced that day was no where near my ability and it eats me inside knowing that I could be perceived in such a way.
The final and most recent audition was for HubbardStreetDanceChicago's summer program. I was really excited for this one. They just seemed like a great opportunity, which they were. This one was very similar to Lines in which I immediately felt at home. The teacher was so nice and welcoming and really worked us. I was so comfortable. We did a ballet barre which I thought was traiditional but also non-traditional like the other auditions. We did a full ballet class and from my point of view and my friends, I was doing pretty well. I will say however that "breezay's" (I KNOW that's the wrong spelling) got the best of me which was a major downfall. But I still felt pretty confident throughout the entire audition so when I was cut, it was a quite surprising. The ones that catch you off guard are the hardest to let go of. I was really saddened that I didn't make it past because I thought I had a good shot. It was another moment in which I wished I could've know the reasoning behind the decision. I did however really enjoy myself so I should be grateful for that. I haven't been formally rejected yet so I still have some hope that I will at least be waitlisted which will restore some confidence in me. I know they were only accepting 70 in the entire program but it would've been nice to stick around and experience that unfamiliar glory of making a cut.

What the future holds for me in dance I really have no idea but I'm going to dance. I don't know when or how but I will. I have some auditions lined up and a huge one in May that I'm really looking forward to. For now, I better enter a ballet boot camp in order to fully prepare myself.

School, internship, and work are going well yet I'm still on the search for another job. I really want to try the "commercial" world so I am attempting to get my resume/picture ready to send out . My goal is to be financially stable by graduation and to hopefully have a job lined up that I will want to persue.

Until next time.

New Year, New Me-2009

Isn't it funny how when you flip through the months on a calendar, the year seems to have flown by so fast. I just sat here looking at my calendar from last year and really, they year did fly by! I can't believe it is 2009. So much is going to change for me this year. I feel like I've just sat down and strapped in to one of the biggest rollar coaster rides and it's about to creep up the first drop. Do you know that feeling? It's like the calm before the storm. I don't know what's to come but there's no turning back.

I finished "Letters to my Daughter" and it was fantastic. I absolutely loved the mini stories and the morals that came from it. I also read "Skinny Bitch" which was my way of finally taking a crash course in Nutrition. I must say I learned a lot and am more consious about what I am eating. I am also re-exploring vegetarian and vegan options. I like to experiment on what I feel are different lifestyles. It fascinates me. I've also been hanging out with my friend Dina who is kosher. I've learned so much about the Kosher diet just by being with her for 2 days. It's interesting to me when people claim they can't live without a certain food or drink. I used to be just like that but I enjoy giving up that type of food to see if it is a mental or physical urge. Of course it's mental. You think you can't live without meat or fish but really you can once you expand your mind to other food groups. If anything this book taught me to expand my perception of what I can and can't have in addition to exploring different food groups.

Aside from that, my wisdom teeth surgery was terrible. It was more painful than the first and I think I have a problem because I definitely still have a whole in my mouth. Ugh, just another thing to annoy me. I thought I'd have the surgery and be done but of course this situation is going to lag on.

In other news, tomorrow will be my first day stepping in front of a class and actually teaching. I thought this day would never come and I also dreaded it. But for some reason, I'm actually ready and excited. To me, it's a big step. And, isn't it ironic it is within the first few days of the new year. I'm subbing for 3 classes that I normally assist for BDC's child and teen program. I'm sure I'll report back with a full update.

I don't have much else to update on. I had a really fun week. I had a mini reunion with some friends from high school, enjoyed a fun Kosher New Years, and then a couple of adventurous days in the city. Next week Ailey restarts. I can't wait to get back to taking some classes there and seeing my friends.

Oh, some of my New Year's resolutions include finding a dance job, increasing my dance ability, decreasing my stress, enjoying life more, and I'm sure there's more but this is what I came up with.

1 semester down, 1 to go

My second to last semester ended on Wednesday. I can't believe it. I'm happy it's ending but I still can't figure out my life yet. It's so up in the air. I've never been so unsure of my life.

The worst part was finding out last minute that I had to sign up for another course because my spring internship would not count as an upper level Comm. elective, which I was told it did. Without getting into details let me just say that the MMC Administration is quite possibily the worst administration I have ever dealt with. They have done nothing but make my experience at MMC a terrible one. Aside from the actual classes themselves, I do not like the school. Sometimes I really wish I was still in Maryland but I know I would be so unhappy there because I'd be swimming in homework and papers that were beyond me. What I miss the most is the social life. I miss my friends, the parties, the atmosphere. I gave that up for my education which, I mean, is a good thing, but it's hard when I realize how much more fun I would've been having there.

So moving on, yes..I have one more semester at Marymount. I'll be interning at Atlantic Records and still doing work/study at The Alvin Ailey School and Broadway Dance Center. I really love being at Ailey. I have so much fun there and it makes me want to immerse myself in the dance world. It's hard balancing both school and dance but I try to make the most of it. I really want a chance to perform and be in the dance world but I don't know how to go about doing so. What would I do right after I graduate? I know I would audition but in the meantime, what else? What if Atlantic Records were to offer me a job? It would make sense to take it but then I'd be at a 9-5pm everyday with barely anytime to dance. OR should I take the summer to dance again and see where it takes me? Will it take me anywhere or will it just stall my decision? I'm grateful that I'm verstile and have various interests but it actually is a burden when I'm trying to figure what I should do with my life.

I'm attempting to enjoy the good moments in life as I sit here at home recovering from getting my wisdom teeth removed. I got the first 2 out in August and then this past Thursday, I got my last 2 out. Let me just say that this has been one of THE worst experiences in my life. I hate being in pain and not being able to sleep at night in addition to the sight of my one-sided chipmunk cheek. But on a lighter note I am home-home and that's good. I get to spend time with my family and relax without thinking about schoolwork.

I plan to read as much as I can over break. Recently I just started "Letters to my Daughter" by Maya Angelou. It was a gift from my mother and I'm enjoying it. I really love the chapter when she has a revelation that she could "be somebody one day." It was such a powerful moment because she basically had a fulfledged foreshadow. What was also a good point is that she commented on how she needed to stop smoking and drinking because she was going to be someone someday. It reminds me of the danceworld and how people say you have to literally eat, sleep, and breathe dance in order to make it. I wish I could do that but I feel I can't because it seems like it would be so unclear. I don't want to struggle, I want to make it. But, I guess you have to struggle and work hard to acheive the desired goal.

sigh...I have a lot to think about.

Moving at the speed of light

It has been way too long. I had a great Thanksgiving; it feels so nice to be home and escape the craziness of NYC and all that I'm constantly doing. I've been busy and having a lot of fun recently so I'm going to post and add some pictures to recap what I've been up to.

School- It's getting pretty stressful as I inch closer and closer to the end of the semester. I'm mostly focused on getting and internship for my final semester at MMC. I can only keep my fingers crossed that a) I get one and b) I enjoy it. Other than that, I have a couple papers I need to get through. I always get so stressed, I can't stand it. I want to go out and have a good times with my friends but I know I need to finish my schoolwork. What a struggle but I'm the queen of time managment so I will just have to balance the two.

Ailey- I've been running around so much I haven't had too much time to take all the classes I want. That will soon change because after all I ate on the Thanksgiving, I'm going to NEED to take these classes!

BDC- Assisting is really fun because I get to watch the class progress from a teaching point of view. I also have the ability to be a second set of eyes for the teacher. I like helping the kids improve. I also haven't been taking as many classes as I'd like to be because other things have been coming up, more on that later.

Work- I was really proud of myself the day before Thanksgiving. I helped make almost $3,000 on k1(kiosk 1). People were constantly buying things; it felt great to finally be selling consistently because in the last couple of weeks people haven't been that adement on buying merchandise from us. It's the economy. We have some awesome new items that I plan on buying for some Christmas gifts.

Now for some pictures:

This is Danielle, her friend Beth, and I at the NY Choreographer's ball aka Carnival on November 12th. This was so much fun because we got to see a lot of awesome dance groups including Urban Dance Alliance( I think that's what the name was, it's been awhile). The only downfall was that it was on a Tuesday so I ended class late, went to my apt, changed, and went back out. I really wanted to go so I sacrificed some sleep for it.

This is me and some of my Ailey friends. We went out for Oshi's(in the red) birthday and after a failed attempt to see our other friends perform at Julliard. We somehow missed it but the dinner was still fun!

A picture of the entrance to Brooklyn College. Here is where I did my first extras shoot. It was for the tv show "Fringe" and will hopefully be airing sometime mid-december. I had never been on a set as an extra before and I really enjoyed it. I played a student and I hope I get some airtime. This was why I didn't take dance classes on my usually free day. We shot for 7ish hours and I enjoyed every minute of it. I will hopefully be doing more extras work on Thursdays and Fridays since those are currently my free days. Since I have off in December and January I plan on keeping an open schedule so that I can do more work and get used to working on a set.

Yep, I voted for the first time! What an intense election. I thought it was great that all forms of media and communcation formed to get the point across that young people needed to vote. Fashion and music really stepped up to get their fans and viewers to vote and the result was a momumental amount of young voters voting for a next President which will be Barack Obama.

I also went to the Woodie Awards. I originally got a ticket because I was filmed saying the names of the bands that were nominated for the awards. I didn't end up getting air time for that but I had a great time at the awards. And, my old roomate from the summer was there with her friend so we finally go a chance to hang out. What was also great was the amount of new music that I was exposed to. I can now say that I'm an offically a fan of Santogold, The Cool Kids, Chromeo, Lykke Li and Vampire Weekend.

Finally, I got a chance to hang out with my friend Dina. We worked together a Chelsea Piers Sky Rink this past summer. We went ice skating at Bryant Park. It was my first time back on the ice since the summer. I missed it so much and definitely want to keep going.

That's pretty much all I've been up to. Things that are coming up soon:

Disney Holiday Party/Meeting...my works annual get together..although it's the first time I'm going.

Ailey opening night-I'm working a couple shows for the Ailey season and I can't wait. I'm sure all the performances will be breathe taking. Oprah Winfrey will be the honorary chair this year for the 50th anniversary and I can't wait to be there.

End of the semester- cross your fingers for good grades

and much more!