Florence Summer Dance

I don't know if I mentioned this on here, but I'm thinking about applying for a dance intensive in Florence next summer. However, it costs $55 to apply, which I can't afford. If any of you want to help throw a couple bucks towards helping me out, it'd be appreciated.

Last Day of Classes

Today was my last day of classes. I'm going to miss the kids in my ballet class so much, but hopefully I'll be in ballet again with a couple of them next semester... at 8 in the morning. Ugh. But no more classes (and only one more exam and one more paper) means that I'll have more time to work out. dance auditions are in February, so I gotta be thin by then!

Good News and Bad News

Bad news first; I want to end on a positive note.

Weight's back up. From the hurried check I did after class this morning, I'm around 143.5 pounds. Ugh. And it's all my fault. I've been stuffing my face like nuts lately. But my classes have been so stressful lately.

But there's also good news about classes. Ballet has been a blast, and my teacher likes me. Especially my name. Every time she calls roll or says my name, she sings it. Sometimes with a giggle. It's amusing. And what we're doing is so much fun. I get along with the kids in the class and while it causes my muscles to shake, it's a great workout.

Also, today a couple new kids added the class. Including a guy with a very nice butt. That's right, I said it. There's nothing like a fit guy in nothing but a t-shirt, tights, and a dance belt. Ooh la la. And while we were working at the barre, some of the dance majors from the composition class next to us sat in the lounge and were watching us. Including the cute guy I did swing and salsa dance with last semester. I caught his eye as he peered in through the door and we made our usual goofy faces (complete with raised and lowered brows) at each other. I've missed seeing him.

Tomorrow I've got a discussion (and a practice debate that I foolishly volunteered for) and my jazz class. Tonight, it's a cup of Mountain Dew and a couple aspirins.

Jazz Dance + Casting

I just got home from my first jazz class (that we actually danced in, that is). Today was really basic, but there are a handful of girls in the class who have never danced before, so we have to go slow. It's still fun, though, and still a good workout.

Tonight, in between my work-study and work, I'm going to check to see if the castings are up from the auditions. I'm really, really hoping I got cast in something just to have something to do, but I don't care either way.

Recent Happenings

On Wednesday, I had my first day of jazz dance. We didn't actually dance, but went over the syllabus and got to know each other. The teacher is super upbeat and all of the students seem really nice. A lot of them are freshmen, so I got to explain to them how to get into the building that the class is in (it's off campus and you need to scan your hand and have a pin number) and what shuttle to take. It was nice to be able to help. Also, the room we're in is gorgeous. It's got big, east-facing windows that let in a lot of light and hardwood laminate floors with a strip of marley flooring down the middle to dance on.

One of the main studios on campus has been having new marley floors put in for at least the past week. But yesterday afternoon, it was finally finished! That means that my ballet class was finally out of the tiny studio we were put in and back into the wonderful studio I love. And ballet yesterday was so much fun. I'm getting really close to a musical theater major guy in the class, and the extra room means we can pull the barres out and have a lot more space. Yesterday, ballet was almost nothing but plies. Lots of plies, releves, stretches, etc. We also did some across-the-floor stuff, leaps and skips and diagonally across the room even, like you see in movies. My thighs are still aching.

Today there were open auditions for the big show that the senior dance students put on. Anyone was allowed to come, so I spent two and a half hours having a blast with close to 70 other girls and guys. There were a number of past or current classmates of mine, one of whom had never been to an audition before. I had to reassure her that even if she doesn't get cast, she'll have fun and will never be able to say, "I've never been to one of these before" again. The entire process was so much fun. And afterwards, a couple of the choreographers came into the coffee shop I help out at while I was helping close up. I'm hoping the fact that I recognized them, said hello, and got them cheap delicious drinks will help me. One of them said I did really well, though I'm sure she'd say that to anyone she'd run into. But whatever.

Weightwise, I'm not sure how I'm doing. I haven't been eating much lately, but what I have been eating is all sugary and the like. I've been craving salt and sugar like it's nobody's business. But I've also been doing physical activity every day for classes, so there's a plus. I can't go tomorrow, but maybe I'll head to the gym on Sunday to check my weight.

Sorry, again.

It's been almost a month since I've posted. Yikes! So sorry!

Anyways, classes started two days ago, and I'm still sore. My ballet teacher is super nice and the other classes I had that day were enjoyable too. And I've hardly eaten anything. The nice thing about a busy schedule is that you can just say, "Oh, no time to eat now!" or "I'll grab something after my next class" and no one questions it.

I just got back from the university gym. The first thing I did was slip off my shoes and sweater and make my way to the big scale at the back of the locker room.

142 pounds.

Hells yes.

Sure, it's not nearly as much as I was hoping, but I was worried that all my summer bingeing would leave me over what I was when summer started. But that's not the case. And with 5 hours of dance and 2 hours of racquetball a week, as well as whatever dance classes I can make it to at the studio I work at and whatever various classes I can make it to at the gym on weekends, I should be burning calories like it's going out of style this semester.

We can do it!

Inspiration - Dance

Inspiration - Ballet

Sleep + Work-Study + Ballet

Finally got some sleep yesterday and last night. Not enough, but it's still better than nothing. Back to work today, so more bike rides. Also, this week I started my work-study at a dance company, which means soon I can start my ballet classes there. I do grunt work (cleaning, dusting, taking out trash, etc.) in exchange for free classes at the company. I'm very excited.

Pas de deux

I adore pas de deux. Basically, it's when two dancers dance together. And it requires girls to be light and guys to be strong.

Recent Events + Auditions

Hey girls. I'm writing this before I go to work, so it may be short. But I'll add details as I find the time.

I just wanted to let you know why I've been gone for a while. Remember how I posted about my anniversary? Well, for it I was planning on making spaghetti and meatballs (for Boyfriend; I don't eat meat), since I can get away with eating just a little of it. But he wanted to go to Dave & Buster's. And we ate too much. And got a giant lollipop. And this set off way too many binges. It seems like I've been eating non-stop since then. I feel so disgusting.

And I haven't been sleeping well since last week or so. I've been going to bed around 10:30 or 11, finally falling asleep at midnight, and waking up no later than 7 am. I am so tired that my eyes are in a constant state of redness, I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not dreaming, and I'm cranky.

I'm also sore all over right now. Saturday was my auditions for the dance department. I was so nervous, but they were actually really fun. There were two guys (one from my class) and about 17 girls. Here's how my day went:

I woke up early, again, and got ready. Packed my dance shorts, tied my ballet slippers to my bag, and tossed in a water bottle and some granola bars, since the auditions were four hours long with no lunch break. I dressed in my convertible tights, leotard, and a t-shirt and skirt over it.

Then I hopped on my bike and went to get breakfast.

(Off to work now. More later!)

(Here's the more!)

So I went to the nearby bagel place, bought myself a bagel and some apple juice and sat outside to listen to music and read until closer to audition time. (This was about 9-ish, and I didn't have to be to campus until 10:45-ish.) Blah blah blah, hanging out, bagel, juice, blah blah blah, time passes. I head to Whole Foods, pick up some anti-anxiety herbal pills (since by this point I'm so nervous I feel like I may puke) and some granola since I know we'll get hungry. Then I bike to campus.

I lock up my bike and head into the building where the dance department/classes/auditions are. On my way to the studio, I run into a classmate of mine who is auditioning again and a friend of his. We chat for a while, then someone else shows up and we walk to the studio together. No one had unlocked the studios for us to stretch yet, so a few of us are sitting around talking. Especially to this one cute girl who's an incoming freshman and was there with her parents. They were all very nice.

More people show up, and a woman from the dance department comes down to unlock the rooms. We dump our stuff in cubbies, strip to our dance clothes, and head into the studios to stretch. Some people are working on their solos, but most of us are just warming up for the day.

Then another lady from the department comes down to start getting us ready. She hands out the info folders (which contained, among a bunch of information, a 6-page application we had to fill out with all sorts of strange questions), gives us our name/number badge (I was number 11), and takes a headshot of us on her phone. We are then ushered into the main studio where the auditions will be to fill out the application as we wait for the rest of the people to show up. *insert sound of pens scribbling and us moving around constantly trying to get comfy on the hard floor that hurts our knees and ankles when we sit*

We take a break for the applications to have the faculty members who are judging us introduced. (Turns out the old guy who warmed up during the end of my class last semester is the head of the dance department. Woah.) Then we finish the application as the Ballet guy (with a very french name, no hair, and tiny glasses) moves the barres out across the studios. We hand in our applications and are arranged in rough numerical order (not strict numerical order because some people would be at barres the wrong height for them if we did) and began the Ballet portion.

And it was rough. The instructor had us in 5th position nearly the whole time, and we were moving constantly. He'd just be like, "Left hand on the barre, 5th, right behind, and kick, return, kick, kick, cheat to behind, and out and back, and twice more, and then turn and then to the side, and switch feet, and port de bra forward and back twice; any questions? Go." And we'd go. Oh boy. And it went on like this for about 45 minutes.

Then we moved the barres back to where they are kept and another woman walked out to start the Contemporary portion. No break at all except for moving the barres. We did a bunch of across the floor stuff, and it was really fun since we got to loosen up. Then she walks off and another woman walks out and starts the African portion. We shimmied and shaked and spun and twirled and it was a blast.

After that was all done, and it took a lot longer than writing makes it seem, we were explained how the solos were going to take place. Then we were sent into the other studio to wait until it was our turn. Then we did our solos, again in numerical order. Mine went well, I think. And they're so short that you don't really have time to get nervous during it. It's just over so quickly!

As we finished our solos, we all drifted into the lounge outside the studios, where I broke out the granola to share and someone brought our Red Vines. We talked about all sorts of things, and I told the incoming freshmen about how important the lounge we were in is. (There's a mini-fridge and a microwave; I'm not joking when I say that the lounge is a dance major's home.) I talked to one girl about photography since she used to model and found out that a couple of the people at the auditions have family living in the area I'm from.

Then we got to ask questions to the faculty about the program, and we left. I'm going to miss them all. Those girls were really cool. I love meeting people in intense situations like that and becoming pretty close really fast.

Anyway, that was the audition. I'll know in about a week and a half if I got in. And I am so nervous.

Work-Study

I'm applying for a work-study at a local dance company. I'd be doing grunt work (mopping, cleaning, dusting, etc.) in exchange for free classes at their studio. Cross your fingers for me!

Envy

Tango + Dance Over + Choreography

God, I love cute boys. Yesterday after we finished reviewing in Salsa/Swing, our teacher let us leave early, but a couple of us stayed to dance. It ended up just me, another dance major, a female friend of mine, and our teacher. She asked us if we wanted to salsa or swing, but Dance Major Boy asked if she could teach him to tango, since he'd always wanted to learn. I, knowing how to tango, jumped at the chance to teach him. So I and my teacher taught him a handful of steps, and he and I danced. Nothing makes me swoon like having an attractive boy take me in his arms so we're no more than seven inches apart, look me in the eyes, and tango. Oh boy.

As of today, I am done with dance for the semester. I am so sad. But I might look into some classes at a local dance company to stay in practice.

I am officially about half done with my choreography for my solo for the dance audition! I'm nervous, but it's very dramatic, with lots of jumps and falls and arched backs. I'm very proud.

Workout Buddy + Dance Audition

I may have a workout buddy! A friend of mine told me today that we should work out together. She used to be ana in high school, and I'm excited to run her through my dance stretches. I've been way too busy to get to the gym lately, but this week is the last week of classes. Then there's finals next week, and I'm done. Sadly, I'll have to start paying for the gym since I'm not taking summer classes. But it's still very cheap.

Also, I am officially signed up for the dance department auditions in early June, and I have my solo song picked out. Now I jsut have to buy my leotard, tights, and ballet slippers, lose a bunch of weight, and finish choreographing my solo by then. Stress!

Dance Class + Hair + Food + Inspiration

Today in class, I got two compliments from my teacher. She said I was taking up space greatly during our moves and that my tendus were good. She also reminded me to keep my battements to the side turned out, as I tend to turn my kneecap forward rather than keeping it upwards. It feels so good to get her praise and attention.

Also, when I talked to her after class about how my group isn't feeling confident about our choreography for the final (which we had to create) since our group members are always absent, she set her hand on my shoulder and told me not to worry, that she knew we were working hard and looked great.

And my hair is in a bun! It's finally long enough (barely) to wear in a tight little bun, which makes me look so much more like a dancer. Especially as all of the "pulling up" we've been doing has me walking like that, lean and tall, everywhere I go. I had so many sideways glances at my hair, my bare legs, and my knee-high socks bunched around my ankles. I looked so good today.

I have been eating far too much in the past days. I feel disgusting, but I've been too stressed to have the willpower. But I have been trying to stick to low-calorie snacks. For example, a serving of pretzel sticks and a serving of port wine cheese (I never eat a full serving though, as that's a whole two tablespoons) is delicious and under 200 calories.

Dance Class

My dance class on Thursday was amazing. We had a combined class, meaning that another modern dance class was with mine for the day. Which means we had about 45 students in one studio. Including a guy from my salsa class and a guy who's transferring to Juilliard. It was so much fun. We were too crowded to do anything extreme, but we did a lot of stretching and warmups. To the point where my legs ached and burned in class, but they felt fine yesterday! I'm feeling so good.