Monday, August 7, 2017
Heard in the hallway
Summer maintenance classes are winding down and there is already talk of December's Nutcracker performances. Unfortunately I over heard the AD tell one of the instructors that I am too old for any role but party parent while I was warming up in an adjacent room. Ouch!
Monday, June 12, 2017
Summer classes
Summer is here and a group of very vocal adults have managed get all of our classes back for the summer, we have gone from one class on Saturday morning back to our regular three classes a week. Oddly enough a nearby studio that I used to attend who pretty much ignored adults considered us just recreational students there for a ballet style stretch class. NOT! Methinks there is a spy on our in out midst with ties to the competing studio, very strange.
On another note I have been getting some private lessons in Pas De Deux over the last few weeks and am blown away that several of the adult ladies I take class with are more than willing to be my victims so they can learn with me. Who knew?
On another note I have been getting some private lessons in Pas De Deux over the last few weeks and am blown away that several of the adult ladies I take class with are more than willing to be my victims so they can learn with me. Who knew?
Friday, June 2, 2017
Wow two years since I’ve been here.
Lets see….what’s happened in the last 24 months after Coppelia. Three of my classmates and I went to Richmond in August 2015 for the Sunking Summer Workshop and became the Denver Team as we four were the most students from any one city. We worked our tails off during the days and gossiped over dinner and drinks every night and meant fellow adult dancers from all over the world all of who are a little crazy, must be an adult thing. Only one of our group made it back for 2016 and none of us are going to be able to make it for 2017 but there are plans for a reunion in 2018! One of our group has been diagnosed with lung cancer, she’s one of the lucky ones that can use a blocker instead of chemo or radiation and has been showing up to classes with the goal of making it to Richmond in 2018 the rest of the group has told we were in for the workshop with her.
Got the opportunity to do Mouse King and Mother Ginger for our 2015 Nutcracker production, whole lot of fun but I don’t know if I’d ever do Mouse King again found I have a touch of claustrophobia when I wear the headpiece. Sad thing happened late spring when the owner of our studio announced that he was stepping down and away the dance world after five years of running one of the best studios in the Denver area.
Several of the instructors along with the board decided to find a new home for our studio we now share a space with another dance studio not as high tech as our old home and there are some minor conflicts but guess that should be expected when you mix bun heads with competitive dancers. We did lose a lot of students with the move, keeping my fingers crossed that the ranks build back up to keep the studio healthy.
The studio did a 2016 Nutcracker and I got Mother Ginger again along with the parent part dance but ended giving up the role as the was way too much sniping and bad mouthing from two of the males brought in to do other parts. I will never understand how someone my age can be seen as a threat to guys half as old as me. Guess it’s their problem and not mine. I got the role of Sancho Panza for the Don Q production and while not a dancing role I had a blast doing the character and got to learn how to do some acting.
It’s the beginning of summer for 2017 and adult classes are on maintenance and only running a couple of classes during the week so not a lot is happening. I did however start a weekly private Pas De Deux class with a couple of the ladies from the studio and a very unforgiving Russian teacher. Very basic work and I never knew my arms could get so tired! More on this as we progress over the summer.
Lets see….what’s happened in the last 24 months after Coppelia. Three of my classmates and I went to Richmond in August 2015 for the Sunking Summer Workshop and became the Denver Team as we four were the most students from any one city. We worked our tails off during the days and gossiped over dinner and drinks every night and meant fellow adult dancers from all over the world all of who are a little crazy, must be an adult thing. Only one of our group made it back for 2016 and none of us are going to be able to make it for 2017 but there are plans for a reunion in 2018! One of our group has been diagnosed with lung cancer, she’s one of the lucky ones that can use a blocker instead of chemo or radiation and has been showing up to classes with the goal of making it to Richmond in 2018 the rest of the group has told we were in for the workshop with her.
Got the opportunity to do Mouse King and Mother Ginger for our 2015 Nutcracker production, whole lot of fun but I don’t know if I’d ever do Mouse King again found I have a touch of claustrophobia when I wear the headpiece. Sad thing happened late spring when the owner of our studio announced that he was stepping down and away the dance world after five years of running one of the best studios in the Denver area.
Several of the instructors along with the board decided to find a new home for our studio we now share a space with another dance studio not as high tech as our old home and there are some minor conflicts but guess that should be expected when you mix bun heads with competitive dancers. We did lose a lot of students with the move, keeping my fingers crossed that the ranks build back up to keep the studio healthy.
The studio did a 2016 Nutcracker and I got Mother Ginger again along with the parent part dance but ended giving up the role as the was way too much sniping and bad mouthing from two of the males brought in to do other parts. I will never understand how someone my age can be seen as a threat to guys half as old as me. Guess it’s their problem and not mine. I got the role of Sancho Panza for the Don Q production and while not a dancing role I had a blast doing the character and got to learn how to do some acting.
It’s the beginning of summer for 2017 and adult classes are on maintenance and only running a couple of classes during the week so not a lot is happening. I did however start a weekly private Pas De Deux class with a couple of the ladies from the studio and a very unforgiving Russian teacher. Very basic work and I never knew my arms could get so tired! More on this as we progress over the summer.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Out of the mouth of babes
It’s been a long week of regular classes and Coppelia rehearsals so that by the time Saturday rehearsals came around a lot of the dancers were more than a little tired and getting careless, me included.
The start of the third act is when the Duke appears and walks across the stage acknowledging the bows from the towns people. Music starts and no Duke, little hand tugs on my sleeve “Aren’t you the Duke” she asks “I am” I reply then turn back to watch the activity on the stage. Moment later another tug on my sleeve from the same little hand “Aren’t you supposed to be on stage?” It then hits me I am not paying any attention and am late which forces a restart of ACT III.
After the act finished a very embarrassed me walked over the owner of that little hand and thanked her for reminding me of my cue and apologized for ignoring her prompt.
The start of the third act is when the Duke appears and walks across the stage acknowledging the bows from the towns people. Music starts and no Duke, little hand tugs on my sleeve “Aren’t you the Duke” she asks “I am” I reply then turn back to watch the activity on the stage. Moment later another tug on my sleeve from the same little hand “Aren’t you supposed to be on stage?” It then hits me I am not paying any attention and am late which forces a restart of ACT III.
After the act finished a very embarrassed me walked over the owner of that little hand and thanked her for reminding me of my cue and apologized for ignoring her prompt.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Analogies
We all use analogies to describe something to someone especially when it’s a little abstract and it’s no difference in a dance class and can be “little” female centric and times.
In the past I’ve been told to use my bun to help me find my center, or imagine that I want to keep my long earrings from touching my shoulders as a means of keeping my head erect. My all time favorite came the other night in a modern class when the instructor was trying to help a bunch of beginning students get the proper feel for collapsing from the upper shoulders during a movement across the floor, she said to imagine our boobs getting heavy and pulling us downward. Really didn’t have anything relate to that but I pretended as best I could.
In the past I’ve been told to use my bun to help me find my center, or imagine that I want to keep my long earrings from touching my shoulders as a means of keeping my head erect. My all time favorite came the other night in a modern class when the instructor was trying to help a bunch of beginning students get the proper feel for collapsing from the upper shoulders during a movement across the floor, she said to imagine our boobs getting heavy and pulling us downward. Really didn’t have anything relate to that but I pretended as best I could.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Fun and Games
Costumes for Coppelia are starting to arrive so I got fitted for both the Duke as well Mazurka and Czardas last weekend. There is something about putting me in green costumes. Last Nutcracker had me in a light green coat and pants and I got a little kidding about looking like a leprechaun, welp the Duke’s costume is green, deep emerald green jacket, knickers and a top hat and to my disappointment no cape. Sigh.
The Mazurka and Czardas costuming is nothing more than a vest and tights. The costume mistress had a gleam in her eye when she told me that the part of the costume included tights that matched the color of the vest thinking it might embarrass me a little. With a straight face I replied back that I guess I will need to buy a dance belt suitable for stage. Don’t think she realized that I have been on stage before in tights in the past. Now the other guy in the Mazurka might have a problem with wearing tights, would like to see his face when he gets fitted and informed.
The Mazurka and Czardas costuming is nothing more than a vest and tights. The costume mistress had a gleam in her eye when she told me that the part of the costume included tights that matched the color of the vest thinking it might embarrass me a little. With a straight face I replied back that I guess I will need to buy a dance belt suitable for stage. Don’t think she realized that I have been on stage before in tights in the past. Now the other guy in the Mazurka might have a problem with wearing tights, would like to see his face when he gets fitted and informed.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Classes and rehearsals
Last few months have been crazy busy. Copelia rehersals started up early January and while I didn’t get Dr Copelius as I had hoped for I was given the opportunity to learn the part for acts I and II until the pro starts in April. Which means basically I get to learn the character and be there for the rest of the cast to react to during rehearsals without the pressure of performing the part, that actually worked out well for me. I do have some small parts in the show doing the Mazurka & Czardas in the first act and the Nobel man in the third act for the wedding scene. The ladies in my class are having a ball with this giving me curtsies in the hallways whenever we go past each other or if they get into class before I do.
Besides rehearsals the studio as added another adult ballet class and one for beginning modern, so those combined my previous classes and the Pas De Deux have given me a full week which I hope will help me prepare for the summer workshop in Richmond this August. Already chatting with some of the others attending the workshop through a Facebook group and they seems as friendly and silly as my regular classmates.
Besides rehearsals the studio as added another adult ballet class and one for beginning modern, so those combined my previous classes and the Pas De Deux have given me a full week which I hope will help me prepare for the summer workshop in Richmond this August. Already chatting with some of the others attending the workshop through a Facebook group and they seems as friendly and silly as my regular classmates.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)