It’s been over a year since I’ve update this blog, pretty much as there hasn’t been a lot worth writing about. Did another local SI at Denver Ballet Theater which was fun as I got a learn some character work as Sancho Panza from Don Quixote the only other event to come out of the SI was a broken right toe doing échappé with the ladies in pointe class.
And then another Nutcracker, I tried for Mouse King but it didn’t happen and the part went to a local pro, so I ended up doing the parent dance again and ended up with the same partner as the previous year which made it a snap to remember and Melissa and I ended up helping a lot of the other parent dancers learn the choreography.
Shortly after Nutcracker I decided to leave one of the two studios I had been taking classes from as they started treating the adult students as just adults taking a ballet class rather than serious students that want to actually learn and receive corrections to help us continue to improve, which turned out to be a good move as DBT added a third evening ballet class for adults as well as a modern class which to my utter surprise I am enjoying this time around and believe it is improving my body awareness and may actually improve my ballet technique.
Sadly, I didn’t get a part in Copellia for the spring production for DBT. But recently was asked to fill in for Dr Copellius until the pro doing the part can start in April. I’m not an understudy which is what my classmates keep saying because I am only learning the choreography that involves interacting with the other dancers but I’m learning something new which is great.
So it’s on with classes and look forward to the Sun King Dance camp in Richmond this coming August.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
The Hands Have it
Been driving to Denver Dance Center and taking weekend classes while my regular studios are closed for a short break. (First time in three years that both and been closed at the same time.) Very challenging taking classes with current and retired pros from Colorado Ballet.
Our instructor demonstrates very little so many of us fall back to either marking the steps with our hands or feet to make sure we understand what she expects as she describes the movement. While she was explaining a jump combination myself and many around me were using our hands to mimic what were supposed to do, apparently the entire class was doing the same thing with their hands as when she was finished she turned away from the mirror to face us and told us that “our hands looked very nice and hopefully it would translate to our feet”.
Our instructor demonstrates very little so many of us fall back to either marking the steps with our hands or feet to make sure we understand what she expects as she describes the movement. While she was explaining a jump combination myself and many around me were using our hands to mimic what were supposed to do, apparently the entire class was doing the same thing with their hands as when she was finished she turned away from the mirror to face us and told us that “our hands looked very nice and hopefully it would translate to our feet”.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Decisions, Decisions
Wow, three months since I’ve even though about making a new post.
Classes at both studios have wound down and their spring shows are finished. Just waiting to find out when adult classes are going to be offered for the summer, rumor has it that each studio will be offering two classes a week and one will again be offering a Adult Summer Intensive.
I did their inaugural season last summer and that in part prompted the birth of this little blog. I have been agonizing over doing this summer’s course because I was a little disappointed that repertoire got dropped last year due to the fact that so few adults came to class on a regular basis. Think there were only about four of us that showed up each day and that made it difficult for the teachers.
I loved the idea of spending several hours a day in class and getting to pretend I’m living a dancers life for a few days. I need to make a decision soon tuition is due and I need to take time off of work.
Classes at both studios have wound down and their spring shows are finished. Just waiting to find out when adult classes are going to be offered for the summer, rumor has it that each studio will be offering two classes a week and one will again be offering a Adult Summer Intensive.
I did their inaugural season last summer and that in part prompted the birth of this little blog. I have been agonizing over doing this summer’s course because I was a little disappointed that repertoire got dropped last year due to the fact that so few adults came to class on a regular basis. Think there were only about four of us that showed up each day and that made it difficult for the teachers.
I loved the idea of spending several hours a day in class and getting to pretend I’m living a dancers life for a few days. I need to make a decision soon tuition is due and I need to take time off of work.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Sigh
Going to class has been getting a little depressing of late. Both studios are in full swing for their Spring Shows and the adults aren’t expected or invited to participate. I keep telling myself that I really don’t want to be on the stage as I’m too old and not all that good and I seriously doubt that anyone really wants to see an old guy on the stage. But there is still a part of me that would like to be doing something.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
A little support
Wednesdays instructor thinks the adults need lots and lots of strength and technique training and we probably do. So we are facing the barre doing relives, you know the one’s 16 in first then 16 in second very quickly with lots and lots of repetitions pulling into sous sous after each 16 with arms in second. (ugh!)
We had completed several sets and had just finished 16 in first and there I am feet in as tight a sous sous as I can get and holding my arms in second trying not to let the elbows turn down when I suddenly feel a hand resting on my left hand, I reactively turned the palm up to offer support and then realized that this isn’t a partnering class what am I doing? I look over at the lady next to me who's hand is resting on mine,she blushed and whispered that she didn’t want to fall and reached out for my hand before she actually thought about what she was doing.
From the other side of the floor I hear the teacher call out “Very nice, but wrong class”.
We had completed several sets and had just finished 16 in first and there I am feet in as tight a sous sous as I can get and holding my arms in second trying not to let the elbows turn down when I suddenly feel a hand resting on my left hand, I reactively turned the palm up to offer support and then realized that this isn’t a partnering class what am I doing? I look over at the lady next to me who's hand is resting on mine,she blushed and whispered that she didn’t want to fall and reached out for my hand before she actually thought about what she was doing.
From the other side of the floor I hear the teacher call out “Very nice, but wrong class”.
Monday, January 20, 2014
More Lifts
The partnering instructor is clearly working towards getting the girls to a level of comfort with some of the intermediate lifts fairly quickly, I know there is a lot talk about getting ready for Summer Intensive auditions so maybe the two are related.
So last Saturday we spent quite a bit of time on doing what he called throws, the girls would go into Sous sous then a deep Plié where we catch them on the rise at the waist and literally help get them higher by doing a slight throw upwards, far enough to allow us to catch them thighs against our chest then lower them down into a fish, some of the lifts went well especially when the girls remembered to lean slightly back during the lift and a lot of misfires probably because there is still some trust issues.
Sure were a lot of gasps the first few times we practiced even with a spotter which should make next week really interesting as we are supposed to start learning shoulder sits and even more accompanied by red faces at the mention the we would start working on shoulder sits next week end.
So last Saturday we spent quite a bit of time on doing what he called throws, the girls would go into Sous sous then a deep Plié where we catch them on the rise at the waist and literally help get them higher by doing a slight throw upwards, far enough to allow us to catch them thighs against our chest then lower them down into a fish, some of the lifts went well especially when the girls remembered to lean slightly back during the lift and a lot of misfires probably because there is still some trust issues.
Sure were a lot of gasps the first few times we practiced even with a spotter which should make next week really interesting as we are supposed to start learning shoulder sits and even more accompanied by red faces at the mention the we would start working on shoulder sits next week end.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Out of the mouth of babes
Wednesday night classes are really starting to fill up with new students,so right now this particular class is starting to slow down to accommodate the newbies so for a while I am going to treat the class more like a technique class and pay close attention to how I’m doing some of the “easier” movements and hope I haven’t been sloping through them.
On a funnier note…. One of the ladies I take class with is a French National, teaches at an local international school and has a five year old daughter who also takes a class at the same studio and for this season has the same instructor as mom does. During warm-ups the other night the instructor mentioned the wonderful talk she had with this little girl about how nice it is that she is growing up in a bilingual home and can easily speak two languages to which the young lady replied “Oh yes I can speak French real well and it helps that mom speaks a little French also”.
On a funnier note…. One of the ladies I take class with is a French National, teaches at an local international school and has a five year old daughter who also takes a class at the same studio and for this season has the same instructor as mom does. During warm-ups the other night the instructor mentioned the wonderful talk she had with this little girl about how nice it is that she is growing up in a bilingual home and can easily speak two languages to which the young lady replied “Oh yes I can speak French real well and it helps that mom speaks a little French also”.
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