Letters.

Tonight's post will be short-- because let me tell you, internet, I am EXHAUSTED.

Yesterday I began rehearsals for Letters You Wrote. It's to the text of a Christmas letter written in 1961 by the wife of a minister. I'm having a great time with the character, and I already feel the movement becoming more natural in my body. It's modern-- and I'm a ballet girl-- but I'm adapting. And our choreographer is wonderful. She's got such a positive, patient, and all-around humanitarian way about her. She's so great to work with.

I'll write more later. Until then--I'm worn out. Catch you later, internet.

Edited to add: I'm really feeling for my neighbor right now. Here's the link to the KRPC news story (he came over last night and today. Poor guy!).

Funhouse

The fun never stops!

Since my last update, the following has happened:

1. My last two blog posts provoked a concerned phone call from my mother. We talked, and she told me the same as the other two: "You know what you need to do."

2. The father of one of my students passed. I knew something was up when my boss, upon arriving, asked me to step into her office (first thought: "What did I do wrong?") When she told me, my jaw fell onto the floor. Later on she came in and told said student's classmates what had happened; a few of them cried. Let me tell you, internet: It was horrible. Horrible and SAD. My boss and I are trying to help the family in whatever way possible. My heart aches for them.

3. I got myself lost (in Sugar Land, of all places). Not really terrible, but it caused me to miss class. FNARR.

4. When I got home, I found a news crew outside my condo complex-- apparently, my neighbor shot somebody (with all due respect: If someone came into my condo in the middle of the night; I would shoot them, too. It's understandable).

5. I got interviewed about the aforesaid incident by the local news crew. Mind you, I was on my way to dance rehearsal, so I was in knock-around clothes with a bandanna on my head. I defended my neighbor as best I could ("The guy was just trying to protect himself, he's a really nice guy!"), but anyone who sees it will think I'm a total filthy hippie. Hey, it could have been worse--at least I had makeup on.

Now I'm about to make my way to rehearsals with company #1 and Company #2-- that's right, I start my new job today, whee.

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009: Directed by David Lynch.

And now, here's your Moment of Zen:
"Captain or not, right now we're just two a**holes lost in the woods."
~ Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, "Pine Barrens"

Lady's A Charm, Part 2

Apologies for my slightly-hysterical post yesterday. I was probably a bit hasty. I should clarify a few things.

For a while now, I've been contemplating the direction and future of my dance career. Where to go, what to do, how long to continue, et cetera. Recently, though, my internal dialogue has become an internal shouting match; it was starting to drive me a wee bit crazy.

A few weeks ago I put in a phone call to Maria at PADV; we discussed the options. This morning, I had a sit-down on the phone with a fellow blogger and was offered lots of insight. I heard some of the same advice from both; and both told me the same basic idea: "You know what you need to do."

Thanks, you guys. I think I do know what I need to do. And it ain't gonna be easy and it ain't gonna be fun-- I know that tears will be shed in the process (my own/plenty of them)-- but I think that in the end, I will have done the right thing.

I think I know what I need to do.

And now, here's your Moment of Zen:
"Please. I may be distressed, but I know how to keep my mouth shut."
"Unless there's a big tuna sandwich around!"
~ Joseph Gannascoli and Joe Patoliano (as Vita Spatafore and Ralph Cifaretto, respectively), The Sopranos

Lady's A Charm, Part 1

So! We finished learning Amahl on Friday; I start my new job on Thursday. I'm excited about both.

I don't want to say too much just yet...but I have a feeling that there will be some changes around here in the next few months. It's too soon to tell, but if my 8am e-mail to a friend stating "CAREER COUNSELING NEEDED MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY HALP" is any indication, then...well, yeah. A few things may need to change. But that's only a "may," so nothing is definite yet. Honestly, I have no clue what's going to happen next. It's actually pretty frustrating.

Happpy NaBloPoMo, everyone. I'm off to pull my twelve-hour dance day. You stay classy, internet.

Of Friendship and Dancing

One of my dancer buddies called me up to say "I just wanted to tell you that you are wonderful as Amahl. I love to watch you, and you and [Mother] are great together."

How sweet is that?

...................................
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...I think this proves my hypothesis: I have the greatest friends in the entire world. And I love every one of you. <3

Edited to add: I was digging around looking for a book when I stumbled across a flyer from the last time we did Amahl. Ironic.

So Much to Talk About, So Little To Say

OR: Things I considered writing a blog post about.

1. The Amahl process.

2. The fact that I killed four pointe shoes in three days.

3. Teaching and why I love my kiddos.

4. Skater's Waltz and the process of that; or maybe the fact that the student company was voted "Best Dance Company in Katy" by a local publication (yeah!).

5. Blisters. Lots of them.

6. How I got stuck in a massive storm on the way home from teaching; ended up waiting out the storm at a hotel with a bunch of folks my age from a travelling Mag Crew (which has nothing to do with dance, but it's a cool story).

7. Why I want to make a dance to that song "Do the Barrel Roll." (Look, I don't know, okay?)

8. The two new ballets I'm creating.

9. How pulling a ten-hour day (and getting stuck in a storm) has completely eaten my brain, rendering me completely incapable of writing a coherent blog post.

Day four of Amahl week tomorrow. We're getting close!

One Crutch, One Shoe

While was showering this morning, I thought to myself "Wow, that underarm is feeling a little tender. Huh. Must be from the crutch."

That's right folks-- it's Amahl and the Night Visitors season!

Here's how my last two days have gone down: Ballet class at 9:30, then Frank and I drive over to the theater for rehearsals with P--- a long-time James Sewell Ballet dancer who is setting the ballet on us (I love working with P, she set the ballet on us two years ago and is fourteen kinds of awesome). LP and I are sharing the role of Amahl, and two new dancers are sharing the role of the Mother. I love them all--they're so wonderful to work with. I'm already feeling a wonderful stage chemistry with A, who plays "my mom."

The only dancers not double-cast are the three wise men wise guys kings and the page. Two of the Kings I have not worked with before, but they are beautiful dancers (and one of them looks exactly like Furio Giunta. And he's so great) _{(and he looks like Furio Giunta)}. I'm slightly incredulous as to how my body remembers choreography that my brain has forgotten-- it's been two years since I last danced this ballet, but something about hearing the music and being in the space with the other dancers helps bring it back into my muscles. Not to mention? It's so fun. SO FUN. I'm starting to think that if there's one role out there that's perfect for me, it has to be this one. I just love every second of it.

So, we're two days in and I'm loving this process. I'm getting re-acquainted with the crutch, the feeling of wearing only one pointe shoe, and the sign language. I've killed two pointe shoes in two days and I don't even care-- I threw a few extra pair in my dance bag and I'm ready for round three tomorrow.

"How far? How far, my crystal star?"