Dance Journal Entry No. 2

Salem's Dance Journal

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Intermediate Foundation Exam

Warming up in the dressing room.

The last time I was at the New Zealand School of Dance was when I did my RAD Intermediate Foundation exam on the 5th of September.  My examiner was Miss Wu.

I was very sick on exam day, I had been sick all week and in bed.  I didn't do as best as I could but I did pass my exam.

I did my exam with Josephine from Kapiti Dance Centre and two girls from Mary Rodgers Ballet School.
They did a few of the exercises very different than me and Josephine.

Ready for my exam.

This was my second year doing Intermediate Foundation, it was getting very boring.
My favourite exercises are the Adage and the third Allegro.
I am glad I was able to do the classical boys variation and not the other one.

Exam Day and a Fun Dance Class

Having a bit of a practice at
Waikanae Dance School

Yesterday was exam day and what a mission it was.
Salem was still not very well but he was feeling a bit better.
We traveled into Wellington on a horrible cold windy and rainy day.  It was a real polar blast from the south.
It really didn't help Salem with his cold.

At the NZ School of dance we waited around in the dressing room with Josephine, who was going in to the exam with Salem, and the Mum's who were waiting.
Salem's ballet teacher, Miss Pond gave Salem a lovely little gift of blue "Foot Fizz" for tired feet, gift wrapped with some blue Hersheys kisses.  Salem was very pleased.
The dressing room was quite hot, had to go out many times to cool down.
Then when it was exam time, the two of them were taken up to the studio with two other girls from another dance school.

Salem was a bit upset when he came back down after the exam.
He had felt very unwell during the exam and the heat in the studio was unbearable for him.
He said he made silly little mistakes but on talking to him today, he did a lot of things very well.
He did look very ill.
So it was out to brave the weather and get back home, then it was straight into bed for Salem and a lot of TLC.

I haven't put any exam day photos up as I had forgotten to put my SD card back into my camera, silly me, but I did have my video camera with me so I could take photos with that.  I just have to fill the rest of the DVD before I can use the photos.

Outside Waikanae Dance School's lovely studio.

I made Salem stay in bed today and there was no dance practice.
He felt a lot better by the afternoon so I thought it was okay for him to go to his lesson up at Waikanae Dance School.  It is only just over a week to go before their concert, so Salem didn't want to miss a class.
He really enjoyed the class.  They finished their concert dance and Salem gets to finish doing the splits which he is very happy about.

The Tui's favourite Kowhai Tree.

While Salem dances in the lovely little studio, I sit outside listening to the birds in the trees getting ready for bed.  There are some very noisy tui's who love to bicker and play chasing.  They are a joy to watch and listen to.
And then all of a sudden when it gets totally dark, all the birds are silent.
Bed time!!!!

Exam Countdown - 1 Day Until Intermediate Foundation Exam

One day til exam time and the cat is
wondering what he is doing???

Tomorrow is exam day ..... finally!!!!!
Salem woke up feeling better today but now has a runny nose.
He had a good two hour lesson with Jacqui this afternoon but started to feel ill again, not as bad as yesterday though.
So as soon as we got home it was straight into bed, after we had taken his "Number One" photo.
We forgot to do it at the gym again!!!!

Then it was another attack to the cold with paracetamol, vitamin c, and everything else like yesterday.
Hopefully he will feel better again tomorrow after a good nights sleep.
He can feel ill again when we get back home after his exam ;^)

We have every thing ready for the exam, clean leggings, leotard, socks and shoes, a drink bottle and hand towel.  Boys don't need much for the exam unlike the girls.

Can't wait until tomorrow!!!!!!!

Exam Countdown - 2 Days Until Intermediate Foundation Exam

Two days til exam time.

It's now two days until the exam and Salem is ill!!!
What a time to get sick.
He woke up with a sore throat yesterday after having the exam rehearsal the afternoon/evening before.
Being in a overly warm room with around 30 other kids during flu season is not a good idea.
This morning his throat was very sore and he was very tired.
Not a nice feeling for a kid he doesn't normally get ill.

But he was determined to go up to the gym to have a practice for his exam after dosing up on paracetamol and drinking plenty of water.  Also having lots of breaks.

Ill in bed eating oranges.

When we got home it was straight to bed with water, black currant juice, electrolyte drink to sip on, packets of Throaties to suck on, oranges, vitamen C tablets, and because we are going to blast this cold away, Betadine Gargle to help his throat. Oh, and of course, more paracetamol and soup for dinner.
We are going to beat this cold!!!!!!!

Hopefully he will feel better in the morning as tomorrow afternoon he has a session at the gym with Jacqui who will take him through his exam exercises and help him tidy up what he needs to.
Let's hope he has a good sleep tonight and feels better in the morning.

Exam Countdown - 3 Days Until Intermediate Foundation Exam

Three days til exam time

It's getting closer!!!!!!!
After yesterday's rehearsal Salem is still very confident.
We had our usual practice session at the gym today, just his new competition dances as he had his usual Intermediate Foundation class at the dance school (KDC).
I got to watch his class today as it is parents viewing week.  I always watch his classes on these days so I know what he is supposed to be doing.
I am usually the only parent who watches in Salem's classes which is a real shame.  The other parents really miss out on seeing their child improve.
Parents are more inclined to watch when their kids are in the junior classes.
I see it as being a very valuable tool.

Male dance supports
Clockwise from top left - Spratz, Paul Wright, Bloch.

I thought I would talk about male dance supports, also called dancers belts, especially after noticing a teenaged boy dance without one.
I think it is important for a boy dancer to wear one before it is really needed.
They might not have the tackle to fill one out but it does give a nice line and makes everything look neat and tidy.  It helps the boy not to be so self conscious in tight tights and leggings.  And of course it offers a bit of protection from accidents with other dancers.
Most older boys wear them but I do notice (and I am not being pervy) at competitions that the pre-teens and young teenaged boys don't.  It's hard to bring it up in conversations with their parents especially when talking about boys costumes etc.

Salem has been wearing them for a few years now and would never dream of dancing without one on.
Sure they are not comfortable at the start, being a g-string, but he soon got used to it.

We have used three different brands:
     Spratz - made in New Zealand $26
     Paul Wright - made in Indonesia $26
     Bloch - made in Australia $60

We have found the Spratz and Paul Wright ones the best.  After many washes in the washing machine, they still stay in good condition. The elastic stays in pretty good condition too.  All are used a lot as Salem wears one every day so are washed after every use so we have had to buy quite a few to always have a clean one available.  They dry well outside on the clothes line, I don't know how well they would do in the dryer. These ones are the cheapest and I think they are really good value for money.

Bloch is the most expensive and we have only one pair but I would not buy another.  The elastic hasn't held up well and the black colour in the elastic came out onto Salem's skin, this is after being washed several times and I don't use a harsh laundry powder, I just use Lux Flakes.  So it has discoloured some of his leotards so is only worn with a black leotard.  As you can see in the above photo, the dye has come out of the Bloch dance support.    I would give these ones a miss.

Definitely something to talk over with your ballet boy.

Exam Countdown - 4 Days Until Intermediate Foundation Exam

Four days til exam time.

It's not long now until exam day.
This afternoon we went into Wellington to the New Zealand School of Dance for Salem's exam rehearsal.
Salem and four girls from his dance school joined up with the rather large class from Wellington Dance Academy for the rehearsal.  It was nice to catch up with his old class mates, he used to go there for a bit but the travel became to much for him with the extra classes needed for Grade 5/Intermediate Foundation.

Miss Helen (Salem's former teacher) from Wellington Dance Academy took the rehearsal class along with Miss Irena on the piano.
Salem really enjoyed the class and he is not worried about the exam anymore.
He could see that he wasn't making so many mistakes etc as he is being told he is in class  (at KDC) and he was one of the very few who did well with the free enchainments.

Sewn up a new pair of leggings.

I was able to watch from outside the studio, they had a nice big window.  He did very well.
The rehearsal went for two hours so I had bought along some sewing with me.
I had to make a new pair of navy coloured leggings for his exam as I can't buy ones which fit Salem properly.  He is very long and skinny.  The ones he was wearing today are a few years old, actually they were originally his older brothers, they still fit him but are far too short.  They are 3/4 length now.
So I have hand sewn them.  I find that the stitching lasts longer and can stretch better when I do it by hand.
So they are all done and fit him perfectly.
I must get my A into G and make him some more leggings while I'm in legging mode.

Exam Countdown - 5 Days Until Intermediate Foundation Exam

Five days until exam time.

Not long to go now, only five days until Salem's first vocational exam.
He had his usual Saturday Intermediate Foundation class at the dance school.  But he didn't have a practice session at the studio at the gym this morning as he is not having his usual Sunday break day tomorrow.
We have to go into Wellington to the New Zealand School of Dance as his class is joining up with others from the Wellington Dance Academy to have a run through of the exam with the pianist.

Wearing the "Toesies".

I have just ordered some more foot thongs/pads for Salem as they are great for Lyrical, Barefoot and Contemporary, especially if you get really sweaty sticky feet like Salem gets.  Yuck!!!!!
Salem calls the "Toesies".
He has had a pair for quite a few months now and they are still in good condition but really needed a wash as they get stinky and dirty.
I used Sunlight Soap to wash them with and they look like new again.

"Toesies" - Foot thongs/pads

I ordered him two more pairs as he will be using them practically every day now that he has his barefoot and lyrical dances along with his contemporary.
We have been getting the cheaper versions online off Trade Me.  Salem likes the ones that are like finger-less gloves as the other type doesn't appeal to him.