Dance Art Comps and I've finally done it!!!!!!!

Getting ready to dance Siegfried.

I had a very busy weekend just gone.  I had my first competition of the year and had been busy working on two new dances.
A new contemporary and a new demi-character.
I was so excited to debut them!!!!

I got a bit of a shock when seeing the size of the stage at the theatre which I have performed on so many times .......... it was so small .......... and I have grown soooo much.
I really had to concentrate on making my dances "smaller".

Stretching and warming up.

I was performing over three days, on Friday night I did my new contemporary dance " Running up that Hill".
The adjudicator commented "Beautiful flowing work showing good pathways...."
I was pleased with how I performed it for the first time and I was awarded 3rd Place.

Then I had my neo-classical "Cold" and was awarded 1st Place.
Wow, what a good first day!!!!

"James"  - La Sylphide Act II variation

It was bright and early to the theatre on Saturday morning, first my little friend Emma danced her demi-character which was so cute and then it was my turn to do my Krackowiak character dance.

It was so hard to dance this dance in such a small space.
I practice it in a large studio.
But I was really happy with it and was awarded 3rd Place.

Warming up for "Ameno"

My barefoot dance "Ameno" was next, I've been playing with the choreography for this a bit.
 Now I have three versions of this, and I like them all.
This time I danced version no.2 and got a Highly Commended (which is 5th Place).  Very pleased with that.

Siegfried

After having a break all afternoon, we came back for the evening session where I danced my lyrical and was in the Senior Championship dancing two variations

The variations I performed were "Siegfried" from Swan Lake, and "James" from La Sylphide Act II.
I always enjoy doing variations as they may be short but they are just full on.

I got Highly Commended for my lyrical and "Most Promising Senior Variation Dancer".  So cool!!!!

"Miss Hannigan"

It was back to the theatre and ready to perform by 8 am.  Oh boy was it so early.

To early in the morning especially as it was my birthday.

But I was very excited.  I was about to perform my new demi-character.

I had kept it a secret.  All anyone knew was that I was dancing en pointe.

My first time performing on stage, at a competition, en pointe!!!!!!!!

And I was performing as Miss Hannigan from "Annie".

The lovely Miss Hannigan :-)

It caused a bit of a stir and a lot of laughter as I like to do comedy demi-characters.
I had so much fun and it was over too soon.
But I had done it!!!!!!!!

I was awarded 1st Place.  I couldn't believe it.

Last up was my classical and I really enjoyed dancing that and I managed it fit it quite nicely on the stage.
I came 2nd Place for that.

I found out later that I also had won the Encouragement Special Award for 11 years and over.
A great way to end my birthday.

         **  Salem  **

Turnout Exercises, The Splits, Up-coming Competitions and Other News

When Salem got injured earlier this year we looked for some gentler turnout exercises for him to do and found some great information on www.theballetblog.com.

They have a great three part article called "Training Turnout" which you can find at http://www.theballetblog.com/portfolio/training-turnout-part-1-achieving-your-ultimate-range/.
Do have a look as it was a great help to Salem, he was able to understand better, what muscles to use and how to use them properly as everything was explained very clearly.

Last week Salem officially joined the gym, City Fitness, who had been kind enough to let Salem use the Mind Body Studio at no cost when it was not in use by members.  They have also included a sponsorship for him in the form of two hours a week exclusive use of the studio which means we can book it for private use for him to have his private classes with Louis and Jonty.
A big thank you to all the staff at City Fitness Kapiti!!!!

It's the school holidays at the moment so there have been no classes at the dance school last week and this week except for a private lesson yesterday for more work on Salem's new Polish character dance.

Earlier yesterday, Salem also had his lesson with Jonty and has really worked hard on his pirouettes and is looking so good.  He has a lot of fun with Jonty.

We have been having plenty of dance practice as Salem is competing at the DanceArt Society Inc's 11th Annual Dance Festival on the 3rd - 5th May, this weekend at the Little Theatre in Lower Hutt.
He turns 13 on the first day of the comps so is now entering in the higher age groups and will be dancing in the Senior Variation Championship.  It's a big step up!!  He is very excited.

Competitions coming up are:

The Associated Ballet and Theatre Club Inc - Tap, Modern, Restricted Ballet Competitions 17th - 19th May

Wellington Region Dance Teachers Competition Society Inc - Queen's Birthday Festival 1st - 3rd June

Hutt Valley Performing Arts Competition Society - Ballet and Tap/Modern Dance Comps 12th - 16th July

The Kapiti Comps are on the 20th - 23rd July but have had no information on that yet.

I love this quote which is on the DanceArt Dance Festival program:

"Great dancers are not great because of their
        technique;
  They are great because of their passion."

                        Martha Graham
                   Dancer and choreographer