A Ballet Boy Does Ballroom

Ready for my first ever ballroom and latin exams.

Just recently I have taken up ballroom and latin dancing.  It's been lots of fun and I have really enjoyed dancing with a partner.

I had my first ever ballroom and latin exams on Saturday 16th June 2018, which went really well.
And then it was off to watch the ballroom comps that were held in the Waikanae Memorial Hall straight after.

My first ballroom competition.

Solo Rhythm Foxtrot

Slow Rhythm Foxtrot

I ended up competing as well, did two solo dances and found myself a lovely partner for three open dances. 

Open Rumba

Open Rumba

I even got a third placing for my solo rhythm foxtrot. I had so much fun,
I can't wait to do it again.

Third Place Rhythm Foxtrot

All the dancers were fabulous and if you are out this way and if you get the chance next year, it is well worth going to have a look.

Salem

Kapiti Comps 2015 and What I'm up to at the moment

Pas de deux - Giselle

It was the Dance Kapiti Competitions finally after a years break.  It was held at the Southwards Theatre, out here in Kapiti.  Nice and close, it was great not to have to travel.

It was held over four days, 11th to the 14th July.  I danced 16 times over the four days.

Krakowiak

I had injured myself at practice the day before comps started and I wasn't too sure that I would be dancing at all.  I had hurt my big toe quite badly and it was quite swollen and very sore when putting any pressure at all on it.

But we put arnica on, ice packs and kept up a regime of anti-inflammatories and paracetamol when needed.
I managed to dance every dance, it did get quite sore at times, I couldn't do double tours so had to stick to singles and had to make adjustments to some of my dances.  Even had to wear different ballet shoes as my usual ones were a little too tight on my toe.

In make-up and wig for Miss Hannigan

But overall, I was really pleased with my performances, I had sooooo much fun with my jazz dances, especially the impromptu.  I just went out, put lots of humour in it and had a ball.  I wish it was videoed.
I was able to dance both of my jazz dances, Sh-Boom and White Trash.  White Trash was danced two times, it was the only repeat I had.

It was really nice to catch up with dancers that were not from the Wellington Region.  Some I hadn't seen since Palmerston North Comps from last year.

Having a bit of fun before Cold

This was my third competition of the year, and the last for this year.
I no longer have a scholarship for my dancing.  I had three years of Gold Heart Scholarships from Variety - The Children's Charity.  Three years is the limit and I was very lucky and honored to have that support.

So we can no longer afford to do as many competitions, I did eight last year, but that just means I can now concentrate more on my classes and work on technique.  Also do some more choreographies which I have so many ideas.  I will be working on a classical dance en pointe and a new variation as well.
Cold will be done en pointe next year!!!!!!

Getting into Classical mode

I'm fundraising to go over to the Boy's Ballet Summer School again this summer, I enjoyed it so much last time and learnt so much.  So when the weather gets drier and warmer, I will be busking in Wellington City at some of the inner city parks.  I can't do my dancing and acro on hard concrete so the grassy parks will do nicely.

Running Up That Hill

Term three starts today so it is back to classes in Tawa, can't wait to see my Grade One students today, and my Grade Two's tomorrow.  This term we are getting ready for exams.  I have exams for contemporary and jazz.  I am doing two jazz exams - Elementary and Intermediate.  I am also doing medals for jazz, contemporary, ballet and tap.

No ballet exams for me this year.  I am doing non syllabus ballet with Jacqui and Jonty and a mixture of advanced levels with Hayley.

Sh-Boom

Last term I got together with the lovely Miss Sophie to do the pas de deux from Giselle so we could perform it at the Kapiti Comps which we did and we got a Highly Commended (5th placing).

Not bad as we were in the Duo/Trio Any Style class so we were up against hip hop, jazz etc, no other ballet.
It was a lot of fun but over too quickly.

Practicing on stage before the Senior Championship

My other results were:

Classical  -  Third Place

Neo-Classical  -  Very Highly Commended (4th)

Character - Highly Commended (5th)

Demi-Character  - Highly Commended

Barefoot -  Commended (6th)

Impromptu Barefoot - Commended

Quiet moment before going back stage.

My favourite comment from the adjudicator was for White Trash in the Senior Jazz Champs, it was:

"I enjoyed your wild attitude."

Ready for James

I had a great four days at comps and can't wait for next year's.
I got lots of funny looks when I was in costume for Miss Hannigan, so funny!!!!!

So I will only be doing three competitions next year, same as this year.  Definitely one elsewhere, maybe Taupo or New Plymouth.  Should be fun.

Salem

Winter Cold and Weekend Competitions

On the train after my dance classes in Tawa.

Hi everyone,
I hope you are all keeping warm. Sooo cold at the moment!!!!!
Winter is well on it's way over here.
It has been very cold coming home late at night from my classes in Tawa.
I have to walk home from the railway station with all the frost setting in.
It's really nice when it's not windy or raining.

It's been a full on week or so for me, lots of practicing and of course all my classes.
Last week I had a photo shoot for a woman's magazine.
Phew, it takes a lot of time and we had to do re-take after re-take of jetes, pirouettes etc for a good action shot.  It took a few hours.

Last weekend I went to the Boy's Master Class with the Royal New Zealand Ballet which was taught by Massimo Murru from La Scala Ballet in Italy.
He is in New Zealand as guest Ballet Master for the RNZB.
It was such a great class and I really enjoyed it.
There was quite a lot of boys taking the class this time.

It's the Queen's Birthday Comps in Lower Hutt this weekend and I will be dancing all four days dancing thirteen of my dances.
I'm even entered in the song and dance class which is going to be funny as my voice is really croaky at the moment.
I will be doing Robin Hood for this.  It has become my musical theatre dance now as I have Miss Hannigan now for my demi-character.
I can't wait to do Miss Hannigan again.

Ameno

Mum's made me some new costumes and added a few more details to my Ameno costume which meant I had to lie down on the floor with the heater on (coz it's so cold here), with my costume on while Mum painted it. Then she had to dry the paint with the hair dryer before I could take it off without paint going everywhere.
She also had to make me a new tunic for Robin Hood as I have grown out of my old one.

Looking forward to comps tonight, it's the variations tonight.  I'm in the Senior Championship.
This comp will be the last one that I will be doing at the Little theatre this year.
We can't afford to do any more than three competitions this year, so I'm making the most of them.
I'm doing thirteen dances this weekend, and none of them are repeats.

Next comps are the Kapiti Comps in July, the last for the year, and I will be dancing 16 times.
I'm going to be very tired but at least they are very close to home.
No Travelling!!!!!!

I'll be heading off to Lower Hutt soon, to go to the Little Theatre.
Wish me luck
                   
                      Salem  :-)

Upper Hutt Comps June 2014

Upper Hutt Competition Society

Competition Results 

20-22^nd June 2014

Salem received a Upper Hutt Competition Society Incentive Award for Restricted Jazz.

Results for the weekend were:

Second Place - Restricted Jazz

Third Place - Musical Theatre

Very Highly Commended - Self Choreographed

Highly Commended - Contemporary

                         Lyrical

                                      Jazz Impromptu

Salem competed at the Upper Hutt competitions for the fist time in June and had a lot of fun.

A new theatre to dance in and some new faces for him to compete against.

Warming up backstage for lyrical

It was a nice big stage at Expressions Theatre and the boys had two dressing rooms to themselves which was a bonus.

In the dressing room.

It was a modern and tap competition, so no ballet this time and it will be a little while yet before he competes in tap.

They had a self choreography section which required a time limit of two minutes, Salem had wanted to do his acro dance "Safety Dance" but that was well over that time.  So he choreographed a new acro dance "Cotton Eye Joe" for a bit of fun and performed it for the first time at these comps.
Hopefully he will get to perform it again.

Cotton Eye Joe

Truffles was due for another performance so this time Salem entered "Robin Hood" in the Musical Theatre category so he sang while he danced.  He was very nervous beforehand as he had never sung on stage but he had a real blast doing it and achieving a third placing was a bonus.

Robin Hood and Truffles

He was a bit dissappointed with the Jazz Impromptu section as they played a very contemporary piece in which basically everyone danced contemporary while Salem, being the Aspie (Aspergers) that he is, only did jazz steps which was very, very hard with the choice of music.  Well done him for keeping to the style!!!!

Warming up for jazz

All in all it was a great weekend, just lot's of time spent travelling and getting home very late.
Public transport is pretty bad on the weekends especially when the trains are replaced by buses making for a very long journey indeed.

Incentive Award for Jazz

"Cold" - New Neo-classical Dance

"Cold" costume.

Salem debuted "Cold" his new neo-classical dance at the DanceArt comps on the 11th April 2014.
It went really well and really surprised everyone.  No one expected a dance like this and everyone was dead silent when Salem was dancing it.

When he had finished dancing he had a lot of applause and his first ever bravo, and it was from one of the dad's in the audience.  Salem was thrilled.
He was awarded 2nd place.

We had a bit of fun with the costume, originally thinking a light blue colour and then decided on silver.  I even found silver ballet shoes.
I thought silver leggings and a silver top would be a bit too much so we thought a white leotard would be better with white braces on the leggings.
It did look good from in the audience.  The silver leggings really showed off Salem's leg muscles.
You can't see that in the video very well though.

This is one of Salem's favourite dances at the moment.

PNDA Comps Results

Palmerston North Dance Association

Competition Results

28^th - 30^th March 2014

Salem won the Lauren McMillian Cup for the Highest mark in Restricted National Character Dance 12 years and over.

And the Palmerston North Dance Association Throphy for the Most Promising

Senior Dancer.

Krakowiak

Salem did extremely well at the PNDA Restricted and Impromptu Competitions over the weekend. It was his first lot of competitions this year so it was a nice way to get back into it.

It was a long weekend and Salem was very tired by the end as he had seven dances on Sunday, the final day.

Robin Hood

He had entered the impromptu dances along with many of his own dances, all of which he had choreographed himself.

He also debuted his new demi-character dance “Robin Hood” which was well received and got a first placing.

This dance is absolutely hilarious and I think it took everyone by surprise.

Ballet Impromptu

Salem also was awarded first place for his Krakowiak national character dance and the trophy also for highest marks for national character.

He was thrilled as he had spent a lot of time researching and then choreographing this dance.

Getting ready for the Jazz Impromptu.

The results from the weekend are:

1st Place – National Character

                 Demi-character

2nd Place – Barefoot

                  Modern Jazz

3rd Place – Variation

                  Lyrical

                  Impromptu Modern Jazz

                  Impromptu Ballet

VHC – Impromptu Barefoot

HC – Impromptu Contemporary

C – Impromptu Lyrical

Salem and Della - Waikanae Dance School

Salem really enjoyed having other dancers from his dance school there and being able to watch them perform, some for the first time on a big stage.

He has more competitions coming up, Rosewood next weekend and then DanceArt the weekend after that. Then he has a short break with lots more planned.

It's busy, busy, busy!!!!!!!!!!

Fun Practicing In A Kilt

Well it's off to Palmerston North tomorrow for the Palmerston North Dance Associations competitions tomorrow.
Salem had his last practice today going over all his dances that he will be doing and had some impromptu practice which is always lots of fun.

Over the last few weeks Salem has been practicing his James variation from La Sylphide Act II wearing a kilt.  It is a very heavy man's kilt, all wool tartan, very hot to dance in.

So Salem has gotten used to dancing in it and for the last couple of practices, he has been wearing the heavy woolen jacket as well.  Poor boy is covered in sweat after doing this short dance.

He will be performing this variation up at Palmerston North this weekend.
He has had a lot of fun dancing in the kilt, loves doing pirouettes and chaines in it!!!!!

Should be a great weekend competing against new people and making new friends.
Wish us luck!!!!

Robin Hood and Palmerston North Comps

Robin Hood

Yep, it's that time of the year when competitions start up again.
Salem has been busy choreographing more dances which brings his total up to 11 dances which are choreographed by himself.

He will be debuting his new demi-character dance "Robin Hood" this weekend at at Palmerston North Dance Association Competitions at the Regent Theatre, Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North.  He will be up there with other dancers from Waikanae Dance School.
Salem will be performing on all three days so if you are up that way, check him out.

Robin Hood riding through the glen......

I have made him a Robin Hood costume including green tights and his horse which we call "Truffles" ;-)
Actually he had grown out of all his costumes except for his Krakowiak costume so all costumes are new and look fantastic!!!!!!!!
I still have to sew up some more tights/leggings for him though.

It will be interesting to see what people think of this new dance, Jonty keeps laughing every time Salem practices it in front of him.  It is a very funny dance.

We will put it up on You Tube when we get back from Palmerston as we want it to be a surprise up there.

A Quick Catch-up No.3 - The last one....Choreography and today's lessons.

On our way home tonight after classes.

Yay, Salem's tap shoes arrived this afternoon but of course after he had already left for today's lessons.  So I made sure that I got them to him before his tap class.  He was thrilled and they were a perfect fit.  Sorry I forgot to take a photo of him wearing them.

Today he had his Intermediate lesson, and then instead of going to the performance troupe's practice, he stayed at the studio and worked on his twelve competition dances.  Only one of the dances isn't his own choreography.  He has been a busy boy creating more of his own dances.

So far this term he has choreographed a contemporary dance - "In the Shadows", a demi-character - "Robin Hood" and a neo-classical - "Cold".  He has been doing Siegfried's variation from Swan Lake Act III for a while but felt it was too rigid so has done his own choreography for it which is really great.  It is part of his BTDA dance journal work to look at a ballet, he chose Swan Lake, study it, it's history, the story and look at the choreography and suggest changes.  Well, he wrote down the whole choreography of the variation which was taught to him by Shannon Dawson at one of the Boy's Ballet Classes with the Royal New Zealand Ballet.  Created his own version and wrote the whole choreography for that.  It was very impressive.

This is his new contemporary dance "In the Shadows", it is very different to his old contemporary dance "Du Hast" when he was with KDC.  He has worked on it a lot since this was filmed.

He didn't go to troupe practice as the others were working on their older dances as they are off to comps in two weeks time.
Yes, it's comp time again.  Salem will be doing six of of his solos and five impromptus.
And it will be his first time at comps out of the Wellington region.
We are off to the Palmerston North Dance Association's Restricted and Open Impromptu Competition which will be held at the Regent Theatre in Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North on Friday 28th - Sunday 30th March 2014.
He is dancing on all three days so we will be staying up there in a hotel and making it a bit of a holiday. Salem has never been to Palmerston North.
Looking forward to it!!!!!!!

Junior Associates Audition, ABTC Comps and Dance Journal

Practicing for Ameno.

Last weekend was very, very busy.
So much for a rest on Labour Weekend.
Friday evening it was class as usual and Salem had a very enjoyable class.
He is gaining more acrobatic skills.

He had to miss his Acrobatic class on Saturday as he attended the audition at the New Zealand School of Dance for the Junior Associates program.
We had to leave very early and got there in good time thanks to Grandma, so he could warm up in time for the classical class at 8.45am.

Salem will write more about that later in this post as he is now writing a dance journal as part of his work for doing BTDA Intermediate Ballet.

Being Siegfried.

After the audition we went out to the Hutt for the Associated Ballet & Theatre Club Inc's (ABTC) Competitions at the Little Theatre in Lower Hutt.

I had booked us into the Angus Inn as it was not worth going back and forward to Paraparaumu over the weekend.  This was so much easier.
Luckily they let us check in early as we had a few hours before Salem had his first dance.

It was so nice relaxing in a nice hotel room and not having to hang out in the dressing room for hours.
We enjoyed our stay there!!!!

Looking very Polish.

Salem did very well over the two days of comps especially as he was performing all new dances which he had choreographed himself.  Everyone commented on his Krakowiak costume which he loved wearing.

He has won another trophy for coming first for the Classical Impromptu.

His results are:

1st Place -  Classical Impromptu 12 years and over
3rd Place -  Barefoot Impromptu 12 years and over
3rd Place -  Character 13 years
VHC -  Classical 13 years
VHC -  Barefoot 13 years
VHC - Lyrical 12 years and over.

Salem will write more about the comps in another post soon.
Here is his first Journal entry:

Salem's Dance Journal

**************************

New Zealand School of Dance

On Saturday the 26th of October, I had to go to the New Zealand School of Dance in Wellington, so I could audition to try to get into the Junior Associates.

I had to be there very early in the morning.  There was a lot of other dancers too.  There were four other boys as well but the rest were girls.

We had to get our numbers, I was number 37.  Then we went into one of the studios to have a warm up.

Eating my cheese and crackers.

Then we all went into Studio 1 for a ballet class.  All of us boys had to go down the back so we couldn't see what was happening very well.  The class went for one and a half hours then we had a break.  I had cheese and crackers.

After that we had a contemporary class which wasn't as long.  The best bit was doing an impromptu.  That was fun but the music choice was horrible.

UPDATE:  Salem was accepted on the New Zealand School of Dance Associate Programme.
He is now a NZSD Junior Associate Contemporary Major.