Hiatus after hiatus

I know that I have not been updating this blog. Understatement. Suffice to say that I had a wonderful dance year, including Night Festival (where I did Paths of Time under a pair of great mentors). And I managed to pass 2 flamenco grades with flying colours AND do 2 intense December shows with a sprained back. Brava to me.

And I want to say I'm really happy to get into the Mayday Rally 2011 performance, and I was, until recent circumstances threw a shadow across this event. That, however, is not something for this blog. I intend to start another blog, which will chronicle this event and its subsequent ongoings, so if you are curious, watch out for a new link I will soon put in place. But expect this space to be empty for a long while more.

Re-entering the Scene.

I didn't publish any entries for the whole of May. I know. If you have been following my blog, you'd notice that May would have been a little busy for me. And it was. Big time.

But that's done now! Yay! I've got a short break before rehearsals for Night Festival loom.

Did I not mention that I'm in the Night Festival? Yep, I got through auditions.

But right now, lets talk about a really great social night.

Since I finished my last show on Saturday, I agreed to follow a friend to the newly revamped Union Square yesterday night. Anyway, I hadn't gone for social dancing in months, so I wanted to get back my groove. Apparently, it didn't take very long. Yay for me.

Had a really really good dance fix. Several of the leads were loads and oodles of fun, and most of the girls were good sports.

There were several highlights of the evening, one of which was 2 heart-pumping numbers with one guy; unfortunately for me, both times were to fast music, and when you dance with a strong lead who has fanciful moves and a penchant for making girls do work, it's easy to get a heart attack.

Of course I enjoyed that.

Then there were two bachatas with a familiar face. And 2 really really fun numbers where the guy and I were busy playing throughout the dances (yes, we were dancing).

And the last salsa I did, some guy made me do 5 spins in a row. Wah lau. Last time I was made to do multiple spins stationery, it was 2 years ago. 8 spins.

All in all, a fruitful night.

Wo-Man.

Barely a month since my last post, but it feels longer. Must be all the projects and exams and stuff at school. And I'm still dancing through my exams because my two dance showcases are coming up soon after. I hope I graduate. I'd better.

Alrighty, here we go:

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Drama
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Am severely miffed about not being able to commit to helping out with the front-of-house for W!ld Rice production of Animal Farm. Other commitments include the directing stint at school and my two dance showcases. Am still trying to decide if I should send in an application anyway.

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Dance
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Like the pictures above? They came from the flamenco photoshoot. I was the only girl to be dressed in pants and and a vest (one other performer wore pants, but it was the flowy kind and she had a scarf)... why am I not surprised...

A pity I don't have the zebra costume shot though. That was really nice (I know "zebra costume" sounds weird, but it really was very nice).

It's starting to look like I won't be doing the Follow for salsa in May. Which is kind of sad. But oh well.

My pirouettes for turns technique today was kind of bad... think I was tired and my ankles were weak. Guess that's homework for me.

So many things, so little time

Updates from a very tired wannabe artiste who is still trying to graduate.

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Auditions

I have been trotting around, getting auditions in various places... mostly for acting... unfortunately, all of them seem to require me to sing, which (due to complete lack of practice and negligence for my health) I don't do so well.

Did an audition recently for TheatreWorks... Hoping to get a favourable reply. This audition required me to act, dance and sing. The first two I was okay with. The last one I prepared for anyway, praying for my life I wouldn't have to use it (but eventually, I did).

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Drama

Am currently in a directors' workshop based in school; hoping that will amount to something. Honestly, I much prefer acting, but it would be good to see the view from the other side of the mirror. Should be fun. I know I don't sound very excited right now (it's because I'm tired, nearing the end of school term with projects due and I haven't been sleeping well), but I really am looking forward to the process.

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Dance

Am currently posted to be a substitute teacher for 2 weeks of latin jazz. Learnt 6 weeks worth of content in 1.5 hours. Talk about crash course. But hey, I'm not complaining. It's pretty cool stuff.

Also preparing myself to have to become a Lead again, for the latest choreography in Dragones. If I can learn the tricks though, I might be able to be the Follow in a more advanced choreography. Guess that means I have to get my strength up. Time to plan my personal bootcamp for the next 2 weeks.

My turns are improving though. I like turns technique classes.

This Thursday and Friday could have been social nights for me; Una Noche Solamente (salsa) and Nocturne II (standard ballroom) respectively, both in school. Just my luck, I have to attend Flamenco class and training on Thursday, and my next directors' workshop session is on Friday.

Sad.

Clinging to The Twilight

Long time since the last update. Why?

Because. I. Am. Exhausted.

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Dance
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The physical training for Dragones has recently started up again (after almost a one-year hiatus; this does not include choreography and rehearsals). And, unsurprisingly, I am the weakest in fitness.

Sigh.

On a lighter note, I look forward to Tuesdays every week. Currently assisting my dance instructor with the salsa courses in school, and that's probably the only place I'll get my fill of social dancing at the moment (Union Square has increased fares and I'm told the space is smaller).

Speaking of which, Salsa Beginners on wednesday nights (7:30pm to 8:30pm) is still waiting for sign-ups! And my salsa intermediate class on Saturday nights (8pm to 9pm).

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Drama
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I think I flunked the auditions for Toy Factory. Haven't heard from them in any case. And a lot of the auditions currently available require me to be a songstress. Which, as we all know, I don't fare too well on during auditions.

Sigh.

Decisions, decisions.

Announcements:

Right people, listen up! You're hearing this even before it's up officially on the website!

My next salsa beginners' class is starting 3rd March, Wednesdays, 7:30pm to 8:30pm, at JazzCats studios! That's at Valley Point. Sign up! With LADC!

Classes at JazzCats are $96 per head, but if you bring a friend along, we'll charge $144 for the both of you. How's that for a deal?

My intermediate class at Dance Arts is still waiting for students, so if you're up for it, sign up!

The only thing sad about my new salsa beginners' class is that it's about the same time as Turns Technique... which means I'll be missing out on the latter. Pity; I really wanted to work on those turns. Especially since I only got in the last 3 classes of Turns Tech 1...

And to all salseros out there: looking for a few salsa dancers (of any level) to participate in focus group discussions. If you 're interested, drop me a message.


Miscellaneous:

Trying to figure out what to do with the voucher I have from Bailamos Sin Limites. Don't feel much like using it on salsa; other latin forms or standard ballroom stuff would be nice. Shame, there are so many schools I can use it for, but I can only use it once.

Also, I'm sorely tempted to go for Gl'amore, organised by Ballare, which is SMU's standard ballroom club. Problem is the the entry costs $48. That's understandable. But I'm very, very poor. Surely that's understandable, too.

What we do for kicks.

Bailamos Sin Limites. What can I say? Fantasmic. Though I do wish I could have done a bit more social.

As it is, I have a gig tomorrow morning (non-paying, but oh well) that kind of came last minute.

Here is a conversation that occured in Turns Technique class yesterday:

Classmate: What are you doing here?
Me: What?
Classmate: You professional already! What are you doing here?
Me: What, what? Cannot meh?
Classmate: Cannot, cannot!
Me: I cannot do doubles you know!
Classmate: Huh! I cannot do singles!
Me: You think only you can be amatuer is it? I cannot be amatuer, huh?
Classmate: Cannot! You, what amatuer? I amatuer, you not amatuer!

Yes. We artsy people are a bunch of sanity-challenged people.