Pre-Graduation Crunch

Some Recent Thoughts:
Exactly three weeks until I graduate and enter the real world...

Saw Christopher Fleming's Tommy The Rock Ballet at Adelphi University, performed by my peers.  Shocked at how bad the professionals were in the show.  Although the students weren't used to such rigorous pointe work, there was true artistry in their performance.  The professionals looked bored, limp, and some had some technique issues that seem to never have been fixed...  Not to mention the choreography seemed out of sync and anticlimactic compared to the music.

HATCH performances at The Works studio in Manhattan with If/Then Dance May 7th and May 14th


Also performing a work by Adelphi faculty member and recent Taylor alum, Orion Duckstein, on May 6th and May 13th at Adelphi University in Garden City, Long Island.  Beautiful piece with music by Part :)

An update on HT Chen Company:  The other seven dancers and I invited to the callback, have been asked to continue coming to rehearsals three days a week.  After the audition, callback, and a rehearsal, I realized it was just too much for me right now, unpaid, with graduation lurking around the corner.  I had to tell them that unfortunately I couldn't make rehearsals at this point, but  I will be very much available in three weeks and hopefully they will think of me in the future.

Daise

If/Then Dance had their second HATCH series last weekend, and it went pretty well! Great experience to share with two of my best friends (choreographer Sam Householder, and fellow dancer, Kelly B).  After much baby powder, yellow makeup, live flowers, and some costume malfunctions almost resulting in flashing the audience, it turned out well and I'm psyched to do the next two HATCH performances April 6th and 13th.

Here are some pics from a dress rehearsal at Adelphi, and here is a dress run of the piece
Coming soon is an edited video (courtesy of my brother, Mike)
Tomorrow:  HT Chen callback!

Upcoming performance- HATCH

My first professional performance, with If/Then Dance Project!

Will be premiering a duet, "Daise" by Sam Householder.  Hope to see you there!

Face

I recently had the opportunity to work with a photographer/great lady that I know, Julia Gerace.  She is a truly excellent photographer, based out of Connecticut, and I first met her when she was shooting out of her house, way back when! Anyway, she now has a gorgeous studio, and asked me a couple weeks ago to come in to play around with a fantasy model shoot, featuring the four seasons.

Here is a link to her blog post about our shoot. Click to check out a shot from each season.

And this is one of the shots from "Winter"

P.S.  This looks NOTHING like me haha

Anyway, after our fun shoot, Julia insisted that I have got to look into modeling.  I've heard so from friends of mine, and my boyfriend, but always assumed it was them being partial to me or flattery.  Hearing it from a professional really did it for me though, and now I'd seriously like to look into modeling, but am unsure of how or where to start.  I'm only 5'4'' so runway and things of that sort are out of the question.  But I really enjoy modeling and would love to make some side cash. 

Where do I start ahhhhhh

Late coffee and good news

Today was productive.
Abs, Modern, Ballet.
Rehearsal with the seniors for Orion Duckstein's piece
Work (AU Dance office & Starbucks)
Rehearsal with Sam Householder and If/ Then Dance (Like If/Then Dance on Facebook!) or (follow us on Twitter).

I was going to post after my audition last week with HT Chen Company, but making money got in the way.  I was basically going to say that it was a small audition (it was split up by days and groups) and a positive experience.  And I enjoyed myself :)  They told us we would hear by monday by email, so I thought nothing much of it for the rest of the weekend.  Que sera, sera.

As a side note:  I was really impressed by the company.  They have their own dance center in China Town, do a ton of outreach, teach, perform often, paid rehearsals and performances, the company has been around for over 30 years, and they seem like a great, yet low-radar/uncomercialized company.  Oh and of course, I enjoyed the movement style and choreography :) The atmosphere was really great as well and I liked the company dancers who I met.  Plus, HT Chen is a hilarious old Asian guy. (He came in really late to the audition, with his tie around his fedora hat, which he thought was the best idea every).

Now down to the point-- I GOT A CALLBACK!


Just checked my email, and there it was.  April 20th, folks.  I'm in disbelief.  This is about my fifth audition, and now my second callback. (last year being a callback for Paul Taylor, which also knocked my socks off).  I'm not expecting anything.  Because I don't think you can expect anything for auditions and callbacks; you'd drive yourself nuts if you did.  I just hope to gain something out of every one of these experiences.

Well, better practice my Tiger's Mouth. (hand posture HT Chen often uses, where all the fingers are together, except for the thumb which sticks for out.  Put thumb and index finger together, and it makes a "Tiger's Mouth") ;)