Archive for November, 2006
November 30, 2006 at 11:23 am · Filed under ballet, CATHY, brazil, first performance
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| Posted by Cathy
First, I’m going to tell you about my first performing experience. I don’t have any pictures, though. Lots of things have disappeared around here since I have just moved to a new house, so it’s going to take some time until I get everything figured out.
Well, I was 8 years old, and the ballet was La Fille Mal Gardée. I was one of the peasant kids, friends of Lise. The costume was really cute, a typical orange leotard with a typical peasant skirt, plus flowers in our heads that matched the outfit. By this time of the year, I had already gotten injured, so consequently I couldn’t attend many rehearsals, I missed lots, and I got sick too. Not a very fortunate end of year, as you may see. So, considering my lack of rehearsals, I was pretty much lost and didn’t know the choreography very well.( Just a note: The choreographer I worked with at this time is the same one that has been working with us in my current studio! ). Well I can’t remember many details, but in the performance day I was the ‘’late one'’, and did many of the things wrong =P But I remember mom did my make up at home, and all my family went to the theater to watch me. Sadly, after that, I had to leave ballet due to the injury in my feet, and that took me 3 years to come back!
About my first performance after this long break, I can remember way more details.
I had to dance with younger girls, what made me a bit frustrated in the beginning, but later on, I didn’t care. Afterall I had found out how much I loved what I was doing.
It was Swan Lake, and we were princesses. My teacher had to choose a few of us to stay on stage after the dance, while the odile’s pas de deux was happening. I was chosen, and you all can imagine how happy I was!
I would stare at pointe shoes wondering how was that feeling. Whenever I had the opportunity, I would watch the older girls rehearse. I was always amazed, they were such beautiful dancers, how could they do all those difficult things! And pointe shoes, pointe shoes… Of course my goal from that time on was to finally be able to wear them (that happened a few months later - I quickly became a very strong dancer. Hard work!!)
I remember all the dress rehearsals, how fantastic they would be. Seeing all the costumes, the girls in their tutus. First time I could really FEEL this atmosphere.
The outfit was a blue and shiny dress, not my favorite costume, definitely. But I was happy anyway.
Ah the feeling to be onstage again was also really good. But I felt the lights on my face and how WARM they are and how they make us sweat! (A fact that eventually we get used to, don’t we? haha ) I danced with so much pleasure, and this time I did know the choreography!
And 5 years later …
I will be performing the Nutcracker, and there’s SO MUCH to tell! But this will be my next post, as I am waiting for the cd with the pictures shot by the professional photographer (my own camera collapsed, I was so anxious to take BACKSTAGE pictures, but the thing decided to stop working! )
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
November 29, 2006 at 12:50 pm · Filed under SLOAN, parties, artists, culture, events, lvhrd, brazil, art, graffiti
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| Posted by Sloan
This post is a bit outdated, but I wanted to get it up because
1. it was such a cool event, and
2. i finally got to meet another dance blogger, the amazingly talented Mr. Matt Murphy of Ranting Details.
The event at which we met was LVHRD’s second BiFold event entitled WLD STRT, with Brahma-supported Brazilian graffitti artist Speto, and James and Evan of the Graffiti Research Lab. Speto discussed his work and influences after creating the piece above in front of the audience.
GRL then gave a presentation of their work with lots of video, followed by live graffiti on the street below the venue…really.
GRL is the organization responsible for inventing LED throwies. They then graduated to “Night writing” (click that link for an awesome GRL video), using the same LED technology. This is the graffiti technique they used that night.
There was a video camera shooting the action outside, which was projected in the space for those who could not see out the window. GRL was also hooked up to audio, so everyone in the room felt like we were down on the street with him. He was successful. After that spectacle, all of the attendees were then given an LED throwie kit to make LED throwies of their own! Totally cool.
A YouTube video on LED throwies (originally done by GRL)…
The LEDs are taped to magnets, which makes it so that when you throw them onto something metal, they stick. I put them temporarily on my lapel. They are just so pretty… ugh how girly of me.
Speto (on the right) with our photographer friend who is also from Brazil, Leo Zacharias. Cathy…. have you seen any of Speto’s work? He is also from Sao Paulo 
The event left me feeling like I wanted to go paint something, and decorate everything with lights at the same time. How fun is that?!
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
November 29, 2006 at 8:49 am · Filed under SLOAN, injuries, events, training, class
| | Posted by Sloan
Hey everybody,
I got an email about this workshop from Peridance Studios which are located just below Union Square in NYC.
Thought it sounded kind of interesting, so I’m passing it along…
“Somatics with Laura Gates
This workshop will be held on Tuesday and Thursday during the weeks of
Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, from 10am to Noon.
This workshop offers tools and knowledge that every dancer needs for
improving challenging technical movement like pirouettes, balances, jumps,
as well as excellent tools for body care and repair.
All four classes are recommended. Drop ins also welcome. Please wear
comfortable flexible clothing and bring a yoga mat if you have one.
Illustrated material of class content will be available with each class.
The price for this workshop is $65.
Single classes may be taken for $18 each.
You may register by calling us at 212-505-0886.
Payment may be made with Visa or MasterCard.”
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
November 27, 2006 at 5:55 pm · Filed under SLOAN, backstage, ballet, new york city ballet, new york state theater, dressing room, hair, makeup, video, GWYNETH, podcast, vidcast
| | Posted by Sloan
Gwyneth and I shot this before her debut as the Hostess in NYCB’s production of The Nutcracker.
Also appearing are Maya Collins, Troy Schumacher, and Henry Seth.
Music: “Further” by Etherdust.
Video: Starring Gwyneth, filmed and edited by Sloan.
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
November 26, 2006 at 4:10 pm · Filed under SLOAN, kids, stage, contest
| | Posted by Sloan
Hi everybody! Long time, no post.
Sorry about that, it’s been a busy few weeks.
By the way, a happy belated turkey day to everyone
So in the last newsletter we suggested that the contributors tell us a bit about their first time on stage.
Megan was the first, writing about her experience in The King & I with Nureyev. (amazing!)
My first stage experience was not quite as glamourous, but it was also in The King & I. I was also one of the little girls, but it was in a production by the Natick High School in Massachusetts, where I lived. Unfortunately, I was not very well suited to the role with my blonde hair, so every day for the run of the show my mom would spray my hair with this black stuff that we would then have to wash out at the end of the night. That was my strongest memory… coming home incredibly tired and just wanting to go to bed, and mom telling me I had to get in the bathtub to wash out my hair. I guess it prepared me a bit for some of the rigors of performing on a daily basis.
I remember loving the music and wishing I could sing like the “adults”… I was totally in awe of the high school drama students who were playing the leading roles. Then I saw the movie and thought Yul Brynner was just about the coolest person I’d ever seen.
I think that was it for me and the stage for a while, unless my mom remembers something else that I don’t. I eventually began ice skating, which soon led to ballet, and ultimately led me here.
If anyone out there feels inspired to SHARE their first performing experience with us… send it our way!
Pictures, or no pictures - the two best stories will win a winger t-shirt.
Send your stories to:
wingers @ thewinger.com
Recent Posts by kristin sloan
November 25, 2006 at 5:19 pm · Filed under MEGAN
| | Posted by Megan Kurashige
Hello, all! I’m happy to report that I survived my first week of work in Montreal. We’ve learned all our choroegraphy and are now starting to run things straight through. Les Grands is a fantastic company– all the dancers are beautiful and everyone’s quite nice and helpful. It’s so interesting to be working on corps de ballet pieces… I’ve spent the last year or so immersed in contemporary choreography, so it’s a bit alien to be on the lookout for your “mark” on the floor and to remember the rules of the ballet stage (left downstage of right, standing in immaculate B+, etc.), but it’s fun to have a bit of a change and challenge. And it’s not even cold! At least, not inside. The heating system is amazing!
I just wanted to write a quick post to let anybody who’s interested know that the Conservatory has just announced its upcoming William Forsythe program. During the summer, we’ll be working with Thomas McManus on improvisation and then we’ll set and perform a Forsythe ballet. Fun! The link is here. We’ll also be working with the very lovely Glenn Edgerton on repertory by Jiri Kylian. Take a look!
Hope everyone in the States had a nice Thanksgiving… I’m afraid that here in Canada I just had a Thursday
Recent Posts by megan kurashige
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