Dance Week 2&3

February 14, 2008  FILED TO: Blog, Dance

Ok, I missed week 2 already but I have to write a weekly journal for homework and learn syllabus material (as well as work and do my homework for my Dutch classes) so I think I can be forgiven for missing entries (I don’t think my 1-2 readers will mind! .

I’m almost into the swing of things now. This week and last week have been very much about settling in, getting over muscle soreness, building strength and learning syllabus material.  The soreness has mostly gone but I have a couple of old injuries that have begin to play up (all on my right side unfortunately).  I’ve been stretching in the evening, massaging my muscles with a natural muscle rub and strapping my ankle.  If all is not well by early next week I’ll go to a physio (no time this week!).

I had a bad day on Wednesday – was feeling a bit drained and overwhelmed with the syllabus work and it’s a big switch from doing beginner/intermediate classes most days to advanced/professional classes on Wednesdays – harder on the body and the brain. Today was a much better day – I am starting to remember the syllabus work and had a great class wearing chorus shoes for the first time – that was a lot of fun!  This is the first time they’ve run jazz classes with chorus shoes after realising there is a need in the industry for dancers to be experienced in dancing in them.  Also, yesterday I learned some new tricks in the advanced / professional jazz class and we did a floor barre in ballet (kind of like pilates).  In between I’ve been furiously practicing the hip-hop and tap routines that I’ll be performing in my exams in a few weeks time – I hope I can remember them and I hope the next level is not significantly more difficult.  I’m lucky that other (only) other teaching student is a tapper and helps me a lot with rehearsing the tap routing.  I seem to have a good memory for the hip-hop choreography so try to help her with that in return.

Our week has been a little disrupted with studios hired out for auditions for Tokyo Disneyland.  There was a buzz of excitement as some of the advanced students auditioned and the rest of us were shifted to other studios.   Some of the advanced students already work professionally in dance; it’s very cool to be so close to what’s going on in the industry.

So that’s a quick  catch-up of the last two weeks.  Tomorrow evening Matt and I are heading down to Phillip Island for the weekend to see his parents and show off (and enjoy!) our new car.  Should be nice and relaxing since we’ve spent the last couple of weekends doing repairs around the house and running around with chores, shopping (for dance gear and groceries) and visiting my parents.