I'm going to dance!

It's officially signed, sealed, and delivered. I am going to be a trainee with the Louisville Ballet for their 2010-11 season. Pretty neat, what?

Emanuel Amuchastegui

Starting at about 12 seconds, watch the magnificent Emanuel Amachastegui, who just won the gold medal at the 2010 Prix de Lausanne.



I have never seen such technique in my life! I'm utterly astounded. His jumps, his feet! What makes it even more unbelievable is that he started ballet just four years ago. FOUR. And, he is so cute. And my age! A match made in heaven. :)

To learn more about him, visit here.

They like me!

I just found out that I got into Louisville Ballet! I auditioned for them back in February, and they just offered me a trainee position for next year! I'm so excited!!!!

New Freeds

So I really love my new Freed Classic Pros. They are pretty and they feel great! The only problem is that they also wear out too quickly (I've worn them twice and they are dying... bleh). But, since I am shellacking my old pair, I can save my new ones for auditions.

These are the pros, though unfortunately not my feet. But, maybe someday mine will look like that!

Preparations and memories

Goodness I'm getting excited. My first audition is in 2 1/2 weeks, and my second in 3 1/2. I have so much to do!!

I went to Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) last year, and now I am seeing a whole lot of people I knew of there in all the companies I am looking at now! Isn't that funny? The ballet world is so very small!

I'm working on my resume, and I'm organizing and preparing and STRESSING like crazy! 

Isn't that a beautiful and inspiring picture (above)? It is of the former ABT dancer, Susan Jaffe. I had the amazingly good fortune to be chosen by her for her summer intensive (Princeton Dance and Theatre Studio) when I was 15. It was the best summer intensive I have ever gone to, and I recommend it very highly. She also chose me for one of the four solo variations in the end performance (we did Raymonda), and being coached by her was an unbelievable but extremely tough experience. You could never not work for Ms. Jaffe. She was very strict, but oh so nice. I was also coached by Cynthia Gregory, which of course was also mind-blowing and amazing.

Other guest teachers included Desmond Richardson (!!)

and Robert Hill (!!).

 Oh goodness. What a summer!

Solution #1

I have always disliked regular pointe shoe elastic... it's too dark and too stiff. The mesh and "invisible" elastics are uncomfortable as well. I had some stretch ribbon around (didn't work well as ribbon), and so I sewed it on my pointe shoes where the elastic should go. It works wonderfully! It is very comfortable, and practically invisible against tights. Perfect!

Pointe shoe dilemma

I have a pointe shoe problem. I wear Freed Classics and I love them. But they wear out too quickly (the shank breaks and the toes give out- I mean, they are performance shoes after all). But they are so comfortable! And until I get a job with shoe compensation, I can't afford to buy a pair or more each week ($68 a pop). If I could only find a way to freeze them as soon as they are perfectly broken in, then that would be just swell. My coach says that she and her classmates used to coat them in shellac, and that it worked really well, though it dyed them a hideous color. I'm going to try it (fingers crossed). Darning helps to prolong the life of the tips, but after a while I get a little tired of holding myself up by just my toes, with no help from my shoes. But a perk is that they make absolutely no noise.

I think I'm going to try the Classic Proffesionals. They have a 3/4 shank instead of a full, and are made to be a bit more durable. And until I get them, I'm going to try and freeze my shoes using spray shellac!

This is my current pair. They are darned, and you can see a jet glue stain on the left one. Jet glue is fantastic, but it only works to a certain extent. Oooh, I can't wait to get my new shoes! I certainly hope they fit and work on my feet! I'm extremely picky about my satin slippers.

The beginning of a year

This is going to be a blog chronicling my journey from ballet student to professional dancer, and about everything ballet related. I'm going to be auditioning for companies this year, and hopefully I will get a job! I have no idea what is going to happen, or where I will be next year, or anything. But I'm going for it with all of my heart.