Friday, January 9, 2015

Finding Confidence

One of the things that is said most often to me is that I need to have more confidence. I think to myself it isn't just that easy. So, how do you find confidence? The dictionary definition is as follows: "a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something." Just reading the words feels empowering doesn't it? If you believe that you can you will! It's not as hard as you think. Now for a little story 3...2...1...

The winter of 2014 I was about to audition for my first summer intensive at Ballet West. I remember being so nervous I could barely talk. It was in a setting I had never been in before. 80 girls packed into a studio, a piano player, different teaching syllabus, and the whole class was on pointe. I was not doing well. In between barre and center I remember thinking to myself, " I need to relax." I pretending that I was just taking a regular class. Once in that mindset I was more comfortable. When I was dancing I was doing way better than before. Long story short, I was accepted! It made me realize that I can do anything if I have the right mindset. I also realized that beating myself down isn't going to get me anywhere. Great story right?


Finally, I will link to Juliet Doherty's TED talk. It was about being great. Everybody can be great and is great in their own way. It is time for dancer to stop comparing themselves. If we do we will never be happy because there is always someone better than us. One of my favorite quote from her speech is, "It is time for you to stop competing and start dancing." Of course you will still be in the competitions that you enter in, but the score that is on the sheet does not define you. Another favorite quote of hers that is, "I authorize myself to be great." Remember, you are the only person that make yourself be great. 


Keep this is in mind whenever you are feeling down on yourself or when in a stressful situation. When in the right mindset, the sky is the limit. We are all great in our own ways. Authorize yourself to be great. 



Courtesy of: Polyvore


Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Best Ballet Movies

1. Maos Last Dancer- This movie is about a young boy, Li Cunxin, who is chose by the chinese government to study ballet. He later travels to Houston to dance with the Houston Ballet. Meanwhile, he is secretly dating a dancer, Elizabeth Mackey. The Chinese government wants to bring him back to China. He struggles with the decision whether he should stay in America or go back to China and be with his family. This is my personal favorite movie. The movie is inspired by a autobiography written by Li Cunxin.
Courtesy of: Tumblr
2. Black Swan- Nina is a ballerina with the New York City Ballet. Her life revolves entirely around ballet. She is picked as the artistic directors first choice to be the Swan Queen in the ballet Swan Lake. She finds herself competing for the part with a fellow dancer. This causes her to lose a complete grip on reality.
Courtesy of: Tumblr
3. The Turning Point- Telling the stories of two women. Deedee left her dance career to become wife, mother, and teacher in Oklahoma. Emma became a prima ballerina at American Ballet Theatre. Both want what the other has. They are brought together when Deedee's daughter joins the company.

Mikhail Baryshnikov and Leslie Browne
Courtesy of: allmovie


4. First Position- Pretty sure everyone has heard of this movie. Incase you haven't, it is following the lives of 6 young, promising dancers. They compete at Youth America Grand Prix in New York which could change their dancing careers.
Miko Fogarty 
Courtesy of: Tumblr
5. Ballerina- A documentary that follows five ballerinas from the Mariinsky Ballet. Really all I have to say about that one.
Courtesy of: IMP awards


Saturday, January 3, 2015

What Judges are Looking for in Summer Intensive Auditions

It's summer intensive audition season! Thinking of that gives me the chills. It is personally nerve racking because it is hard to know what the judges are looking for in order to get in. So, with a little research among the various companies I have come up with some criteria that judges are looking for. 

It's obvious that the judges are looking for technique and ability level. On one of my audition forms has a rubric kind of thing and they are looking for physique, flexibility, turn out, turns, petite allegro, grand allegro, and strength. My tips for getting good marks is make a list of things that you struggle with technique wise. These include habits that you have. For example, I could put that I raise my shoulders and my fingers and face tense up when I am concentrating. Or if you struggle with adagio, like me, focus on adagio in technique class and remember correction. Of course there is more but I am not going to bore you with my long list. Also, make sure you stretch and do core work EVERY NIGHT from now on. Don't be worried if you aren't perfect in all these elements. If judges see you have potential and that you are teachable you have no reason to worry.

In auditions, having a personality is key. However, this does not mean goofing off. If the girl or boy behind you has a smile on his face and you are straight faced as Kanye West is in most of his photos, they are most likely going to pick him or her. You want to show them that you love dancing. They aren't going to pick someone that they think doesn't like dancing. Also, a good attitude is something they are looking for. If you mess up try not to show it or get mad at yourself. The judges might not even notice the mistake and if they do it will be seen that you have a good attitude.

No matter what have fun. Just relax and everything will come naturally. Good luck!

Courtesy of Examiner