Last week I was a guest at Nipomo High School thanks to a friend from Variable Velocity who is the dance teacher at the high school. A little over a month ago she approached me about judging and possibly creating a routine for the auditions of Nipomo High School's Dance Company. I was available and jumped at the chance. I love to teach and choreograph bit I rarely ever get a chance to actually do it.
I had instructions that went like this:
Jazz style with a little ballet, hip hop, and modern
4 to 5 8 couts
improv at one point
easy to count music
technique and performance
an extension, pirouette, and leap
I then gave myself the task of adding and isolation, hand leg opposition, gesture phrase, weight change and weight shift, plus play with dynamics and speed changes.
I love to push the body to stretch and move not just go through the motions.
I picked the song "Daylight" by Matt and Kim which is very cheery and fun and would lighten their mood.
I had so much fun working with the girls and w boys. There was 2 days of auditions the first day was mostly girls that were in the company this year and there was only 25 of them. Wednesday was mostly intro students and there was 31 of them. Which is a big difference to teach. The teaching process is longer and more complicated and requires constant movement. By the end my voice and body were gone! but I had so much fun the dance was super fun to do and the kids were great. I was so happy to be there and to take part. I have to admit I'm a tough judge because I'm a stickler for technique and clarity.
The process was fun and rewarding for me and it lead to greater opportunity. Chrissy asked me to choreograph a a piece for their big show next year and said I could guest teach a couple of times as well. I'm super excited and I can't wait, it will be great for my resume and for grad school. She also said the students liked me and said I was a god teacher! I LOVE hearing that!
Side note I was at the MGMT concert this weekend and I turn 21 in 8 hours, crazy. Also Variable Velocity's show is this week in Spanos at Cal Poly and I am getting really excited! It looks great. Tomorrow is the first day in the theater and we start blocking and setting lighting and such. If you're in the area stop by The Treasure of Presence.
ok so a break from dance info to general info on my life cause it affects my dance life. Background: Every Thursday at Cal Poly we have what is called UU hour where no one has class and there are free concerts in the UU plaza. My friend Jacki was recently hired to be the new event manager for the concerts next year (meaning she chooses and schedules the bands). She is currently training by working with the current guy Dave.
Today (Thursday May 20th 2010) the band The Dirty Heads, a pretty big reggae band, played. After the show Jacki and I were hanging around helping with little things etc. Then the band asked us to go to lunch with them to Firestone, the local bbq place. So we went. While packing up the van we met the band and explained to them about the Frightened Rabbit concert that bight and how we were SUPER stoked to go. I played Jared some songs, he didn't like it. Sad. Then a girl comes up to the band and asks where the Dirty Heads are (she apparently didn't know what they looked like and that I move their own equipment) Jared says "That's us! We're much more attractive in person." The girl rolls her eyes and just walks away! It was ridiculous.
After they finished packing up, we all hopped in the van with them to head downtown. As we drove we quickly realized these boys are RIDICULOUS and really funny. At one point they were going maybe 15 mph staring and discussing the girls running past. After a long debate over where to park the van/uhaul combo we walk 5 blocks to Firestone.
At Firestone they boys walk right in and go sit at a table with some random older guys that are obviously old rocker types. Turns out it is Ernie Ball's grandson (of ernie ball guitars) and his friends. So we sit and all start ordering. Lets just say the conversation was FAR from PG and the most fun I have had in a while. I sat towards the end of the table with Jared on my right, Jacki on my left, Dustin across from me and the driver (I can't remember his name! shoot) to Dustin's left across from Jared.
The boys were especially excited to talk about my career as a dancer and Jared proposed that I do a stripper ballet routine to make some extra money for college. Then we discussed how I like cars and the smell of motor oil on a boy. Which prompted the discussion of Jared's love for the smell of female armpits. I'll say no more, though we went into much detail.
By the end of lunch we were all a little crazy and making really strange jokes and comments. Then Brian Ball picked up the tab for all of us. He was super nice about it! So we walked back to the van and decided the options they had for the rest of their day in SLO: wineries, beach, or Hearst Castle. Then they dropped Jacki and I off at her house and Jared exchanged numbers with us.
Jacki's house was a crazy mess. Shelby was with her Org Behavior group prepping for their cake making competition tomorrow. so we just quickly stopped in and explained our awesome luck and her loss. She was jealous to say the least.
Dance!!!! I had rehearsal, 2 weeks til the show! AHHHHHHHH panic is now starting to ensue
9:15pm I RAN our of dance and went as fast as legally possible to get downtown for theFrightened Rabbit concert and walked in just as they were taking the stage. THANK YOU GOD!!!!! I owe you one (not really cause I missed Edward Sharpe so even steven?)
I was absolutely giddy ecstatic for FR I texted and called Kirsten and Keela since they couldn't be there and then took a ton of photos and videos. Let's just say Frightened Rabbit is better live than on album! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AMAZING. They ended with my favorite song "Keep yourself warm" I bought a SICK t shirt and can't wait to rock out with it.
After being kicked out of DTB, we trekked to Frog and Peach where Jacki went in to meet with the Dirty Heads who were drinking (damn my 21st bday being 10 days away!!!!!!) so I left and went home.
I am currently listening to Frightened Rabbit, eating the rest of my tri-tip sandwich from Firestone, and I just texted Jared and wished him and the boys a good night in SLO town. I'm just sad I couldn't take part further or get a photo with them or something. Oh well maybe next time
Tomorrow off to Nipomo High to help tech their dance show with Horacio, should be fun.
My current inspirations: • Today I found an old friend (line from the movie Purple Violets) • A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! ( last 2 lines fron “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron) • music:
Creating dance, inspired by the world around us, and the people who inhabit it. Make sure to check back for sneak peaks! https://vimeo.com/chertudidance
