Is it Show-Time Already?

Nothing has been confirmed yet, but looks like we're going to reprise our Don Quixote -inspired dance for the school's xmas show! Yay! Now it just depends on whether we get enough of our original cast together. It's always tricky with us adults, especially right before the holidays. We have to be able to commit to additional rehearsals, and be free to dance just two days before all of Finland retreats home to spend Christmas. I know some of our "corps" has travel plans, while a few others are no longer at our school (or even in the same country). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get to go back on stage - I have really missed the experience!

I also hope to dance and perform better than I did last time. (Read the re-cap from our spring performance here: Ballerina for a Day.) Our teacher has already given us pre-rehearsal preparation to do: we have to rewatch the video from the spring show and rememorize our steps and positions. I remember being much too nervous to enjoy my entrance, and it shows. My piqué attitudes look like a dog trying to take a leak. It still makes me cringe, but not so bad that I can't make a joke about it! This much I've learned from my very few performing opportunities: there's always something you could have done better (and did do better in rehearsals). You might sail through the most difficult part and then screw up the easiest steps. It happens, shit happens. But as long as you keep going, it doesn't really matter. The audience wants to see you do well and have a good time on stage. You want the audience to enjoy your dance. It's a win-win situation, even if you should fall on your butt. Which I haven't done yet. Phew..

My attitudes are not the only thing that I look forward to make over. Watching that video, I keep wondering: where's my smile? I need to smile! Show some teeth! True, it's hard to flash a genuine smile when you're nervous and trying not to mess up the steps.. But maybe if I just fake it at first, it becomes natural as I dance along? I also need to work on my épaulement, it's still too "ballet class" and not enough Don Q. Gawd, the list of repairs doesn't end there. Must have a snappier head while spotting chaînés deboulés, and prettier arms when jumping. And please, not forget to point toes and stretch knees! And it wouldn't hurt to wear more eye make-up. Now, I know very well it's not going to be perfect next time around. I might have the best attitudes ever, and then be disappointed with my final grand jeté. But that's the beauty of a live one-chance-only performance. Even when you know the steps and counts, you never know at what precise moment the magic happens.

Ballerina for a Day

Dear Readers, where do I even begin? It has been a whirlwind of a weekend, two fabulous and exceptionally warm summer days here in Helsinki, but me - I was more than happy to stay inside the theatre! Classes, stage rehearsals, make-ups, warm-ups, last-minute corrections, jitters and nerves, dancing, excitement and applause - all over much too soon! You get hooked on this stuff, you really do. As a recreational adult ballet dancer you are mostly "confined" to the studio, which is by no means a bad thing - but who hasn't dreamed of dancing on a real stage in front of a real audience? This past weekend that dream came true once more - and I got to be a ballerina for a day! Twice!

We started our spring show weekend with dress rehearsals. The stage is smaller than our rehearsal studio and we all had to adapt and adjust. It was tricky because there was hardly enough time to mark places and do one run-through with the music. There is this bit in Giselle's second act, where we are worshipping Myrtha: kneeling on right knee, left leg front. Your arms go down, nose to left straightened knee, arms and knee up, and cambré back. Repeat four times. I was too close to the center spot, and messing up the star formation in the process. My teacher is a woman of action, which is great, but getting dragged across the stage in my lovely beautiful wili-tutu? Not very diginified! LOL. Needless to say, I remembered my place afterwards. Our Don Quijote rehearsal was not much better. No ballerinas were harmed, but it was a bit of a mess. Not to worry- bad dress reahearsals make for better performances!

Giselle's entrance of the wilis was on Saturday, and what a fabulous day it was! After our dress rehearsal we wilis went out for some lunch; huge chapatas dripping with flavoured oil.. Hey, when you dance this much, you are hungry all the time! Whether it's chorizo sausage in my chapata or chocolate for dessert, anything goes. And for once, nothing shows. Bikini season? Bring it on! After our little feast we headed back to the theatre, it was time for make-up and putting flowers in our hair. How often do you get to write a sentence like that? In our white tulle and white flowers we looked like a bridal party, albeit one that got jilted before the wedding.. But when we finally stood in the wings, ready to step on stage, it was magic.

Not perfect, by no means, but it was wonderful. In the first performance I stumbled during a simple pas de bourrée, in the second I lost my balance in arabesque. Thank goodness my wili-partner stood her ground, otherwise we would all have tumbled like dominos! Apart from those small mishaps, everything went well though. I even got swept away and into character. Intense stuff. But it was over too soon! I want to go back on stage! And on Sunday, we did.

Our 8-minute all-levels Don Quijote-style dance was a success, in the end. The beginning, not so much. After our teacher had given us a 30-minute warm-up barre (very pro), I practiced some of the trickier parts, my entrance included. Was feeling pretty satisfied and semi-secure with my efforts. Then, right before the first diagonale: attack of the jitters! I know that dancing on the stage is different from dancing in class, nerves can get the better of you. A friend of mine once said that you leave 20% of your skill in the classroom anyway. In my case it felt more like reverse: 80% was left stranded in the studio, and 20% made sure that I still could walk if not dance on the stage.. Seriously, my glissade assemblés and piqué attitudes sucked, as did the chassé - temps levé arabesque, followed by pas de chat. No excuses here. After that sorry entrance, I figured things could only get better - and they did! Right until the end, when I nailed my solo chaînés and grand jeté!  As a group we did really well, especially after the initial nervous excitement disappeared. A friend of mine was in the audience and said that we looked like we were dancing for each other and for the audience, and enjoying every moment of it! What a happy ballet-buzz :)

From one stage to the backstage.. I have had no time to yet to recover from our spring shows, but Monday morning I reported for volunteering duty at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition! Next post: For the Love of Ballet.

I Can't, I Have Ballet..

Starting from today, ballet takes over pretty much my entire spare time: classes, rehearsals, recitals, volunteering, classes, watching others dance, and then blogging about it all. Ballet until I drop - hey, it's the motto I live by! I just hope I won't drop too soon.. ;)

Today (Friday): advanced ballet class, as usual, followed by pointe class, as usual. We are going to rehearse our entrance of the wilis for the upcoming spring show, and.. we get to try on our costumes! I haven't seen anything yet, but those tutus should be wili-esque: long, white and romantic. It's certainly a big improvement from last year's see-through flower curtain -skirt (which I've worn for two different shows already). If those wilis wouldn't be so sad in their eternal damnation, I would do a happy dance on stage!

Saturday: Don Quixote rehearsal from 12-14.00 hrs, followed by a bonus pointe session. Two of the advanced girls are doing the Paquita variation, which we practiced in pointe class earlier this spring. Our teacher is letting us (me and a two other girls) rehearse along, because it benefits us technically. Of course, we have to stay in the back and out of the way. But, last Saturday, one of the girls had to miss rehearsal (work, nothing serious) - which meant the rest of us got corrections and coaching too! And I can tell you that I really need it. That Paquita variation is serious stuff, especially when you consider that I have been on pointe for only a year and a half.. I have finally gotten past the fear of looking silly, but that final diagonal with them en dedans pirouettes, arabesques onto relevé and chaînés is a killer! So I'm more than happy to practice any chance I get.

Our big Don Quixote dance is coming along nicely. Groups, entrances, lines and rows and patterns have been sorted out - now it's down to the dancing and fine-tuning. There are 19 dancers, from all levels and with a variety of experience and skills. Most of the steps I have been doing forever, but the choreography and style is new. Last time I was told to work on my presence and my épaulement, because it's not yet "Don Q" enough! I was already dancing full out at the time, and frankly, I don't know how to be more "Don Q". The problem is, there is just not time enough. You have to learn the steps, dance with the group, and do the best you can. Maybe I'll discover my inner fiery and proud "Spanish" ballerina when the lights go out!

We also got try on our costumes, short satin skirts with tulle underlays. Mine is rose-red, and it's lovely. Although I was a bit apprehensive at first, because the rouching at the waistband adds even more width to my hips.. But my teacher assured me that I look just fine, and reminded that we are constantly on the move anyway. By the way, the fastenings for the waistbands we got to sew ourselves. I'm proud mine turned out neat enough, sewing not being one of my many skills.

The flower is my own, but hasn't been approved yet..
It has a clip on the flip-side, and can be fastened without sewing.

Sunday: last rehearsal for Don Q! Help! Now is the time to dance full out, smiles and all. I have one "solo" diagonale in the final coda: four counts chaînés deboulés - chassé - big grand jeté with arms in couronne. It's awesome, as long as I don't veer off and crash into the group on my left. We also have an extra rehearsal for Giselle, which is sorely needed. We have been working on the entrance of the wilis in class only, and someone has always been missing. I have danced twice without my partner, and it will be helpful to see her instead of imagining her placing!

Monday: regular classes, hopefully some chaînés and jetés as well. Must focus on clean technique and finishes!

Tuesday: last three classes with Madame. Summer term starts the week after, and she won't be back until mid-August. I'm going to miss her classes so badly! I think I'll write a list of all the corrections I have been getting, and the things that need extra work. Which is a lot! And yes, will blog said list here.

Wednesday: last day off, for a while.

Thursday: regular class, that's all.

Friday: last class before spring show, also last pointe class before fall and last rehearsal for Giselle.

Saturday: dress rehearsals at 12.35 hrs, show at 16.00 hrs (4 pm) and 19.00 hrs (7 pm). Time for those wilis to enchant, twice. No idea when I'll be home.

Sunday: show at 18.00 hrs (6 pm). Don Quixote! We get only one chance, best to dance full out and enjoy every second! Also, Madame said she's going to be in the audience. Happy, and slightly nervous. Final bows before the summer, and time to have some aprés-show bubbly!

Monday: no rest for the weary, as I'm going to volunteer at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition. Wake-up call at 9 am! After my guide-and-help gig I have another class in the evening. Life and dance goes on..

Tuesday - Wednesday: more volunteering, maybe a basic class if I can schedule & manage it.. And if that isn't enough: I have been selected as the official audience guest blogger for the ballet competition! So, for the next couple of weeks I'm fully booked. Lucky me. :)

From Wilis to Almost-Kitris - It's Showtime!

After last week's near-collapse at the end of pointe class, I'm back full force! I almost got a little worried after that incident, it was the first time I had ran out of steam mid-way through our routine. We had just marked the choreography (very cool Forsythe-style) to refresh our memories, and it was the first full-out dance of the class - but already too much for me. I had to step aside and out of the way. That or stumbling over my own two feet, or even worse, fainting/puking right there and then. Gave my teacher Marie-Pierre a bit of a scare, she thought I had injured myself. But I was just exhausted, and needed nothing more than to rest and sit out the remainder of the class (only 10 minutes left). Which, admittedly, was the second time in five days. Seriously, I do not recommend taking three ballet classes in one day, not when you're still recovering from a cold. I had rested for a full three days, and two more would have been advisable, but I'm kind of stubborn like that. Before you scold me (I know I deserve it), I was fine already the next day. Had a great class on Thursday, an even better two classes on Friday, rehearsal on Saturday and a very awesome triple-set yesterday. Crisis averted. :)

Come to think of it, I seem to get a cold every time we start to rehearse for our spring recitals. It has never stopped me from taking part, but it is really annoying. Luckily we still have a full month before the show, so I can practice and take class without having to hold back. At least my timing doesn't suck. Can you imagine getting sick on the eve of your performance, especially when there's only one show each year? This year there's the added excitement of two dances, the small bit from Giselle I wrote about earlier, and a big group number. The latter is an eight minutes long mini-ballet for a corps of 18 ballerinas and one danseur. The music is from Minkus, and the choreography is from.. wait for it.. Don Quixote!

Of course it is a modified compilation of the original, we are not professional dancers or pre-pro students (though a few of the younger girls have had vocational training and are very good). Our "company" is put together from all levels, basic through advanced and ages nineteen to forty-ish. Most of us are dancing together for the first time. Some have never performed, while others have been on stage since pre-school. Me, I'm hardly a veteran, despite being the oldest of the gang. I have danced in front of a real audience for only six times. Then again, those times took place in the last three years and not in early childhood. Memories and experiences are fresh, the theatre is familiar and I'm in better shape than ever. I still get very nervous, though..

Last Saturday was our first group rehearsal. Our teacher Gabriella gave us The Talk, about how everyone is equally important - even when you're standing in line while someone else gets to dance two eight-counts more than you do. She is right of course. Our ballet starts with eight dancers (I think) lined up in diagonale. They do a set of temps lié arabesque, chassé and soutenu turns four or six times. I'm still fuzzy on the counts.. This first group consists of the basic and advanced beginner levels. After they complete the opening steps and move to form lines left and right, the first of three trios comes in. I'm with the second pas de trois, the intermediate gang.

Don't worry, I'm not going to write down the entire choreography.. But in case you're interested that much, my trio's first diagonale consists of glissade - assemblé ecarté - piqué attitude (efface), times three, change direction, chassé - temps levé arabesque - glissade - pas de chat, finishing down-stage right. Every group has its own entrance. After the final trio enters and takes its place, all of us dance together before changing formations again. And so forth.. I might give you more details in my next rehearsal-post, if you like. Or even if you don't like. ;)

The video below is for inspiration. I chose this particular excerpt because at 5:06 the ballerinas are doing he same jump we are - and this one was totally new for me! It's like a small grand jeté, except you jump without prep and the back leg is in attitude. In our version we are doing six, with quick pas de bourrées in-between and changing directions for every saut. It's quick and tricky and I'm still working on it.

All in all, our dance is really fun and energetic, and I think it will be a big crowd-pleaser. There are Spanish influences (in the style of Don Quixote), hand-clapping and finger-snapping, quick steps and big jumps and we even have our own matador.. What's not to like?