Seasons change but some things stay the same

I have 1,5 weeks of Summer vacation left before flute stuff continues, but today's the day that I'm going back to the barré! Yay :)

Last season (school year 2013-2014) was quite tough, lots of work and travelling. It all made me very tired often, but I managed to take Most of my ballet lessons. There was one on Monday & Friday evening, Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. Weekends were a bit difficult with all the flute gigs I got, especially during Spring. Well, I Love playing so it wasn't that bad in the end, but still it's annoying when one has to give up one of the two passions. Even for a while... ;)

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Winter was lovely, snow and Christmas and all. We had an "all white" number at the Christmas recital with the Monday-Friday class. Something I feared beforehand but something that turned out nice! :) Even bigger worry was the fact that none of the tutus at our school's costume wardrobe fit me... That's what you get for being tall and chubby. Luckily for me, they were going to order 3 new ones Anyway, so one of the new tutus was a bit bigger - my problem solved.

For the Holiday recital I had to get a white leotard. Seemed like a problem again, but eventually the answer was Porselli's webstore and WearMoi's Tamara -leo. It's a comfy model for someone a bit bustier, like me.  You'll find a picture here -> https://dancewear.co.uk/products/details&prodid=3057

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Spring recital was the 30th Anniversary of our school. It didn't have a clear theme at first, but then it became "The Wonderland of Dance". So, there were all sorts of numbers... Ours was about the seasons of a year. We had 4 small groups, 3 trios and one duo, which was our Autumn duet (with E). It was my first time on stage en pointe since I quite dancing as a teenager, but I felt much stronger than ever. Well, before the actual show at least. It didn't go as smoothly as the rehearsals (for me), but it's really no use mourning about it anymore. But in my defence, I had some issues with my shoes in general rehearsal & performance... :P

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Summer started with an intensive dance week, first ever in my hometown! I took pilates in the morning, samba & chacha in the late afternoon and ballet in the evening. It was Mon-Fri, lovely weather and happy people - not to mention the great teachers also. After that week our "summer regulars" continued = ballet on Mon & Wed evenings. But I got a problem with my right leg & there were some flute gigs (again), so I couldn't take all them classes.

Aaaaaanyway... July's been Super Hot in Finland. I mean really. I've found a Summer person inside meself, although my appartment is almost too hot to stay in during daytime. This week is supposed to be still with some 25 up to even 30 (celsius) degrees, but I'm still going to enjoy it. Autumn is soon here with the darkening days and rain etc.

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So, in 3 hours I'll be at the studio, with my dance gear on and (large) waterbottle by my side. It's going to be hot, sweaty and, most of all, fun.

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p.s. I got a new (used) phone from my brother and joined instagram & twitter. You'll find me in both by the name iepukka.

instagram.com/iepukka

You know it's Spring when...

...the dance recitals are coming closer and closer! My first one (of the 2 I've got) is this Sunday, yikes... Well, not in a bad way, it was a happy yikes :)

This week we'll be on stage with one ballet class (the Friday group) and one jazz class (Sunday folks). I like both choreographies, especially the latter. The music is by Feist, a song called The Bad In Each Other. We're not doing the whole song, only about 2 minutes of it. I'm sorry I can't share our training video here, but we have a cooool lift in the end - 4 girls lifting, 1 going up, all quite dramatic... :) But here's the video of the song:

With the ballet class we're doing a waltz from the 3rd act of Sleeping Beauty (the beginning of pas de quatre, the jewel fairies). The choreo is by our teacher, but if I remember correctly, she said it's reminding (a little) a version she performed in her active days as a dancer. 

About the costumes...

For the jazz number we have Black. All of it, pants/leggings/tights (which ever one is wearing) and tops/shirts. Jazz slippers/shoes or these "ankle-high" socks (well, the very low ones :D). 

For ballet - we all have a leotard of lilac, long sleeves and a bit shiny material, ballet pink tights, soft slippers (I'm hoping everyone has pink ones), and 2 knee-length tutus (lower one is this kind of peachy color and on top it's white with 2 satin ribbons on the hem). I think it'll look quite nice, as the leotard is high enough in the front (covers my cleavage ;D) and the tutus flow like cotton candy! Hmm... Not the best image, maybe. But they are quite fluffy, "ma non tanto" (but not too much). Whirly (as we do soutenus and pirouettes) like a happy Spring brook. 

A photo from our dressing room :)

I'm not wearing those Elastosplit-slippers on stage, been saving a pair of quite new Pumps for the recitals. But I like them in studio, they fit nicely and show the arch properly (if it's there or not).

I like our costuming, but have to say that it feels funny to be in ballet pink tights again. I have nothing against them, nope, but I've been wearing these different colored leggings almost all year. But I like to think that it gives a small extra feeling (boost) to the show, when Even the tights are different from usual. 

Tomorrow we'll have the final/adieu class with Madame D. There's going to be a new teacher giving her classes in Autumn. I will miss her, the classes have been a strict and clear experience, with good advice on movements (from the very base of them). She's been emphasizing on how important it is to know Why things are done as they are, why we practice certain things on barre - what's the use later on (in jumps etc.). So, a bit of sadness in the air, too. But you give and you get. I've been working hard in her guidance, and so have the others. Madame D gave as a (rare) compliment last week: "It is so great to look at you!" ...after a well-done tendu routine (or plies, don't remember exactly). 

I hope to meet her again somewhere.