My Ballet Wardrobe, vol.2

Sooooooo, this is actually part 4 or 5, to be exact :P But the first ones were all the same (green, blue, black etc.) and then only minor change (black top, violet leggings)... But past Wednesday was something very different :) And here it is! :D

We start with the "bottom layer" -> burgundy (doesn't look like it here) leo, ballet pink (Intermezzo) convertibles, black Sansha Pros with ribbons (that's what I got used to as a kid)

Pinched front :)

The backside, not too low for me :)

We continue with the "second layer" -> extremely comfortable Nike shorts (they fit really well, though they look quite big here), the same light pink legwarmers as before :D

Dark grey :)

Last we have the "top layer" -> an almost seethrough tunic (from H&M), very light peach/pink

Here it is, with one pair of old pointes :)

I like it :) And you can wrap it round your waist or higher.

See? -> ...through :D

This week we had the Linnajazz-event going on, all over the town. (Linna means castle.) There's a lovely park right next to our castle and for over 20 years there's been a Sunday afternoon jazz-concert in July, for free! :) This year they had one of my absolute favorites there with his band, Sami Saari. Soul, funk, blues... And a great weather, too!

As you can see, Lots of people! And the castle :)

More people and the bank :)

Picnic!

The man himself, Sami Saari

The whole band (there were also Mr Keyboard and Mr Drums, but you can't see them here)

Roses are red...

Unfortunately the evening ended with this accident, which makes me very sad :(

Nothing wrong with the glass, but something very wrong inside :((((( And the phone was only in my soft bag.

Also today brought some not-so-happy ballet news. Roland Petit has passed away. We'll all remember him for his amazing works. Rest In Peace.

Ballet stuff coming up...

As it's been quite tiring for couple of weeks (hot weather & Suzuki exam), I haven't managed to write much about this passion of mine... BUT what I Can report shortly is this: had the same clothes (green-blue-white-black) again week after the blog post :P And week after that it was black top, otherwise the same :D

2 weeks ago I found out that this other teacher we have, she has a short period of pointe at the end of her classes. But those who don't participate in it, they do other stuff in the mean time. So, last week I taped my toes in case I'd feel like trying the Glissés again... but no. I was dead tired and decided to save my legs a bit. It felt somewhat frustrating, but I want to feel active and wide awake when going en pointe again. This week (tomorrow that is!!!) we'll have a class with This teacher, next week with our regular one. I think I'll tape them toes again, but probably won't try yet. But it's better to have the tapes ready, if I Do try :)

I like taking photos and I got dad's old cameras (film) and objectives for Christmas. So I've been planning for example shooting those hard shoes of mine! I've got 3 pairs at home, I think... The first ones I've ever worn (Freed, no idea of the model), the last ones I had as a teenager (Capezio Contempora) and the ones I use these days (C. Glissé). At my parents' house there are at least 2 pairs more, also one Very Old pair of my aunt's :) Would be quicker to shoot them with the digital camera (and first I probably will), but then later on there'll be paper photos like them good old days :D

But NOW it's time for ice cream and strawberries!!! <3

*weheartit.com*

Examination Report

So, now it's over and I'm trying to feel "normal" again after being super-nervous for weeks :D My own feeling of the whole thing was that playing went fine, teaching wasn't the best I can give, interview was a nice conversation. Well, here's what the judges wrote in my report paper:

Performance (that's me playing the exam pieces)

Musicality: Excellent, stylish, energetic

Tone: very rich tone, varied with many colours

Posture: Excellent

Articulation: clear (I know I always have to work harder with this...)

Breathing: good (it was a very hot day, exams in the 3rd and highest floor of the building... needed lots of air, no good)

Memory: excellent (This I knew ;))


Teaching (I got to teach the first part of Blavet's sonata)

Knowledge of the teaching points: deep and thorough (There are these certain points in every piece we must know and teach etc.)

Communication of teaching points: clear, subtle, structured, beautiful demonstration

Teacher / pupil / parent relationship: good (I almost forgot to give advice to the mom in the end, and That's a mistake...)

Philosophy: very good, it is part of you


Listening skills  - Performance and Teaching (the identification of errors e.g. dynamics, breathing and articulation)

-> Excellent


General points 

Congratulations! It was a very enjoyable performance and wonderful teaching. We are looking to hearing you at the next level.


***

All in all, I'm happy ;)

And now it's time to dive into the solo recital pieces... My concert is on Thursday 21st of July.

A pastry named after our most famous composer - Sibelius! Photo taken and pastry eaten by ME :D

My Music this weekend

...and actually for the past 2 years. I've been studying the Suzuki-method for flute, level 3 (of teaching). On Saturday we have the examination, quite scary - though I know the performance pieces well by heart and teaching is fun. There's also an interview by the "board" in the end, in English because our judges aren't Finns :)

So this ain't a ballet post, but still in English :P I want to share the music we've studied on this level. It's all baroque except Cimarosa, on other levels there are other styles too.

Book IV

J.S.Bach - Flute Sonata in C major - Menuet

J.S.Bach - Flute Sonata in E flat major - Siciliano (begins at 3:45)

G.F. Händel - Flute Sonata in G major - Allegro & Menuet  (in the book Menuet is to be studied first - Allegro at 1:43 and Menuet at 6:43)

M. Blavet - Flute Sonata in d minor (the whole 5 parts) (1/2)

M.Blavet - Flute Sonata in d minor (2/2)


Book V

J.S.Bach - Suite in b minor - parts: Rondo, Sarabande, Bourrée I & II

D.Cimarosa - Concerto for 2 flutes - Largo (II) and Rondo (III) (we study both flute parts - not very good quality on this video, but hey, there's Rampal himself playing! ...but he's done the 1st part in Rondo a bit easier :D)


***


In the examination we play Händel's Allegro and the 4 parts of Bach in b minor, everything with piano. And without notes, of course :P The teaching part goes like this: we get to know the piece when the student comes in, so there isn't much time to think and prepaire stuff (it has to be all ready in your mind - then just quickly pick the things you want to use, like tone exercise etc.). The piece is one of those videos. I admit, there are some that I would rather teach than others, but I'll manage with whatever comes my way. (I hope.)

Soon dad comes to take Viuhti to their place for couple days, 'cos I'll be in Helsinki. That means 2 nights of deep sleep (without meowing by the door :P), or maybe 3 if she'll stay with them until Sunday. On Fri-Sat night I'll be testing Omena-hotel in Eerikinkatu (Helsinki). In May I stayed at the Lönnrotinkatu-hotel, very nice and tidy :)

FNB - with photos!

Yesterday I found myself doubly excited - ballet with a new teacher and waiting for good weather for Wednesday. First subject was Very Nice, found her style and routines more difficult than our regular teacher, therefore also quite challenging. But also tried my very best, maybe even more than usually! Fun!!! :) Next 2 weeks are taught by this new acquaintance, then I guess it's the "regular" again. They teach in turns this summer. Another plus for yesterday's class was the small pointe session in the end - which I didn't know, so no pointes for me. But!!! Us without those "toe-shoes", we did first a small routine in the middle and when others were on their toes, some piqué turns for us! (Maybe my favorite stuff... :)) The first routine was something like glissade - glissade - 2 faster pas de chats - pas de bourrée (all first to the right, then left, then right, and in the end some tip-toeing (pas de bourrée suivi, says wikipedia)).

*** Finnish National Ballet's summer tour ended in my home town today! ***

But today: the weather was almost perfect for a ballet performance outdoors. Sun was shining, some small clouds. A bit too windy for my taste ;) Anyway, I headed for the Castle Park before 6 pm and met some fellow adult-ballerinas, sat down quite near the small stage and enjoyed myself So Much... <3 The show lasted 60 minutes and included some very traditional, classical stuff, but also modern coreographies (some of which were made for this tour especially!). And all this free of charge :) I took loads of photos, not so amazing, but here are some. (You can find more, if you check Pointe til you drop in Facebook, I linked my photo album to her page and it should be visible for everyone.)

1. Two Fast

There was also lots of other movements than lifting legs... Just happened to photograph these :D

2. Don Quijote

Beautiful pose - and nice balance ;)

3. Sarja kolmelle

4. Sleeping Beauty

5. Scheherazade

6. Ballet Pathetique (a solo excerpt)

7. 3+1

8. Didn't catch the name of this :( But it was something like "Sammakoista ja ihmisistä" :D (Of frogs and men)

Thank You!!! :) The 3 ladies from 3+1 came on stage right after this and I didn't have space for one last photo :/

Information of the works:

1. Two Fast - coreography: Jorma Elo - music: didn't catch the composers name, but it was classical, instrumental and from the baroque era - dancers: Terhi Räsänen (a huge maybe!!!) & Teemu Tainio

2. Don Quijote - cor: Patrice Bart (I think this is correct, read it from the FNB site) - music: L. Minkus - dancers: Asta Lindholm & Nicholas something (again, huge maybe here)

3. Sarja kolmelle (a series for three - my translation) - cor: Jani Talo - music: Muse - dancers: Terhi Räsänen (???) & Sara Saviola (The forename is correct at least :D) & Antti Keinänen

4. Sleeping Beauty - cor: Javier Torres - music: P. Tshaikovsky - dancers: Annabelle Hellinckx (mayyyyybe) & ?

5. Scheherazade - cor: Kenneth Greve - music: N. Rimski-Korsakov - dancers: Mai Komori & Jani Talo

6. A solo from Ballet Pathetique - cor: Jorma Uotinen - music: P. Tshaikovsky (at least this is what it says in the FNB website) - dancer: Antti Keinänen

7. 3+1 - cor: Johanna Nuutinen - music: Chisu - dancers: Johanna Nuutinen & Sara Saviola (maybe ;)) & ?

8. Don't know the name of the last work :( Maybe something like "Of frogs and men" (or frogs and birds or something, haha...) - cor: Kenneth Greve - music: C. Saint-Saëns (parts of: The Carnival of Animals)

***

"Sarja kolmelle" and the last work were specially made for the summer tour. I liked ALL that these talented people performed, but maybe the highlights today (for me) were numbers 6 & 8. Just maybe ;)

We did the whole Carnival at my ballet school when I was maybe 8 (I was an elephant... how grazioso... ;)). I've trained the flute parts (well, mainly the Aviary) and it's a tiny dream to play the whole thing some day. But I also had the fun idea that my old ballet school should do the Carnival again - with live musicians! :D It would be a real challenge, but who knows, maybe some day.