The OJ Pre-Dance Protein Smoothie!

      I promised more posts, didn't I? This is my all-time favorite smoothie to make at home (if I had the option, I'd be at Jamba Juice everyday) and it's the perfect snack before dance!
      I'm going to preface this by saying that the reason I'm not using any fresh fruit right now is because I'm allergic to things like srawberries, rasberries, etc. So this is the easiest smoothie for me to make, especially when I'm in a hurry. I do eat lots of other fresh fruits, just not necessarily in my smoothies.
      My parents used to make this smoothie for me when I was really young with a lot of honey and ice, so it was more milkshake than smoothie. I've always loved the flavor, so a while ago I started to play with the ingredients to see if I couldn't make it a little bit more suitable as a healthy snack.

   You'll need to begin by making sure you have all of the ingredients. Most of these are things you would have around your house anyway. For this smoothie you're going to need orange juice concentrate(I use he kind with added vitamin C), plain or vanilla yogurt(I usually use greek, but we were out), milk, any kind of powdered supplement or superfood(mine is from Whole Foods), and honey to taste.

   I like to start with about a cup of yogurt, though right here I'm using a little less. I don't really measure anything in this smoothie.

   Then add a couple big spoonfuls(about 2 tablespoons?) of orange juice concentrate and around a 1/4 cup of milk.

   Last but not least, one or two heaping spoonfuls of your supplement of choice, and honey to sweeten if desired.

  I'm using the Cuisinart Smart-Stick to mix up my smoothie, but you can add ice and use a normal blender or food processor if you have one. (We do have a real blender, but I'm lazy and the stick is easier to clean.) This should make about 12 ounces of smoothie, but feel free to add or subtract from that size.

The supplement and lighting discolor it a little, but I promise it's orange.

    Especially if you're using Greek yogurt, this smoothie has a ton of protein, along with enough carbs to get you through a good class. It also tastes great when you add fresh or frozen pineapple. :)
 
I hope you enjoyed this post, there's a lot more to come, and let me know what you think of the smoothie!
~Savanna




 
 

Fun Photo Shoot Tips! And a new series.

Hello again! I actually have a real post this week. I know, shocker, right? I loved my time at Ballet West Academy's summer intensive. The summer weather was gorgeous and the scenery was beautiful. But I'm happy to be back.

 About halfway through the summer, my friends and I decided to have a full blown photo shoot, and the results were amazing. Honestly, it's incredible what an iPhone camera can do. So I'll share a few pictures with you all today! If you want to see more cool pics, Check out my Instagram account.


Tip #1: Location
Find the most interesting, cool, scenic place around and shoot there, if possible. If not, go second best. Try to pick a place that has interesting lines that won't distract from the ones you plan on making.

My friends and I chose a really neat bridge in the area for one location. 

 Tip #2: Lighting
Lighting is key to any picture. We've all seen what happens when the flash goes off and turns a great family photo into a roomful of red-eyed weirdos. That said, if it's too dark, the picture won't work either. We decided to take pictures outdoors, so we really just used sunlight. In my experience, sunset or early morning are the best times to take pictures.

Tip #3: What to Wear

Wear something simple that you feel great in. Your most flattering leo with some black tights. A cute wrap skirt. Printed leggings. Just make sure that whatever you wear stands out from your background!

 Tip #4: Candid Camera
I am not usually a photogenic person when I'm trying to be. This picture thing only works for me when it's natural. So don't turn off the camera while no one's posing. Sometimes the best photos are spontaneous.

Totally candid. I promise.

    So I promised you all a new series, and it's one that I've been working on for a while, so don't worry about a lack of posts coming up. I'm calling it my Back-to-Dance Series, and it will include some dancewear tips, quick pre-dance snacks, and my daily school/dance routine. I might try to squeeze in a video at some point, but for now I would plan on checking back here every week for more new posts! 

~Savanna

Summer Goals

     Hey guys! So here's an actual post, maybe with something you want to read. I've been working really hard to get my finals at school done early so I could leave for my summer intensive. Well, now I'm here, so I have time to fill you guys in.
     I have no idea what to think so far, I just got here and I haven't started taking classes yet, but what better time to decide what I want to get out of them? So here are my summer goals thus far, most pretty reachable, some a little more difficult. Enjoy!

Summer Goals:

                      1) Flat froggy (turnout stretch)

                      2) Improve left oversplits, start on middle

                      3) Consistent triple pirrouettes on right side, consistent doubles on the left

                      4) Improve extensions at least 20 degrees, especially left front

                      5) Improve ankle flexibility!
                      6) Learn as much as I can from everyone here!

   

Hopefully I will be back soon with more info, but for now that's all I have time for! Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to comment down below and let me know what your summer plans are!
    ~Savanna

Spring Fever and Recital Prep

       Oh my goodness, I can't believe how long it's been since my last post. Terribly sorry about that.  I will most likely not be posting any more videos because the process takes forever, I'll be gone all summer without editing software, and right now things are so busy that I probably shouldn't even be doing this.
       In happier news, school is almost done for me, which means that i can stop worrying about grades (for a few months, anyways) and start focusing on dance full-time. I leave in 23-24 days, and I could not be more excited. Actually, I don't even know if you could call it spring fever anymore, since it's so close to summer.

The gorgeous Christina Ricucci, taken by David Hoffman (Sharkcookie).

      Things have been getting crazy up here. This is my busiest time of year, between recital prep, finals, AP tests, an SAT, extra rehearsals, and summer intensive preparation. We only have 1 more week before our 10th Anniversary Recital, and my teachers are going nuts preparing us for it. I have Pointe shoes on twice as long as I normally do, and it's definitely taking its toll (and making me regret the classes I missed at the beginning of the year...). My favorite things in the world right now are my Ouch Pouches, my water bottle, my Bloch booties, and my trash bag shorts, perfect for keeping warm when I'm not needed to rehearse.

Good luck to all of you with your own shows coming up, be sure to let me know what you're up to in the comments below!
Savanna

New Video! What's in my Dance Bag + Product Review!

Hey guys, sorry this took so long! Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified immediately when I upload a new video. Enjoy!

Performing: Handling Curve-Balls

    I don't know about you guys, but to me, the only thing that totally makes up for the hours of stressful rehearsals and frustrating classes is performing. I love being onstage. Sure it can be scary and nerve-wracking, but when I really start dancing, it feels like everything is moving in slow motion. I have all the time in the world. I can express any and all emotions. When I really get into it, there is nothing in the world that feels better.

Me, onstage performing Sugar Plum in our Nutcracker.

    That's not to say I don't need to work on my stage presence. Believe me, I do. But I definitely feel like I've improved it in the last 6 months, mostly because I've gotten much more comfortable with being onstage. Part of this is because I'm a member of my studio's ballet and jazz/contemporary companies and we perform all the time, and part of it is because I've gotten used to performing in...well...less than ideal circumstances.
     Just this past Friday, for example, we performed at a summer camp fair that was being held in a
gymnasium. Gym floors are slippery. It was incredibly hard to jump or turn without slipping or landing awkwardly to keep your feet underneath you. In addition, I was performing my Sugar Plum variation (for like the 800th time) to the uncut version of the track, meaning there were about 45 seconds of music in the middle where there was no set choreography. As this had happened twice before, I was prepared to improv and knew exactly what to do, so there was no visible pause in the movement. The first time it happened, I nearly jumped out of my skin, but this time I didn't let it throw me off. I have come to understand that while preparation is best, nothing ever really works exactly the way it's supposed to in showbiz, so you have to always stay on top of things.

The Val Jacobs dance bag, mother of all dance bags.

      As someone who is extremely Type A (especially when it comes to dance), my biggest coping mechanism is my dance bag. It's huge. My parents always make fun of me for carrying absolutely everything with me to dance, but that is how I make sure that I'm prepared for whatever is thrown at me. If anyone needs Advil or an extra pair of shoes, I've got it covered. Sprain an ankle? I've got a brace and some Icey-Hot. In addition to extra tights, toe pads, bobby pins, hairspray, tic-tacs, a brush, a roller, therabands, snacks, and toe-nail clippers. All of which have come in handy at some point.

Our adorable snowflakes, preparing to go onstage.

     My second method is to forget everything before I go onstage. Run over everything in the dressing-room, get it into my muscle memory, warm-up, shake it out, forget it all, and perform. I try to do this while onstage, too, not just in preparation. If I make a mistake, I catch up, forget about it, and move on. You can't let an error in one number ruin the rest of them. You can't let it affect the rest of your performance.
     

Performing Waltz of the Flowers for the American Girl Store.

So I plan on putting some new videos and stuff up soon, sorry it took so long to get this posted. Let me know in the comments how you guys prepare for performances and what you favorite things about performing are! I love to hear from you.
~Savanna

Happy International Tutu Day! (+ video)

Happy International Tutu Day everyone! Hope you're celebrating somehow. I celebrated by spending my morning watching dance videos on You Tube. Although, come to think of it, I mostly just watched this one video over and over. Ballet Babble shared this video on Facebook about a month or so ago, and it quickly became one of my favorites. It's a pretty simple video featuring Polina Semionova and some great music, great technique, and great artistry. The main reason I love this video is probably because she looks like she's having so much fun. Hope you enjoy!
Savanna
P.S. - More posts coming your way soon!

New Years Resolutions and Goals 2014!

Hey guys! So it's been about a year since I started seriously writing on here. I haven't quite kept my promise of posting once a week, but it's a heck of a lot better than I was doing before then. Anyways, this year I've got some new goals and resolutions to share. So here they are:

2014 Resolutions
1. Keep my room neater, cleaner, and more usable.
2. Procrastinate less.
3. Be a more generous and compassionate person.
4. Eat healthier. (Less processed food, less sugar, more veggies.)
5. Learn a new word every day.
6. Keep all of my grades from ever getting below a B-.
7. See more movies, plays, ballets, and concerts. Learn to appreciate more types of art.
8. Schedule more posts ahead of time. (Again with the "less procrastination" thing.)
9. Work even harder in technique classes. Always go the extra mile.
10. Learn to be less lazy in the morning! (Eating better breakfasts, looking more presentable, cleaning up after myself, not being late or making my carpool wait for me.)

2014 Goals
1. 130 degree extensions on both legs.
2. Perfect middle split and frog.
3. Solid triple pirouette on both sides.
4. 8-16 fouettes on pointe.
5. Maintain my GPA!
6. Make my feet look like this.

I've got a lot to work on this year, and I'll be sure to keep you guys updated with tips and what's going on, etc. Happy New Year!
Savanna

Happy Holidays!

Hey! Long time no see(or write). Between school, Nutcracker, and holiday busy-ness, I just haven't had time to update you guys. But now I have something! It's not really a big something, but it's a little something to hopefully make your day a little more interesting. So this year in my studio's Nutcracker, I was Clara's mother, marzipan(reed-flute, shepherdess, or candy canes depending on your studio) and the Sugar Plum Fairy. It was awesome-amazing-fun and torture at the same time. Our professional videos always take forever to get sent out, so I had my friend tape my variation backstage. You can hear her and one of my other friends being amazingly supportive the entire time I was onstage. When I first saw the video and heard them I almost cried. I don't think they know that. I have a very strong bond with the girls I dance with.
Come back soon!
Savanna

Time Management Tips for Dancers!

       Hey, guys! Me again! Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving breaks. In the spirit of the holiday season, I would just like to say that I am incredibly thankful for my family, my friends, my teachers (at school and dance), the standards of my education, the opportunities that my studio gives me, my studio as a whole, and my health and ability to dance and train as hard as I do.

Mini-me on Thanksgiving 7 years ago!

       As any dancer -any athlete, for that matter- will tell you, it’s not easy to get up at an ungodly hour, sit at a desk and waste time, go straight from sitting to warming up and practicing, then coming home late with piles of homework and chores waiting for you in a messy room that you never have time to clean, needing to eat, shower, and –oh, yeah- sleep.

      Fortunately for me, I've found some pretty good tips, and I’m going to share them with you. They’re from Toni Branner's The Care and Feeding of a Dancer. I know, it makes us sound like we’re pets or something. I’m pretty sure we own a book with the same title about caring for your Labradoodle. But she’s got some great tips. You can but her book on amazon here.

Time Management for Dancers

1.  First thing when you get home from dance, no matter how late it is, make yourself a snack. Doing this as soon as possible will help replace the glycogen in your muscles, and you’ll feel better in the morning. And I’m sure we’ve all heard that you should never eat a large meal late at night because it won’t metabolize as well, blah blah blah. As long as you’re not stuffing yourself to the gills, you’ll be ok. I recommend a smoothie or some oatmeal.

2.  Assess your homework situation and prioritize. One tip that I have found particularly helpful is Branner’s A-B-C prioritizing system. As are the things that absolutely have to be done tonight, Bs would be awesome if they could get done, but they can be worked on tomorrow or at school, and Cs are the things that you wish you had time for, but they can wait for the weekend. I use different colored highlighters in my planner to organize these.

3.  Take a shower. For me, this usually gets done almost as soon as I finish eating, because if I’m showering at 11:30, it keeps my whole family up. But some people like to shower last. Either way, it’s pretty straight-forward.

My desk

Control center, where I can see everything that needs to get done.

        In order for these tips to work for me, I like to make sure that my work space is organized. Mostly because I’m a little bit OCD, but also because it just makes life easier. I also get a lot of my homework done at school. We have a study hall right after first period, and when we don’t have a required activity during that hour, I use it to knock out some reading or study with friends.
          In order to keep myself from wasting too much time on Facebook or Instagram, I limit myself to 10 minutes of it before I start my homework, but after I prioritize. I’ve also found that if I try to do my homework with music on, it takes me twice as long to do, because I’m easily distracted.

        I hope these tips help you guys, and I hope you’re having a great holiday season! If you want to see what I’m up to, check out my Instagram here and be sure to comment down below telling me how you’re celebrating!

         
~Savanna

The Nutcracker Tag!

Hey, guys! I'm super excited to announce that my first video, The Nutcracker Tag, is now up! I'm officially on YouTube, and I'm soooo excited! Hope you enjoy!
~Savanna

Healthy, Homemade Granola Bars

Hey, guys! I guess it's been a while since I made a really long post like this, and it'll probably be a while after this before I will again, but the good new is that most of my posts from here on out will be videos, and even better, I've got one uploading right now!
Any way, it is now November, and officially Nutcracker season! I absolutely love this time of year, I have so many great memories of the little period between fall and winter, when the weather is absolutely perfect and everyone is in a good mood.
Of course, the moods get a little crankier during Nutcracker rehearsals when everyone's tired, hungry, sore, and stressed out. Well, I can't help you with everything. But I can try to help out with the hunger!
One of the best snacks to eat during rehearsals(or even just a long day at the studio), are granola bars. If you can find the right ones, they can be healthy, delicious, and protein and energy packed. However, they are usually chock full of nuts. For most people, that's not a problem, but I happen to be allergic to nuts, and I'm sure several of you are as well. My solution? If I want to get any good nutrition from a granola bar, I have to make it myself.

 Start by gathering your ingredients. I used gluten-free whole-grain Rice Crispies, Quaker Quick Oats, Craisins, creamy peanut butter(I'm only allergic to tree-nuts), honey, and dark-chocolate chips. YOu can always add, remove or substitute ingredients. I've found that what you put in these doesn't really matter, as long as you have a good glue and base(I'll explain later).

These are my dry ingredients, or "base". They are the substance that the glue holds together. I took about 1& 1/2 cups of rice crispies, 1 cup of oats, and a generous handful of craisins, and added them to a large bowl, like this.

Make sure that you mix them together so that the craisins, or what ever other ingredients you decide to use, are spread evenly through the mixture.

These ingredients were my glue, and they all got thrown into a sauce pan on low heat, mixed together until they were sticky enough, then dumped on my base. I used about 1&1/2 generously large spoonfuls of peanut butter, 4 table spoons of honey, 1/2 a cup of chocolate chips, and 1 scoop of why protein. (This ended up being a bit thick, so I added about a 1/4 cup of milk as well.)

 This is what you'll end up with after you dump the glue onto the base. Make sure you mix this thoroughly, or the end result will not stick together!

Having had some issues with portion control in the past, (these are really good!) I put them into a paper-lined muffin tin. I ended up with 10 portions, but you can always double the recipe if you want/need more, or just not fill the cups as full as I did. When you have everything the way you want it, put in the fridge to solidfy for a few hours, and then they're ready to go! Hope you enjoy!

~Savanna

Fouette Progress

Hey guys, long time no see. Sorry that it's been so long, our computer crashed and wouldn't open this website, then I got really sick and honestly just didn't feel like posting. Sorry, life happens. But now I'm back, and I've got video importing right now, and it should be uploaded by tomorrow, so I thought that for now I would show you guys some more turn clips!

Fouettes are my second favorite type of turn. Piques are my absolute favorite, but fouettes run a close second. And they're improving! I'll try to get a slightly more recent video up soon, but this first one is from February, and the second video is from July.

Enjoy! Talk to you soon!
Savanna

I Love Turns!

Hey guys! Sorry about the gap between posts. I have some video for you this week!

So if you are going to continue to read this blog, you need to know that I LOVE turns. Like, really love them. Piques are the best, I could do them forever, and don't even get me started on fouettes. But pirouettes and I have kind of a love/hate relationship. Usually, they're pretty good. But not great. And I've started to plateau a bit, and haven't really been able to make them a lot better or stronger or faster. My friend recently bought a turn board, and we've been experimenting with it for the last couple weeks. Here is a clip from my first time on the turn board last week between dance classes.

Excuse the T-shirt, it was laundry day.
I'll be back next weekend with another few videos. Until then, keep dancing!
Savanna

My Back-to-Dance Must Haves!

Hey guys! I told you I'd be back. This week I'm going to share my must haves for the new season with you all, some of this stuff I got for Ballet West, but most of it I've accumulated through the last year or so, and used it up. All of these things I will definitely repurchase! So I guess lets get started!

 So first things first, I need to have a stretching and conditioning routine. If I don't have it laid out, it won't happen.

This wristlet is by Vera Bradley, and can be found here.

 The nest thing I need to have is a good sized wristlet. I carry around epi-pens and an inhaler at all times, so this transfers nicely from my backpack to my dance bag. It also holds my phone and a few dollars.

I am a shoe snob. I am always looking for the best fitting, most comfortable, most flattering shoe that I'm allowed to wear, and so far, these are the best I have found. My jazz shoes are Bloch Phantoms, a stretch-canvas shoe with a suede patch on the ball of the foot to make turning easier. I have them in black right now, but I'm ordering some nude ones for performance season as well. My ballet shoes are Grishko Model 6s. I think they're the performance style, but I'm not sure where you can find them online. I love those because they have elastic in the arch, which make my feet look much better than they are.

I also need my Pointe shoes and Pointe accessories! I like to start the year with at least 2 pairs of new shoes, because I go through them so quickly. Right now I'm wearing Suffolk Solo Prequels, in a 5 XXXN  with a soft shank.

To go along with my shoes, I need to have jet glue, rosin, and toe pads! I've found, actually, that most people don't like to wear toe pads. I guess it's a pride thing? I don't know. I personally am not too proud to admit that I feel pain, so I'm not giving up the Ouch Pouches anytime soon!

I love these band-aids! I don't actually wear them while I'm dancing, but they are great for wearing around the house or to school (because those are the only places I go) and healing your blisters! The only thing about these, is that I don't necessarily think they're worth the money.  I think I remember them being about $6 a piece, and they only have 6-8 bandages per box.... I wanted to try them out, but I don't think I'm desperate enough to repurchase them.

Last but not least, my foot lotion, Icy-Hot, and foot Rubz ball. I'll start with the ball. The thing is awesome! I do not have plantar fasciitis, but my arches do get really sore, so I spend a lot of time rolling them out. Especially after a long night at the studio. The lotion is great for the same thing, and it feels soooooo refreshing! It's full of peppermint oil, so it smells and feels great! I usually shower, stretch, roll out my everything, put lotion on my feet, pull on fuzzy socks (finish my homework), and go to bed. The Icy-Hot is awesome because it really works. It doesn't pull off any miracles, but it provides enough relief for me to get through that dreaded conditioning class or 3 hour pointe rehearsal. Kevin Semans, Ballet West's resident athletic trailer told us that while Icy-Hot, epsom salts, and Tiger Balm don't have any real benefits, they don't hurt you either, so if you think it works for you, go ahead!

I hope to have some video up soon, but for now I'm just posting on here. If I upload anything, I'll definitely let you guys know! Have a great week and don't forget to comment below and tell me what your back to dance must-haves are! If you have any video suggestions, I would love to hear those too!

Savanna

Expectations for the New Season and Summer Recap.

So, my first day of school was today. I'm a Junior. It was pretty crazy (I go to a really big school), but it still kinda feels like the calm before the storm. The hurricane of confusion and flood of homework are going to come blowing in full force next week. I'm not really looking forward to that.

My "getting ready for school tomorrow" face.

I am, however, looking forward to starting a new level of ballet classes in a couple of days, and the new performance season in a few weeks!

My studio has a recreational program as well as an intensive program. I was in both intensive 8 and 9 last year, this year I am just in 9, but with elective technique classes on other days of the week. Right now I have Sundays and Wednesdays off for homework (and supposedly a social life :p), but I know that with performances and additional rehearsal I'll probably end up being there 7 days a week at some point.

Also, in addition to my studio's ballet company, this year I'm doing the jazz/contemporary company as well, to expand my performance opportunities and modern training. I'm not really sure what I'll get out of it yet, but my friends are there and I like the piece that we started last week, so I think it'll be fun.

An early morning at my studio with some Starbucks!

I suppose all in all I had a great (short) summer. I worked at my studio, went to Ballet West, added Utah and Arizona to my list of states I've visited, saw the Grand Canyon, visited family, and worked at my studio some more. An enjoyable 2 and a half months.

The Grand Canyon. I would have been much
more excited if I wasn't scared of heights.

 My fall back-to-dance essentials in the next post, and my goals for the fall session later next week! (Expect a surprise in one of those two posts!)
In the mean time, check out What Should We Call Ballet on tumblr! I don't know who runs it, but it is beyond hilarious, a must see for all dancers, especially bunheads.
Talk to you guys later,
Savanna

Summer Update and Coming Soon...

Hey guys! So this is just a little update, I know that I haven’t posted anything in a while. I spent most of my summer in Salt Lake City, at the Ballet West summer intensive (really busy with really bad internet), so I wasn’t really able to post.

My attitude! Photo-shoot on the U of U campus with friends.

 Now I’m on vacation with no real internet or phone service either, so it’s kind of difficult to access anything online.

 

Sunset at the Great Salt Lake! Absolutely beautiful.

Luckily, we’re flying home tomorrow, so after that there will be a lot more up. I’m planning on launching a “New Dance Season” series in a week or so, which (if I can get a hold of a decent camera), should include some video. Also coming soon, “How to Survive the Nutcracker” and “Audition Tips.”  So stay tuned! Each series should include at least 1 DIY (since apparently you guys love those) and hopefully some video! In the meantime, please enjoy this video of Juliet Doherty (one of my favorites to watch on YouTube) in her variation from Grand Pas Classique. Keep an eye on those feet, and take notes on how well she handles falling out of her turns. 

Talk to you later!

Savanna

My Favorite Competition Piece Ever!!!!

So, I know it's a Friday, but whatever. I told you I would surprise you later this week, so I am.

Meet Talia, Chryssa, and Ariana. These girls are fantastic. I'm not sure how old they all are, but these girls appear to be at about the same technical level. Their turns are flawlessly controlled, and their musicality is perfectly precise, while still seeming inherent. Not to mention the choreography... Props to Nick Lazzarini for completely outdoing himself on this piece.

I think I love everything about this dance. The choreography (There's that word again.), the dancers, the music, the costumes, everything. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did! If you want to see more of these dancers, just check out YouTube- it's packed with their accomplishments!
Hope everyone's having a great summer!
Savanna

Choreography for Beginners Part 1

      Hey guys! This weekend's (and next weekend's) post is a little different... It's not really about dancing, so much as choreographing.    
      This is actually something that (as a dancer) you'll run into a lot. most college and high school programs require some sort of choreography unit, whether you end up doing yours or someone else's. At my school, our dance program had a "What inspires you?" project, and we were required to write about the topic, choreograph a minimum 1:30 minute solo or duet, and perform it for the class.
   I was pretty intimidated when my teacher first gave us the assignment. I love to make up combinations with my friends and challenge myself with phrases that shouldn't really flow well together, but this was different. I was alone, and it was graded. I started by choosing my music. That wasn;t as hard as I thought it would be, I already had made a combo to "Listen" by Beyonce (from the movie Dreamgirls) so I just stuck with that one. Unfortunately, however....

Courtesy of Thanks-To-Dance Tumblr

     I got started. We had class-time to work on our pieces, and I chose to do mine as a solo, so I could practice at home, too. Honestly, the hardest part was not making the routine too difficult for me to do at the speed f the song. It isn't really fast, but packing too many movements could get complicated. I eventually completed the assignment, but one thing that I learned this year is that a piece is never really "done."
    I must have performed this thing 7-8 times this year, and every time I did it, something changed. There was a particularly challenging series of turns at the very end of the piece. The first time I did t, it went exactly as planned. The second time, I slipped and did a death-drop flat on my back in the middle of the stage. The third time, I couldn't hear the music over the applause (I know, right?) so I finished about 8 counts after the music ended and improv-ed the entire turn sequence. The very last time, the stage was too slippery for me to come out the way I wanted, so I planned on doing another kind-of knee-drop fall out of them. I started falling out of my turns before the phrase was over, so I jumped/fell too soon, had to roll out of it, and improv my walks off-stage.
     And those were just the mishaps that I remember.  :)  


There is more choreography chaos to come, meanwhile, enjoy this post, and I'll see if I can surprise you with a video later on this week. Don't forget to share and subscribe!
Savanna

YouTube?

Hey guys! Me again. I know I don't usually post during the week, but school's out, so... what the heck.
A few posts ago, I mentioned my going on YouTube to film tutorials and such. Well, a couple weeks ago, I uploaded a video for school (filmed on my ancient Handicam). The quality sucked. Majorly.
So anyways, that won't be happening anytime soon (I'm saving up for a new camera.), but I will be posting much more regularly, and I have some new and exciting things coming up for you guys, so stay tuned.
Happy Summer!
Savanna