An Awesome Show

Ok, I admit; I truthfully hadn't been looking forward to this performance at first.

Why?
Well it's kinda hard to put the many complicated thoughts I had into words. Something that I would rather not mention here, just in case.

Firstly, on the day before the performance, we had a practise.
Poor Dhivya, who was pulled into this by my sister, had to learn all 3 dances in one day. *A* Kudos to her, lol.
It was probably the longest I've ever done for a practise: 6 hours. (Or wait.. Wasn't last year's concert rehearsal longer? I dunno, I can't remember..)
Whatever it was, my limbs/ligaments/muscles didn't really ache (save for the joint ache in my right leg) until I got home, and later on.
I couldn't fold my leg and sit without having to lower my right leg slowly to the ground.

Then there was the outfit issue.
See, this is what happens when you're fat in all the wrong places. It becomes a tedious thing to find a pair of clothes that matches. >_>

Also, we had practise again the next day, but spent it mostly discussing the poses at the end. To much hilarity. On Edmund's part, at least. xD
We had fun trying out different (and mostly) ridiculous poses, though we did end up choosing the proper ones. x]
It was probably the most fun I've had in a while. ^^

We bathed in the studio too, for the first time. So yeah, that means we brought all our stuff there.
Ashley and I ended up using none of the outfits we brought; we ended up lending Ella's.
Dhivya did lend Ella's too, but she mixed and matched with her own as well.
After that, we got to applying makeup. And we went in one car (Edmund's Honda) so it would be more convenient, and so Ashley could braid Ella's hair for her. ^^

The butterflies didn't really catch up with me until after we arrived at Mega and went to the stage. Knowing that our performance was inching closer as the singers went on made me even more nervous, like it was taunting me or something.
But I reminded myself of my love to perform, and told myself that I knew I wouldn't regret it once I was on stage.

And I was right.

The moment I stepped on the stage (and seeing that I was the first one to go on stage as well), all the butterflies had flown away, and only adrenaline rush filled me.
I had a blast dancing up there; all my doubts previously blown by the wind.
Though I did remember feeling the teeniest bit a little sick after the first song... Must be the leftover nerves. xD

Anyhow, I enjoyed myself tremendously on stage.
And after the performance, everyone was all smiles.
Nearly all of us had slight mistakes at one point, but we never dwelled on that or gave ourselves a hard time about it.
Stuff like that happens.
Oh, and we were sweating like hell too. Who knew 3 songs would have the ability to make us sweat that much?

Edmund had asked one of their Aikido students to record the whole thing, so yeah, if it is ever posted on Facebook, I'll update this entry, together with the other pictures too. ^^

Anyways after that, we decided to have dinner. Both Edmund and Ella treated Dhivya, Ashley and I (and of course Shikin) to dinner at K & Y.
Seriously, they're both too nice. *_*

By the end of the day, I'd like to think that our friendship blossomed.
We hung out in the studio for a while, chatting and watching the video that said Aikido student took, and laughing about out mistakes and SugarHigh!Edmund.
We even talked about spending a night in the studio one day, for a group sleepover.
I can only imagine the chaos that would happen. xD

So all in all, it was a great experience. We were all so hyped up after the performance (though no one could beat the sugar high kid^^), and even more so after we went back to the studio.
Well, Dhivya and Ashley, for the most part. xD

Pre-performance pic:




The videos that my mum took of the performance:


Jai Ho


She Wolf & Gata Brasilera


I'm starting to love Zumba now. =]

Thursdays Have Officially Been Deemed 'Penguin Day'.

Today had probably the nicest weather I could ever ask for.
It was raining the whole damn day.
And if what Lika said was anything to live by, that for these 5 days it's gonna rain non-stop, then well.. Guess who's gonna pig up on sleep?
If I had nothing to do the entire day, I would've been a huge couch bed potato and laze around in my room the whole day, eyes glued to my laptop screen.


If I had had to wake up for anything else other than ballet, I would've been either slightly grumpy or hypnotized by the welcoming view of my bed.


Yes, I'm even more lazy in cold weather, but so are you. (And don't you lie!)
So don't go telling me what a lazy ass I am.


Anyway, I was late for class in the evening (morning classes are usually uneventful; it's the afternoon classes that pack some laughter).
No, I wasn't sleeping.
Really.
I just.. Lost track of time. xD


Ahem. Back to the story.
So seeing as the weather was cold (it's almost 1am and I still haven't turned on the air conditioner; can you believe it? xD) and my hair still wet from shower, I danced without tying my hair, and never broke a sweat.
Normally, I would've been perspiring by then.


Kathrina 'delighted' us with her penguin-y (word created courtesy of Lixian.. I think) ways again, because I never knew there was a penguin version for Sissonne and.. Petit Allegro, I think?


So you guessed it, Lixian came today, after what feels like lightyears of her dissapearance.
Gino called her..- uh, better not mention it here, for PG rating's sake.
And during Grade 7, Kathrina danced along with Lixian and Tze Ping.

What a clever little penguin.

This time, with Jovian, doing Triple Runs.

Also, a video of said exercise:



That is all.

Can't Say I Didn't See This Coming...

I mean, after all, I was already kinda sore from Zumba yesterday, plus ballet again today, tomorrow morning AND afternoon, then Zumba again on Friday.
There goes my limbs, I tell ya. xD


First there was our Advanced 1 class at 3pm, then we danced Grade 3 with Bethany 'so she wouldn't feel alone', according to Gino.
After that, we danced Grade 6 with Jermaine, Wan Hui and Sharnita.
Tomorrow, I have Adv 1 in the morning and again around evening, then Grade 5, which thankfully, I sit out most of the time (Guiltily grins at Lika), and then Grade 7.
Which I know for a fact that we'd have to dance with them.
Oh, and then there's Grade 4 after that too, by which just looking at them drains your energy.
Seriously. It's either some Feng Shui thingy or the aura. xD


But today was a fairly good day.. Gino made his 'comeback' after 2 weeks of serious food poisoning.
After Bethany's class, her younger siblings Ben and Rose hung out in the studio while Gino was talking to Ruth.
Lika showed off asked Rose to hug and kiss her, which Rose did. She's adorable.^^
Rose, I mean. Rose is adorable. Lika is not. xDD
Lika then asked Rose to hug and kiss me, but I got rejected. Dx
Not long after that, though, Rose gave in and hugged and kissed me.^^ No idea if she was persuaded into doing it, though. xp


I was told something shocking during Grade 3 though.
Misaki had a hole in her heart when she was a baby, and had to undergo multiple surgeries for it! O_O
I never would have guessed, looking at her today. Just makes you feel thankful that everything went well, doesn't it?


And I think, though, that amongst Lika's students that come to this studio for double class, Primary (Gina, Esther, Yen Min, Irene) is probably the most well-organized. Maybe it's because they're bigger girls than the pre-primary, and well, Kathrina and Kai Hong is a definite exception. xD


And it was during Primary that I realised; my dance blog has been rather.. picture/video deprived lately.
It's been a while since I took a picture or video of a class and posted it up here. About time I got some fresh resources. I'll try to get some tomorrow. ;D


Yeah, well, I can hear crickets starting to sing in my brain now. Best stop here before I ramble on about totally irrelevant stuff. xD

Genee

Just because I felt stupid for not posting this together with my Genee entry.

The Genee ticket stub.

Now I gotta find a container or something to keep all my memorable ticket stubs.
... Which reminds me.. Now where did I put my My Fair Lady, Chicago, & Beauty And The Beast Musical ticket stubs?

*Facepalms* 

Yeah, well, celebrate my stupidity, why don't you? Dx


On another note.. The Genee International Ballet Competition 2010 will be held in London. *_______*
Anyone wanna sponsor me? xD


Uh, ok.. I'll just.. Ping off now. xD

Here's to Happiness, & Everything That Goes With Dance.

Well I couldn't think of a better title. >_<


So something made me take my time today, as in to get ready and stuff. Because everytime I go around 4, Gino would be surely talking to Lika about her orders and whatnot for her students.
So instead, I went to the studio at about 4.30pm.
And when I looked in the studio, I saw Lika sitting on the chair at the teacher's table, and as I went in, she announced that he wasn't here.


And I was already clad in leotards and tights.
Oh well.


She was teaching Jian Yee and Betthany's Grade 3 class, so we just mostly sat and chatted.
It wasn't until Intermediate that we started having fun.


Out of the blue, Seow Hui started dancing and singing (though mumbling most of it,) to 'Nobody' by the Wonder Girls. The Korean version, I might add.


Behold the power of Kpop.


xD


She said her cousin had taught her, saying that she HAD to learn it, because almost everyone knew the dance. xD
Well, JYP, I guess you did one thing right there. xD


And then Lika suggested we do that dance, wearing fishnet stockings, collared corset and a top hat, for her (still unconfirmed) mini-concert next year.
I'm not really digging the fishnet stockings idea, though. xD


I wish I could've stayed until all the classes were over, but I promised Ann I would see Jennifer's Body with her tonight, so I had to leave early.
I'll write a mini excerpt from that in my Strawberried.info site ^^.

It's Official.

Katrina is one hell of a mood maker. xD
What was once glum immediately liftens up with her presence. She should 'join' MUEC (Magarita University of Excessive Crap), she'd be an honours' student. xD


Also, due to the Grade 5 'virus', a skid (which involved barre-grabbing due to almost 'overshooting' the mark, courtesy of Lika) was 'added' in the Character Dance.
Why is it that we always tend to mess up the silliest things during Grade 5 (and cause a racket)??
Oh yeah, the virus. xD


Li Xian came for Grade 7 today, but ended up sitting out for most of it.
Though, I managed to have a short chat with her after her class.. It's always nice to talk to her, she laughs easily. xD


Not much of a story this time, but sometimes short is better, no? ^^

Nothing New, But..

Today was a mentally and emotionally exhausting day for me, and I can imagine that it is even more so for Lika.

If you're gonna ask someone to do your dirty work for you, at least give that person some credit. Hogging all the praise and only handing over the negatives are not mature at all.
I have never mentioned anything before, but really, it's getting too much.

To have a student be cut from another person's registrar and into yours? Tell me how that sounds fair, especially when the parent went to the other studio instead?
If you can't get the kind of student or recognition you want, at least have a little responsibility in it, and have some pride in you and don't steal someone else's student. That's just wrong in so many ways.

You say you're horrible with money.
Well, either you're just extremely forgetful almost to the point of Alzheimer's, or that statement was a lie.
Try to understand the other person's situation. How would you have felt if you were in that person's shoes?
You do, you say. That's why you're more lenient with the fees of some students, you claim.
But that's just it. You're only so; slightly, I might add, with the students.
Students whom you know are having their parents pay their fees for them. Parents, whom you can't twist around your finger.

We are not ungrateful. We are well aware of the things you have taught us, the dedication you put in your work.
But.. enough is enough.

Hornbills, Penguins, Dead Ducks.. What's next??

It doesn't sound as horrible as it looks, trust me. xD

1. First, it was the ultimate 'Dead Duck' Dance, a.k.a Grade 7's Port De Bras, created by yours truly and THE ultimate partner in crime.
   
2. Then, it was Sayaka and her 'Hornbill' Dance.
3. Today, 2 new revolutionary dances were created by our very own protege.

The first, the 'process' of the death of the poor(tortured) duck mentioned in (1.) through the dance.

For the next piece of genius, I give you the equation of:

Kathrina + Holubetz = Kathrina(Penguin) x Genius originality²

                                ___________________________________

                                                 Crazy creativity

                            

                              = The Happy Penguin Dance.

That is all.

Mr Sandman is Beckoning Me...

I feel So.Freaking.Poofed right now.
Lika and I had to dance Grade 6 AND 7, to teach the girls. (And danced Grade 6 in an almost sauna-ish atmosphere; thank you, faulty air cond.)
And to top it off, I wasn't able to have a good night's sleep last night, for some reason.

All that, plus another water shortage is really doing me in.
To save water, I was bent over for about 15-20 minutes to wash my hair in the kitchen sink, then waddle to the bathroom downstairs to clean the rest of me.
(Just picture it: For once, the smell of Dove shampoo and not food, coming from the kitchen. Enter kitchen, see an akward figure, doubled up in the sink in an even more akward position, water splashed all over sink and table.)
So thanks to that, I officially have somewhat of a stiff neck now.

I didn't feel the pinch until I got back and had dinner, which was around.. 11 something, maybe?
But by then I felt like a bear wanting to hibernate or something.. Seriously, I felt so heavy and sleepy.. NOT good.

And then there's tomorrow morning, where I have to go to my old school (Afzan) for them to 'certify' my photostated copies of my SPM certs and whatnot, for my uni application.
I really hope I get it.. Wish me luck! ^^

Last Minute-ish Ms Chua Class

Ok, so today wasn't too bad.

I've experienced worse. xD

Class was meant to start at 2pm (2PM, jjang~ xD), but it started 15 minutes later.
And it did a lot of difference.
Within 15 minutes with Ms Chua, we could've already done half (or more) of barre work. So yeah, 15 minutes is precious. xD


The only thing I curse is that Ms Chua's class, twice already, had to fall on the day which was 'not my time of month', if you get my drift.
Yes, I got the dizzy spells again, and it seemed I need more iron.
Thankfully it wasn't as bad as before.


But for the most part of our class this time (which was about almost 30 minutes of our 2 1/2 hour class), we spent discussing things like our techniques and how to strengthen and improve them.
We also chatted a little about the Genee, and a tiny (not so tiny, actually) problem regarding the new Pre-Primary and Primary syllabus thingamajig.
The more senior dancers would probably get what I mean.


At the end of the class, the 3 of us discussed phones for a while before the Grade 3 class started, and Ms Chua left not long after.
As Michelle (or Couper, [not Miss Couper, just Couper] as Lika liked to call her,) came in the class, I casually asked if she missed me.
She said yes, and to my surprise, she hugged me. =B


Then came Grade 5, and Sayaka confessed to me that she hadn't practised her 'Hornbill'.
I stopped, looked at her with raised eyebrows, and repeated, "Hornbill?"
She went on to ramble about it, showing me the steps, when I stopped her and asked, "Do you mean Holubetz?"
That was it. The entire class burst into fits of laughter.
And as of today, Holubetz will be officially known as Sayaka's Hornbill Dance. xD



About nearly 5 hours later (almost 1am; now, to be exact), my brain is so exhausted and foggy I can't think straight.
Which explains this (rather) short post.


And I think I feel a cramp coming on too..
Damn.