4 days til the show!

So finally, an update... 

I have been quite busy, I can assure you.  Let me recap the past few weeks!

The weather has been very un-spring like lately, with today being the warmest in New York so far for several months.  I'm enjoying it - it brings back nice memories of last summer.  The city has greened up and it looks like summer! 

We've been incredibly busy in my class of around 20 girls.  Mornings have stayed the same - warm-up, technique, pointe/pas de deux, and then in the afternoons we've been rehearsing group pieces for the spring performance.  We are doing an original work choreographed by our primary instructor, and then another group piece from La Bayadere (scarf dance).  Then there is a trio piece also from Bayadere (Manu).  So far rehearsals, though often stressed filled and with heavy emphasis for perfection, have been going well and have been productive.  We are also rehearsing a character piece - I believe also from La Bayadere - which is incredibly difficult but really looks great. 

It's stressful though, even with "everything going well".  There is a lot of pressure on everyone to perform at their best.  It's tough to keep up energy and stay on top of everything in rehearsal.  You have to be so aware, looking at everyone else to insure that you stay in line, stay in the right place, etc.  You have to worry about every movement in a group piece - where the corps must stay perfectly together.  One person off can throw everyone else off as well - and ruin the entire piece.  There are constant reminders of head, arms, feet - even subtle inclinations of the body.  It is true to say that these pieces have to be perfect to be performed. 

A few weeks ago, we presented the pieces that we had been working on for the director's approval.  We were very nervous, as there was the potential for pieces to be cut.  As it was, pieces that were going to potentially be performed had been eliminated due to time constraints - pieces from our other classes, like a mime piece, period dance showcase piece, and another character piece.  The other level had had a piece cut that they had been rehearsing for some time - it just wasn't good enough.  Luckily, things went very well, the director was more than pleased, and all of our group pieces were safe.  And ever since then we've been cleaning everything up and rehearsing like crazy.  Hopefully our many hours of hard work will come through during the show! 

So right now I'm gearing up for the show.  It's a big deal, end of the year show - and there are many classmates that I won't be with again.  It's surprising to find ourselves here at the end of the year.  It came so fast!!  I guess that's better than dragging on.  Everyone marvels at how quickly this year did go by.  We have a full run-through of the show tomorrow at the studios, and will be working on costumes and making sure all of that is ready.  Saturday we are in the theater from like 11:15 or so to 10pm - or probably a little later.  I love being in the theater - there is really nothing else like it.  I realized sometime ago while standing in the wings the meaning and the reason behind everything that we do.  It is for that very moment. 

I was quite nervous for Nutcracker - and the nerves died away after a few shows in.  We only get one shot for this performance.  I know everything will go well, but I don't want to be nervous.  I don't eat a lot before performances - or at least don't feel like it.  Gum and hard candy are essential.  So are warm-ups for around the theater, a book, and a camera.  It also helps to have stuff on hand that could be needed during a show.  There are almost always little "emergencies", primarily costuming-wise!  I was so ancy on Sunday that I made a gigantic list of everything I could think of.  Now I need to start getting all of it together. Luckily it doesn't look like I will need to buy anything, which is a good thing to hear.  We do have to pancake flat shoes for the character piece, which is a drag, because they are still good shoes, but hopefully they will wash out fine. 

After the show, parties are being planned for all of the students.  I can't wait for it, really - it's going to be a ton of fun!  And then there will only be a couple more days of classes before we are officially off for the summer!  Hard to believe...!!!

So that's my current goings-on.  I'll be sure to post more of an update as the week continues on.  And of course, stay tuned for photos of rehearsals and the time at the theater!