Okay, we survived competetion!

We recieved "Excellents" (basically a Silver) for our duet (Imperial March,) production number (Once Upon a Time) and Team number (Celestial Soda Pop.)

But more importantly, the girls had fun, and did a great job. I'm hoping they all decide to participate again next year.

We recieved some very nice comments on our score sheets from the judges, and some good things to work on. (Sometimes it helps the dancers to hear 'point your toes!' and 'smile!' from someone other than me! ) As always, the taped commentary (one of the judges tapes their comments) was wonderful. G3 will put a version on the video with the judges' commentary playing at the same time - which is always very helpful.

They lost one of our score sheets. Which I would rather have than the trophy. We're hoping it accidentally got put in with one of the other studio's packets, and that they will call to let the competetion organizers know so they can send it to us. (crosses fingers)

I had forgotten one of the other positive aspects of competetions, along with the helpful feedback, and that is the whole motivation factor. Watching other dancers, some of whom are very, very good (and probably spend many hours in the studio) can motivate you to work harder.

Okay, and now to go the personal brag route a little bit - I got some very nice comments on my choreography - my originality (yay! little happy dance) and musical interpretation were two things that were commented on positively.

All in all, a nerve wracking, but ultimately rewarding weekend.

Well, we head to dance competetion this weekend.

I feel compelled to point out, for perhaps the three hundred and fifth time this month that I am not all that into the whole dance competetion "thing" because judging anything which is supposed to be art is ultimately very subjective. And the fact that there is judging going on tends to make choreographers/teachers use things that look impressive (does every dance need fouette turns and switch leaps?) rather than really thinking artistically. I find the adjudication portion valuable - getting feedbacks and comments from another source - but the trophies aren't that neccessary.

But, this competetion is also a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and they seem to keep it positive and focused on the kids, so this is the one competetion we do during the year. (I like giving them extra chances to perform, other than just at recital, but I find performing for the Senior Citizens Center works just as well as trotting them off to expensive comps. each weekend!)

If I thought dancing in these things was nerve-wracking, well, that's nothing compared to taking students to one! I know they'll do a good job, and I know they'll have lots of fun, no matter what their results are. (One reason we only do one of these things - even though you know you shouldn't, it's hard not to get caught up in the outcome!) I just really want them to enjoy themselves, and feel proud of what they accomplish. And I know that despite whatever nerves I'm having, I need to seem cool, calm, and collected for my students, while also being encouraging and excited for them! whew.....

I am grouchy today. My coffee pot broke last night, so this morning it's either go without, or make do with instant. I know this is not that big of a deal in the greater scheme of things, but....dangit, I want my coffee! waaaaaahhhh!

Well, um, huh......

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This is a copy and paste of a comment I left over on "the Xanga" blog asking the users what we thought about implementing this new "flag" system.

Don't like it. Don't like it at all. If I post a nude goddess bead I made, will I be flagged for "adult content?"
What if I state my opinion that I HATE the stance of the state homeschooling group in favor of bigotry?

I am quite capable of clicking away from a site I have no interest in seeing - even if I (oh horrors!) happen to catch a glimpse of a breast or a penis, I really don't need Xanga, or the users of Xanga to play the part of my mommy and daddy.

And when my children are using the internet, although I know this is out-of-fashion these days, I am actually quite capable and willing to parent them myself.

Whew! Made it, got the taxes completed last night. Now I am all worn out. See?

So I've spent the day (after heading to the post office, of course) recovering by watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" on DVD. (I missed it when it was actually on TV - too busy running to a zillion different activities)

Gah! I've got about three bajillion things going on right now - and I haven't even started our taxes yet. YIKES!

The Homeschool Talent Show was yesterday, and went fabulously - the kids had a ball performing, and the seniors loved watching them. I was worn out by the time we got back home, but had to get the studio cleaned up and ready for dance class anyway.

My dancers have been working hard, getting ready for a competetion at the end of April. I'm not a real big fan of competetions, but this one is also a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and they keep it really positive and fun.

I've had my fingers in the clay nearly non-stop as well - I'm doing a spring craft show next weekend at a town about an hour away. I haven't done a show in the spring yet, despite my love of the more bright, spring type colors, so it should be interesting to see how it goes. It's also a 'central checkout' rather than a show where you work your own booth, so that should also be interesting. It means the promoters get a 10% commission, but the booth fee is quite inexpensive, and I don't have to drive an hour out of town every day to work the show. Having a deadline of a show to work toward is an excellent motivator for me, I've realized. I suppose I should be more self-disciplined and all, but sometimes a deadline is just what I need.

I'm working on honing my directing skills a bit - have Glenn and our acting student doing a scene from "The Odd Couple" It's going to be interesting directing Glenn, rather than having him as a sort of co-director, or as a fellow actor. Ah...I miss doing plays on a semi-regular basis. I love the workout my brain gets when I am figuring out a character. And I especially miss doing the kind of plays we would do in the black box (experimental) theatre in college. They've done "Oleanna" by David Mamet and "Shadowbox" (unsure of the playwrite) at the university here, but all the community type theatre is mostly either musicals, or very mainstream. Not that there's anything wrong with mainstream, mind you, but my favorite acting experiences have always been with more modern/absurdist/cutting edge type stuff. Well, as one of our theatre proffesors in my hometown pointed out - if you want that, sometimes the only way to get it is to do it yourself.

'Twas closing night for The Vagina Monologues tonight. I have had such a fabulous time this year - our cast was fabulous, our director warm, funny, and encouraging, and our audiences were great. It was a great experience, I feel I really worked and grew as an actress, and am excited to stretch my wings as a director next year.

The kids stayed at the folks' house, and Glenn and I joined the rest of the cast for a late dinner at Cheryl's (our director) house. Where we talked and laughed - that fabulous kind of camaraderie that only seems to come when theatre people gather together. (And although for some of our cast, this was the first time they had been on stage, they are now definitely theatre people in mind and heart.)

Hmmm....I seem to be getting a bit sentimental, or it's just the warm glow from the dandelion wine - so I think I'm off to bed.

'Twas opening night last night for "The Vagina Monologues."

It went really well - the audience was fabulous, really responsive, which doesn't always happen on a Thursday night. My pieces went well - "Burqua" especially so. I actually ended in tears, which is a rarity for me on stage.

I've committed to directing next year, which I think will be an interesting experience. I've already got cast members from this year telling me which monologues they would realy like to do. Which is a good thing - people tend to connect the most with the monologues that they can perform well.

No, not literally.

Dress Reharsal for "The Vagina Monologues" is tommorow, the show opens on Thursday. Yikes!

Just having a bit of a panic attack, here. Perfectly normal for show week, move along folks, nothing to see here.

Of course good thoughts and encouragement are always appreciated - I'm doing two tough pieces, "My Vagina was my Village" which is the story of a woman who was raped during war time, and "Under the Burqua," which is about, well, being a woman and living in a country where the Burqua is required. I have invested a lot of time, emotion, thought, and energy into bringing these monologues to life.

I hope I do them justice, in honor of all the women whose stories these pieces represent.

Signing off,
Julie
Proud Vagina Warrior
"Until the Violence Stops!"