brought to you by Ballet with Becca Feel free to repost your favorite quotes!
Special Thanks to Kayla Pacenka Photography & Casey Myer Photography
0 Comments
New Year's Eve and Day are two wonderful occasions to be overly sentimental and incredibly sappy. For a dancer, it's important to feel happy about all of the things you accomplished in dance this year, but set long term goals that you are actually willing to work on (not like those cheesy new year's resolutions that no one will stick to anyways). Here are my current thoughts during this year's celebrations... Highlights of 2016While I still have many goals I want to accomplish in the new year, I think it's safe to say I had a pretty good year in dance. Here are some of my favorite dance memories from 2016...
Staying Focused in the New Year2017 is going to be an insanely busy year for me. I am going to be a junior at BSU in the Spring and I'm getting ready for a hard semester. My next adventures are to dance in BSUDC's Spring show Dance Kaleidoscope and to choreograph James and the Giant Peach for Amesbury Children's Theatre. On top of that, I will be taking a wide range of dance courses and staying involved with NSO (NDEO Student Organization). Dance has pretty much taken over every minute of my life, and at times it is stressful, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Here are my long term goals for the year...I can't wait to look back on these in 2018 and see which ones I've accomplished:
Now it's time to make a plan for how I am going to bring these words to life. It's great to set goals for yourself, but remember that they won't become reality over night and they will need constant time and attention to accomplish them. Dancers: what are your resolutions? Feel free to share them with me in the comments section! Wishing all of my readers (2,394 of you by the time I wrote this article's first draft) and all performers out there a happy and healthy new year! I hope your dance dreams come true and you lose yourself in your love of dance. Thank you for reading my blog these past few months; there will be more to come in 2017! Xo, Becca Santone Behind the Scenes of 2016
|
A fashion leotard sold at keoneulaes.org | A dance leotard sold at Capezio.com |
While buns have been a hairstyle both in ballet and the non-dance world for quite some time now, there's no denying there is a certain look to a ballet bun. In second grade, my dad would drive me to dance after school and at that age neither I knew how to do a bun nor did my dad (he still doesn't, but I've since learned). My mom would put my hair up in a tight, neat bun before I went to school so it would be ready for when I went to ballet class. Wearing my hair in a ballet bun to school was always embarrassing for me. It was a hairstyle most girls in my class never wore so I always felt like I stuck out. Times have changed since I was 7 years old. Not only have I stopped caring about where I wear a bun, but ballet buns have become something everyone wants to wear. This trend started with the sock bun look becoming mainstream when stores like Claire's started selling hair donuts. Now you'll see ballet buns outside the dance studio- everywhere from the workplace to the red carpet.
This is one of the trends that continues to baffle me. After a show during my childhood years of performing, the first thing my cast mates and I did was wipe off our red lipstick because we were embarrassed to go out in public with red lips. Wearing red lips looked great on stage, but you'd get the strangest stares if you went out to dinner with them afterwards. In high school, wearing red lips to a school dance or even on a dress down day with the right outfit was a common occurrence. Red lipstick has come into style in the past few years. Red lips are all over the red carpet, too.
Everything down to our shoes have been copied by the fashion industry. Both ballet slippers and pointe shoes have been imitated on the runway and in affordable stores. Bloch, a brand of dance wear, even has its own collection of ballet flats. Take a look at the similarities between dance shoes and every day shoes.
Photo from Pinterest.com
and why all ballet dancers should experience it at some point in their dance career
Nutcracker is a bridge between the dance world and the rest of the world
Nutcracker is a holiday tradition. There wouldn't be a million and one decorative nutcrackers for sale during Christmas season if it wasn't. Ballet companies typically don't have a problem selling tickets to Nutcracker because so many people see it as tradition. It's great that a ballet can weave its way into the regular world because ballet is an important art form and people are being exposed to it through Nutcracker. The more people that fall in love with ballet, the longer the art form can live on, so it's crucial that non-dancers love ballet as much as we do!
Nutcracker is dance theatre
Ballet is a form of dance theatre, meaning that there is acting and stagecraft involved in the production, not just choreography. Many interpretations of nutcracker are out there, so it's fun to see different variations of the same classic story brought to life on stage. Dance theatre is a way to learn how to tell a story through dance, and Nutcracker is a great place to start. There are so many different characters in Nutcracker and you learn how to bring each one to life. Speaking of which...
You can work your way up
Nutcracker is great because the casting demands a wide age range (I was first in it when I was 6) and there are corps, intermediate, and principal roles for both genders. There's few things more exciting than finding out you've gotten a more advanced role after working you way up through the ranks over the years. The first time I got the be an angel was so exciting, and the first time I danced Nutcracker en pointe was even better. It's a way to feel accomplished and show how much you've improved over the years. It's also a lot of fun to get to dance many different roles throughout your dance career.
It's magical
Nutcracker is literally the most magical thing to ever exist (well besides Harry Potter, true love, Santa, and witchcraft). It's incredible to see a little toy nutcracker come to life and then turn into a handsome prince on stage. And we can't forget how stunning it is to see Clara and the Snow Queen dance through a blizzard. There are few things that make Christmas seem more magical than this show, and it's so exciting to get to be a part of it. Not only do you put a smile on the audience members' faces, but you really feel like you're a part of the magic when you're bringing the story to life.
It's tradition
When you dance your entire life, you don't always get to dance in the same way as the year before because the rest of your life is changing. You grow to miss recitals, dance camps, and seeing your dance friends every night once you grow up and go to college. Even though I dance every day at school, it's nice to be able to come home on the weekends and rehearse for Nutcracker every Sunday. My world is constantly changing and I am constantly getting new and different opportunities to dance, but I can still count on there being a Nutcracker to audition for every year. Although I promised my mother I would stop doing Nutcrackers when I finally make it in to waltz of the flowers (my family is very supportive and will sit through anything, but I've gotten multiple, mostly as jokes, requests to not ask them to see another nutcracker), I have a feeling I will be doing Nutcrackers until I die.
The music is iconic
Unless you live under a rock, you have heard at least one of these four Nutcracker songs: the children's march, dance of the sugar plum fairy, the waltz of the flowers, or the marzipan music. The music is iconic and a lot of fun to listen to. The music itself tells a story on its own, and its so much fun to get to bring that beautiful music to life through dance. Once you've danced to it, you will find yourself playing it in your car and humming it around the house at all times of year. It becomes ingrained in your soul- and this is not a bad thing!
The bonds you make can't be broken
The friendships you make doing a show like this are strong ones. The first show I ever danced with Casey (reference my PHOTO GALLERY above if you're curious as to who she is) was Nutcracker and we've been friends ever since. It's fun going through Nutcracker season with your friends every year. I remember we'd get excited and nervous for auditions, anxiously await casting, call each other when we got our parts and talk endlessly about what costumes we hoped we'd get to wear, rehearse our dances together, countdown the days till the show, fool around backstage, and finally, put on a show we'd never forget. It's also cool when you're in a production that has open auditions, because not only does this open the doors to new talent, but to new friendships. From this you get to work with dancers that come from different backgrounds than you and you can start new and exciting friendships with them.
Nutcracker dreams coming true are the best kinds of dreams that can come true
Although I have had my fair share of Nutcracker dreams not coming true, I will say it was a happy day when my ballet teacher at BSU told me we were doing excerpts from The Nutcracker and I was going to be Clara. Clara was the biggest dream I had as a child and into my teen years, and I'd always wanted to experience that moment when she receives her toy nutcracker for the first time. Some of my lesser but still exciting Nutcracker dreams that have come true over the years were being cast as an angel (and later a lead angel), a mouse (in my friend group as a child, you were "cool" if you got to be a mouse because the mice always did these cool jumps and tricks), a girl in the party scene, portraying Clara's younger brother, Fritz (in some productions the male child characters are portrayed by girls because many dance schools don't have male students, so I swear this isn't as weird as it may sound) and getting to blow a trumpet in my friend's face, and dancing a duet with Casey as the military dolls.
It makes the hard hours of technique classes worth it
Let's face it: everyone dreads going to ballet class now and then. Doing the same barre combinations and floor routines after a while can get a little frustrating, especially when you feel like everything you're working for is in the distant future. Nutcracker is a way to ensure that every year you will have something to strive for and all of that hard work will pay off on stage. It is also a good way to motivate students to push themselves in class. I remember working my hardest during summer ballet classes because I wanted to prepare myself for Nutcracker auditions. There was also a role I was striving for and even if I didn't get it, I had pushed myself to become a better dancer on my quest to obtain it. I think that participating in all of the ballets I did as a child made me a better dancer because they gave me something to work for. As a kid, it's hard to see the end goal, but when you work your way up into more advanced roles and choreography in a show you are learning how hard work pays off. Nutcracker is also a great way to motivate young dancers because they usually work closely with more experienced dancers, so they get a first look at what they can be if they work hard and don't give up.
Last but not least (and this might sound petty)... people will think you're cool if you say you're in The Nutcracker
I'm not one to advise others to do things just because it sounds cool but honestly, it is the cherry on top to get to tell people you're in such an iconic show. The majority of people will know what you're talking about, even if they don't know what you mean when you tell them you're a dancing candy cane. They will probably think you're like a "real ballerina" or "serious dancer" or something and respect you for it. You may even have the opportunity to exaggerate how big of a deal being in Nutcracker actually is...and there's no harm in that ;)
Nutcracker is something that has been a part of my life for a very long time and I'm very grateful that it still is. I've been having dreams about dancing different roles the past few nights and I'm so excited for Nutcracker season to start. Many of my best ballet memories have come from dancing in Nutcracker. During my Christmas break, Casey and I went on vacation to Disney World and one of the stores was playing the children's march so we broke into the choreography we remembered from years ago. The nutcracker doll I have from when I was Clara is currently sitting in my living room. My friends and I from all over the place talk about the productions we're auditioning for all the time. I have a Nutcracker CD in my car, and the book of photos from a New York City ballet production I have that I got as a present from my very first Nutcracker lives next to my bed at home. Every time I question why I love ballet and why I'm still dancing (because yes, we all have those nights), I look through that book and find myself an answer. The magic of Nutcracker is what first made me fall in love with ballet, as it did to many ballet dancers, so I encourage you all to experience it at least once. No matter what role you're cast in or how big the production is, you may fall in love with the show like I did and add a new holiday tradition to your Christmas to do list. I don't know how many times I can say that Nutcracker is awesome, it is the most awesome thing ever, and you should be awesome and give it a chance.
Did I mention I love The Nutcracker?
If anyone in the Lawrence, Massachusetts area (or within driving distance) is interested in dancing in a production of The Nutcracker, I am auditioning for Northeast Dance Center's production next week! I did this production for the first time last year and absolutely loved the experience. You can go to NDC's website for more information.
Photo Credits Natural Expressions Photography
Plan Ahead
Plan out your audition day in advance. Don't wait till the last second to figure out your travel arrangements, and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get there, check in, and warm up. You don't want to come in flustered and have to jump right in to a barre exercise. You'll need time to warm up, stretch, and get in the zone to do the best you can.
...this includes your outfit
Plan what you're going to wear to the audition ahead of time. I am guilty of showing up late to various events because it takes me forever to figure out what I want to wear (and once I do figure it out, digging through piles of laundry and praying it's clean enough to wear). You don't want to get stuck wearing your spare leotard to the audition; you want to wear something you know you look your best in and feel comfortable in.
Treat Every Audition Like a Class
Most auditions are set up similar to a class. As far as the ballet auditions I've been to have gone, we've started with barre then moved into center and corner exercises. Whoever is leading the class might even give you corrections. The best way to calm your nerves is to get in the mindset that this is just a class. Take the corrections as if it were your own ballet teacher giving them to you. Work on your technique and show them how hard you would work if you are cast or accepted into the program. The more you focus on learning from the audition and treating it like a class, the more comfortable you will feel in that environment and it will be easier to showcase what you can really do.
...and if you mess up
JUST KEEP GOING! They won't be impressed with you if you get frustrated because you forgot a combination or fell out of a turn. If you messed up in class or on stage, you would just keep going and brush it off. Do the same in an audition.
BE YOURSELF
Don't wear fifty pounds of makeup if you don't normally wear that much makeup to class just because you think it'll make you look better. Don't do a turn sequence during an improv section just because you see other dancers doing it. Don't try and land a triple turn when you know your double looks better. Wear that lucky scrunchie that you never dance without. Don't try and be something you're not because the judges will be able to tell and you will come across as fake. Plus, they'll miss out on the best parts of you!
...but if there's something you've never done before...
This is when you fake it till you make it. For example, my biggest weakness at auditions is that I am not trained in modern dance, and there's almost always a modern portion. However, judges know that many primarily ballet dancers have little to no experience in modern. All they expect of you is that you try your best and can adapt to new challenges. Don't be afraid to ask questions to clarify movements or counts. Pretend like you've been doing modern (or whatever the task may be) since you came out of the womb.
BE NICE TO THE COMPETITION!
I can't stress this one enough. DO NOT BRAND YOURSELF AS A BALLET BITCH. Don't try and show off your flexibility or how many turns or flips you can do while warming up. Don't give other dancers dirty looks. DON'T TRY TO SABOTAGE THE COMPETITION. Don't snap anyone's pointe shoes or steal someone's CD or cut holes in their tights or lock them in a broom closet. DON'T BE FAKE NICE TO THEM EITHER. Introduce yourself, ask them where they dance, follow them on Instagram...they are just as nervous as you are, so wouldn't it be nice for both of you to have someone friendly in the room to look at while you go through this grueling process? If they do something nice, tell them, and be sincere about it. Cheer them off if you saw them do their solo. Say good luck to them beforehand. Who knows, maybe you'll both get in and you'll become dance partners or room mates! The bottom line is, JOIN ME IN THE MOVEMENT TO GET CATTINESS OUT OF THE BALLET WORLD. Ballet is an art form that makes us look like beautiful, regal, and poised individuals. Act like one in every dance scenario you find yourself in. If the judges want you, they'll pick you, regardless of who else is there. Don't risk making yourself look bad or ruining someone else's chances just because you're too insecure to realize you have what it takes to make it on your own regardless of the competition.
Have audition materials in your back pocket
This includes a go to headshot, body shot, and solo. It's good to keep a supply of head shots and dance photos on hand in case you ever find out about an audition at the last minute or don't have time to plan another photo shoot. It's also a good idea to have a dance resume saved in your documents in case an audition or application ever called for one. Many auditions also require you to have a solo prepared, so keep the song on your phone (and bring a backup CD) and have a back pocket solo in case you were ever asked to perform one. My back pocket solo is The Lilac Fairy from Sleeping Beauty.
Performance over technique
While your ballet technique is an important factor in an audition, don't underestimate the power of a smile and watching your arms while you dance. Technique is something that can be worked on, but the judges and teachers of the program or show aren't going to spend their time teaching you how to dance with your heart and perform on stage. At an audition, it is your job to show the panel that you are a performer first and a technician second. Yes, try and point your feet and turn out from the hips etc. etc. But what's really going to sell you to the judges is how well you can tell a story to an audience or how confident you will be when you step out on stage.
Don't put all of your eggs in one basket
Through the entire audition process, remember that this audition is not going to make or break your life. Have faith that if this is your destiny, your time will come. Out of the five big auditions I've went to in past year and a half of my life, I got cut from two and received great opportunities from the other three. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had made it through the ones I didn't, but it's important to remember that as a dancer, you are going to go through many auditions and not make all of them. Your path will become clear to you as you get older and go through more experiences in the dance world. It's okay to be heartbroken about not making it through, especially when it was for something you really wanted, but remember there are so many other opportunities out there. Don't let your whole career ride on one audition. For me, my next big audition is coming up on September 18 when I audition for Northeast Dance Center's production of The Nutcracker. If anyone in the Massachusetts/New Hampshire area is interested in auditioning with me, leave a comment or click the CONTACT page to ask me any questions! Oh, and wish me luck!!
There is so much more to the world of youth dance than competitions. My dance experience growing up is proof of that. For example, I was cast in various ballets from the time I was 6 years old and was exposed to dance theatre from a young age. I've danced countless roles in The Nutcracker- everything from a toy soldier to Clara to a candy cane. I was also exposed to classical ballets that many dancers aren't as familiar with, like Coppelia. Performing different roles and learning how to portray a character through dance has helped me in all different styles of dance and theatre. Because I wasn't competing, I had plenty of time to focus on my ballet technique, which has also benefited me in all areas of dance. I have many fond memories of bonding with my cast mates during rehearsals and backstage (shoutout to "broccoli"), which are equivalent to those made at dance competitions. I may not be able to do thirty-two turns in second or a side aerial (common competition moves), but I can execute a beautiful double pirouette and pantomime any scenario. I learned about stagecraft and acting and I have danced in beautiful theaters. I've studied ballet terminology and learned how to take care of my body through different dance camps and intensives. At the end of the day, I have memories and a dance education that has prepared me to study dance in college. I may not have a trophy to prove that I've achieved something or can say I've beaten whatshername- the incredible dancer with long legs and great feet-, but I've danced duets en pointe and helped tell magical stories to audiences.
While competitive dance is not a bad thing, I do think it should be done in moderation if you are going to incorporate it into your dance education. While it may be fun to get that medal put around your neck and help lead your team to victory, it is important to remember that dance is an art first and a sport second, so make sure you save some time (and money) for other opportunities to learn, such as ballet productions, musical theatre, master classes, dance camps, and intensives (maybe even go support the arts and see a ballet sometime soon!). While sometimes it would be nice to have a shelf full of crowns and plaques and other awards, I wouldn't trade my positive dance experiences from my grade school days for any of it. The things I learned and experienced in a non-competitive studio are my accomplishments in themselves.
"That's a thing?"
"You must be really good! Are you gonna be a professional dancer?"
"How are you going to make any money with that degree?"
While I understand that dance isn't a traditional major (and isn't offered at most schools), it is very important for me to study dance because I want to teach it. I could go on for hours about how valuable a degree in dance is, but I think it's more important to talk about why I'm putting myself through the countless hours I spend in the studio...and the ones in the classroom (because, believe it or not, dance is also an ACADEMIC subject!).
Dance teachers fall into their jobs for many different reasons. Many dance teachers were professional dancers who have reached their peak and have decided to teach for the rest of the career. Some might balance both a professional and teaching career in dance, and some dance teachers are former dance students who go back to their studio and teach on the side just because it's fun and they love it. But there are some dance teachers who have known they want to teach (and do nothing else) all along. One of the many questions I get asked is if I want to be a professional dancer, and if not why. While being a professional ballet dancer was probably never in the cards for me, I think I have a calling to teach regardless. I have always found it more rewarding to help others. From a young age I was the "mom" of my group of dance friends and I'd always pack for shows keeping everyone's need in mind (Did I need hairspray, nail polish remover, extra tights, or Q-tips? Probably not, but someone always did). I was also recently given the opportunity to choreograph a number with the musical theatre group I used to perform with, and I honestly felt it was more rewarding to sit in the audience and watch how far my dancers had come instead of choreograph numbers for myself to perform in. Performing will always give me a rush and I have no intention of giving it up anytime soon, but I realize that my life will be more fulfilling if I dedicate it to giving others the gift of a dance education. Dance has taught me so many important life lessons, given me my best memories, and has consistently been the most beautiful thing in my life, and it would be an honor to pass all of that on to someone else. I want to create my owner little corner of the dance world where students can turn into stars, achieve their dreams, and find their own passion for dance. The art of dance (especially ballet) is often overlooked, so I think it's important to pass on this art form so others can experience it and let it be the most beautiful thing in their lives. Dance is a great form of self expression and I don't know where I'd be without it. When people tell me that I'm not going to make any money, I usually just laugh and say that I'd rather be broke and living out my purpose in life than have a "more stable" job and sit behind a desk all day and not do what I always wanted to. I would see people succeeding in the career that I always wanted to wonder why I was too scared to do it. I think life has a way of working itself out if you're really doing what you're supposed to be. I have faith that if I embark on this journey I'll somehow end up in a good place. If anyone can pull this off, it sure as hell is me. Am I probably going to work multiple jobs and struggle to stay afloat and sacrifice a lot of things? Of course I am. But all I want is to see my future students shine and know that I helped them become the best dancers they can be and- more importantly- helped them find the love of the art form that I have been in love with since I was a child. This is what I want, this is what I have always wanted, and this is what I am going to work for until I've made it happen.
Author
Welcome to my blog!
My name is Becca and I am a 24 year old dancer, teacher, writer, and advocate originally from Massachusetts.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in dance from Bridgewater State University and I am a Master of Arts Candidate at New York University.
I have this *radical* idea that all students have a right to a quality dance education that is inclusive, positive, meaningful, and fun. Keep reading my blog to follow my dance teacher journey and reflect with me on issues relating to the art of dance.
Click the button below to learn more about me!
Popular Posts
Archives
September 2020
June 2020
February 2020
January 2020
October 2019
September 2019
June 2019
April 2019
January 2019
December 2018
July 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
December 2017
September 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
Offline Updates
Click the button for more info!