Updates!

I haven't posted in a while! Here's some updates!
I never auditioned for San Francisco Ballet.
I DID however audition for the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. I got my acceptance letter, registered, and am now set on attending for four weeks. I am leaving tomorrow, (June 11) to move in to my new apartment! My first day of classes is Monday, June 13, and my last day of classes is Friday, July 9.
Since school ended, shopping and packing for Joffrey have been my main priorities. I've spent about 4 hours combined from the dance store, Costco, and Target, and a LOT of money. (I'm paying off my debt).
When I get back in July, I will most likely dance a week or two at H.I.S. dance company with Tassia Johnson. She is a great teacher.

Speaking of teachers, I've heard the teachers at Joffrey are great! I'm so excited!

Audition Updates!

First off I would like to start with my good news. I got on the waiting list for SAB!
Sadly, the company I really wanted to get in to (PNB) did not accept me. However, none of my friends got accepted either and they are all far more amazing than me :)
I am supposed to get my results from Joffrey...like TODAY. I don't really care if I get in there though. If I do, I'm not going.

I was going to audition for Harid and Chautauqua this weekend, but decided against it. I had rehearsal all day Saturday for my upcoming showcase, with variations from Coppelia and Swan Lake!

That's all for now
Byeee :)

Pacific Northwest Ballet Audition

This was an audition that I had been eagerly waiting for. There was a good-sized class, not too few, not too many, and all them had the perfect ballet bodies, good flexibility, and good technique. It was an excellent class taught by Peter Boal, the artistic director of PNB. The audition was early in the evening (6:00) so we could attend other auditions that day, but it meant that I got home from Chicago past midnight!
I highly recommend this audition. It was fantastic, and I hope I get in. I find out in two weeks! If I don't get in, I will certainly be trying out again next year. It was a great experience. I love Balanchine!

Joffrey Chicago Audition

I got many high reviews in regards to Joffrey's younger age group audition, (ages 10-14). However, I had a terrible experience with the 15 and 16 year olds and I will never audition there again.
We arrived while the younger audition was still going on. They turned us away and told us to come back later. We left to go to the bookstore across the street and stayed there for only about 15 or so minutes. By the time we came back, there was an enormous line that wrapped around the building and around the corner. They made us wait outside in the cold for half an hour, and once we were all registered, they crammed us into a tiny studio where there was no room to stretch.
The audition started late and got out late, and I was extremely unimpressed with my fellow auditionees. One boy they had to teach how to do a pirouette, and many others had poor technique.
I myself did not do well in the class. At barre I was fantastic, but when it came to center, I did poorly either because of nerves or my pointe shoes which were very old and dead. I left my real shoes, (Grishkos) at home and wore capezios, which I wasn't used to and couldn't turn on.
We were taught by the Ballet Master of Joffrey Chicago and she reminded me strongly of one of my past teachers, whom I liked very much. We were also viewed by a professional whose name I do not know.
As a side note, Joffrey seemed to be made wholly of tiny hallways and doors and it was confusing to find your way around. And one of the elevators was broken, and groups of 10 or more were trying to squeeze into one.
As a general conclusion, it was certainly not worth the $30, it was overly crowded (we were spit into three groups) and Joffrey Chicago is overrated. However, if you are younger than 15, this might be the perfect place to go for one summer, until you get in somewhere better.

First Audition of the Year

Last week was the audition in Chicago for School of the American Ballet. It was $35, and a passport was needed. The class was a great experience. The piano player made up the music herself, which impressed me. The teacher was a nice woman who was actually teaching, not just being critical, and she was once a student of George Balanchine.

The studio was in Ballet Chicago, on the 19th floor of 17 North State Street. It overlooked a beautiful portion of the city.

At first I was intimidated in the warm-up. A lot of girls looked very professional and much more flexible than I was. But when the class started, there wasn't as much pressure as I had been expecting. I found that I was able to relax. Also, my technique turned out to be a lot better than over half the girls.

I also auditioned with a handful of my friends, so there were friendly faces. I strongly recommend auditioning with others. If you go alone, introduce yourself to someone. I met someone who was also trying out for the first time.

I find out in two weeks!