Competition Checklist

        If you're anything like me, you know that being organized is very important, and getting prepared for an upcoming dance competition can seem like a daunting task if you don’t have a good checklist in place. For me, I would be sure to forget something – probably something important, if I didn’t have my checklist to guide me, and since competition is right around the corner, I've made a checklist for all the items that are necessary for not only competition, but also performances.

The link to print and view this list is below. 

https://dm2-broadcast.officeapps.live.com/m/Broadcast.aspx?Fi=2fb58b76cd97c2a0%5F85b41530%2Dfd61%2D489f%2D8e5f%2D9a5a369b69d8%2Edocx

Competition Dance

Here is my competition dance! I'm performing the Cupid Variation from Paquita. I currently don't have the costume for the performance or my new pointe shoes yet. I also had to change the amount of turns due to the dance space issue. In the actual dance I have 10 turns, where as here I was only able to show four.

Hope you enjoy!!!

Balancing Dance and School

         Most dancers spend 2-3 hours, 5 days a week, taking dance classes. I myself think that this is ridiculous. You never have time to get some well deserved rest and you might start struggling at school. I know some dancers at my studio who have to come straight from school to class while doing their hair and putting on their clothes in the car. I also know some dancers who, in-between classes, will do their homework in the dressing room. I have no problem with those kids doing their homework there, but there comes a point when you have to wonder, "Which is first? Dance or School?" and you can only answer that question by asking yourself "Where do I spend more time at? The studio or at home doing my homework?"

All my school books!

        I see many of these girls in my class that are sacrificing their studies for dance. I myself wouldn't like to get up at 6am, go to school until 4pm, go to dance until sometimes 10pm, and then go do homework. That would be overwhelming for me, luckily I'm home-schooled so I don't have this situation. However, I have a rule in my house that if the chores aren't done by the time I have to get ready for ballet or my homework isn't done, then I can't go to my class. I do think that this is fair, but a lot of kids just can't do all of their homework 2 hours before class. I actually avoided this rule altogether (The homework rule) by taking classes on Friday night and throughout Saturday. Side note, I get Friday's off. Of course it isn't exactly ideal still, because I miss a whole day of my weekend, but it's the best thing for my school schedule.

My Homework Schedule

         My point of view about this is that these girls are striving to be professional dancers in their future, which almost 99% of them wont, and they think that dance comes first, then school. However, in the future when they realize that they aren't going anywhere with all those classes, they will have to get a job, but won't be able to because they didn't go to college, because they couldn't get in or didn't have any desire too. I don't have this mentality, of course I want to be successful in dance, but I know that I won't get into a fancy ballet school in New York, I won't become a well-known ballerina, I won't win a lot of competitions, and I know that if I don't study I won't be successful at anything.

        Another turning point on this subject is that doing well on your homework, especially math, is actually beneficial for dance. Dancers always do movements in 8 counts, and being able to associate those counts with the music is a hard thing, but it's made easier by not only being good at math but also, playing piano, singing, and doing another sport. I have played piano since I was 7 and have sung since age 6, and I am still continuing with those practices, but I feel like I have an advantage over the other girls since I'm in tune with beats, counts, and even just music!

Ballet is sweat, tears, blood, blisters, time, money, and competition, but the most important part is to always have fun!
      

        

         

        

How Being Competitive Can Help and Hurt You

               Being competitive is very normal and common during everyday life. However, during a dancers whole career they have to be competitive. Even during normal classes, you're always thinking "Who's the best in class?", "How can I be like them?", "Which one of these people should I pay the most attention too?", "Who's my biggest competition?" , because, during class your teacher is writing your evaluation, you're possibly being chosen for competition, and you just have that natural drive to pass every ones limits and do everything that they can't do. In fact, I was actually thinking about all those things right before my teacher chose me out of about 20 other dancers to participate in competition this year.

               Being competitive is a real confidence booster. You can push yourself to do new routines and movements or even just perfect the ones you were working on before! Being a naturally competitive person myself I can say truthfully that it can really help you improve, however I also remember a time when it could eat me whole... I would go to a piano recital and get first place but I'd still beat myself up for missing a note or playing off tempo, even though the judge said I did good. Therefore, even though being competitive has its good parts, it also has its bad.
                
      The down sides of being competitive are,

1. Possibly over exerting yourself because you tried something you weren't ready for.                    If you over-do yourself you could get any type of injury from, getting a twisted ankle to seriously hurting your back. You could even just get a really bad blister, but even that can have some major consequences.
2. You get really emotional and angry when you can't and/or didn't do something you wanted to do and you often direct those feeling to the people around you. This is actually something that I do, and it definitely doesn't help me or the other people around me.
3. You might spend a lot of money on things that you don't really need, but you felt the need to get them just because you wanted to seem better than everyone else. Remember, you don't need any fancy-smancy stretching devices, that usually don't even work, to make you feel like you're better than everyone else.

 Ballet is sweat, tears, blood, blisters, time, money, and competition, but the most important part is to always have fun!

6 Neccesities of a Dance Bag

            Many dancers have their own little things that they keep in there dance bag, but almost all of us have the same stuff that helps us get through our dance class. However, I won't include any dance shoes due to the fact that if I do include them, this list might go on FOREVER.

1) Toe Tape
Nothing like a little toe tape to help prevent and heal blisters before putting on your shoes!

2) Scissors
Whether you need them to cut off the tag on your new leotard or just cutting the ribbons and elastic of your shoe, scissors are an absolute must.

3) Set of Ribbons and Elastic
Nothing could help save the day like a little extra ribbon if one falls off....

4) Bobby Pins and Hair Nets
For the times when your hair falls out or your newly made bun looks awful. Nobody will understand hair nets like dancers....

5) Leg Warmers, Sweater, and Skirt
During the winter, ALL of these are needed. Especially when you just stepped in from the 50 degree winter outside to what you think is an even colder dance studio.

And last but definitely not least....

6) Capezio Stitch Kit
You can use this kit for sowing those new pointe shoes 15 minutes before class, fixing and elastic that just fell off, and the needles help make the threading even faster. Seriously. The best needles in the world.

Ballet is sweat, tears, blood, blisters, time, money, and competition, but the most important part is to always have fun!

Bobby Pins

Pointe Shoes & Feet

       Starting on pointe is one of the most important and exciting time for a dancer. They have to have a strong back, ankles, and legs in order to fully support themselves while their dancing. However, while being on pointe is very fun, because you get to learn new things and challenge yourself to a new level, it can have several consequences, mainly for your feet.

     The most common ailment to dancers feet are blisters. A blister is usually preventable by taping  your toes before putting on your pointe shoes. While this is a pain-staking process, it is very effective. Bunions are usually caused when your pointe shoes are too small and too much pressure is applies to the side of the big toe, forcing it inwards towards the other toes. Bunions may be treated with changes in shoe gear, different padding, rest, and several icings. In-grown toe-nails are another one of the common problems of dancers. They are again mainly caused by poor fitting shoes with inadequate room in the box of the shoes. Most often you can treat it by soaking your foot in warm water and salt soaks, and antibacterial ointment.

      As you can see, most problems are caused by poor fitting shoes, but most of them can be easily fixed by home remedies and a new pair of shoes!

 Ballet is sweat, tears, blood, blisters, time, money, and competition, but the most important part is to always have fun!

      

My Life as a Non-GMO and Organic Eater

       Many dancers at my studio believe that to stay thin they should stop eating all together. Some go for a day, some for a week without eating anything. Some think that they shouldn't have dairy, grains, or any fats. I myself think that this is a very bad and unhealthy, I mean I get cranky if I just miss breakfast and I can't imagine how these girls even function when they haven't eaten after a whole week of classes everyday for two or more hours!

      
        I myself don't believe that this method of weight control is in anyway physically and emotionally healthy. I actually believe that its good to have a nice wholesome meal and even if you don't get all of the required food groups, you can make that up throughout the day as snacks. I will actually be sitting on the couch and snacking on red peppers! I eat non-GMO, organic food everyday and I can see the difference in my body before and after I started this healthy lifestyle. Just because I eat all this organic food doesn't mean that I don't enjoy binging on ice cream bars every weekend. Of course I'm not as healthy as I could be. In fact, I could stop eating the dark chocolate peanut butter cups and the Lindt extra creamy milk chocolate and I could stop eating late, but the fact is... I love food. I love eating the home cooked meals that my mom makes me, and I love to splurge on the candies at Target! I don't know what I could do without my food...

         Being a non-GMO and organic food eater is kind of hard. It has taken me and my family a long time to find a place to shop where they only sell this kind of food; of course the notorious Trader Joes. It's also hard because after your body has gotten used to this kind of lifestyle it will reject any other kinds. My personal example is this; every time I eat a candy with high fructose corn syrup or even a bagel made from non-organic flour I will either get an allergic reaction or stomach pains for the rest of the day. This also makes eating out hard, because you know that the food you just ate probably had at least three types of disgustingly unhealthy syrups and sugars. So while this kind of lifestyle is healthy if you cook at home, it's hard to eat out because you'll never know if they are actually making healthy foods or not.

        I generally make a rule for myself that I will never restrict myself from eating anything I want to if it is healthy. Even if it is three boxes of four unbelievably delicious ice cream bars... I know that I will burn it all off! I go for a two hour walk with my dog rain or shine almost every day, I have two hour ballet classes on Friday, and four hours on Saturday, I will sometimes get on my Xbox and play my exercise game and challenge myself on how many calories I lose for each section, and the fact that I dance in my living room almost every night now is definitely enough to keep me at a healthy weight. Of course some issues to due with weight is hereditary, but most cases just require daily exercise.

        I think that if you generally eat healthy foods and get plenty of exercise you can eat anything you want to! I do recommend checking out Food Babe's website for more info about non-GMO and Organic foods. Here's the link: http://foodbabe.com/

        Ballet is sweat, tears, blood, blisters, time, money, and competition, but the most important part is to always have fun!