Breathing.

photo from a few years ago in between class/rehearsal.

I've been focusing a lot more lately on breathing more through my dancing. I think it really helps your movements become more fluid and calm. Doing a few pilate videos over the break made me more aware of my 'breath'. It's such an important element when working on anything involving strength and stamina. It supplies your muscles with much needed oxygen. Not to mention the calming effect it has on your nerves. Performing can make you feel anxious, but if you focus on taking even controlled breaths you can keep yourself more focused and relaxed.

Eh, i know this is a random thought. It's something that i have become more aware of in my everyday life. Take a moment to have five slow breaths to calm the your stress. We all have those days- sometimes even a minute of focused breathing can do wonders for your body and mind!

And that's my random thought of the day!

Snow day from the company today. Yes, more snow yet again. I took a nice bath to relax my muscles from our first week back of rehearsals. It's going well so far. We are trying to remember the choreography we learned before break and trying not to get too fustrated with each other. Working together for a long period time can make for tention filled moments! (breath)

snow snow ...go away. i want to teach tonight!!
~Sara~

You are just a number.

This picture sums it up. you start young and i only gets more stressful!


Well it was a chaotic Sunday for me in the big apple. I'm giving myself props for getting there without getting lost. ( and a big thank you to the china town bus for making it affordable) I got to where i needed to be pretty early so I stopped for a coffee. (mistake) That caffine on top of stress gave me some some twitchy nerves. But, i kept my calm and did my best.

The line was getting long and my spirits were getting discouraged. It's moments like this were the word 'cattle call' comes into play. You 'mooo've yourself through the line with the others to a table were you smile and they slap a number on you. Then you are all 'herded' into a room and begin your little stretchy circus stretching while the whole time scooping the room at your fellow challengers. The routine just becomes very predictable. Out of all that prep for the day at least i can say , i had a full class? Eh, the life of a dancer.

Teaching tonight and rehearsals tommorow. Then back to the circus possibly this weekend.

Maybe i'll buy myself a new leotard. I probably shouldn't because of moeny, but there is something about wearing a brand new Mirella, Natalie, or whatever brand you prefer leotard to class for the first time. It makes you feel like you had a better class for some reason. Or maybe that's just me. Little things sometimes help.

Hope everyone has a great week!
~Sara~

Big apple.

image from "Ballerina Project"- check it out on Facebook, very cool nyc ballet shots:

Well, today is one of those days that I dread. I am headed to NYC in a few hours alone because booba had to go to work. I hate traveling alone there i'm afraid of getting lost. That city just gets to me. It's too big and crowded for me. I'm a small city kinda girl!

Anyway, i'm sure i will havea post of my adventures there haha.

Company has started back. We had a week of class to get back into shape and start rehearsals this coming Monday for our rep. shows in March. Our money situation isn't good and it looks like we will be working for a free for a bit. This makes me nervous. I really hope i can make it on just the money i make from teaching. I just need to be careful of my spendings. I'm a little nervous, but i think i will be ok.

Times are going to be a rough for a few months. I just need to keep my head up and my heart in the right place.

Hope everyone is well!
~Sara~

Cheese Day!

My kitty Oona and her best friend (boobas cat) watchng the snow storm:


Happy Valentines Days to everyone. Take sometime today to appreciate everything and everyone that is surrounding you. <@
Here are some pictures that just glow with love, to me at least. Have a lovely day.

28.5

We got a LOT of snow dumped on us Friday evening. 28.5 inches to be exact. The weekend was spent snowed in, but that was pretty ok with me. I attempted some sort of productive activities, but that didn't really go over well. The most productive i got was taking a yoga/pilates class via my Netflixs. I have to say, it worked really well. My abs were killing me today! I decided that since i have a week before i go back to the company i will try to take one of the exercise videos i've been finding on there once a day. AND, i will make a better attempt to take class. Man, i need a class.

On a side note for this Sunday, after day three of being snowed in booba and i watched "The Dancer". It was a documentary following Katja Bjorner of the Swedish Ballet School. Made you tired just watching it!! Not the best documentary i've seen, but well worth the watch ...check it out! :)


Alright time to find a video for tommorows work out.

~Sara~

Brunch with the Ballet

Yesterday was a brunch for our company at a fancy country club outside the city. It was an effort to raise money for our spring season and i think it was fairly successful. Another company member and I were in charge of selling raffel tickets for our auction items. I think we did a good job of selling them and working the room the best we could! I like going to these events and meeting the people who help keep our company alive with donations and their kindness. I believe these are essential to keeping in touch and making connections with people who love the arts. (and the amazing food wasn't too bad either!!!!) We had a guy from the local press there and he made the 6 company people that were there pose in front of the dessert table. We had to pretend we were 'reaching for them'. Haha, it should look interesting in the paper today. We look like starving children seeing food for the first time. But, it was a lovely day and i got to see snow on the beach! That is rare and i've never seen it before. It was beautiful.

In other news, we start back in exactly two weeks now. I'm going to try my best to take more than 3 classes this week. "Try".....I need to choreograph a bunch this week for the recital pieces. It's hard to try to set 6 pieces sometimes. They all have such a different feel. I hope they don't, well, suck to put it in plain english haha. Trying to keep the creative bug alive in me is a constant challenge when balancing so many other things.

Hope you are all well. Cross your fingers for warmer weather!! Brrr.

~Sara~