This crew started this year, 2011, and is made up of very talented and hard working students who are always eager to learn more. This is the very beggining of what might be a long journey in dance for these members.
Members in the Crew:
-Carolina Telio
-Andrea Ramirez
-Stephanie Park
-Barbara Cotado
-Sesol Jung
-Jennifer Mini Lee
-Eunjoo Lim
-Jeen Kim
-Vanessa Uriza
-Claire Lee
-Lorraine Campos
-Karina Bucciarelli
Choreographer: Carolina Telio
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Just like Albert Einstein once said, “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results”. Well, by that definition, call me crazy.
Since last year I’ve been having troubles participating on this dance festival of the place my group uses to practice. Starting by the fact that the academy itself isn’t professional and their festivals are pretty amateur I must admit it is always pretty much a waste of time. As much as I love dancing and would dance independent of where I am I still feel like this is a complete nonsense. We pay 200 bucks for a dance outfit that is borderline ridiculous and will NEVER be used again. Last year we were the octopus and this year we are the pirates. Yes, there is quite a level of improvement however it is still pretty silly. Not only that but I’ve been having some troubles with the choreographer and his ways of working. Different from most people, independent of someone’s status in society I tend to judge them just like I would anyone else. This guy, as talented and experienced as he may be, has been slacking and not taking time to do our choreography. I know, I know, who am I to judge such a professional like that… But I can’t help but notice that our dance is filled up with a bunch of easy, non-developed steps that seem to simply add up to just another transition. Yes, I do take my time to study different steps and watch videos to actually improve my dance skills. And for quite a while now, I’ve been stuck on the same level with him. It’s not that I am being arrogant and saying I’m better than everyone, because I am not, but there are so many people there wasting their potential because he won’t seem to push us to another level. What frustrates me the most is that during competition seasons everyone gets their hopes up that we will eventually win something, however, sometimes even when everyone do their best as a dancer, the choreography has to have a winning competition level, something it doesn’t seem to have. All in all, I am just tired of dedicating myself to useless easy routines that don’t add up to my knowledge and actually makes me feel ashamed on stage, because I know that no only me, but everyone there, is capable of doing so much better. I just wish sometimes, that he would take his time and consideration to think and plan on us… Even as busy as he might be, I still think we’re worth believing in.
Sara Bareilles – Send me the moon
Sometimes I wish I was a little bird, maybe to be a little bit closer to you. To fly away when my troubles were too much for me. To sing a song, just a lullaby while on top of a tree high enough to look over the city lights. Maybe one day I will be like a bird, and I will fly to you but I will not follow the migrations with the rest. I will stay, I will love you with every fast heartbeat. Someday I will rest my wings and sing to your heart.
This year has been a roller coaster for me since I was sick at least 5 times since January and missed most of the classes and dance practices I had. Unfortunately, I ended up losing so many practices that I was dancing only one eight of the choreography in the end. Of course, I didn’t blame the choreographer after all it’s not his fault my immune system decided to take a week or two off and leave me with the lovely illnesses I had. So after I got better I went back to going to practice every Tuesday and Thursday and didn’t give up on this year’s choreography. Until the last competition my hopes were slowly fading away as I realized I had a minor participation in the choreography and didn’t dance half as much as I possibly could. Yesterday during practice we had the misfortune to know that many of our group members are not going to go to Curitiba’s Hip Hop International Competition, and the choreographer had to replace them in the routines. At first he taught the first routine again and I learned the steps even though I had no hopes I would actually dance it since the group was already formed. While they were practicing I was having fun in my boredom sitting next to the mirror when the choreographer called my name. At first I had no idea what he wanted, actually, I thought he was gonna get mad at me for something like: “why are you sitting down?” or “stop talking!”, but actually he said: “get in”. I looked at him with a puzzled face not really knowing if he meant get in the routine, which he did, so I went in and he put the music on. Of course, since I freak out on a daily basis I started to lose it because I was afraid I would get it wrong and he would replace me and once again I would blow away another opportunity like so many before of dancing more in the competition. I tried to relax and when the routine started I was actually surprised I did it. Yay, one more for the collection, now I was dancing the first part of the choreography, that was a plus right? Well, not nearly as good as when he put me in another routine (more complex by the way) in the middle of it. That one he hadn’t taught to the whole class so I did get it wrong the first few times, but eventually I got the steps and did it right. I think that was the highlight of my dancing in these last few months. It has been a while since I accomplished something in dance and I forgot how it feels good to not be just another face in the crowd and have a choreographer choose you over so many to do that part. Now I know I have to keep it up to not be replaced again, but I’m pretty much sure I can do it. Next weekend we have a competition on Sunday and I hope we can get at least 3rd place. Til then, we’ll continue to do our long practices and perhaps reach near perfection to the international competition.
I guess I should explain my new category: Letters I’ll Never Send. It is basically for all those things you want to say to someone but can’t or shouldn’t. Or sometimes, just didn’t have the chance to. I don’t want this to be anything personal, just a way for me to be direct with my words and not always talk indirectly to the subject of my posts. Anyway, just another way of me expressing myself, and I won’t most of the times mention who exactly I’m writing to, it’s safer that way. All in all, don’t expect these letter to be sent right ?
Here’s my first production, a song called Slipped Away. I wrote it a long time ago and I hope you all like it.
SevenUp Cover of Love Story – Taylor Swift.
Hope y’all enjoy it. Comment your opinion…
=)
I will soon be posting original songs that I will record.
I have some problems when I meet new people, specially because I tend to say too much. The thing is, I don’t like awkward moments, but sometimes to avoid these moments I end up saying things I shouldn’t and then there is a REALLY awkward moment. One example is, today I met this boy and we were talking. He dances, so do I. I was talking about street dance and the place I have classes, because he’s interested in starting. All of a sudden, I just started talking about how I didn’t get contemporary dances and all, and end up the guy loves it and dances it. I honestly didn’t know what to say. It could’ve been worse though, because he just showed me some videos of “So You Think You Can Dance” and it’s actually really nice! The thing is (he explained it to me) in Brazil dancers use a lot of drama and acting in contemporary dance, and in the end, there’s not much really left of dance to it. In U.S they use more of the dance to express the emotion, which is really amazing. For me, the dance he showed me the video, was lyrical hip -hop, but apparently not. Or maybe some lyrical hip-hop and contem. dance mix up to a certain point. I just find it really awesome that now a days you can mix different styles and have a new dance which is completely accepted. That’s what’s nice about dancing, each dancer has it’s own style and everyday someone is innovating.
I’m so hyper ventilating! I just had THE best day, THE best dance class EVER!! Let’s start from the beginning…
I don’t know if I posted about this. But recap: Some time ago my dance teacher gave us our grades for every style and physical condition. He gave me Poor in House (Trance, Psy… whatever you wanna call it). I was really upset, but I knew I sucked at it so not THAT upset. Today when I got to class there was this guy from the Advanced class and my teacher said he was there to give us a class about House. My instant reaction: “Fuck! I suck at this…” He started teaching us some basics. At first, I wasn’t as bad as last class but still sucking at it. He saw I was trying my best and he came to me and said: “Hey, feel the music. Forget about getting it right or wrong. Just close your eyes and feel the music.” He turned the music up and I closed my eyes. I started getting into it. and he continued: “Yeah, like that, don’t be shy, lose control.” And so I did. I started dancing, and dancing with my heart and soul. When I opened my eyes I was dancing and I saw my teacher, the one who gave me Poor for House Trance, watching me. The “new” teacher started passing a choreography. I got it at first. I was SOOOOO happy. and I was actually feeling the groove and not sucking at it. My teacher got up and said he would include that choreo. into ours. And he started putting people into places. His thing is, the bests in the front and the bests of the bests in the middle in the front. He grabbed my arm and put me in the front and right in the middle! Damn right I was so frikin’ happy! He asked us to do the choreo. and the whole class was watching us. Just me, and the “new” teacher. I did it, and felt the groove, and lost control. Seriously, now I’m addicted to it. It’s the best thing ever! When you get it, it’s like soooo good! So, that’s part 1 of my happiness.
Part 2: For the ones who are following my previous posts you all know that I’ve been working really hard to get my Freeze right. Right after my House Trance moment my teacher told us to do the choreo. I started doing it, beyond the fact that lately my memory is really bad (probably finals) I kind of forgot some steps, but few people noticed. When it came to the part 0f the partners I was so nervous. I went next to my partner and started doing our dance. He went around me (move right before the Freeze) and got down. Honestly, I don’t know exactly what was on my mind right there. The main thing was: the worst it can happen is death. So I went. And I did it perfectly!! Last class I kind of did it. But today, it was simply perfect! My hands didn’t shake, my legs were perfect. EVERYTHING was perfect! I was almost jumping up and down upside down (wonder how that would look like). My partner was already celebrating, I wanted to celebrate with him, but I couldn’t! (cause I was upside down). When I got up I was hyper ventilating. I finished our choreo. and exit left. When the choreo finished I went running back in and my partner came running towards me. We were both so happy! He hugged me and we started jumping and screaming and laughing and talking at the same time about how perfect it was! The whole class was just staring at us as if we were some kinda psychos. But I don’t care! I DID IT! FINALLY! My dream came true! Our dream! If anyone filmed that moment it would’ve been so Hollywood! Me running and us hugging and jumping up and down and him lifting me up the ground. It was unforgettable. Class ended, and I went to the car. I couldn’t stop talking, I was still hyper ventilating and still am right now. I’ll probably be forever like this. I’m so proud of myself, and my partner is so proud of me. I couldn’t be happier. So, I want to thank everyone that helped me do it at school. That gave me support, not only physical so I wouldn’t fall and die, but moral to help me win my fears. Thanks to:
-Laura: who was always next to me and helped me forget my fears.
-Lorraine: for giving me advise on how to maintain my body and not fall and open my head on the floor.
-Andrea: my super cheerleader who not only was there when I tried it for the first time on the wall but also went through all my emotions when I got something right or wrong.
-Ylane: Who told me how to keep my body in place, and gave me support to go ahead because “I could do it”.
-Carole: Who was always there, sitting or standing, watching me do my crazy stuff. Waiting for the time I would go and fall head first. Laughing when I kept doing it all the time and running to help me when I was about to die.
Thank you so much you all. And thank you of course, to my partner that put faith in me and believed in me. Thank you for not giving up on me as a dancer and as a person. I will obviously not say his name because if he reads this he’ll think I’m some kind of stalker that writes about him in a blog. I really hope his English is not good. If you’re reading this… hum… it’s not you! 
Really, I’m not a stalker, I’m not crazy… Okay, maybe I am. But really who’s not? Plus, I’d rather be myself than blend into the ordinary…
Love you guys!!
Like I mentioned on a previous post I had to learn how to do a freeze for today’s hip hop class. Taking in consideration that lately the weather in Brazil is making me freeze did not help when trying the hip hop freeze. My body is so stiff that hurts just to breathe. Tlday at school I asked some people to help me out. I was practicing on the wall, and I was already terrified. I couldn’t even put my hands on the ground that I felt like my arms wouldn’t support my body weight. I tried doing it the whole day long, and I actually did it! Of course, on the wall and not for so long but I did it! I was still nervous, because in class I wouldn’t have a wall and I had to stay up for one whole tempo. I got home and kept practicing. After so many times, I stopped concentrating before going and I ended up hitting my head on the wall when coming back. It was so painful, and so strong! I feel to the ground and stayed there. It was like my world had been affected. Even before hitting my head, I was with a small headache. But right there, I felt as if my heart was pumping inside my head. My ears started hurting because it felt like the pumping was so loud! I couldn’t move, every small movement was as if a building was collapsing on top of my skull. Carefully, I got up and sat down. I was really dizzy. After some minutes the pain diminished, or maybe I just got used to it. I sat down to play piano. While playing I started seeing these flashes. Just like when someone takes a picture and the flash goes out. At first, I thought it was outside. Then, as it randomly continued, I thought my aunt was taking pictures. It didn’t stop, I was really scared, it happened out of nowhere , it was as if my whole world just had this bright flash and then went back to normal. I went to ask my aunt if she was seeing this, maybe the lights were weird or something. Then she taught me something, she told me that she has that too. And that she went to the doctor and he explained to her. Sometimes the brain is having a lot nervous signals going on (this is not a biological explanation) and it overloads the senses part. Making you see flashes, or sometimes even feel a subtle shock on your skin. I asked if I was going crazy. That seems like a symptom someone would have before becoming completely insane. Maybe the next step would be hearing voices… She said no, and that it’s ”normal”. It’s not as if my brain has problems, it’s just that it happens. Since I’m really into Stephen King now it feels like aliens are trying to communicate with me. (I’m now reading Dreamcatcher – Stephen King… coincidence! =D haha). I know it’s weird, but it’s kinda creepy and exciting at the same time. Common’, something new for my good ol’ routine. Aliens communications! Ha! After my piano incident I didn’t see anything new, if I do I’ll post it up. I was thinking if maybe hitting my head had anything to do with it. I don’t know, and don’t want to know. What if there’s more effects? Like dying of internal bleeding in my sleep! Talking about sleep, I’m going to bed. And hope I won’t die of anything on my brain. Even though my head is still pulsing. If I do, this is my last post… Goodbye world.
PS: I didn’t quite get the freeze right in class. But it was okay because my partner got hurt so we didn’t do it more than once.
