NUTCRACKER IS OVER - But me posting about it isn't!

Hi there.

You guys Nutcracker is over. *moment of silence for the 2015 Nutcracker*. I'M SO SAAAAADDDDDDDD!!!!! Yes, I know all of you know that the Nutcracker was over about three, four weeks ago, but now I'm going to write a post about, because I really wanted it to still be Nutcracker and it's not. So this post is dedicated to all the things Nutcracker. 

Dress Rehearsal:

Got to the Eccles Center a little late, freaking out because me and my mom couldn't find one of my academy earrings. I got into warm up late, but I was so excited, I could see all the seats, and I got to put my pointe shoes on, and I had a GREAT turning day. (I got a triple which I never get .... EVER).

Eccles Center Stage during dress rehearsal. Magical.
Photo Credits: tripadvisor

And we got to do sautes arabesques, which are my favorite things ever. Then I got to see my darling children, and I gave them the candy cane reindeers that I made for them, they were really really excited. I was so happy they liked them!!! But I had to leave them, because I had to get changed. So I got changed, and then when to see my buffoons and one of them, Sammy, wanted to see what dance they were on so then we went backstage to see what they were on. It was the one right before snow, doses anyone remember which one that is? Then I told her, "Sammy I'm really sorry, you have to go I almost forgot about helping my friend change." So she went and I got there just in the nick of time to help Nicole change from Snow to Arabians with one dance in between, Elephants. Needless to say very stressful. Especially when we couldn't find enough bobby pins. After that I when't back to check on the buffoons then did my base makeup (primer, foundation, concealer, highlighter), and then watched a few dances on stage with my darlings.

Candy canes I made for my buffoons, I drew in the pom pom because it fell off.

Then I asked Sandy about the skirt and me, Sandy, Claire and Taylor got backstage and helped me change into my giant skirt. I was so happy because I wasn't standing but sitting. We got all the buffoons underneath and the dance went great!!!!! The only hard part was when they turned me, attempting not to hit anyone with my pointe shoes (this didn't work I hit Claire), and actually getting off stage, because Claire and Taylor didn't know where they were going and neither did I. So them I had to get off the skirt which was really hard because I could barely even move. This is how that 30ish seconds went:
Me screaming at Claire and Taylor to stop helping me and get to the other side of the stage.
Claire listen but Taylor kept helping me.
Me and and Taylor book it across the stage while ripping a wig off my head.
Pushing through the swarms of little kids most likely looking like a maniac yelling, "I HAVE TO BE ON THE STAGE RIGHT NOW!!!"
Then, right as the all the corps were about to exit, I dramatically enter the stage, fall, scoot my self over to the right spot, then five seconds later, exit the stage with the rest of the corps. Yes, before all of you go crazy I knew that I was not supposed to go onstage because I was already late but I thought I could make it. Anyway after that we spaced Waltz for the longest time and everyone was getting really mad because we only had 30 minutes for lunch. End of dress rehearsal.

I hope you liked this post! Sorry for such an abrupt ending more to come later about the two shows. I am unsure about wather or not I should do a post about the Nutcracker costumes, so if you could vote on the poll that would be amazing! I'm so glad you took the time to read my post!

- Ali Grace

Feet Fetishes

Hi there!!

This post came completely out of the blue, but this is a topic I feel like needed to be addressed and I needed another blog post. I do realize that this post is rather disgusting, but it is a post I am passionate about. So if you do not like hearing stories of my gross feet, than you can skip this post and come back next week.

I am a little obsessed with taking pictures of my feet, ask Mikelle. I personally like it's keeping a diary of your feet, by taking pictures of them when ever they are bleeding or when a new blister appears. You might ask, how do I get so many blisters on my feet? Well, because you asked her is a story of my beautifully bloody feet. You're welcome :).

1. My first blister

My very first blister before it popped

I first got this blister, not even from my pointe shoes, but from Claire's mother's Ugg Boots. It was Autumn Aloft and it was getting very cold, and I had flip flops on. Claire's very kind mother offered me her Ugg boots. I was very thankful for her giving me them because my feet were getting cold. there was only one problem, the boots were a tad to small for my left foot, and would rub on my heal when ever I walked. At fist I didn't notice, but then it began to get more painful. After I took of the boots, I saw indeed I had a large blister. The next was Monday a.k.a. pointe class. It popped and it was very painful. It also didn't go away very fast, and hurt very much.

2. My bloody blister

Photo taken from my locker at school

I didn't even know I had this one until one day I was at school when a kid stepped on my foot. It was no big deal, I knew he/she didn't mean it but it hurt pretty bad. The more I walked the more I felt the bottom of my flip flop getting stickier. I thought it was juice I had stepped in but it wasn't. My blister which the kid had stepped on was bleeding profusely all over my flip flop.

3. My infected blister

This photo was taken in the better days

I got this one during Waltz (waltz of the flowers) rehearsal. My toe pad was bothering me very very much, and the side of my right foot my rubbing up against the box of my shoe. over the hour and thirty minute class this gradually got more and more painful, until for about a minute the pain was unbearable. That was when I realized that a blister was created and popped in one hour and 1/2 class. Over time this blister began to get more and more disgusting, until one day when it looked quite infected. My father who is a doctor, had to agree that it wasn't infected badly but it was infected. (It was pusing). After many nights of pure hydrogen dioxide and pain it recovered and it is looking much better today.

4. The one on top on my foot

It's beautiful isn't it?

I really have no idea how i got this one. It just appeared.

Thank you so much for reading, I know this post is fairly disgusting but next week will be back to normal.

- Ali Grace

My Attempt at Being the White Swan

Hi there!

I know I haven't been very active on this blog recently, I'm sorry! A lot has been going on, but I plan to keep getting a post up every week. This post is about Halloween, and I know it wasn't called for but... I'm still going with it so here it is!

Once upon a time there was me on a lazy summer day, bored. Being a ballet fangirl my first instinct was to watch a ballet on YouTube. Because I happened to be very bored I decided to watch my favorite ballet of all time, Swan Lake. Long story short, Prince Siegfried must get married for his birthday, but can't find a bride and next thing you know he falls in love with a swan princess, invites her to the ball pledges his love to the wrong girl, shoots the girl he fell in love with and drowns himself. It's very sad, but stunningly beautiful. So I was watching this when I got an idea. I grabbed my phone and texted Taylor, "I KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOR HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!", she totally agreed and we were dead set on being the black and white swan for halloween.

The Black Swan is the White Swan's doppelgänger, sent to the prince's ball by the guy who turned the White Swan into a swan in the first place.
Image courtesy of: DailyPainters.com

Fast forward a while later, we bedazzled our stunning tutus and the day of Halloween arrived. We were planning to get together later after Waltz of the Flowers practice. (Yes, I had Nutcracker practice on Halloween). If you know anything about me you should know I am terrible at planning! So Waltz comes and goes and I'm at home rushing around my room throwing clothes and costume pieces into my black sleepover bag and rushing into the car. I arrive at Taylor's house where she and Alicia (who was coming with us as Giselle from the ballet Giselle) were already prepared and ready to walk our the door. I want you to picture how I looked in this scenario. My hair was a mess from my attempting to do my bun in the car, clothes were literally falling out of the bag I was holding and I had a look of panic on my face. Taylor was just like, "Your not ready at all!!!" like she was my fairy godmother getting me ready for the ball. I was rushed into her bathroom (a.k.a. makeup studio), and she slicked my hair into an impeccable bun and made me truly look like a beautiful, innocent swan.

From right to left: Me, Alicia, Taylor
Photo courtesy of: Taylor's Dad

So the night went very well and many people said that we were their, "favorite costume of the night" and were blown away by our pointe shoes. Now, about the pointe shoes. As for the pointe shoes beautiful as they were, they hurt! After we had done half of the houses Alicia had three blisters, and my arches felt like they were going to fall off. Long story short by the end we were leaning on each other to stand and singing Les Mis like our lives depended on it. Although pain happened to all our feet, and we fell asleep right as our heads hit the pillow, it was one of the best Halloweens I had ever had.

My feet after Halloween
Photo courtesy of: Me

Taylor's blood blister from Halloween
Photo courtesy of: Taylor

Alicia's three blisters
Photo courtesy of: Alicia

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this don't worry, more posts will be up soon! I'm so happy you took the time to read my blog!

- Ali Grace

NUTCRAKER!!!!!!!!!!! NUTCRAKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi there!

So, If you couldn't tell I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY excited for NUTCRACKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot even express it in words.

So, a little background on NUTCRACKER!!!!!!!!!!! (Yes I'm going to write it like that every time I say it because I'M REALLY EXCIED!!!!!) My studio puts on a production of NUTCRACKER!!!!!!!!!!! every year and everyone in the studio is involved in it. Every ballet level has an assigned core dance, and Park City Dance holds tryout for the main parts. So, it's really special if you get a part because not everyone in guaranteed a part.

STORY TIME!!!

This year, (for the first time in three years maybe?) I decided to try out for Nutcracker!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to maximize my chances of getting a part I tried out for (drumroll please) Waltz Demi, Snow Demi, Spanish, Tarantula Soloist, Elephants, Mother Buffoon, Raggedy Ann and Andy, Mouse King, Solider King, Young Clara and Harlequins ( Even though technically, I was too tall for Young Clara, Harlequins, and Raggedy Ann but whatever). So, I was at the studio from 11:30 to 5:00 in the afternoon. (If you are really interested in the schedule click here, the auditions ran late BTW). So, I did terrible in the pointe auditions (I only really tried out because Hannah told me I would get 'brownie points') but I had a blast, despite the fact of my blister* and that was the longest I had been in my pointe shoes in my entire life. So next (PS I would suggest checking the schedule right now) I tried out for the non-pointe roles and that was a BLAST!!!!!!!!!!! I had so much FUN!!!!! (Even though I forgot half of the combinations....) And I was so tired at the end!!!!!!!!

So after three days of anticipation I knew that the cast list would be posted. The anticipation was KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!! I was sitting in art and literally told Amanda, "I am so excited I can't wait!!! Amanda can you just please tell me what everyone got now?!?" She got annoyed. I was walking to French when Rachel, ran up to me and said, "YOU GOT MOTHER BUFFOON!!!!" in an excited whisper. (I don't even know how that was possible maybe because of how loud the hallways are in Treasure but who knows) And when I got the cast list I could believe my eyes!!!!!!! Taylor and Mikelle got Elephants, Alicia got Arabians and I GOT MOTHER BUFFOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I GOT MOTHER BUFFOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I GOT MOTHER BUFOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OHMYGOODNESSGRACIOUS I GOT MOTHER BUFFOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was in shock.

Okay a little on Mother Buffon. Mother Buffoon is the lady who stands on a big chair, put's on a big skirt and waves and smiles as little children come running out from under the skirt. Kind of weird yes I know, BUT I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I so glad that I was chosen out of all the people in the studio to be Mother Buffoon. Here is the cast description:

Mother Buffon Criteria (Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance Casting List)

Okay first of all I think it's funny that it says, "must be comfortable standing on a platform while preforming in a very large skirt" because ya I've totally done that before, on a daily basis I stand on a platform wearing a large skirt. :)

Mother Buffon: this will be me this year (Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance Nutcracker)

So now every Saturday (including Halloween) I'm at the studio, for Waltz, for an hour and a half. Taylor told me she thinks 'Waltz of the Flowers' should be changed to 'Waltz of Inconvenient Poses' and I kinda agree....... so far I'm only on stage 16 counts. For those of you non-dancers (THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING MY BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and 16 counts is kind of like 16 seconds for or less. Ya, that's how long I'm stage. I would get it if the dance has 2 - 3 minutes, but oh no, Waltz is 8 MINUTES LONG!!!!!! THAT'S RIGHT 8 MINUTES OF THE SOLOISTS DOING FOUETTES AND JUMPS!!!!!!!! The worst part of this is, my sisters told me that Watlz is their least favorite part in the Nutcracker. So ya. BUT I'M STILL SO EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST POINTE DANCE AND I GET TO BE MOTHER BUFFOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only downside is I have 30 or so seconds to change from my Mother Buffoon costume to Waltz so that will be challenging. And the Nutcracker is on the 19th at the Eccles Center, (There will be two showings, unsure of time more about that later). So you should buy a ticket and come see it, it's super cute and fun and people of all ages love it. :)

Mouse King: this year it's Willoughby Staley You can visit her sister's blog here
(Photo Courtesy of Park City Dance)

This is Snow only the people in ballet 8 of Park City Dance are in this. Snow Queen in the front, demi's in back.
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance) 

This is the Tarantella Soloist. In the real Nutcracker they don't have this. This dance is new and was added a few years age by Ms. Julianna. We also no longer have a boy old enough in our company to take the role as the boy in this picture
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance) 

These are the Arabians. The soloist is in the front and the others in the back. NOTE: this year we have NEW COSTUMES FOR ARABIANS!!! This is really good because normally we never have new costumes. Oh, also I didn't try out for this because I'm not flexible enough.
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance)

This is Elephants a very high energy dance that is normally the audiences favorite. Taylor and Mikelle got this part :)
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance) 

This is Spanish, a dance on pointe that you must try out for, it's beautiful and very spicy.
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance)

This might help explain the children coming out of my skirt. If it doesn't come to the performance please!!!!!!!!
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance)

Clara and her prince. NOTE: This is NOT young Clara, This 'old' Clara is normally played a teacher at our studio and the Prince they normally get form the U of U in SLC
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance)

Nutcracker cast at bows at the end of the performance.
(Photo Courtesy of: Park City Dance) 

Waltz of the Flowers, the other dance I'm in this year. Guess which one I am? The one in the blue. The soloists are the ones in the pink who jump around the whole time and look pretty. But the dance still is cool and in a dancers eyes interesting and very very beautiful. :)
(Photo courtesy of: Park City Dance)

This is the blister I had on the day of Nutcracker. FUN!
(Photo Credits: ME!)

My current foot situation. :) Moral of the story don't step on other people's blisters. If you would like to hear more about this story make sure to vote for 'A Journey of Ali's Feet' on the side.
(Photo Credits: ME!)

YAY!!!!! So that concludes my first of many Nutcracker posts, if you got all the way down here thank you! Also if you like the pictures above be sure to check them out here.

Thank you so much for reading my blog!!!

- Ali Grace