Today I was up at 5am to get home and work out and clean my house before the How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying dance call today (I know, it's an absurdly long name)
Got to the call in record time, and went in with the first non-equity (aka non-union) group of dancers. The choreographer read through my resume and got to the Met Opera engagement, and asked me about my schedule and availability. Eek! I was the only person in my room that he talked to.... it certainly doesn't mean a job, but in my world of endless optimism it means I'm one step closer to Brooooaaadwaaayy.
Met a long lost friend for a break in between parts of the audition.
According to Chris (the How To Succeed choreographer), there will be a glee replacement (Darren Criss) for Daniel Radcliff, and then, God help us, one of the Jonas Brothers (Nick, to be precise. The very same who played around on Les Miserables for about three months on tour... oh to be a Disney child). I'd love love love to dance for this show. So aerobic. So awesome!
And if the day wasn't awesome enough, I ran into Idina Menzel on the way out of Pearl Studios, and she said Hi and Thank You for holding the door open. And then my jaw proceeded to drop to the floor.... I'm about 40% sure that she saw.... embarrassment!
Anyway, spent the rest of the day at Broadway Dance Center in Theatre and Voice classes, and rounded up my day teaching for Kaplan at the JCC on the Upper West Side, and then interlude two with long lost friend. Phew!
Keep pounding the pavement ya'll!!
All my love,
Laura
Monday, September 19, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Work Out Central
If ever you find yourself debating between hitting snooze one more time, or waking up early enough to get to a dance class/work out class, do everything in your power to choose the second alternative.
This morning, I woke up from a decent six and a half hours of sleep to the sound of my BALLET alarm. I reallllly wanted to keep snoozing until I actually had to be up so that I could prep for my Kaplan lesson later in the afternoon. Instead, some well trained internal switch kicked into a high enough gear to get me out of bed, and I am SO grateful.
After a week of total body workout classes tempered with the occasional morning spin class (I'm really making use of my unacceptably expensive New York gym membership), I've realized that I can FINALLY do difficult ballet again!
It was such a rare pleasure to find my body really clicking into the proper position... sans cheating... for the first time in years. I can't remember the last time I actually felt slightly beautiful while doing ballet combinations adagio and across the floor. Hopefully this morning wasn't just a fluke!
Off to prep tomorrow's lesson plan and go to bed early so I have plenty of time to rest before Sunday spin day!
This morning, I woke up from a decent six and a half hours of sleep to the sound of my BALLET alarm. I reallllly wanted to keep snoozing until I actually had to be up so that I could prep for my Kaplan lesson later in the afternoon. Instead, some well trained internal switch kicked into a high enough gear to get me out of bed, and I am SO grateful.
After a week of total body workout classes tempered with the occasional morning spin class (I'm really making use of my unacceptably expensive New York gym membership), I've realized that I can FINALLY do difficult ballet again!
It was such a rare pleasure to find my body really clicking into the proper position... sans cheating... for the first time in years. I can't remember the last time I actually felt slightly beautiful while doing ballet combinations adagio and across the floor. Hopefully this morning wasn't just a fluke!
Off to prep tomorrow's lesson plan and go to bed early so I have plenty of time to rest before Sunday spin day!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Happy Fall Everyone!
And suddenly it's COLD. This is crazy! The other day the temperature literally dropped twenty degrees in a few hours. Silly me thinking I could wear jean shorts and a strapless top to rehearsal when the day started out at 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cuteness be damned, I actually think I caught a cold from being unexpectedly stuck in post-rehearsal rainy evening with barely anything on! Oh well, the weather today was gorgeous, sunny, with the perfect crisp fall breeze that begs for jeans but still gives a reprieve from cumbersome winter jackets.
Rehearsal today was fast, added rehearsals (already) for next week. Hopefully the director is happy with what he is seeing! Honestly, it's kind of nice to be a background element in a machine with as many cogs and facets as Don Giovanni has... I don't envy the principal opera singers all the hard hard work they must be doing with Mr. Grandage.
Started (another) job today, working part time in HR and administration for a sustainable clothing company. The boss is a bit absent minded... great opportunity to work on developing and increasing my quota for patience. OOh and I got the position I wanted with one of Mayor Bloomberg's new education initiatives. Can't wait to get started in October!!
Donated to an old friend's cause today and got an update about the 12 year old l'm sponsoring in Guatemala through Children's International... it felt good. Honestly, I've been spending more money than I should of late, but why not? Life is short, I could die any day, and I'm happy to contribute to the economy in the pursuit of making others' lives a bit brighter, as well as taking some much needed down time with my wonderful friends.
I can always make more money, I can't ever get more life than whatever I've been allotted. What is that mantra? You must do the best that you can with the time that is given to you?
Oohh girl, I'm trying. And with that, I'll leave you with a particularly enjoyable take on a scene from my old fave Disney cartoon, Beauty and the Beast, courtesy of my leggy namesake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxj1fw1p9Ao
Hey girl hey!
Cuteness be damned, I actually think I caught a cold from being unexpectedly stuck in post-rehearsal rainy evening with barely anything on! Oh well, the weather today was gorgeous, sunny, with the perfect crisp fall breeze that begs for jeans but still gives a reprieve from cumbersome winter jackets.
Rehearsal today was fast, added rehearsals (already) for next week. Hopefully the director is happy with what he is seeing! Honestly, it's kind of nice to be a background element in a machine with as many cogs and facets as Don Giovanni has... I don't envy the principal opera singers all the hard hard work they must be doing with Mr. Grandage.
Started (another) job today, working part time in HR and administration for a sustainable clothing company. The boss is a bit absent minded... great opportunity to work on developing and increasing my quota for patience. OOh and I got the position I wanted with one of Mayor Bloomberg's new education initiatives. Can't wait to get started in October!!
Donated to an old friend's cause today and got an update about the 12 year old l'm sponsoring in Guatemala through Children's International... it felt good. Honestly, I've been spending more money than I should of late, but why not? Life is short, I could die any day, and I'm happy to contribute to the economy in the pursuit of making others' lives a bit brighter, as well as taking some much needed down time with my wonderful friends.
I can always make more money, I can't ever get more life than whatever I've been allotted. What is that mantra? You must do the best that you can with the time that is given to you?
Oohh girl, I'm trying. And with that, I'll leave you with a particularly enjoyable take on a scene from my old fave Disney cartoon, Beauty and the Beast, courtesy of my leggy namesake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxj1fw1p9Ao
Hey girl hey!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Auditions, Rehearsals, and Pointe Shoes...
How to Succeed is having a dance call next Monday. Here's hoping
[a] Don Giovanni does not request my presence at another last minute rehearsal (we're running a teensy bit behind schedule)
and
[b] That I can actually get in to be seen in the Equity dancer free-for-all chorus call. Loving the business, as always.
In other news, my new private tutoring student *Annie is an absolutely adorable, easily distracted 11 year old who loves to dance. Apparently mom's ecstatic because Annie has calmed down considerably ever since I gave her a pair of my old pointe shoes to play with.
Annie's utter joy when she saw that I remembered to bring the shoes to our session reminded me how much I actually do love to dance. Nice to see the next generation nourishing a passion as keen as my own strives to be.
Dance quote of the day:
"Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!"
[a] Don Giovanni does not request my presence at another last minute rehearsal (we're running a teensy bit behind schedule)
and
[b] That I can actually get in to be seen in the Equity dancer free-for-all chorus call. Loving the business, as always.
In other news, my new private tutoring student *Annie is an absolutely adorable, easily distracted 11 year old who loves to dance. Apparently mom's ecstatic because Annie has calmed down considerably ever since I gave her a pair of my old pointe shoes to play with.
Annie's utter joy when she saw that I remembered to bring the shoes to our session reminded me how much I actually do love to dance. Nice to see the next generation nourishing a passion as keen as my own strives to be.
Dance quote of the day:
"Dancing is like dreaming with your feet!"
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Choreographers Pulled Me Aside Today
So as the rehearsal period progresses and I understand my role better, it's become clear that I will be on stage in every show in an acting role as a "Supernumerary" while I learn the dance parts as a dance cover. Essentially, it is unlikely that I will ever do any intense dancing on stage, since there are so many dance covers, but it means a lot to me that the choreographers approached me and said they were so happy to have me and so sorry that they were wasting me. That conversation might have made my whole Met Opera experience!
Now... if only I can get Mr. Grandage in a free moment and convince him that I'd be perfect for his next project... the Broadway revival of Evita.
Now... if only I can get Mr. Grandage in a free moment and convince him that I'd be perfect for his next project... the Broadway revival of Evita.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Giovanni Requests Your Presence
I am already more than willing to oblige my choreographer and director in coming to a last minute 7 hour rehearsal on the Wednesday that we were supposed to have off... but I must say, the gentlemanliness of the email I just got from the scheduling team makes me all the more happy to be there.
These people are great. Rehearsal today was solid. I have a very friendly cover named Amanda, she's easy to teach and picks up choreography well. Fabulous. We got out early so I managed to make it down to the theater district to audition for a new production of Hairspray.
The audition choreo was literally two counts of 8. WTF. That translates to about 16 seconds of dance. This world is SO rogue. Gotta love it.
Fantastic dinner tonight with my most inspiring teacher friend. Packing it in early for a full day of rehearsal and Kaplan classes tomorrow!
At the risk of becoming an object of ridicule, did anyone else see the finale of this season of True Blood?? That s&*t was WACK yo!
These people are great. Rehearsal today was solid. I have a very friendly cover named Amanda, she's easy to teach and picks up choreography well. Fabulous. We got out early so I managed to make it down to the theater district to audition for a new production of Hairspray.
The audition choreo was literally two counts of 8. WTF. That translates to about 16 seconds of dance. This world is SO rogue. Gotta love it.
Fantastic dinner tonight with my most inspiring teacher friend. Packing it in early for a full day of rehearsal and Kaplan classes tomorrow!
At the risk of becoming an object of ridicule, did anyone else see the finale of this season of True Blood?? That s&*t was WACK yo!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Circle of Liiife
This morning was year three of my faithful sojourn to the Lion King audition. I'm glad I no longer get frustrated by the fact that I do the best dancing of my life and the casting director makes call backs clearly influenced by skin color. Honestly, I am glad that there is a show on Broadway that provides such opportunity for diverse casting. If onllly I was still getting enough California sun to take advantage of it!
Woke up this morning at 5:30am. Cleaned the entire apartment by 8am. Took a total body conditioning class at my gym at 8:15am. Lion King audition by 11am. Vocal Tech & Performance classes at Broadway Dance Center in the afternoon, and then a lengthy jaunt to the music library at Lincoln Center. Hello obsessive productivity.
Now if only I had managed to work in the crucial "laundry" item on my to do list... then this Monday may have been a remarkable feat. :-)
In other news, I came across a GIANT turtle in the Central Park lake as I walked through the park to get home. Once I figure out the technology of my blackberry, I've GOT to upload this photo. Unreal.
Off to bed for early rise, more rehearsal and auditions (Hairspray!) tomorrow.
Lots of love,
A Broadway Baby
Woke up this morning at 5:30am. Cleaned the entire apartment by 8am. Took a total body conditioning class at my gym at 8:15am. Lion King audition by 11am. Vocal Tech & Performance classes at Broadway Dance Center in the afternoon, and then a lengthy jaunt to the music library at Lincoln Center. Hello obsessive productivity.
Now if only I had managed to work in the crucial "laundry" item on my to do list... then this Monday may have been a remarkable feat. :-)
In other news, I came across a GIANT turtle in the Central Park lake as I walked through the park to get home. Once I figure out the technology of my blackberry, I've GOT to upload this photo. Unreal.
Off to bed for early rise, more rehearsal and auditions (Hairspray!) tomorrow.
Lots of love,
A Broadway Baby
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