{"id":2784,"date":"2011-07-19T20:06:43","date_gmt":"2011-07-20T04:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mightyelephant.com\/ams\/?p=2784"},"modified":"2013-12-29T23:04:25","modified_gmt":"2013-12-30T07:04:25","slug":"the-ballet-studio-summer-program-2011","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mightyelephant.com\/ams\/the-ballet-studio-summer-program-2011\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ballet Studio – Summer Intensive Program 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer Session 2011, June 20 – July 29<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Session 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

June 20 (Monday) – Day 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was my first day of ballet summer camp. \u00a0There are 11 boys and girls. \u00a04 of the girls go to SFBS. \u00a0I know 3 of them. \u00a0Also 1 boy from SFBS is in the summer camp. \u00a0I remember his face from the occasional co-ed ballet classes at SFBS. \u00a0Most of the day was ballet, \u00a0but there was 1 hour of jazz after lunch break then another hour of ballet. \u00a0Also the teacher said I could go en pointe<\/em>. \u00a0Yes! An older student said I should go to Dancer’s Emporium for my first pointe <\/em>shoes. \u00a0Dad thinks it’s okay but wants to make sure and talk to my teacher about it.<\/p>\n

After camp was finished, \u00a0I went with Dad to his work and hung out there until it was time to go home.<\/p>\n

Overall, \u00a0my first day of camp felt good, \u00a0because I was back in ballet.<\/p>\n

\"Class<\/a>
Class Dismissed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

June 21 (Tuesday) – Day 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was my second day of camp. \u00a0We had different teachers today than yesterday and a modern dance class instead of jazz. \u00a0This time we did harder stuff than yesterday. \u00a0For example, we started practicing tour jet\u00e9s<\/em>. \u00a0And\u00a0pirouettes<\/em> from 4th position. \u00a0In modern dance, \u00a0we learned how to fall and recover from a fall in a fun way. \u00a0After camp was over, I was really tired but I felt good about ballet<\/p>\n

The best part of my day was after ballet when Dad and I went to a nearby dance wear store (SF Dancewear<\/em>) to get my first pointe<\/em> shoes. \u00a0I was (and am) so excited about it. \u00a0They are Grishkos Model 2007 (Size 7 SS)<\/em> from Russia. \u00a0I am really happy about getting pointe<\/em> shoes.<\/p>\n

To summarize, my second day of ballet was challenging yet exciting, and I can’t wait to go back tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

\"Fitting<\/a>
Fitting Out Pointe Shoes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
\n

\"Getting<\/a>
Getting the Right Fit<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
\n

\"Feels<\/a>
Feels Good<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

June 22 (Wednesday) – Day 3<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was the third day of camp. \u00a0We had the same teachers as Monday. \u00a0An hour before class started, I took the adult stretching class at 8:30. \u00a0It was really short.<\/p>\n

\"Wrapping<\/a>
Wrapping Up After Class<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Just before lunch, I got to try out my pointe<\/em> shoes and take pointe<\/em> class with them. \u00a0The teacher helped me sew ribbons and elastic on to them. \u00a0It hurt, but every other girl en pointe<\/em> was complaining of pain too. \u00a0It was so cool going on pointe<\/em>. \u00a0After pointe<\/em> class, one of the ballet teachers took us out to a nearby cafe (Cumaica<\/em>) to get chocolate smoothie-ish drinks. \u00a0It was fun.<\/p>\n

To finish, ballet today hurt ( pointe<\/em> class ) but I had a good time and am lovin’ ballet!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

June 23 (Thursday) – Day 4<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was my fourth day of ballet camp. \u00a0We had the same teachers as Tuesday. \u00a0One of the girls, Lilah and her brother Max skipped camp this week. \u00a0They went somewhere out of the state on vacation.<\/p>\n

Everyday the ballet classes seem to be harder and harder.<\/p>\n

\"Ballet<\/a>
My Pointe Shoes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During pointe<\/em> class, one of the things we did was arabesque on pointe<\/em>. \u00a0It was really hard and I was kind of wobbly at the beginning but in the end I got it. \u00a0We also walked across the ballet floor en pointe<\/em> and around a chair in the middle of the room en pointe<\/em>.<\/p>\n

To end, my fourth day of ballet was challenging and hard. \u00a0But I still am enthusiastic about ballet.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Weekly<\/a>
Weekly Schedule<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

June 24 (Friday) – Day 5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was my fifth day of camp. \u00a0We had the same teachers as Wednesday except instead of jazz class we had stretching class. \u00a0In pointe<\/em> class, we started to do bourr\u00e9\u00a0en pointe<\/em> (a rapid up and down movement). \u00a0I did it surprisingly well. \u00a0But it was quite painful and tiring.<\/p>\n

To finish, today was painful and\u00a0definitely\u00a0tiring. \u00a0But I can’t wait for the next week of camp.<\/p>\n

\"Coming<\/a>
Coming Home On The Train<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 27 (Monday) – Day 6<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was the beginning of the second week of ballet. \u00a0We did some combinations from last week and harder new combinations. \u00a0We had jazz class and learned a really hard jazz combo. \u00a0A new kid joined class. \u00a0I recognized her. \u00a0She was in my ballet class at SFBS and her name is Clara.<\/p>\n

Pointe<\/em> class hurt my feet. \u00a0We had 45 minutes of it and we started to do a combo that would prepare us for a type on turn en pointe<\/em>. \u00a0I forgot what the name of the turn was. \u00a0Clara appeared to have just started pointe<\/em> because she was really wobbly en pointe<\/em> and she didn’t know how tie her pointe<\/em> shoe ribbons. \u00a0I helped her tie her ribbons.<\/p>\n

Overall, my 6th day of ballet was okay. \u00a0But not fabulous.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

June 28 (Tuesday) – Day 7<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was my seventh day of ballet. \u00a0We had a different teacher for the morning ballet part. \u00a0He was really funny. \u00a0I hope we have him again. \u00a02 new kids joined the class. \u00a0A boy and a girl. \u00a0One of the girls, Emily, brought peaches from her dad’s orchard. \u00a0They were cold and refreshing.<\/p>\n

Mr. Berg taught pointe<\/em> class today. \u00a0We started to do turns. \u00a0We also did bourr\u00e9s<\/em> without the barre. \u00a0We’re doing harder and harder combos.<\/p>\n

In \u00a0modern dance class, we learned how to do rolls. \u00a0We had to careful not to roll into the other students.<\/p>\n

Even though I learned a lot, today was really tiring. \u00a0This is a tough schedule and\u00a0I need more sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

June 29 (Wednesday) – Day 8<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today was the eight day of camp. \u00a0We had a new teacher. \u00a0She was nice. \u00a0The girl who came yesterday didn’t show up today. \u00a0I wonder why. \u00a0The new boy is still in class.<\/p>\n

During pointe class we started bourr\u00e9<\/em> running en pointe<\/em>. \u00a0It really hurt. \u00a0We had to do it across the room.<\/p>\n

In the last hour of ballet class, Mr. Henry taught us an adagio<\/em> from a ballet. \u00a0It was really hard. \u00a0I don’t know what the ballet is called.<\/p>\n

I learned a lot today, and I can’t wait for tomorrow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

June 30 (Thursday) – Day 9<\/strong><\/p>\n

no entry<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July 1 (Friday) – Day 10<\/strong><\/p>\n

I didn’t write an entry yesterday – we got home too late. \u00a0Went straight to bed.<\/p>\n

Phew, I can’t believe today was the end of my second week. \u00a0What a\u00a0grueling\u00a02 weeks! \u00a0We were allowed to do the adagio<\/em> combination we learned yesterday en pointe<\/em>. \u00a0Before, only the older students were allowed to do it en pointe<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Also, for part of the camp the students got to be the teachers. \u00a0It was really cool being the teachers. \u00a0Mr. Henry told us\u00a0each what ballet move we had to make a combination for. \u00a0I got grande b\u00e2tement<\/em>, or big kick.<\/p>\n

Being the teacher was hard because you had to know basic accompaniments to a combination. \u00a0For example, how many counts between each kick or to do a pas de\u00a0bourr\u00e9e<\/em> or a pass\u00e9<\/em>. \u00a0And you had to be able to explain and show \u00a0how it’s done. \u00a0 You also had to know, should the arms be\u00a0opposite\u00a0the leg or not. \u00a0Or how you would transition to the other leg or should you\u00a0reverse\u00a0the combination at the end.<\/p>\n

I can’t wait for next week.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Session 2<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 4 (Monday) – No class<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s Independence Day<\/p>\n


\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

July 5 (Tuesday) – Day 11<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

I was the only kid who came early, so when I did floor barre ( stretching class ) in the morning, it was one-on-one with the teacher.\u00a0 After that class was finished I did part of the regular adult class.<\/p>\n

Only 3 kids from last session showed up.\u00a0 There were 4 new kids.\u00a0 One of the new kids, a girl was also named Amelia.\u00a0 So the teacher started calling us Amelia 1 and Amelia 2.\u00a0 The other new girl has the most awesome colored hair.\u00a0 It’s bright bronzeish-red.\u00a0 She also has freckles.\u00a0 Her name is Bryanna.\u00a0 Another new kid, a boy I recognized from SFBS.<\/p>\n

In pointe<\/em> class, only the other girls from last week and I were on pointe<\/em>.\u00a0 The other 2 girls didn’t have pointe shoes.<\/p>\n

\"Ballet<\/a>
Ballet Class<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today instead of jazz, we had modern dance.\u00a0 We learned some Martha Graham techniques.\u00a0 Martha Graham was a famous modern dancer.\u00a0 We also did a bunch of different types of jumps with bare feet.\u00a0 It really hurt.\u00a0 I now know what my dad feels like after a really, really long walk.<\/p>\n

I can’t wait for tomorrow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July 6 (Wednesday) – Day 12<\/strong><\/p>\n

I got to ballet late today. \u00a0Lila and her brother Max rejoined ballet camp. \u00a0Their mom takes the adult ballet class in the morning so they get to camp early.<\/p>\n

We had jazz today. \u00a0The teacher taught us a new combo that was very complicated. \u00a0It had a lot of jazz pirouettes<\/em> and grande\u00a0b\u00e2tements<\/em>. \u00a0Most of the ballet moves done in jazz are turned in, not out. \u00a0This makes them different.<\/p>\n

In pointe class we started to do\u00a0pirouettes en pointe<\/em>. \u00a0I was really wobbly and couldn’t stay on pointe <\/em>for more than 2 seconds.<\/p>\n

We started learning how to do fouett\u00e9s<\/em> in flat shoes. \u00a0I couldn’t do more than 1 fouett\u00e9s<\/em>. \u00a0But I really want to be able to do at least 10 by the end of camp because Odile in Swan Lake<\/em> does 32 of them in a row on pointe and it looks awesome when she does them.<\/p>\n

I hope we do fouett\u00e9s<\/em> tomorrow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July 7 (Thursday) – Day 13<\/strong><\/p>\n

I got to ballet early today. \u00a0When I did floor barre today, I got complimented on my turn out. \u00a0I’ve been working on it extra hard because you need it for pointe<\/em> and one of my previous ballet teachers said I needed to work on it.<\/p>\n

In pointe class, we started to\u00a0bourr\u00e9 en pointe<\/em> across the room. \u00a0We also walked en pointe<\/em> and did\u00a0piqu\u00e9<\/em> turns ( piqu\u00e9<\/em> turns are turns that have a pass\u00e9<\/em> in them. ) across the room. \u00a0Also we did pirouettes en pointe<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Miss<\/a>
Miss Julie<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On flat we did\u00a0fouett\u00e9s<\/em> again. \u00a0I kept on falling. Then we learned a new combo that was in 2 parts.<\/p>\n

I hope we do\u00a0piqu\u00e9<\/em> turns tomorrow.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July 8 (Friday) – Day 14<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today I did floor barre<\/em> in the morning with Mr. Charles.\u00a0 In regular barre<\/em>, we had Miss Julie.\u00a0 We have her a lot.\u00a0 She also teaches pointe<\/em> class.\u00a0 The other Amelia didn’t come today.<\/p>\n

Instead of jazz today, Mr. Henry taught floor barre<\/em>.\u00a0 It hurt, but I saw the progress made in my splits.\u00a0 I’m almost down.\u00a0 Yay!<\/p>\n

In the last hour we did the variation Ms. Julie taught us one by one in front of the other class.\u00a0 I wasn’t feeling so well so Ms. Julie said I could go last.\u00a0 She said I did well I just had to remember the difference between first and second arabesque<\/em>.\u00a0 We also worked on fouett\u00e9s<\/em><\/p>\n

I hope we do fouett\u00e9s<\/em> on Monday.\u00a0 I need to work on them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July 11 (Monday) – Day 15<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today floor barre<\/em> had already started when I arrived so I couldn’t do it.\u00a0 A new kid, a boy came to camp.\u00a0 He was in Billy Elliot<\/em> and everyone in camp had seen Billy Elliot<\/em> ( except me ).\u00a0 Everybody thought he was cool and started talking Billy Elliot<\/em> with him.<\/p>\n

In regular barre<\/em> we had Mr. Charles.\u00a0 I’m glad we got him as a teacher today.<\/p>\n

We had jazz today.\u00a0 We added more jazz moves to the combo we were learning.\u00a0 The combo got even more complicated.\u00a0 I like the ending though.\u00a0 It has a second position on relev\u00e9 with arms in a v then what can only be described as a Spiderman crouch with both arms down.<\/p>\n

In the last hour we focused on the variation we learned last week.\u00a0 We didn’t get to do fouett\u00e9s <\/em>though.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

July 12 (Tuesday) – Day 16<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today we had Ms. Julie as our teacher.\u00a0 It was really cold out so she let us wear jackets or long sleeved t-shirts until we got to therond d\u00e9 jambe<\/em>combination.<\/p>\n

A new girl came to camp.\u00a0 Her name is Rachel.<\/p>\n

We had modern dance today.\u00a0 We did a lot of contractions and walking and skipping backward.\u00a0 I kept on messing up which leg to pass\u00e9<\/em>and arms in oppisition.<\/p>\n

In the 3:00-4:00 period, we learned a new variation from Ms. Julie.\u00a0 It is the Lilac Fairy<\/em> variation, from Sleeping Beauty.<\/em> We learned it in 4 parts.<\/p>\n

I hope we practice the Lilac Fairy<\/em> variation tomorrow.<\/p>\n

July 13 (Wednesday) – Day 17<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today we had Miss Julie.\u00a0 I got to class late today so I didn’t do the floor barre<\/em> class in the morning.\u00a0 Miss Julie let us wear sweaters again\u00a0during the combos because it was really cold.<\/p>\n

In pointe class today we practiced piqu\u00e9<\/em> onto pointe.<\/em> We also hopped in arabesque<\/em> then relev\u00e9d<\/em> in arabesque<\/em> 4 times.\u00a0 My ankle was really wobbly.<\/p>\n

We had jazz today.\u00a0 The jazz teacher added on to the combination we learned last week.\u00a0 She\u00a0told me\u00a0I needed to work on my four starch<\/em> ( fourth position<\/em> parallel with the back foot in demi-pointe<\/em> and the front knee bent ) last week.\u00a0 I worked on it over the week and a half and today she complimented on it.\u00a0 That’s very\u00a0good.<\/p>\n

In the last hour, we worked on the Lilac Fairy<\/em> variation.\u00a0 Miss Julie had us do it one-by-one across the floor.\u00a0 She said I need to lift my head and to work on the waltz turn\u00a0and assembl\u00e9<\/em> part.\u00a0 She said tomorrow she will not show anyone the variation so we better remember it.\u00a0 I have the steps glued in my brain.<\/p>\n