Like mother, like daughter

Last Friday I shared a little about my dance background, and today I want to share a little about my mom's!

I guess you could say dancing "runs in the family" - really just my mom and I, but whatever. Family affair and all.

Mama S and I (and friend) circa 2002 rehearsing a recital piece

She danced throughout her childhood and majored in ballet for two years in college, but once she switched majors, she didn't dance again for about 19 years.

In the midst of all this, she got married and had a beautiful little baby girl (HI!) who grew up to be 5 years old and wanted to go to dance class.

Well, like daughter, like mother, right? I was enrolled in a tap and ballet class, and my mom decided to return to ballet. One of the mother's from my daily play group just happened to be a ballet teacher at the studio up the street, so that's where we ended up going. I eventually wound up following that teacher to several different studios for the next 12 years.

Back to my mom: it took a bit of time, but she got her technique back and has been taking ballet at least once a week for the past 20 years now. I finally surpassed her in technique and abilities towards the end of high school and went on to major in dance in college.

She's seriously good, you guys. Especially for her age.

Just a few weeks ago, she was at an Interlochen reunion (it's an arts camp and academy) in Michigan, where they decided to put on a "talent show" of sorts. Her and a friend decided to do a modern improv piece, which super impressed me because my mom is definitely a ballet dancer through and through. If you have a few minutes, please watch the video below! My mama is the one with the long hair, and her hubby is the one playing piano!

Le sigh. I only hope to be movin' and shakin' as much as she is in another 30 years!

The time I danced for Donald Trump

Not that kind of dance. Ew.

I've mentioned many a time that I used to dance. I kind of hate saying the "used to" part.. sort of makes me feel like a failure. But! I loved it, I lived it, I breathed it.. took classes all through middle and high school and majored in it in college. I was even able to perform a bit professionally before I took a break from it. I call it a break because that's exactly what it is - I'm getting my butt back to classes (again) soon!

January of my junior year in college, I went to an audition for Disney Cruise Lines in New York. I knew a few people from my school were probably also going, but I did the trek solo for this audition. I'm so very proud to say that I made it all the way to the end, and was one of 6 out of about 300 original people who they decided to keep. My one thing going against me at the time? I was still in school and was personally not willing to drop out for however long to dance on a cruise ship. I figured I could always do it after I graduated. And hey, they had my video tape and name on file - I made it through once, I could hopefully make it through again!

Well a few months later, I got a call from the head choreographer from the audition asking if I wanted to do a gig in Atlantic City. This wasn't just any gig - it was Donald Trump's birthday! Apparently he hosts a big fete at one of his many casinos in AC every year, and this year's theme?

007.

As in, James Bond.

Of course, I was thrilled! I was able to work it into my school and work schedule and said yes immediately. We had two or three days of rehearsals before the big show, which was really quite something. In all, there were eight of us who were costumed up as one of the many Bond girls. I? Was Tiffany Case from Diamonds Are Forever.

So yea.. I ended up looking a little drag queen-esque. But it came across great on the stage, I promise! We each had our own "window" on this 3 foot deep platform with a white silhouette window in front of us that opened and closed depending on the music and the cues. We each also had our own solo and a couple group numbers every half hour or so - in the meantime, we did our own thing behind the silhouette window. It was a good solid 4 hours of dancing, and it was ah.maz.ing.

I think the best part was hitting up Cuba Libre afterwords with my nifty fake ID that I lost the following week. But that's another story.

And thus was the time that I danced for Donald Trump!

32 fouettés

So I went to see The Black Swan a while ago - loved it. Besides the point.

Everyone was yammering on about how Natalie Portman studied ballet for a year to prep for the role, and that it was her dancing in the film. I had my doubts while watching the movie.. I mean, doing all those fouetté turns, on pointe no less, after only a year of training? If I didn't love Natalie so much, I would have hated her. I've taken dance my entire damn life and still can't do 32 fouettés en pointe. Bitch.


Anyway, since my girl Nat is a prodigical genius in just about everything she does, I sucked it up and admitted that fine, she's just amazing.

le sigh.

Lo and behold, I finally put an ounce of effort into looking into this conundrum of sorts, and guess what?

It's not entirely her dancing.


I'm not going to lie, I was a bit relieved. I felt marginally better about all that dance training I went through for 20 years of my life. While she (and Mila Kunis) did indeed do all the close-up arm shots and as much of the dancing as possible (which is seriously something in and of itself, as you can't feign the grace and basic technique she had), it was actually a few of the American Ballet Theatre's dancers who did most of the wide screens, full body shots, and foot work. The best article I could find regarding it was this one.

Regardless, the woman is still a genius. She looked the part of a dancer in her body, her grace, her technique. I'm still envious of her ability to learn so quickly, and have that natural, innate talent.

Point of story? Natalie Portman is incredible. And gorgeous, even with a shaved head.

rock it.

And I'd totally jump her bones.

Happiness is all the rage

SO many exciting things going on right now, I don't even know where to start.

First off..

WE'RE GOING TO VEGASSSSSS!!!

Yea, baby!

Btw, check out that link for Fabulous and Frugal.. amazingness.

I can hardly contain my excitement.. it will be the first time going for both Scot and myself and I just want to jump up and down like a giddy 5 year old on Christmas. The reason for the trip is to celebrate my future SIL's 40th birthday, and her and her husband, aka future BIL, are being kind enough to help us fund our way a bit (thankyouthankyouthankyou)!! Details are still undetermined, and all I know is that we are going, but I'm ok with that. And you know what's even cooler? Layla from Wish Fulfillment Every Day is going to be there at the same time, so we are totes-magotes meeting up at some point! Can it get any better? I think not.

The only downside is that the trip coincides with our tickets to see Daniel Tosh at the Warner Theater :( Scot and I are huge fans of his show Tosh.0, and his stand-up comedy, so it's kind of a bummer that we won't be able to finally see him live. But I'd say Vegas trumps it, no?! And hey, we might makes a few bucks selling the tickets which we can use as our gambling fund. Nice.

Next up.. yesterday marked my second jazz class in as many weeks, and while my entire body is sore and achy, I feel so good. I already noticed my technique improving a bit from last week, and I have every intention of taking a ballet class within the next few weeks as well. I really don't know how I went so long without dancing; it's a part of who I am and I just wish I had tons of money so I could take every class I want to. Damn $17 classes.

So anyhoo, after the fab class yesterday, I decided to try out another new recipe: key lime pie (last week was butternut squash soup). Do you have any idea how easy key lime pie can be (and the soup, for that matter)?? The whole thing was in the oven, then cooling, within 15 minutes. Fantastic. And it was delicious to boot!

Not the most nutritious, but hey, that's ok :) 

And finally, one last exciting thing from this weekend: Dr. Scholl's Fast Flats. Have you heard of these yet?!

Sure, they kinda make you look like you have duck feet, but they roll up all small and compact and I foresee a 99% chance that I'll be busting them out in Vegas.

Hope you all had fantastic weekends!

(All pics are personal photos unless otherwise noted)

((PS. Points for you if you know what song the title is from!))