Yey! Our show DVD finally arrived. I have to say the videographer did an awesome job and the quality of the DVD is the best we have ever had from one of our shows. Here are a few screen shots from the show itself.
Breath
Another shot from Breath
Tapping Away
Candy Girls
Don't they just look too cute?
UGASTA
Yes, I have been out of action for most of the past week. That’s not only my blog but the rest of the Internet too.
Other than the fact that out Internet was down, ugh, I was trying to catch up on some reading before University starts where I am left with absolutely no time to read what I want. That’s what happens when you study English. You read many many books (most of them you don’t really want to read).
I’m starting the day off with a bang though. I have decided to go jogging and do my push ups (more about them later). Jogging is a good thing to do rite now as it gives me time to listen to my ipod. I really need to chose music and decide on the songs that my various classes will be dancing to (in competitions that is). There is so much preparation before a class that people never realise and that we don’t get paid for.
So yes I am officially starting my first day back at the studio today. It’s nice though as I don’t start University yet (that only starts next week) so I can get used to my dancing routine before I add more to my – already hectic – days.
Stretching is an important part in any athlete or dancers life. Here are a few basic points to remember to keep in mind next time you stretch.
This is stretching by using your own body’s momentum (bouncing) to force yourself beyond your normal abilities. This is a very dangerous type of stretching and is not suggested as it does not allow your muscles to adjust in the position they are being stretched and can lead to injuries.
Dynamic stretching involves slow and controlled torso twists and swinging of your arms and legs to their maximum, which gradually increases your range of movement.
This is when you assume a position and hold it without any help other than the muscle itself eg: holding your leg in the air with no help of your arms or any other body part or instruments to keep it in that position. This kind of stretching doesn’t need to be held for more than 15 seconds.
This is a more relaxed form of stretching where you use apparatus or other body parts to help you stretch eg: Holding your leg in the air with your hand or sitting in the splits. This is very good kind of stretching to do after a work out to “cool down”. Relaxed stretching is also used to help get into shape after injuries but it is always advised to consult your doctor first before doing any kind of exercise or stretching. Passive stretching can also be a person who is relaxed while some external force (either a person or an apparatus) brings the joint through its range of motion.
Static Stretching is when one stretches a muscle as far as it can be stretched and then holds it in that position for as long as possible until the muscles then relax again causing the person to stretch further.
Isometric Stretching does not use motion. Isometric Stretching is one of the fastest ways to increase flexibility and strength with the least amount of pain. The most common ways to practice Isometric Stretching is by placing resistance onto oneself, have a partner apply resistance or to make use of apparatus to apply resistance eg: Having a partner hold your leg in the air while you attempt to push it down to the ground.
Isometric Stretches are not recommended for children who are still growing as children are usually still flexible and these kinds of stretches can damage their tendons and connective tissue.
How To Perform Isometric Stretching:
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation [PNF] Stretching is the fastest and most effective way to stretch. PNF Stretching is most effective when performed with a partner to place resistance on the isometric contractions.
The three most common PNF techniques are:
Agonist: The muscle that causes movement to occur by contracting, thus creating normal movement in a joint.
Antagonist: A kind of muscle that acts in opposition to the movement caused by the Agonist and is responsible for returning limbs to their initial positions.
Warning: Children whose bones are still growing should not perform PNF Stretching. Ideally PNF Stretching should only be performed once every 36 hours.
I’m the one second from the left (the one without shoes on). My feet grew too quickly when I was little so I had to perform in socks…ha ha ha.
Well we got our Modern and Tap exam results back today and I’m not too pleased with what my students got. I know they could have done better and I think they know it too.
It’s almost time for the show…eek…it’s this weekend already. There is still soooo much to do. I don’t even know where to start.
I’m actually meant to be studying at the moment. Yeah sure. All I can do is think about the stupid show. It must stop now, I need to study.
My foot still isn’t better. For those of you who don’t know, I have tendinitis. I am being treated for it (with weekly injections into my foot) but the Doc said they won’t really do much if I keep dancing. At this point in the year I don’t have a choice but to keep dancing. JOY! I really don’t know what I did today in rehearsal but I have insane pains in my one shin (just happens to be the same leg as the tendinitis). I really just think my body is coming to the stage where it needs rest. SLEEP.
My blog posts seem to be rather scattered and few these days, some what like my brains feel. So excuse them please.
Well lately I have been a lot quieter (on all fronts) than I usually am. I haven’t even been tweeting much or even considering updating my Facebook status.
This is all because of exams. Not University exams (like the ones I’m meant to be studying for now), but rather dancing exams. The worst part is i didn’t even dance my own exams this year. It was just because of stressing for my students and making sure they are ready. For some reason though my feet are covered in blisters…hmmm.
We have now officially survived 2 out of 3 weekends of exams. Firstly Hip Hop, then Modern and Tap, and this weekend coming up will be Acrobatics. I have also come to realise that most examiners are really nice people and really knowledgeable but some are just truly horrible and condescending. Both our Modern and tap examiners were great women to work with, and at the end of the day we learnt a lot from them. But that Hip Hop examiner, Gosh, lets just hope and pray we never get her again.
I’m specifically not mentioning names because I know that everyone has a reputation to uphold, but that examiner looked and acted like a real witch. I’m sure the kiddies that still believe in witches were scared out of their wits.
So our exams are almost over, which will give us teachers a small part of our lives back. Then there is the end year show, which I can almost say is worse than exams. The stress to get everything done in time, and to make sure everything is perfect…EEEEK!
Honestly the show is always great and always works out at the end of the day, but for me it seems to be nerve wrecking every time I must run up or down those dreadful stairs backstage. Two years ago just at the end of the show, when we were running to be on stage for the prize giving, I went flying down the stairs. I landed up going to hospital at midnight and walking out with my arm in a cast and sling and my leg in a cast too. What was that about the saying “Break a Leg” being good luck?
It was also rather funny as our slogan is ” Dare to Dance”
"Dare To Dance"
So my company is still in it’s starting phase but we have already had our first performance with South African singer Julius. Here are some of the photo’s from the event. It was a very small event, but fun to do and I look forward to doing more.
Keep an eye on my flickr as I will be putting more photo’s from this event up soon.
So today has been a good day. Besides the fact that I was up until 3am doing an assignment on Martha Graham as an auteur, and so exhausted for the rest of the day, it was still good.
I had a great day at the studio. I love it when we give our all in class, you always feel so good afterwards.
I also found out that if you search Megg Wilson in google I am number 1…number 1. Yey. Quite surprising as it is such a new blog.
I also recieved Natasja’s photo’s from the dance fun day and they are very cute. It was a bonding day for the dance studio and it was a dress up too (the theme being dance of course). The teachers all decided to go 80′s for the day… what a laugh. We really didn’t decide to all wear those purple leotards, it was an accident. Worked out well though.
So… I Hurt my foot doing Wings. Fun. Well that was no fun. Wings for those of you who don’t know are a step done in tap dancing. They take a while to master and a lot of practice, sweat and tears – like most things.For more information on wings click here.
I still haven’t been to a physio therapist, which is wrong i know. I have been doing exercises to strengthen my ankle again though. It’s really painful! Does anyone have ideas of how I could possibly lessen the pain and strengthen it quickly? I know things like this take time and if it was one of my students I would tell them to be patient, continue with the exercises and just take it slow for a while, but it’s a lot harder to do than it sounds. How many people take their own advice?
I also just started dancing again after my operation so at the moment I am sick of sitting around and really just want to dance, it’s a disease.
YouTube and Expert Village are really being difficult and not letting me check out any videos, so I can’t suggest any to you but feel free to check out these pages and watch some of the videos so that you can see what wings are if you don’t already know.