meeting a genius,BTJ

Hello there!!

It has been a while since I've said what's up, but that's because there has been a lot of stuff going on, and I have just come home late and tired.

I'm finding that it is hard to remain disciplined in my training, and dieting when I let something then what I have planned deviate me from my plan. Last week was a hard one cause there were 5 nights in a row that had some kind of special social gathering that I had to attend that of course involved food. SO I just let it go to be my free week. So I decided that for theses last 4 weeks I was not goin to do anything but be focused. So I worked out like crazy on monday, starting my 2 a day workouts, and classes. That is ballet in the morning, full gym workout( which intales at least an hr elyptical, stretching, weight toning, and steam room), and then coming back at night to stretch in the gym before another dance class, usually modern, or hip hop. Work is paying off though, I have found that my back is becoming more flexible, and now I can do a pretty decent back bend where my hands are pretty close to my feet, and I was able to kick over for the first time and do a walk over! The next day I was so excited and had to shown my friend in the gym I ended up doing like 3 in a row, kind of jumping into them like they were back handsprings, it was pretty cool, (I got so tired by the fourth one though I almost fell on my head), so movin right along.

The activity that has taken most of my time and energy these past 2 days, has been the incredible chance to work with the world reknown BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE modern dance company. I had the priviledge along with 2 other girls to be used as extras and guest dancers in their performances here in philly! Let me just tell you how awesome and surreal the whole experience was. Yesterday we arrived at 2:30pm for our teaching and rehearsal, and then we had a tech rehearsal til about 5:30 with the company, and with Mr. Jones demanding perfection. I must say it was high stress for a lot of that time, cause we didn't want to mess up and get yelled at. But we did fine, and the performance that night was awesome. Today was kinda of cool, the only thing that really sucked was the fact that I had to get up at 5am to work for a friend at the gym. Then off to ballet, the to a master class the company gave the community, then back to the theatre to be apart of the companies class they invited us to. Then another show. It was pretty cool to perform in this space, with this really big deal company, and get to bow with them and everything. It was pretty sweet!!!

TRAINING!

Well, I received my formal letter from the headquarters casting director in Montreal on friday, so it is all official. Now what I have decided to do since I am still getting paid to be on tour for a couple of weeks,(though I'm not on tour), is to use these 5 weeks as intensive training to get ready for this audition. This is actually the biggest audition of my life so far. Now You might think that Broadway would be pretty much up there too, but the thing is I've auditioned for Broadway since I was a sophomore in college, and it's only a matter of time before I get a show there. This is the biggest because this is something I thought I would never be able to be apart of, so big infact I was trying to see if I should go to their circus school so that I would have something they wanted. Also the fact that it's an invitation only audition shows how really huge this is, and prestigious they can be, cause they can. I want this so so bad!!!!!!!!!! I was able to look online and find someone's writing on their audition experience, and let me just tell you it scared me something fierce. There were so many parts to this all day tryout, with cuts and selections to move on all day. And pretty much the thing that scared me was the part I read about having all 3 splitts, and having to do perform a 1 min solo. But I am doing what I can to stretch like I never have before, so that I at least have a good 2 out of 3, it's so hard to do the middle split, you just have to have open hips. But I have also decided to go into this auidition with a totally new mind set. I am going in there with the attitude of confidence, and the expectancy to do well, and to get the job. WHy! Cause I want it, my heart is in it!! And I am going to make sure I do everything I can to do the absolute best job I can. In Jesus Name!

The other totally awesome thing is when I went to Ballet this morning, Sarah comes bouncing in and says, "guess who's coming with you to NY on the 23d!!!" How awesome, my friend Sarah who has also been an intern at the studio has applied and been invited. Now she is one of those flexible freaks, she was watching a video of cirque and saw this girl totally bending herself to put her feet on her shoulder blades, so that is what she is also working for. Crazy! ANyway that is another part of training saturating myself with dance, and with Cirque material. Pictures, images, music, videos, choreography, anything that can get stuck in my head and used as ideas for creativity and performance.

Though I am focusing on this audition, I will audition for COLOR PURPLE this fri. They haven't seen me in a while, don't want them to forget about me. I'll let you know how that goes.

closed and open doors

YO Yo YO!

So Today I received an email that was my invitation to audition for Cirque du Soleil.

umm.....

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Being that I really can't think of words to say for how loud I screamed as I read the invite( and my poor friend Rick was on the phone with me, sorry bout the ear drum buddy). Those exclamation points will have to do. I can't even begin to tell you how incredible this is, not only for me but in general. Everyone doesn't just get a call from Cirque asking them to send them stuff. They don't need too. That alone was something outrageously special they did for me. Not saying that I'm anything great, infact I didn't even feel like I put my strongest foot forward with my video, but I am so glad that God shines thru my weaknesses.But none of their auditions are open from what I know, it's all by invitation I have been dreaming about being apart of one of their shows since I think I was 18, but I never thought I had a chance cause I couldn't do acrobatics. This is just more than I even know how to deal with. I won't say more than I can ask for, cause I really want this show so bad!! I want to do so well at this audition that they hire me on the spot. My audition will be on February 23, 2008 in NYC apparently. So I have 5 weeks to get ready. I will be dancing as much as possible, and in the gym pretty much everyday, accept sunday,maybe. The styles that they are looking for for this new show is contemporary and hiphop. So I will definitely be in these 2 styles of class alot. And ballet every morning(accept friday when it's in the evening)

So what did I do tonight to celebrate? besides having my last bit of dessert for 5 weeks,I went and took class!!

here's the combination that mis Beautiful Crystal Frazier who's on faculty at UArts gave us. I'm the dark one in the middle. It's been a while since I've been in a hip hop class, so I'm kind of stiff, don't hold it against me.

Happy New Year!!

Well, life goes on. and on the new year I turned 27. Happy Birthday ME!!

I haven't found out any more information on the termination, and it kind of looks like I have to go the route of legal representation. All of my professional friends in the bizness say that I really need to get an answer. So, who knows.

Now I look at this situation in 2 ways. Being a very spiritual man, and striving for a real relationship with Christ, I have to believe that in my life is working out for my ultimate good. I believe this cause it says in Jeremiah 29:11 " for I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you a hope and a future." So it works out in my mind like this,

Being that there is someone who wants my good, there has to be someone who wants my bad. This enemy has been given power to do things to destroy my heart, discourage me, and ultimately ruin my relationship with God who wants this good for me, So this could be something he has done to bring me down, if that is the case, I know that what ever happens will work out for me well, cause God said that He would work it out for my good. And the other scenario is that God had it in His plan for this to happen, and happen as smooth as it did, and clean as it was, so that a greater good could happen( hmmm what a great coincidence that I got this call from Cirque du soleil!, and now the time to really prepare for it, and go balls to the wall for them) oh and I don't believe in coincidences. I have the faith that things are going to be just fine.

In fact I've already gone to nyc to audition! As I was there I realized though I was not in the condition I needed to be in though to be there, and that I really wanted to take this month to really get in shape and get good for Cirque, so I decided to scratch the other auditions I had planned to go to. I've already got my job back at the gym, and now just have to find a day to clean the studios again, I'll be better than ever in no time!! Here is a little of the video I made for my Cirque du Soleil audition.