Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Saint Mary's College of California LEAP Program Dance History 1 Presentation with Video: Classical & Romantic Ballet.


Dance History 1
Presentation
Romantic and Classical Ballet
Carlotta Grissi as Giselle (1841)
This semester, I am taking Dance History 1. Each week, 2 students are responsible for presenting/leading a seminar-style discussion about the assigned reading and tying it into a current internet/blog story that corresponds to the assigned reading.
The article, "A Ballet Romance" byTobi Tobias, from Arts Journal was the inspiration for the points I chose to focus on in order to open up discussion for further exploration:
1. How has romantic ballet changed over the years?
2. How will understanding ballet's past help to preserve and progress ballet's artistry?
As a former professional dancer and performer, I am comfortable with being in front of an audience. Public speaking is never a problem. I've presented many workshops on health and fitness without any stress. I teach group fitness classes to rooms full of people, and lead runner's warm up before big events with no problem.
This evening was especially stressful due to the fact that I was presenting in front of a group of my peers, each who has also enjoyed successful careers as professional dancers; several as ballet dancers with prestigious ballet companies.
I thought it would be helpful to record my presentation in order to see how I do while presenting "out of my element." Here's the first half of my presentation (about 29 minutes). My camera will only record that long before automatically shutting off and I'd forgotten about it.


Whew, I'm glad that's over! Give me an audience of several thousand strangers any day! Facing my peers...eeek! It was as uncomfortable as being asked to let my classmates watch me take a shower.
It's so frustrating to hear myself saying "um," "and again," "kind of," "and all that stuff," so many times...uggg, such a confession to insecurity. 
Even though this was by far one of the most stressful presentations I have ever done, I am proud of what I had done. A great lesson for future presentations. Overall, I think I did an OK job considering my "performance-in-front-of-my-peers-anxiety."

(Liberal Education for Arts Professionals)
Los Angeles Group


Friday, September 7, 2012

The Morning After...Fried Chicken, "white trash," and Elvis!

I don't call this blog "Disciplined Indulgence" for nothing
and I sure don't want fried chicken thighs
so, no matter how much I enjoyed my Thursday date night with a bucket of friend chicken and Elvis, I  I promised my thighs that I would still do My Morning Workout at 6am Friday morning.
So, here it is,
"The Morning After
an
Evening of Fried Chicken, "white trash,"  and Elvis! Workout"


1. Warm Up
This slow and luxurious warm up looks easy, looks a bit passive...
I challenge you to try it...tell me how it goes.
Don't forget to read the descriptions on YouTube that are included on each video. 


2. My Warm Up Continues
The warm up progresses to working the feet and stability, along with some slow, deep plies. 
Don't forget to read the descriptions on YouTube that are included on each video. 


3. Time to Work! 
Working the feet!
Working the ankles! 
Working the calf muscles!!!
Working the legs!!!
And working the core!!!
And working stability!!!
Don't forget to read the descriptions on YouTube that are included on each video

4. More Work! 
Dynamic Lunge & Stability Sequence with Core & Biceps
Don't forget to read the descriptions on YouTube that are included on each video


5. Slow Core & Flexibility
Please let me know if you have any questions about the next few videos 



6. Inner Thigh Work, More Core & More Flexibility



7. More Thigh Work & a Hint of Booty


8. Final Cool Down & Core

"My Thighs
will NOT be
Fried Chicken Thighs!"
-Melissa Adylia Calasanz



Fried Chicken Night with Elvis at Early Bird!

Last night I spent the evening eating a bucket of chicken
with
Elvis!

Last night, my new favorite little eatery close to home, Early Bird, was throwing a little "after hours" shin-dig, which included buckets of fried chicken, sides of mashed potatoes and pan gravy; corn, coleslaw, and mac n cheese, along with some interesting "beverages."


I enjoyed a can (or two) of the 
"Can 'o' decent tastin' Beer"


We also enjoyed the company of two wonderful people, Larry and Joan, who we had been chatting with while waiting in line before the place opened.
We decided to share a table
which made the even even more enjoyable than expected.

Getting excited to get our bucket!
:)
The bucket o chicken and the fixin's!
:)
And
Elvis!!!
And
More beer!
Two Fine Fellas and a can o' "white trash"
Thanks Chef, Joseph Mahon, for such an enjoyable evening!  

Thanks Elvis!


The flyers rocked as hard as Elvis!

An overall wonderful evening!
Hopefully my thighs will forgive me for it.
; )