I’m going to have so many Fit Credits for the WiiFit Activity Log. This morning it was cool enough that I thought I could manage walking to Grant Park (instead of waiting for evening). It remained in the low seventies all day! We left around 10 I guess, maybe later. Google Maps says it’s a 17 minute walk but after getting there, Sara Ellen playing frisbee and running with dogs, then getting run into by the ungentle one, she was too upset to keep playing so we walked home, leaving at 11, and arrived 20 minutes later. Maybe I’m walking slowly (wouldn’t surprise me), or the clocks are different, but I enjoy the walk that includes a couple little hills while listening to Sense and Sensibility
.
We had lunch. Sara Ellen watched 3 30 minute VeggieTales episodes. I took a 30 minute nap (like yesterday… even though I get at least 8 hours of sleep). Then we played board games until it was time to change for dance. We arrived right at 3:45 thinking we were late but no one was there but the teachers. My class started… with running. We ran and ran and ran around the studio, just me and the other girl. It always starts with aerobic warm ups. First class was step ups, one knee up bringing arms in, craziness. I can’t remember if my 2nd class was the same. It’s harder than Pilates was. In Marjorie’s class at Evolutions Body Clinic, I struggled through to finish each exercise but it finished very soon after and moved on. In this crazy class, Karen encourages us to finish, and then we do another variation or two off the same thing!!! AAAHH. I’m trying to keep breathing, make it through, not growl too loud. Ab work on the back, arm work with weights (not as bad), legs and abs at the bar. It kills me, the legs are quivering, might as well be the petit battement, the name of which I cannot remember, when you are basically shaking your foot in front. I usually have to break for a second and/or do it a little differently, otherwise I might not manage at all. Evidence of my out-of-shapeness. The love handle work out is hard but not as bad. The “cool down”… plank, HA! Karen is great, very encouraging. She graduated last December I think from UCSD.

Then we spent another hour walking around the grocery store as I either remembered everything (I did have a list) or tried to find it (were the steam and mash sweet potatoes with the frozen veggies? no, with the rest of the Ore Ida frozen potatoes/fries). And now I’m standing in the kitchen making taco soup and writing about my pathetic physical state. I won’t be the least surprised if after the class audition for the Harmony Dance Company, the teacher/owner says “Merci, mais, non merci”. Tim should really be entering all his bike riding, maybe then the Balance Board would give him slack for not doing WiiFit more often, he’s in much better shape than I am and better than the BB’s assessment of the body test.

This summer we paid $62 for one class a week for eight weeks plus $40 for registration. As I attempted to enroll online, I was unsure what the total cost would come to. It’s still $62 for one class a week but in a 10 month contract rate. That couldn’t possibly mean it’s $62 for the whole year. I selected the class and proceeded to checkout hoping it would clear up my confusion, but it only increased. There was an option to pay monthly or in full, doing so by a certain date would apply a 10% discount. I chose the pay-in-full option. When I continued it said neither the full cost, nor the discount was reflected in the current balance and the full amount would not yet be charged. Like I’m going ahead with the payment, seeing as none of this makes any sense to me. I sent off an email, I’ve also had issues getting through by phone, and received a reply today. I’m not much happier:

“That’s weird about our phone number… Sorry about that.
The cost of the MONTHLY payment plan for 1 class per week is $62.00 per month when you sign up/enroll in the class for the 10 month session. Tuition is based on 4 classes per payment and is due on the 1st of each month. I hope that helps!

Our number: [the same I already have]“

The cost has increased from the summer schedule, it’s now $62 every 4 weeks instead of 8. I can either pay every month, and I suppose leave if we grow dissatisfied, but if we stay end up paying $620. Or I can pay for the entire year (no semesters) and pay $558. I’m not really happy with my options. As I already knew, many things cost twice as much in this state. In this situation, my only known comparision is with L’Ecole de Danse in Maryland. For the youngest age class, once a week, you pay per semester and it comes out to about $37 a month. Ugg, I’m not sure what to do. I need to get use out of my punch card, but I feel quite fleeced in paying $62 a month….

Preserve Educational Choice
P.O. Box 29612
Richmond, VA 23242
Mark “Art Defense Fund”

The best part of the letter in my opinion is the list of Helen’s credentials. She is a small but intimidating woman, and I have always been in awe of who she is and what she has done.

Helen McGehee, R-MWC class of 1942
Principal dancer Martha Graham Dance Company 1942 – 1971. Helen met Martha when she performed at R-MWC in Smith Hall Theater!
Founding faculty member Juilliard Dance Division 1953 – 1982
Founder of R-MWC Visiting Artist Program in Dance 1971. Dance friends at other schools are part of amazing dance departments/divisions but I am so thankful to have been a part of our department. Working with so many wonderful artists provided such a range of experience.
Professor of Dance 1971 – 1986

April 19 & 20 Chesapeake Ballet Company does A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Snow Queen (or something to that affect).

April 25 & 26 Goucher College Dancers in Action Spring Concert

Barbara’s Advanced Ballet – Pastorale

Story Ballet is The Princess and the Pea

Carol’s Advanced Lyrical

Carol’s modern. Some of us are wearing these gauchos instead of shorts.

Kristi’s Modern – don’t know what we’ll be wearing. We’ll put something together.

Carol’s Advanced Ballet – Bolero

Monday Sara Ellen and I took a walk up to the library. We also stopped into Blockbuster to rent Ratatouille and got lunch at Subway. The whole trip took about an hour. At ballet Emily and I learned that Carol’s ballet will be Balero, an abstract ballet with a Spanish flair. Instead of this dance Katie M and I will be dancing a modern dance choreographed by Kristi to gives the other ballerinas time to change. We were originally given the choice to do this dance with Kristi and her friend who is the current jazz teacher. Now… the dance will be a duet for Katie and I!! Monday afternoon we learned that Tuxedo, who has been suffering for a while from renal/liver failure was bleeding from his mouth. I found him in the basement with red on his front paw and matted fur. He didn’t have much energy and sat in front of the water dishes while I did the litter.

Tuesday was a great day because it was very productive. Early in the morning, so it was ten but that’s a quick start for us, Sara Ellen and I headed out to do some errands and Christmas shopping. I sent a pair of boots to Lands’ End. They have a great return policy and we have been giving them a bit of business lately finding the right boots, jackets, and accessories. I got a Weatherfield Jacket in white and I love it so far. I am waiting for a larger size in Chalet Boots. I got Sara Ellen adorable faux-shearling tassle boots but exchanged them for furry snow boots.

Then I had to return a new cell phone to the at&t store. Long story. The nokia I had been using was not ringing consistently. Tim said it was within in the contract time-frame that I could upgrade. I decided to try outside nokia (my trusted fave) and got a free pantech c150. It worked ok but a lot of things were different and I didn’t like it so we returned it just on time to an at&t store on Saturday. I got a Nokia 6126, I love nokia. I like using sound profiles and the text messaging is smoother than the pantech. On Sunday, it was beeping for a battery charge so I just turned it off, pretty unusual for me. I plugged it in overnight but it wouldn’t turn on. The mini-screen said local mode. I was told that’s a problem with the charger. So I returned this phone to a local store and got a refund, also hoping I could reorder it online and get it free. That didn’t work. I called for help and customer rep said I had to go to the store and he could give me a $100 credit. Later (in between to follow), I returned to the store. It was loud with some company rep talking and I spoke with the girl I was helped by earlier. The account info wasn’t letting her upgrade so she called customer service, information was not getting through. The store employee, Kristine (very helpful), got her manager. I think she was confusing people talking about upgrade and exchange but when it got down to it, I just bought a new Nokia 6126 and sent in the rebate form. The $100 is apparently being credited to the account, not the phone purchase!

Back to the day. So we headed to Harbour Center to buy a christmas present but power was out so we went to Bowie Town Center. We had lunch at Panera. I was looking for a pay phone to call home collect. I had a chiropractic appointment scheduled and my father was to watch Sara Ellen. But I was in the area and would just take her with me. I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond for bathroom stuff and once back in the car saw I had lots of time so I just headed home. Sara Ellen fell asleep and I had some time before heading back to Crofton. After getting well-adjusted, I parked outside Michael’s Crafts in Riva Festival which is near the at&t store. I completed the phone mess, got a gift at Michael’s, then dinner at Giant. I wasn’t parked near Giant and had to carry the 4 bags (including 6 soup cans) and a box of diapers. When I put them down I saw a hole in a soup bag. I consider it big blessing that didn’t happen as I walked. I had lots of time to make dinner, eat, and read to Sara Ellen before heading out. I picked up Emily at work, went to the then lit Harbour Center where I got a birthday present for my baby. Modern class was fun and we helped to decide on a costume. The music is Phillip Glass (very cool) and the costumes are black and white with a floaty wrap top and black shorts or gauchos.

Wednesday at lunchtime I picked up Emily and we briefly went to Harbour Center. We all went into Old Navy to return jeans I’d bought Sara Ellen. They didn’t have an elastic band and the button didn’t want to close under her baby belly. The adjustable waist band doesn’t help. Then when Emily decided to get a smoothie at Robeks, I decided to wear Sara Ellen on my back and trek over there instead of wasting gas. Emily treated me to a smoothie so I chose the pineapple eggnog… uh, it was a little weird. Emily got a chai smoothie which was a little better. Sara Ellen fell asleep while I drove home from returning Emily to work. At home I started working on a new advent calendar and then watched The Time Machine which had come in the mail. It was actually pretty good. I like that though he started his work because he lost someone, and wanted to know why, he also saw how humans evolve, destroy, and survive. Sara Ellen and I talked to Tim a bit as he walked home. We could hear busses and trams go by and I wished we could be there sharing it with him. At ballet we learned Ms. Easter will be remaking Pastorale by Beethoven using “gorgeous” blue costumes. Most exciting was that I put on my pointe shoes for the pointe work and I didn’t take them off until the end of class! I even did a tricky Paquita combination. Over the last couple days Tuxedo, our cat, has been quietly lying in a basket, climbing out for a little water. Last night I was told he tried to climb out and fell. It’s hard to imagine this spry cat who has scared off dogs from our yard, fading like this. Disappearing/Lying quietly in a basket is natural, and far less traumatic for all involved than the efforts it takes to get him in a carrier to the vet.

This morning, I learned that Tuxedo died during the night. Dad covered him with the sheet he’d been on and took him in the basket to the shed to be buried. I had made an appointment to see a nurse during Emily’s lunchtime and hoped there would be time to come home so we could see Tuxedo before this evening when he would be buried by Mom and Dad. Lately I have not had much use for animals except for their entertainment value to my daughter. But looking at Tux lying with his mouth open, made me sad, realizing how long he has been with us, half my life. After returning Emily to work Sara Ellen and I returned to the yard. She has discovered she loves jumping in piles of leaves!

First class Friday was Open Stretch with Lucy Bowen-McCauley. It was a full class, dancers of all ages. We did a lot of great stretches, some I’ve never tried before. Second class Friday was Open Modern with Thom and Christine Cobb. Again, very full with dancers of all ages. It was fun but I wish I’d been able to get the combination better that Christine taught us. I felt pretty good after both classes, loose and relaxed. But then I did not sleep well all and woke up early, sleepy and achy.

First class Saturday was Senior Int/Adv Ballet with Rhodie Jorgenson. The lights were dim and the wood floor slippery but the teacher was great. I stood with Emily and Carol (L’EdD teacher) and worked really hard. This time the level was more specific but still, several dancers had their own interpretation of the instructions.
Second class Saturday was Senior Contemporary with Calen Kurka. Helping him were members of his company. It was *really* crowded, maybe seventy or more. They led us through a few exercises to gauge our abilities, then they taught segments of choreography. It was fast, hard to see and very detailed, making it pretty frustrating to learn. By the end I just gave into the throwing myself around parts. Emily and I drove out for lunch and then I returned her for afternoon classes before going home.

I went back for Emily and pizza before the Artist’s Concert. Oh, boy, that did not go well.

We sat in the auditorium for a while until a Council member came to talk, a while, then the current president, then another member to give an award, the recipient wasn’t present so a colleague accepted, and talked. The President had thanked the sound and lighting technicians in length, it sounded like they had lots of technical rehearsals and the show would go smoothly. Whether or not they had practiced, it did not go well.

First was Golden Universe Dance Studio dancing Modern Tibetan Dance: The Passion of Kang Ding. They came onstage in darkness except for the backstage light. The ladies got into place but waited quite a while before the music began. The music was a Chinese folk song but sounded a bit like techno. The choreography and costume didn’t seem very authentic to me, but the Festival program says otherwise. Halfway through the dance, the music changed and lights dimmed. The audience clapped but the dancers didn’t move. Turns out sound was wrong, it was set back to the beginning and they had to repeat the dance before doing on the next part!

Second was :pushing progress a company dancing Day Old Hate. This was Calen Kurka’s company and I looked forward to it. I had hoped it was the piece learned in class but no such luck. Calen and three of the four ladies were black shirts and short shorts. Yikes. They began by speaking, not one of my favorite things. Though they did the choreography very well, I didn’t get much from it. I later learned that the tech’s had turned the lights off early and forced the dancers, who were speaking and dancing, to stop.

Third was ClancyWorks dancing Taking Steps. I was scheduled to take a modern class with Adrienne Clancy but I wasn’t sorry to have skipped it after this performance. I heard that a dancer may have been cut from the piece before the performance. Clancy danced on, under, and around a ladder. She did lots of tricks, and the audience seemed to love it but I was reminded of Dance Composition projects when instructed to find ways to manipulate a prop. I wasn’t inspired.

Fourth was Full Circle Dance Company dancing Across the Lines. This was my favorite so far. I prefered the music, movement, and the costumes, camis and gauchos for the ladies and tees and pants for the two men. It seemed to be about crossing racial lines, which became more clear through music and movement as the duet of the black man and white woman merged into a segregated group.

Fifth was Bowen McCauley Dance dancing Bowing (part 1). This was a solo piece and I honestly don’t remember much.

Sixth was Gesel Mason Performance Project dancing On the Verge. This was probably the coolest dance. How many ways can you think of falling without getting hurt? I wasn’t counting, but they found several. I don’t know if it was planned, but before the lights came up you heard bodies falling. I don’t think there was ever music. I know you can fall really well without injuring yourself but I bet they still got plenty bruised, I know I would. They made use of the space beyond the stage. Two ladies jumped from there at the beginning and continued to use it throughout the dance.

Seventh was Ling Tang dancing The Mongolian. Emily wasn’t sure I was serious when I mentioned this was my favorite dance. The rest of the audience sure didn’t respond as enthusiastically as they did to the rest. I felt the dancer had the best stage presence of anyone so far. It felt authentic in it’s ethnic representation and her sense of joy. She was dressed all in red, and used her very large red skirt to “act like a jumping horse, a wavering flame, which symbolizes Mongolian people’s braveness, enthusiasm, vitality, and the faith to their fantastic homeland.” She kept my attention unlike the previous performances.

Eighth was Ballet Theatre of Maryland dancing Collage (Exerpts). I haven’t enjoyed performances from BTM since Dianne Cuatto became Artist Director, except for the first Nutcracker performance she oversaw, because it was still Edward Stewart’s choreography. The dancers are still good, it’s her choreography I don’t like. I thought the costumes were horrible. The first group of dancers wore black leotards, black tights, colored skirts. The leotards weren’t the same, nor the skirts. It did not seem well put together. The next group of dancers wore skirted unitards (on women) and matching tops and pants (on men). They were black with “tears” revealing bright purple, pink, or blue. Perhaps it would have worked if not combined with the other costumes. All the women were en pointe but did not perform anything particularly impressive. There was, however lots of running and lifting.

When I got home I learned Sara Ellen had been unhappy the last two hours, rendering Tim unhappy also. Had I not been transportation for Emily, and already paid for the ticket, I would happily have missed the concert to be with my little one and husband.

Oh, and though I skipped Sunday classes I went in to meet Kristen for lunch. We never found eachother and she didn’t call. I had been in too much of a hurry to change on Friday to get her number. Sara Ellen and I ate lunch with two young girls from our studio. Before leaving Sara Ellen climbed the stairs (with company from one of the girls) and walked around outside. At least it was a beautiful day, I had an EZPass, and Sara Ellen fell asleep on the way home.

Though the weekend left much to be desired, I did accomplish one of my goals, to learn about alternate opportunities for dance in the area.

The dance performance was a really good show, but I was so exhausted and sore by the end. My ankles especially were so sore Sunday from a lot of pointe work after none at all. I was considering moving up to the Advanced Ballet classes but I’ve decided to stay in Intermediate Ballet II. I’ll get to dance more with Katie and Julia and practice pointe. Perhaps I’ll move up another year.

If you were not able to attend any of the performances, I’m sorry you missed it. It was great. Pointe work usually looks better than it feels but I loved dancing side by side in a ballet with my sister. Humbly, my portrayal of the Queen of Hearts was awesome. Modern also went well, as did L’arlesienne. The first act was funny with all it’s acting. The second act/my class’ part, was pretty. At least I think it should have been. I have yet to see the video.

The craziness of Saturday was that it was also the day of Michael’s high school graduation from Annapolis Area Christian School! Our 18-month old alarm clock woke us up in time for a nice breakfast. We Altman’s went to storage to move some things and brought back a tv for Michael’s gift. At home we got some food, picked up Emily and headed to the Severn Run Campus. We had seats in the very back of the balcony. It was actually the perfect space for us with Sara Ellen. I was also able to walk around for photos. After a lot of walking around outside the Chapel, Sara Ellen fell asleep on Tim’s shoulder while I listened to the remainder of the Commencement Address. There were lots of speeches. She only got a short nap, she woke up outside after photos. We got some cookies, I said hello to some teachers, and we left Michael and Dad there. Emily, Mom and I got ourselves together at home, spent a little time with Tim’s mother and raced off for the warm-up and Saturday performance. Tim, his mother, my Dad, Aunt Carol, Sara Ellen, my friend Ginger, and a Mary Kay teammate attended. Also planned for that night was a trip to Double T Diner for some of the dancers and our mothers. My plan, as Sara Ellen pretty happily attended the performance (except for the end), was to spend a little time with her, send her home and go out. I should have followed my gut to go home because I was just tired and probably not much fun.

SUNDAY! Sleep, no church, duck through the rain and get to warmup at noon. Ankles are very, very sore but I am able to dance well in the third performance of “Degas”, Ms. Easter’s ballet. In “Alice” I don’t have to look pleasant. I make my exhaustion look like hautiness, scariness, whatever. Julia gives me red roses plus an awesome partially red-painted, white rose. Mom also gives me red roses. Then I attempt to seem not so tired when greeting Sara and Nathan who came up to see me and Sara’s brother. Mom rubs my ankles before modern and I have a wobbly time during a long one-legged balance. During L’arlesienne I try to look pleasant as I recall the next phrases and it happily passes quickly. I get into sweats, not the nice clothes, and drive to the party with the Draughn’s. Nathan, who basically grew up with all men, is already tired from an early morning and shocked by all the ballerina’s. We stay for food and I try to visit with friends but head out before the DVD of Friday night is put on. I change my clothes and spend a little time with them at home before we head back out and meet Mom and Emily at Joss Cafe and Sushi Bar for Michael’s Graduation Dinner.

Whoosh! I finally have a rest. Though Sara Ellen and I did attend the monthly La Leche League meeting. I have a couple things to do this week before we head to the Outer Banks Sunday with Tim’s mother for a week. Sara Ellen has a check up Thursday. We’ve had to find a new pediatrician because our new insurance is not accepted by Schneider’s office. Friday I am getting a hair trim so my hair will be nicely styled for the Robert Jones/Mary Kay workshop on Saturday. It’s all day with a makeup artist! Hopefully I’ll learn some cool tricks. Though I want to order this cool new book put out by Mary Kay called Color Insider, it’s supposed to give all the same professional tips to Consultants.

And yet Ms. Easter asked me to be in her ballet in place of another girl. Pretty amazing.

3 Days rest until dress rehearsals at Anne Arundel Community College.
3 Days of 5 hours at AACC for rehearsals.
3 Days of probably 5 hours at AACC for performances!

In addition, tickets will be on sale at the following times during the week of May 7 – 12.

Monday: 3:45 – 6:00 & 7:00 – 9:00
Tuesday: 10:30 – 11:15 & 4:30 – 9:00
Wednesday: 4:15 – 6:00
Thursday: 5:00 – 8:30
Friday: 4:30 – 5:45
Saturday: 10:15 – 11:15 & 12:15 – 1:00

Additional tickets will be available during dress rehearsal, and at the door before each performance.

Cost for each ticket is $10.