"YOU MAKE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUT OF US."

two photos of on stage moments that meant so much to me from this past weekend.

I won't forget the way it feels to jitter and shake together on stage right before the curtains went up.  I won't forget holding hands with everyone and the quick exchanges of "I love yous" right before the curtains went up.  I won't forget the people who helped me quick change in my back to back to back dances.  I won't forget all of the late night talks at Denny's after rehearsals. I won't forget that moment on stage where my eyes got really teary because I was getting so lost in the moment. I won't forget the way it feels to walk back to the dressing room after finishing a dance to everyone clapping and cheering. I won't forget the people who encouraged me and lifted me up when I wasn't feeling good enough.  I won't forget the notes and the letters.  I won't forget the fact that my friend survived cancer, and I won't forget how much his story empowered me while doing my solo. I won't forget the unexpected flowers on a night where I thought nobody was watching.  I won't forget the reminders to breathe.  I won't forget how good it felt to improv with every improv opportunity that I got.  I won't forget how together I felt with everyone for this concert.

It feels more like a family.
And I love it.

I'm so thankful to be where I am right now in my life.  As this semester comes to a close, I walk away with new friendships that have kept me chugging on through these past few months.  Not only do I take away new friendships with new experiences, but I also take away stronger friendships, closer friendships.  It's an incredible feeling to be able to do what you love with people you enjoy so much.

My dance professor pulled me aside to talk with me before the concert because she could read nothing but stress and worry on my face.  I don't know how she knew, but she knew and she was exactly right.  She was able to see that everything going on outside of dance was swallowing me up, but she reminded me of how blessed I am.  She reminded me to zone it all out.  She reminded me of the fact that dance is my therapy, my passion, my love.  She reminded me to be in the moment and to let everything else go while I was up on that stage... and I did exactly that.

And I loved it.

"You have no idea how amazing you are.  I'd kill to be you."

A pocket full of love, good friends by my side, and words of wisdom.
Things get hard, but life is good.
I certainly have moments where I feel crappy, but God always reminds me about how blessed I am to be

ALIVE.

FEAST YOUR EARS ON NEW CANDY.

I've been listening to a lot of different artists, especially while working on work. But! There are two specific bands that my ears have been loving: HAIM and Golden Silvers, both makers of good music.

Just press play. I'm sure you will not regret it.

HAIM is just pure fun.

Golden Silvers are just wonderful.

enjoy!

x.

Bill Robinson said it right.

top: a funny tilt photo :: bottom: filipina dancers sharing love

I was feeling pretty crappy about myself yesterday.  I didn't go to my internship, which is bad because I still need tons of hours, which made me feel really crappy. Instead, I spent my hours of the day going through choreography to the best of my ability in my family room for an upcoming concert... my nerves, they are building!!!

God has been really challenging me, dance-wise, this semester. While others have been telling me that I've found my own style, it's still such a battle to execute things that are extremely technical.  God has been placing me in more situations that require me to do more alisicone turns, more grand jetes, more chaine jetes and just more turns and jumps in general.  You have to understand, it's definitely a challenge for someone who just barely started taking technique at age 19. However, I've proudly accepted the challenge and I'm so thankful for this semester that is filled with MUCH MORE technique.  I've realized that alisicone turns don't even look too bad on me (just need to tweak my placement a bit sometimes), my grand jetes actually look like grand jetes now (I know my right side does, at least) and chaine jetes are actually pretty awesome.  It all comes down to confidence and whether or not you believe you can do it, or whether or not you're even willing to try, and I mean try your best.  I've learned that if you go into something telling yourself that you can't do it and that you aren't good enough, then the outcome will show exactly that.  Take pride in the abilities that God has attached to your human body, believe in God, believe in yourself... and do it. You might just surprise yourself.

This wonderful quote has been on here before, I'm sure, but here it is again:
"Believe in yourself. You can accomplish a great deal with whatever you've got if you believe in yourself and always believe in God." - Bill "Bojangles" Robinson

I've also realized that eating out with your friends after rehearsal is always a good idea. 
x.