Sorry for the slight delay in posting. We're actually home now....so I have to catch you up on the events of Friday and the return to Hali.
So Friday was show day! We got up at about 7:30am packed up and began our tech rehearsals at the theatre at 9am. The Sarg runs a tight ship and everything ran on schedule....we teched our two pieces from 9-12 then took a little break for lunch. The Kingswood girls came for their tech rehearsal at 1:30....their first time running the new piece with lights and wings! very exciting for them! We were absolutely amazed by their ability to immediately adapt to the lights. (Lights are not easy to deal with.....they are hard on the eyes and the balance.....it can take some getting used to). This was another example of how their gym training and their amazing ability to focus helped them....such a professional group! Yeah....we were holding back the tears watching them rehearse!
Our videographer, Chris Beckett arrived to film the dress rehearsal and show (Thanks Chris....that was a lot of driving and filming all in one day!! you rock). Warm-up #1 started at 2:30 (ahh "musical gems"....makes ballet barre so enjoyable). We had a dress rehearsal in full costume, make-up and all (for the video) from 3:00 to 4:30. Thanks to Lesandra (choreographer) and Anne (the Chair of our board) for watching the dress! Always nice to have a couple of peeps in the house.
Sarg was so on the ball that we actually had a nice long dinner break (4:30 - 6).....this doesn't always happen if things don't go as smoothly....but when it happens it is so wonderful. Really helps with the mental prep. We snuck into the Kingswood girls' dressing room to leave them each a rose and a card to thank them for such a wonderful week!
Then....warm-up #2. Always hard to convince the body to warm-up for the second time. But old faithful "musical gems" ballet barre did the trick and we were rearing to go once again.
8:00 show time! We're estimating between 275 - 350 in the house. Pretty good size. The Kingswood girls opened the show and made us so proud! Beautifully executed and the crowd was so impressed with their accomplishments for such a short time. Next: Mel, Saragan and I performed Lesandra's piece (You Tackle a Staircase Face On) - we were really happy to be performing it at the Playhouse because Lesandra lives in Fredericton now. After an intermission Mel, Saragan, Lishe and I performed "5 Breaths" by Roger Sinha....with our stylin new costumes from Rachael Grant (costume designer extraordinaire). Good Show! We were feelin the love in Fredericton. After the show Lesandra joined us for a "talk back". A good portion of the audience stayed to ask questions. My favorite comment came from a parent of one of the gymnasts....."I don't usually go to see modern dance.....but now I will....I want to see more". Yes!!!!
After the show we hit up the Snooty Fox with Lesandra, her friends, Tim Yerxa (Director of the Fredericton Playhouse) and the Sarg for.....................that's right.........what ever deep fried goodness you want and a bevy!! We never eat that much on the day of a show cause you don't want to feel overly full or weighted down. After doing the show twice....we're ready to EAT! This after show eat fest was a quick one though because we decided to hit the road to beat the ice and freezing rain storm forecast for NB. I know this sounds crazy (it was a little), but we decided it would be the best option. Lishe was missing her baby and we all had things scheduled for Saturday that we wanted to make it home for!
Soooo....Sarg made us leave Snooty at 11:30 (his watch alarm goes off every half hour I swear....and he also set his watch for when we had to leave to beat the storm). Lishe drove and Mel took shotgun/de-fogger/Co-pilot/"beast watch" duty. Beast watch was key for the jumping deer, Moose or any other beast with a death wish. Lishe and Mel did a stellar job. Mel was on constant look-out for beast eyes and would sound the alarm....."Eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes"....when necessary. A quick stop in Truro was required to stretch the limbs.....you see, dancing the show twice and then hopping in an over-stuffed car is pretty hard on the bods. It's almost like rigor mortise sets in. We hobbled into Irving looking like we were 80 years old at 3:00am with remnants of our stage makeup. Not a pretty sight. Arrived home around 4:30am safe and sound! A very long and eventful day. Thanks Lishe and Mel for getting us home!
A great tour! Some good dancing, some inspiring work with the Kingswood gymnasts, a chance to work with our choreographer Lesandra again and a great show at the beautiful Playhouse. I feel so lucky to work every day with my wonderful friends doing something I love.....we work hard, and have so many good laughs along the way. I love you guys!
xo CC
So Friday was show day! We got up at about 7:30am packed up and began our tech rehearsals at the theatre at 9am. The Sarg runs a tight ship and everything ran on schedule....we teched our two pieces from 9-12 then took a little break for lunch. The Kingswood girls came for their tech rehearsal at 1:30....their first time running the new piece with lights and wings! very exciting for them! We were absolutely amazed by their ability to immediately adapt to the lights. (Lights are not easy to deal with.....they are hard on the eyes and the balance.....it can take some getting used to). This was another example of how their gym training and their amazing ability to focus helped them....such a professional group! Yeah....we were holding back the tears watching them rehearse!
Our videographer, Chris Beckett arrived to film the dress rehearsal and show (Thanks Chris....that was a lot of driving and filming all in one day!! you rock). Warm-up #1 started at 2:30 (ahh "musical gems"....makes ballet barre so enjoyable). We had a dress rehearsal in full costume, make-up and all (for the video) from 3:00 to 4:30. Thanks to Lesandra (choreographer) and Anne (the Chair of our board) for watching the dress! Always nice to have a couple of peeps in the house.
Sarg was so on the ball that we actually had a nice long dinner break (4:30 - 6).....this doesn't always happen if things don't go as smoothly....but when it happens it is so wonderful. Really helps with the mental prep. We snuck into the Kingswood girls' dressing room to leave them each a rose and a card to thank them for such a wonderful week!
Then....warm-up #2. Always hard to convince the body to warm-up for the second time. But old faithful "musical gems" ballet barre did the trick and we were rearing to go once again.
8:00 show time! We're estimating between 275 - 350 in the house. Pretty good size. The Kingswood girls opened the show and made us so proud! Beautifully executed and the crowd was so impressed with their accomplishments for such a short time. Next: Mel, Saragan and I performed Lesandra's piece (You Tackle a Staircase Face On) - we were really happy to be performing it at the Playhouse because Lesandra lives in Fredericton now. After an intermission Mel, Saragan, Lishe and I performed "5 Breaths" by Roger Sinha....with our stylin new costumes from Rachael Grant (costume designer extraordinaire). Good Show! We were feelin the love in Fredericton. After the show Lesandra joined us for a "talk back". A good portion of the audience stayed to ask questions. My favorite comment came from a parent of one of the gymnasts....."I don't usually go to see modern dance.....but now I will....I want to see more". Yes!!!!
After the show we hit up the Snooty Fox with Lesandra, her friends, Tim Yerxa (Director of the Fredericton Playhouse) and the Sarg for.....................that's right.........what ever deep fried goodness you want and a bevy!! We never eat that much on the day of a show cause you don't want to feel overly full or weighted down. After doing the show twice....we're ready to EAT! This after show eat fest was a quick one though because we decided to hit the road to beat the ice and freezing rain storm forecast for NB. I know this sounds crazy (it was a little), but we decided it would be the best option. Lishe was missing her baby and we all had things scheduled for Saturday that we wanted to make it home for!
Soooo....Sarg made us leave Snooty at 11:30 (his watch alarm goes off every half hour I swear....and he also set his watch for when we had to leave to beat the storm). Lishe drove and Mel took shotgun/de-fogger/Co-pilot/"beast watch" duty. Beast watch was key for the jumping deer, Moose or any other beast with a death wish. Lishe and Mel did a stellar job. Mel was on constant look-out for beast eyes and would sound the alarm....."Eyes, eyes, eyes, eyes"....when necessary. A quick stop in Truro was required to stretch the limbs.....you see, dancing the show twice and then hopping in an over-stuffed car is pretty hard on the bods. It's almost like rigor mortise sets in. We hobbled into Irving looking like we were 80 years old at 3:00am with remnants of our stage makeup. Not a pretty sight. Arrived home around 4:30am safe and sound! A very long and eventful day. Thanks Lishe and Mel for getting us home!
A great tour! Some good dancing, some inspiring work with the Kingswood gymnasts, a chance to work with our choreographer Lesandra again and a great show at the beautiful Playhouse. I feel so lucky to work every day with my wonderful friends doing something I love.....we work hard, and have so many good laughs along the way. I love you guys!
xo CC
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