Literature Portfolio

Not so little me attempting a good photo with books :)

   I heard from my friends from school that they are making this thing called a "Literature Portfolio". If school was the world, "Literature Portfolio" would trend on Twitter... definitely.


  So, I decided to ask what that was and they said that our {wait, the} principal required them to make a list of books they have read...


  I remember Mom, long ago... telling me to do just that. 


  Pleased and Motivated, I busied myself with listing down my 'Literate Accomplishments'. So there. The life of a homeschooler.


 Saw a lot of school friends today :)

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  Spotted a poster of Encantada in a restaurant. I was like "Success!!!! Oh Yeah!!!" Ashley says she sees a lot of them in different places... I wish she'd tell me! I'll do a poster count ^_^ Apparently it's Carissa Adea{not Candice} who will be dancing for us this August. I'm not sure I ever watched her but am glad for the introduction ^_^


  The stage in Locsin's has some interesting props for Dahon. And the latest newspaper article by Michael Dakudao; Agnes Locsin’s PUNO: Pangatlong Galaw.


  Asked Ate Gigi about the Encantada Tickets. They are not selling any until Dahon shows. 


  There was a short pointe class. last Saturday. Didn't get to join. I didn't bring my shoes :(

  Class with Ate Georgette this week. 

Dance Again

  I woke up this morning with an aching body. I've probably said that hundreds of times before but it's the truth, you know? I think I did pretty good in glass yesterday. I was just a bit lazy on the barre and I couldn't get one combination :( But I was proud of my Pas de basque. OK, new fave step! 


  My back did not hurt at all the entire class and I was still able to do a more than 90 degrees arabesque. Wooohooo! Yeah! Not-so-good news: The dreaded Cambre on releve is back -_- Need to strengthen my releve... Teacher Agnes suggested that the Ballet 3 class attend Ballet 2 to strengthen the little things like articulation and turn out {arches for me}. 


  A new work is going to be staged at Locsin's soon. The third part to the Alay sa Puno series: 

PUNO: Pangatlong Galaw. 

    

  It's so cool that my teacher's work going is to be stage at PETA, when I just came from there! I just find it so serendipitous... 

Must Watch!!!!

With Georgette Sanchez and Ballet Buddy Katrina

  Watched Dahon last night. Teacher Agnes opened the performance with a few words about how she turned plants into an inspiration for the Alay sa Puno series. "I want to build a forest," she said, "On stage, and in real life. But it takes a lot of time and patience."

  It was b e a u t i f u l. Georgette Sanchez is truly a beautiful dancer. The props were really good. Leaves and water fell from the ceiling.  Some people in the audience, were looking up, wondering where the leaves were coming from :P

  I wont spoil, but my favorite part of the show was when Ate Georgette danced with this huge sheet of plastic. It looked like a veil in the beginning and wind was blowing leaves on it. You'll understand if you watch it :D

  I didn't take any pictures because it was "strictly prohibited", but my sisters and I collected some leaves as remembrance :D

  The piece made nature inspire me to dance. It has no story so "Just enjoy the dancing and the images that you see" says Teacher Agnes.

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  Dahon  runs from Feb 10, 11, and 12 at the Locsin Dance Workshop, 89 Elpidio Quirino Ave., Davao City 8000, Philippines. Tel. No.: (63 82) 227-4753. E-mail: locsindanceworkshop@yahoo.com

Watched with my sisters Ashley and Allegra

{This post has been modified from it's original form}

And The Winner Is...

Noelle Hidalgo!!! :D

Congratulations Noey, and thanks for joining my little contest. Enjoy the show :)

  So the contest is now closed. Thanks for all those who joined! Hopefully I will have more contests like this in the future...

  Thank you also to my mom, who suggested this contest. It was fun and I learned some new things ^_^

2 tickets to 'Dahon'

  I'd like to warn those who are watching 'Dahon', that Teacher Agnes is pretty strict about cameras. If you plan to take any pictures I advice that you turn off the flash and make sure there are no sounds coming from your devices. Thanks :D

  

Prep Week

  Class this Monday was at 6:30p.m. Kuya Henry Taught. His steps were more complicated, with more turns. He made Ballet 3 go home early though :(
    Later, in the dressing room, Ate Niki, one of the Ballet 5 dancers, told us that there would be no class on Wednesday. No pointes at Saturday either :| Probably to make way for preparations for "Dahon"...
  I was looking forward to dancing this week... just bad timing I guess.
  Can't wait to watch "Dahon"! Don't forget about the contest I put up, heres a link for details: from Pointe to Pointe: Contest :D
  And my mom showed me this article written by Teacher Agnes' cousin, Michael Dakudao for the Mindanao Times: Dahon: Ikalawang Galaw (The Creative Process)... Can relate with the way he described Teacher Agnes' teaching :P
  Watched the finals of the Prix de Lausanne yesterday. Congratulations to all the prize winners! :D

Photo via Ballet News

Teacher Agnes

  I watch as Teacher Agnes demonstrates the new barre exercises. At her age, she can still lift her leg up, straight, and long, with pointed feet, to 90 degrees. She points a long finger at a student, telling her off, correcting her. Then she walks back to her chair. "Ready" then starts the music.
  I often wonder how she was when she was young. No doubt her legs were very long and strong. So much more than now. Her feet beautifully arched, I think she was flexible too. I wish I could watch her dance. Or her mother, Carmen Dakudao, who she dedicates a lot of her works to.
  Recently, Teacher Agnes has been rehearsing her piece "Dahon" with her niece, internationally renowned dancer Georgette Sanchez. "Dahon", as I have mentioned time and again, is the sequel to "Ugat" which she choreographed on Ballet Philippines dancer Biag Gaongen. 
  As you can tell from the names of these two works, Teacher Agnes loves trees. Her garden in the ballet school is lush and well cared for. Signs warn little ballerinas not to pick the dainty flowers beside the swing.    Every time I walk through the the part of the garden that is shaded by, I think, a large Bougainvillea tree, there is a certain smell. I think I'll always remember that smell.
  Today I dance on pointe with no padding, masking tape or anything to protect my feet. Just stockings. Finally, I felt the pain I hadn't felt in a long time... I don't know why I miss pain, It sounds psycho, I know. My performance was not hindered though. Maybe I'll do it again, until I get a blister :| 

  

Here is a video of Agnes Locsin's "Archnida"

More On "Dahon"

Dahon (Leaf) is the sequel to Agnes' Ugat (Roots). They are both part of a series of works entitled Alay sa Puno.

  I wasn't able to see Ugat but I'm going to see Dahon. I'm so happy Georgette Sanchez, a world class dancer is here to perform Teacher Agnes work, who is for me a legend in dance.

  To promote my school and teacher, I'm holding a raffle contest on Facebook. The winner will receive 2 tickets to Dahon's Sunday show at 6 pm.

This contest is now closed :)

Dahon: Ikalawang Galaw

ATTENTION PLEASE! ^_^  

Agnes Locsin's "Dahon: Ikalawang Galaw" Will be showing in the Locsin Dance Workshop on Febuary 10, 11, and 12, Starring Georgette Sanchez. More about the piece HERE.

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Teacher Agnes

  I now get why there are nets with leaves on our classroom ceiling. Props for "Dahon" :D
  It was a freezing, unusual-Davao-weather-day today!!! Wore warmers to school and Ballet. I don't like dancing with cold calves... I don't know if it's possible or connected, but my legs hurt when I stretch cold muscles :| I read that they need to be warm... But maybe I was just influenced by that information :P

  We learned our entrance for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Teacher Agnes is slowly adding. little by little. I'm curious about my pointe number with fellow pointe starter, Christine... It was so cute today when we wore similar outfits, each with dashes of our personalities. Christine, lady-like and sweet, Me, boyish and laid back.
  So excited to watch "Dahon"!!!