The Prix is here...

Photo from the Prix de Lausanne's Tumblr

  Probably one of the biggest events in the world of Ballet, the Prix de Lausanne, has just begun. Although a bunhead no more, it hasn't failed to excite me this year ^_^ Today is the first day of the Prix, but since my country sees the sun before Switzerland does, there isn't much that I can say :(

  Anyway, here's the trailer:

  This has made me reflect quite a bit about quitting ballet. Now I know it's not the end of the world and I'm just over reacting and being "passionate" again, but when I first heard about the Prix, I actually thought I could make it there. I actually did. Really. I don't think I'm a quitter and I don't feel particularly bad about leaving that dream and all. Wow! I've stopped beating myself up!

  I guess some people were a bit surprised that I quit ballet since I was so into it then but that's part of growing up and living! You have hobbies because they're a little something you enjoy! Just like adults; some adults don't like their jobs and they quit and find a new one and feel like they have a new life all together. Of course it's not that easy and not everyone can just leave their jobs but, it felt like that for me and ballet (now I sound like I'm going thru a break-up). I felt like I lost my purpose.

  You know, I look back now and I realized it wasn't ballet that I particularly liked. It was being onstage and performing. Per-for-ming. But maybe I'm just saying that and fooling myself to vindicate me, hehehe :|

  Ballet's super pretty, but it's not something I want to be a part of anymore. I'm just not that kind of person :)

  Peace ☮

  Kudos to the Prix de Lausanne candidates this year. You've done it ;)

Home

V&A Museum, London

  I'm home now! We arrived in Davao City Friday night this week. I learned a lot of things about this trip; mostly about myself, people, common sense...

  The point of this post is that I'm quitting Ballet. If you've read a lot of my recent posts you can probably tell that I don't want to dance Ballet anymore, that I like theatre and acting, and am probably a little stressed and un-inspired. I could just continue dancing but just not be so serious about it, but, the problem is, it hurts! My foot, my back, I think I should start listening to my body and forget about what everyone else will say. My classmates will probably not fully understand, Teacher Agnes will most likely be disappointed, some people might say "I was right, she wouldn't stay" but it's not about them :)

  I'll probably make a new blog too. Not soon, when I've re-kindled the joy of blogging I will. I like to start from nothing. Start fresh.

  Since I wont dance anymore, I'm selling my new Gaynors for half the price I bought them, since they've already been used. So if you want a Gaynor Minden size 9.5 (8.5 in street shoes), Narrow, Box 3, Extraflex shank, please email me at amberspointe@gmail.com

Instagram

So, what's up?

  I might just be going through a long mental block but I feel like such an irresponsible blogger if I don't post! We have a long vacation of one week coming up, no ballet class at all. Hopefully a trip to the beach; one of my favorite getaway places :*>

  My mom sent me a link a few days ago and now it's one of my fave sites, Mind Body Green. Speaking of which, there's this blog widget, a list of links, that I've been thinking of adding a long time ago. I think I'll finally apply it to my blog and maybe change my look again. I'm sorry for you, my audience if it's irritating to have a blogger constantly making changes to their site, but that's how I roll. I'm the kind of person who thrives with change. Hopefully you guys who read me are after what I write and not very much how I look ;)

  I just feel the simplicity of my blog's look right now is too lonely :(

  I also feel like adding an About Me page. Finally I didn't get stuck trying to write about myself!

  P.S. Gaynor Mindens aren't as I expected them... No words...

In The Shoes: Grishko

  If your traditional, get Grishkos. They last  f o r e v e r.

  I bought my second pair of pointes by texting That's D Pointe Dance Shop in Manila after my first pair gave up on me in two weeks. My first (and second) pointe recital was danced in these shoes which make them valuable in the market of sentiment...

  I think I chose Grishko among other brands because a) There was no other that had my size or b) I heard that they were Svetlana Zakharova's shoes. I quite forgot :(

© Kina De Mendoza

© Kina De Mendoza

  My Dear Grishkos lasted for more than one year. This is because they "fossilize". Somehow, if you don't use it for a long time, the glue in the shoe hardens, making it good as new! Credit for that info goes to R.A.D. Ballet Buddy Ingrid :) The shape of the shoe was also very foot-flattering, with a slight V in the vamp, and a long tapered look. Very Russian.
  

  Because of the shoe's hardness, I got a lot of blisters, also because I didn't have enough padding, causing hammertoes... This blister is the reason for the dark spot (which is blood) on the left shoe...

  This is also the shoe that me and a friend at LCB had a fight about. After a whole day of not talking to each other, I said sorry and she did too... 

  What I liked most about Grishko was it's box. I'm a fan of hard boxes, they give me some support, but are also rather heavy. The shank was good too, very pliable. This is probably the best shoe I've had so far, but I'm going to keep looking... 

© Jun Tupas

{Visit grishko.com}

It's Here!!!

Instagram

  My new pointes arrived today!!! On Thursday last week, I e-mailed Danse Boite asking if they had Gaynor Mindens. I'm so happy that they actually have my (huge) size! It took some trouble though, ordering it, there was a little confusion but it was all sorted out on Monday of this week when they replied to my text, confirming the shipment of my shoes :)

  They feel so light! I'm so used to the "traditional" hard, bulky, over protected feel of pointe shoes that these GMs feel like nothing at all!

  I got a size 9.5, narrow, box 3, Extraflex shank. I was a bit torn between a supple and Extraflex but decided on the latter because it's supposedly a good choices for tall dancers. I did my research before buying :) Downloading the fitting guide of whatever brand of pointe shoe your getting really helps. They usually give it for free in their website. You can download the Gaynor Minden Fitting Guidelines Here.

  Sentimental post coming up soon... an In the Shoes write up on my Grishkos ♥

 
  Pointe class tonight!

Buying New Pointes

Mom figuring out the Gaynor Minden tracing sheets at The POD.
Taken with Instagram.

  After pointe class one Wednesday, Ate Nikki asked me if my shoes were soft and said that I should change them as soon as possible. A few before, Teacher Agnes also told me that my Dear Grishkos are deformed. About time I got a new pair, and guess what I've decided on... Gaynor Mindens!

  I just got the email from the GM fitters about my fitting details earlier last week. I wanted to make sure that I got the right size because when buying Gaynor Mindens, you must get a shoe one size larger than your U.S. street shoe size. I'm an 8.5 and 9.5 sounds like a LARGE pointe shoe so I downloaded the tracing sheets as recommended by my Ballet Buddy Christine. But apparently, 9-9.5's the right size o.O

  I decided on GMs because, of course, of all the good reviews surrounding it. I also have never dance with toe pads and since Gaynors are already so cushioned by themselves, they might give me more comfort and I can forget pain... and ever buying pads if they make me happy. FACT: More people in Locsin's wear Gaynors than any brand of pointes.

  So I guess I'm gong to come up  with another In The Shoes post soon. My Grishkos have been really great, but we'll talk about that next time :D

(Pointe) Shoe Repair

  Months ago at True Value in Abreeza, I spotted a pair of toe pads. They weren't of a ballet brand but they looked exactly like them! I wanted to get the pair and there but Mom advised me to come back when I had my pointes with me. So yesterday, you can guess that I did just that. Unfortunately for me, True Value ran out of stocks! Apparently, I'm not alone with this discovery -_- I found an alternative, though;

Corn Wraps. 

  Corns, also called Hyperkeratosis, are hardened skin caused by pressure. This can lead to deformities like hammer toes... Here is a photo of my foot from last year; an example of Hammer toes :(

  The Corn Wraps I got at True Value cost P 250 for three pieces. Washable and reusable, I plan to put them in a small pouch [shown above] before tipping into the washing machine.  

* * *

  Last Wednesday, at pointe class, we were doing pique pasés from one end of the room to the other. Teacher Agnes went up to me when I had a dangerous slip on my first attempt. "Look at your pointe shoes, you have to do something about them" she said to me. The satin on the back part of the platform had rubbed off, exposing the slippery cloth-and-glue layer.

Instagram
'Dead' pointe shoes...

  Here yea, here yea! I have done something about it! I had to find a way to cover the slippery area and remembered Gaynor Minden's Sued Tips. They don't sell them separate form the shoes though so that was out of the question. Another choice was Moleskin. I couldn't find any.

 Now here comes the option I went for where you have to put aside your sentiments; cutting your old ballet flats. I glued and darned the edges of the cutouts to the platform like I have read of so many dancers doing. It isn't as hard as I thought.

 I oh so love tinkering with my pointes! 

  Last week, I think it was Saturday, Nina let me try on her Gaynor Mindens. They were so soft, not at all like pointe shoes. I was sold. My next pair will be Gaynors. "No wonder I feel so tired after pointe class," I thought 'these these GM's are pain-less!"

  Any how, wish me luck with tonight's pointe class. hopefully I have adjusted to the fatigue and pain... Maybe because I'm skipping my iron supplement?

Shoe Paranoia

Lady Gaga's heel-less shoes.
Not in this lifetime...

  I was researching about a medical condition last night when I came across a slide show on "The Worst Shoes for Your Feet" in WebMD {where I usually go to read about these health stuff}. Intriguing right? So I checked it out...

  I don't often wear heels, nor do I own any outrageous shoes but the photos and captions were making me think twice about my next releve... Talk about my next pointe class! Even Ballet flats, it turns out, because of their lack of arch support, can be harmful!

  Sheesh! And to think my chronic tendon pain has been hurting more than usual since Monday... Am wearing my ankle support nowadays. I iced my foot but it seems to get less flexible and harder to pointe when I do :( 


  I read from Dance Magazine some time ago that Flip-flops aren't a good alternative either. I re-posted the article that they included in their e-newsletter in my Tumblr: "Flip-Flop Flaws".

  I feel the need for new shoes... Nice comfy loafers maybe... or another pair of Chucks?

Puno cast warm up class

Christine comparing my huge pointe shoe with her minuscule one :P

  This morning, I was panicking and nervous because I thought I was late. When I arrived, though, Ballet 2 was still ending. Whew! I thought. I was relieved... So relieved.


  "No class today!" Teacher Agnes announced. She said that we were going to watch the cast of Puno in a warm up class. She explained how the dancers of Puno go on to explore their bodies because their technique is solid.


  We sat in the sides while Nikki Uy, Gaye Galiluyo, and Georgette Sanchez executed clean barre combinations. It was modern and each had a different way of dancing. It was so interesting; 

Ate Nikki is undoubtedly clean in her movement. She dances the steps as they were made to be danced.

Ate Gaye is very 'upright' and muscled. You can see the muscles in her legs tightening as she dances. Despite this, she was still no sweat by center floor...

Ate Georgette's dancing looks so effortless and each step is organic. She makes it look as if the dance was made for her.


* * *

  {Not to fear, the barre combinations are in You Tube! ^_^}


Just click the links:

PUNO: Pangatlong Galaw Warm-up Class (Exercise 1)

PUNO: Pangatlong Galaw Warm-up Class (Exercise 2)

PUNO: Pangatlong Galaw Warm-up Class (Exercise 3)

PUNO: Pangatlong Galaw Warm-up Class (Exercise 4)

PUNO: Pangatlong Galaw Warm-up Class (Exercise 5)

  Watching the warm up class was inspiring. It made me reflect on my own dancing and want to work harder...

  We ended earlier then usual, of course so we {Ballet 3 and 4} just talked while waiting for our rides home. We ended up comparing pointe shoes and Chritine's is tiny!!!!

Goodbye Quotes! #1

  As I am accumulating more and more widgets for my blog, I have decided to remove the quotes gadget. Just for remembrance, I'm going to post them g r a d u a l l y  in my new and improved Tumbr Site!!! :D Goodbye, Inspirational Quotes, I feel a great loss for you!

  The first quote that I'm going to let go of is also one of my favorites;

  Ya' see that!!! Photo credits to my sister; Ashley ^_^

  Mehn, what a day, I'm waiting for an important email...

  I love Tumblr ^_^ ...I still don't have Pinterest! :(


  I almost did not eat meat for the whole day yesterday... Beef steak for Dinner, though, so...

In The Shoes: Capezio

  This is my first entry in my "In The Shoes" series. Since I am now en pointe and am going through my second pair of shoes, I will blog about the pointes I have danced in. How they felt for me, how long they lasted, ups, and downs, those stuff.
  My first pointe shoe was Capezio. I don't know if they were Aerial or Contempora, it didn't say :(
  I got them in LCB. The first time I fitted them, I had never put on a pointe shoe before, except for my friend's incredibly soft Gaynor Mindens. I was overwhelmed with how tight and hard the box was. I found it hard to walk, 'How am I going to dance?' I thought...
  Despite the pain, I couldn't stop putting them on and looking in the mirror. They were so pretty, so shiny! On the night we bought them, I slept with them on!
  They lasted for 2 weeks, during which the right side of my hips started feeling painful. I told my mom about this and she heard from a friend (the mom of the friend who owned the Gaynors I tried) that the wrong shoes could put pressure and even injure the hips, knees, and of course, feet. I stayed with the Capezios though, until they were just too soft to stand on.
  I showed them to my teacher, Teacher Ces, and she said I had to get new ones and that, compared to most of my classmates, whose pointes were still brick hard, my feet were pretty strong. I was proud of this, but my mom wasn't so happy about it. She always says "Such expensive shoes, you can't even walk on the street in them!"

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.

* * *

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"!!!

Just A Thought...

Georgette Sanchez in Encatada

  Georgette Sanchez did not take class with us this morning. But she watched our Gershwin piece which we will be dancing again for the next recital alongside "A Midsummer Night's". Teacher Agnes explained that our recital will be just be based on "A Midsummer Night's". We will wear more modern costumes. No tutus.
  I have to work on Gershwin. Will keep watching the videos and take note of my mistakes... This morning before class started, I was walking up the stairs in my pointe shoes and I stubbed my toe on the step >_< No dead nails though...
  Ate Gorgette/ Ms. Sanchez (that awkward moment when you don't know what to call an older person O.o) will be teaching on Monday, Chinese New Year (red leotard opportunity XP). But I think it's Ballet 4 not 3 :| I found this article about her very interesting: Mindanao Times; Lifestyle, Dancing leaves
  I suddenly, for some reason I don't know, thought of myself as Georgette Sanchez for a while. You know, kind of like put myself in her shoes, and I thought that if I'm like an adult already, and I'd read my past blog entries, I'd probably cry :')... Just a though...

Ballet Chuck's

  I got pretty bored changing my shoelaces form black to white and back, so I decided to give it a balletic spin. I'm proud of the results!

  This morning, I woke up at seven but I didn't get out till 30 minutes after. Ate breakfast as quickly as possible and left the house. It was one of those cold, rainy, grey days.We had a one hour pointe class followed by a regular class. I felt very shaky. My classmate said it might be the sugar I ate for breakfast :| My toenails hurt now... I remember, I forgot to trim them :( No blisters to show off though :P None in a long time...
  Were doing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for our next recital. So excited! Beginners on pointe are going to dance a short number, the rest of the show will be on soft shoes :D
  Lots of dancers opt not to watch videos of whatever role their dancing so that they won't get 'influenced'.
  We did "A Midsummer" in the first quarter of school for English. We had to role play a scene from it and it was HILARIOUS!

Holiday Reading

  Hey everybody! I hope your Christmas was great! ^_^ I didn't get any Ballet related presents but my holiday was still sweet :)
  I'm finally reading Apollo's Angels now after abandoning it when I went through that weird depression thing while I was taking medication for my foot...long story O_O I can't believe I did that. I skipped the Louise the XVI parts and went straight to Chapter 4: Romantic Illusions and the Rise of the Ballerina, which concentrates on French writers of the 1800 and Marie Taglioni, our dearest Pointe-pioneer XD
  Am suddenly interested in La Sylphide and am surprised by how it actually started. At that time France was, apparently, into the supernatural and ethereal stuff so the ballet was a major hit...
  The choreography has a lot of weightless-looking steps and jumps. I'm not really the jumping type of gal but it's still cute. I noticed the music is kind of pleasant if you don't look at the eerie stage set ^_^

Evgenia Obraztsova and Leonid Sarafanov in La Sylphide

Party with the Over-Arched Pointe Shoe Killerz

Last night went to the party of my good friend. She does Ballet in R.A.D. She also introduced me to another friend who also does R.A.D. It was crazy.. They just killed their pointes that very day. They literally cracked their shank. Seriously it split! Was so fun.. we were trying them on and talking ballet!
  They're over-arched.. They also gave me some tips on improving mine :D .
  I also found out from them that Grishkos "fossilize" which mean they harden if you don't use them for a long time O_O Will not wear my pointes for the whole Christmas break :)

Sighing on a Saturday

  First time to go en pointe away from the barre since I moved to Locsins. It was hard and I wasn't going on full pointe.
  Teacher Agnes and the adult students were talking about plants :) She said "Thats what my next piece is going to be about, water, air, and fire, and how they affect vegetation."
  At home right now. Will stretch while watching "Captain America" with little brother :P Sigh, lazy Saturday internet time :)
  Kinda inspired by Miss Universe. Watching videos on You Tube because I'm supposed to tsunami walk during our Christmas Carol O_O
  Wish me Luck!

Thin Legs, Thick Legs (lets not say fat)

  Can't seem to accept the fact that I'll never be as skinny as dancers like Alina Somova, Amber Miller, or Adji Cissoko (whose legs look like they go on forever!) :(  The circumference of their legs are probably half of mine and their way older...

Adji Cissoko, Corps de Ballet
National Ballet of Canada

  I feel very sluggish and unhealthy these days and I can't jump... this lethargy is also keeping my from stretching and improving in terms of flexibility..  

  I don't know, when I stand in fifth, croisé, and look at the mirror I am horrified by my legs. Though I'm tall, I find my legs short looking.

Melissa Hough

  I don't want to compare myself to others just to make myself feel good. My moms strategy is; "If your legs are big what do you call other people's?" I don't like saying this to myself because its the same as; "I don't have to work so hard because I'm not the worst student in class"

  But maybe this is whats burning me out...

  I'll start looking at dancers like Melissa Hough and Alina Cojocaru who have thicker legs. Their just as graceful. 

  Typed this with my pointe shoes on :P Just for the record.

 Alina Cojocaru Interview <3

Gaynor Minden

Gaynor Minden's new pointe shoe

  Hit dancer.com on my search bar. This is probably my favorite ballet website ever! Not only is Gaynor Minden said to be the best brand of pointe shoes but their site makes me fall in love with ballet all over again! <3

  This is where I learned about most of the famous ballerinas and classical ballets. I also learned about ballet's history from this site (I even made a power point about the history of ballet using GM as reference :))

  The brand of my current pointes is Grishko. Grishko 2007s. Compared to the Capezios these are really hard.Or maybe to my flat feet they are :( One of my ballet classmates (with really arch-y feet) shocked me one day when she said "Your shoes are Grishko 2007? Wow so soft!"  She uses Bloch, which I heard from one of my ballet teachers to be rock hard... I wish I had her feet!!!!

  Grrr.. Its raining so hard. Must bundle up... hehehe... Will get to use those sweaters that are so cute and just get stacked in the botttom of the clothes pile because I live in the tropics :P

  Class 2nyte :D

My current pointes; Grishko 2007
credits to my friend Ana Mempin for the photo :)) 

Ballet Flats

Went to Locsin's really early today. I wanted to warm up really well before pointe class. Class is usually 9:00 a.m. for those on pointe. 9:30 is when ballet 3, 4, and 5 have class together on soft shoes.
  I later learned, from my other classmates, that there was no pointe class this morning because Teacher Agnes wasn't there :( So much for being early... Most of my classmates were relieved, though, "Whew! Thank goodness... I have a blister"
  The class was taught by Kuya Henry. After barre and center, we ran through the choreo twice... Good class..

When I got home, I fixed my ballet shoes... The cloth inside doesn't stick anymore... Just glued it back in place :))

  Thought: Should have had it washed during the vacation O_O

  I have a dark blister on my big toe >_<   Not the worst though... I've had others with water inside, with the skin coming off... with blood...

 Sorry :P I don't mean to be disgusting...