Continue reading »]]>

With less than a week to go (eeeeee!), it seems like a good time for Exhaustive Pre-Dancing Stars To-Do List and its little buddy, Exhaustive Pre-Dancing Stars Packing list.  Here goes!

To do before Friday dress rehearsal

• Book spray-tan
• Get hair cut & colored
• Get spray-tanned
• Do nails
• Test makeup
• Rehearse
• Replace Velcro on dress with hook-and-eye or snap
• Try shoes with fishnets
• Buy earrings
• Pack my stuff
• Write check to Karen
• Get flyers copied
• Get other flyers copied
• Fix broken strap on dress (argh)

To pack:

• Performance dress
• Cocktail dress
• Performance shoes
• Evening shoes
• Earrings for cocktail dress
• Makeup: foundation, concealer, powder, eyeliner, eyeshadow, shimmer powder/bronzer, blush, eyeshadow, lipstick, lip gloss, eyelashes, mascara
• Extra eyelashes
• Fishnets
• Briefs
• Camera
• Hoodie
• Legwarmers
• Practice shoes

We are so close now.  I can’t wait for Saturday night!

Continue reading »]]>

Daniel and I had to stay busy between meeting our Dancing Stars partners and finding out the dances we’d been assigned, so last Sunday we spent the afternoon at the Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences’ “Instrument Petting Zoo” event.  The event is an annual collaboration between the Museum and the Mercer/Macon Youth Orchestra and it’s designed to introduce young children (preschool/early elementary) to classical music and musical instruments.  This year, small ensembles from the orchestra played some dance selections (a pair of “Renaissance dances,” a waltz, a sarabande, a tango, and a samba) and the manager wanted to showcase some dancing along with the music.  She contacted Ms. Madison who put Daniel and me on the case as well as choreographing a number herself.  We rallied the troops from our group class and from Got Dance? Move It! so there was plenty of participation.

The Madison Studio’s junior performance ensemble performed beautifully to the “Renaissance Dances.”  Daniel and I danced the waltz; then Daniel partnered our student Megan and two of the GDMI dancers joined them for the tango.  Another GDMI member choreographed a gorgeous contemporary piece for the sarabande, and all of us closed out the program with some audience participation to the samba.  We did 3 performances over the course of the afternoon with an almost-full house for every one.  Got effusive compliments from the orchestra manager (Hi Connie!  Thanks!), a few museum higher-ups, and some audience members.  Most of all we were incredibly proud of the GDMI dancers.  They are so game and energetic and up for anything.  We salute them!

Continue reading »]]>

Big news from DLDancers HQ: Daniel and I found out on Friday that we have been chosen as “pros” for the Alzheimer’s Association “Dancing Stars of Central Georgia” event.  Just like on Dancing with the Stars we will each be paired with a local “star” to prepare a dance routine that will be performed at the event on May 12 at the Macon City Auditorium.  Since we will each have our own star, we will be competing against each other.  Let the games begin!  According to the information we got from the Alzheimer’s Association, there will be 2 winning couples: the Judges’ Choice (decided on the night of the event, of course) and the People’s Choice (which is the pair that raises the most money).  Can DLDancers take home ALL the trophies?

We are so excited and honored to have been chosen and now are waiting impatiently to find out the identities of our stars.  I have an idea of who mine might be but it’s a long shot.  No matter what, we can’t wait to dive in and get involved with this excellent event.  The Alzheimer’s Association has put on these events in other parts of the state (and nationally, I think) and they are the real pros.  They have already organized a web site (http://dancingstarsofcentralgeorgia2012.kintera.org), a cast party for March 1, plans to video our rehearsals, local TV appearances, and some other good stuff that we’re not even allowed to talk about yet.  And all of this for an excellent cause.  The statistics on Alzheimer’s disease are alarming; it is such a difficult and heartbreaking disease for sufferers and caregivers.  In every possible way we are thrilled to be involved with such a prominent and well-run humanitarian event.

Stay tuned for lots of updates including: Who are our stars? What are we dancing? What music have we chosen? How can you donate? How can you get tickets to the event? WHO WILL WIN???

Continue reading »]]>

It used to be the case (18th-19th centuries, after the invention of partner dancing as we know it) that “older” and/or married people didn’t dance at parties or balls.  Dancing was for the young people and those who were courting.  I’m glad that’s not true anymore or Daniel and I would not have had as much fun last night as we did!  Macon State College hosted its first Spring Formal and we attended as “chaperones.”  Actual chaperoning was unnecessary but we got some good dancing in and some excellent publicity for the dance club.  The club members tried out their new tango steps to the Glee version of “Bust Your Windows,” experimented with the rumba (which Daniel taught them at last week’s meeting after I left: very sneaky!), and we saw some swing, merengue, and hustle happening as well.  Not to mention the panoply of non-ballroom dances that we all participated in.  Club president Minwoo Kim helped me remember how to do the Wobble; Daniel and I did the Cha-Cha Slide right on the edge of the floor because it was so crowded, and we saw a slightly funkier version of the Electric Slide called the “G Slide.”  As for the “Stanky Legg”. . . I’m going to have to practice that one at home.  In dark of night.  And maybe leave it at that.

A total of about 160 students and guests attended, all dressed in their best and ready to have a good time.  Everyone was shy about getting on the floor at first but once the ice was broken, the floor was never empty.  By the end of the night we were all wishing the floor were bigger!  After the tango, I grabbed a microphone from the DJ and gave a little plug for the dance club.  Nothing like trying to speak to a crowd when you’re out of breath from dancing.  Whew.  The whole event was an unqualified success and we’re glad we could be there.  I took a few videos and still photos with my phone, we had a professional photo taken, MSC-TV had cameras there, and someone was taking candids, so I should be able to post some media soon.  So great to see our students looking elegant and having fun DANCING!

Continue reading »]]>

I’ve just updated the “Local Dance Opportunities” page with

• 3 special events happening this month,
• the date for this year’s Stars Over Macon in October, and
• a “weekly events” section.

Seriously, if you’re not finding enough times and places to dance around town, maybe you are not trying hard enough.  Or not spending enough time on this website?

Continue reading »]]>

This afternoon is dress rehearsal for the Madison Studio recital.  Daniel and I are dancing 3 times: once on our own, once with our class, and once in the production finale.  I am dancing 2 additional times: in my contemporary ballet class’s number (to Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose”) and then in that class’s part of the finale.  You wouldn’t believe the amount of stuff I have to lug along with me today.  It’s making a competition look like Casual Friday.

• Costume for “Kiss”, including hair decoration that I swore I’d lost until I discovered it was pinned to the inside of the costume.
• Costume for our class number, i.e. sequin camisole top and ballroom practice skirt.
• Costume for Daniel’s and my solo, which is the rumba we did as a solo exhibition at Garden City Challenge.
• Costume for the finale, i.e., black leotard and black ballet skirt.
• 2 pairs of tights (1x ballet pink, 1x fishnet).
• Body liner, which is like underwear in leotard form.
• 3 pairs of shoes.  Well, 2 pairs of shoes and one pair of “FootUndeez” (speaking of underwear).
• Makeup, hair spray, bobby pins.

And I have it easy compared to some of the girls who are in the Performance Ensemble as well as 2-3 regular classes.  They might need to employ pack animals!  But as far as I’m concerned, it’s all worthwhile.  Given my introverted tendencies in general, the fact that I love to perform doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but there it is.  I am especially excited for our ballroom dancers who are having their first taste of performance.  They have lots of family members coming to watch and cheer them on.  Hooray!

The recital is tomorrow (Saturday, June 4) at 2 p.m. at Zuver Auditorium on the campus of Mount De Sales here in Macon.  Tickets are available at the door for $10.

Wish us merde!*

*Being superstitious like all theatre people, dancers do not say “good luck.”  For obvious reasons, they also do not say “Break a leg.”  Instead, they–we–say “merde.” Which is a bad word in French, which is why it’s so much fun to hear 8-year-olds say it.

Continue reading »]]>

Daniel and I are excited to have been asked to perform at USA Dance Houston County’s third annual “Dancing for our Heroes” charity ball on July 30.  Proceeds from the event benefit Hearts to Heroes and the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization dedicated to helping injured service members by raising awareness, providing services, and encouraging wounded warriors to support each other.  The ball is held at the Museum of Aviation‘s Century of Flight hangar and will feature the Georgia Big Band.  Tickets are $30; heavy hors d’oeuvres will be offered and door prizes given away.  We will probably be dancing our new rumba routine.  Dance Houston County has two or three other awesome exhibition numbers on tap…but I don’t want to give away all the surprises.

See Dance Houston County’s website for details or look up the event on Facebook.  You can get tickets at any Dance Houston County event or by contacting one of their officers.

Continue reading »]]>

Coming soon to a dance venue near you:

• USA Dance Greater Macon Chapter #6059 monthly dance, November 13. 7:30-10:30 p.m. including a complimentary dance lesson from 7:30 to 8:00 followed by general dancing.  Dressy casual; light refreshments; $7 for members/$10 non-members.
• Our Sunday Night Dance Party is moving to the 3rd Sunday–November 21–for this month.  This will be the last SNDP of 2010!  7 p.m.; $5 admission; casual dress; bring CDs and song requests.  Stay tuned for dance dates in 2011 coming soon!
• By popular demand (no, really!), we are doing one more session of group classes at Madison Studio this year: Monday evenings at 7 p.m., November 15 through December 20.  Each class is one hour; the total cost for the 6-week session is $78 per person which breaks down to $13 per class.  Private lessons are also available.  Contact us or Madison Studio for more information.

See you on the dancefloor!

Continue reading »]]>

The Macon Telegraph reports on last weekend’s downtown “Thriller” show here.  I was particularly glad that Pilar Wilder (director of Hayiya Dance Theatre and organizer of the event) said this: “Most are not professional dancers; they’re doctors, teachers, lawyers, stay-at-home moms, everyday people,” she said. “This is not a new idea and we try to add something new each year, but the fun will always remain the same.”

As glad as I am that we can do as much dancing as we do, we are FAR from being able to dance for a living.  But one of the great things about dancing–especially ballroom, in my opinion–is that people can do it without being professionals or having even remotely professional ambitions.  Even beginners can compete or perform if they want to.  It’s also possible to have fun just being a social dancer, and you really don’t need to know much to get started.  What could be better?