KCD Auditions 2009

Woooo! So I went to the Knicks City Dancer Auditions at Madison Square Garden on Sunday June 28, 2009! There were probably around 400 girls there to begin with. We stretched all together then they taught the across the floor routine.

Round one: Dancers go across the floor two at a time. This is a 2-8 count combination including a kick, double pirouette, and a calypso leap. If you pass this round, you are given a wrist band from either the entertainment director or the KCD coach. I was in Coach Danielle's line and somehow received a wristband! This was my goal for this year. (Many of the current girls on the team had to try out several years in a row before making it). After this round, they probably cut 300ish girls?

Round two: The hiphop/jazz routine is taught. This year it was a 45 second routine to Kat DeLuna's Unstoppable. There were no technical moves in the routine, it was all about showing them whatcha got! There was a lot of booty poppin and hair swinging. It was a fun routine. At this point in the audition, we were given numbers and called at random in groups of 4 to perform for the judging panel. This part was difficult because you were not allowed to practice and had to sit an watch the girls going. (AKA it got reallly really cold in there and the dance doesn't stay in your body too long if you're one of the last ones called.)

After all the groups performed, the judges deliberated for quite sometime then came back and announced 68 finalists. I was cut at this point. They said the finalists would be asked to stay for individual interviews and to get their polaroids taken. They also got to go back to the call back the next day where guest choreographer, Shake Sparks, would be teaching the final routine! I'm jealous! I hope the finalists do well! I'm sure the 2009-2010 KCD will be fabulous!

I'm trying to figure out how to post my pictures from the day on here, so hopefully I'll post them soon!

Next audition: Encore Dance Company.

After week of trying to dance in NYC

So I may or may not have had a small breakdown yesterday after the clinic when I got off at the wrong subway stop and had to walk 5 blocks in the rain, only to realize the Port Authority was 10 blocks the other way. I was exhausted from my first week. I've taken class everyday, run, gone to interviews and landed my first internship, somewhat figured out the subways, and ordered groceries online. WOAH!

It's always good to hear from Mom and Dad when you feel this way. They reminded me of how much I've done already and to not get discouraged. Living this life of a dancer in NYC has it's ups and downs and what matters is enjoying the process of trying and auditioning...not being dependent on getting a role, part, spot on a team, etc. Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in "Got I hope I get it" (Chorus Line style)! But what's more important is that I'm actual following my dreams, meeting new and interesting people, and trying!

Lisa Viola

On Friday, I willingly woke up early to take a modern class! (Nate's response to this was, OMG are you sick??!?!) haha. Anyway I saw that Lisa Viola was teaching a Taylor-based class. Lisa Viola was constantly mentioned at my dance intensive last year and I've seen a billion videos of her. Paul Taylor choreographed several solos on her, and she's pretty much AMAZING.

So I got to the class at Broadway Dance Center, and there were only 3 other people taking the class! How lucky could I get?! This amazing dancer taking an hour and a half of her life with the four of us! She even knew my name by the end! She was such a lovely person, she gave so many individual corrections. She taught us an adagio from one of her solos from Cascades, which was physically impossible for me in some parts! Then we did an across the floor from Arden Court.

I got the best workout ever from Lisa! She was so kind and helpful and I really felt good when I left her class! I still can't believe I took class from her!

Knicks Clinic 6/20/09

So yesterday I went with Mandi to the Knicks City Dancers clinic. First they brought in a former KCD dancer who is now dancing on Broadway in the revival of West Side Story! Pretty awesome! Then we learned a second hip hop routine taught by one of the current captains of the team. We broke for lunch, they had COSI catered in for us. Then we learned the actual across-the-floor combination we will have to perform next week at the tryout. It is pretty basic, but the nice thing was we all got one-on-one feedback. The girl told me I had great technique, a beautiful smile, but now I need to work on being "sexy." Well...um...ok. We learned the actual tryout dance we will perform next weekend if we make it to the second round. Here's how they broke the audition process down:

Round one: Across the floor. If they like you, you get a wristband. If you don't get a wrist band, it's Thank you for coming, see you next year. They cut about half the girls here.

Round Two: Perform the audition dance in small groups. Another giant cut.

If you pass these rounds, then you get to come back to the call backs the next day.

Round Three: An interview with the Coach and Entertainment Director of MSG.

Round Four: Learn a routine choreographed by celebrity guest judge, Shane Sparks! Cuts

If you make it this far, you are extended an invite to training camp.

After training camp, you go to an event where they announce the 2009-2010 team.

So my goal this year is to make it past the first round! A lot of the current members said they had to try out 4-5 years in a row before they made it. It is a vigorous try out process, but I'm learning a lot!

I got the internship

So I have my toe in the door...not quite the whole foot. I somehow got hired after a lot of interview rounds to be a fitness assistant for Smart Workout in NYC. I start next Monday.

Internship Interview

Some how I landed my first interview for an internship on my first weekday living in NYC! The position is called a "fitness assistant" and would be for about 6 months. The health club is small but really personable and I would get to learn a lot about marketing for a small business...which is what I ultimately want to do. I went through two rounds in the morning with the owner and then a senior fitness assistant. I had to follow a class and then also teach a class from a script. It was really fun for me and I could really see myself growing in that environment. The next step is the lady who organizes the marketing for the health club will set up a time for a phone call and she has to assess my phone skills so hopefully I will pass that! The internship does not pay a whole lot, but I will get free training and certifications in return:) Wish me luck!

Knicks City Dancer Workshop 6/13/09

Today I somehow made it to Broadway Dance Center....(after our bus hit another car, and puerto rican lawyer hit on me)...I paid my $18 and entered STUDIO 5. There were 2 amazingly gorgeous Knicks Dancers teaching the workshop in full-uniform. We did a nice warm-up, including arms, squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. Then we learned a simple 2 8-count combination for across-the-floor including a kick, calypso, and a double turn. The girls gave everyone one-on-one feedback. After that, we learned a routine from their 2008-2009 season to "Let it Rock." It was really fun, with lots of hair-tossing, quick sharp movements, and crowd-pleasing hip hop. So the next step is the Audition Workshop next weekend then the actual tryout!

Intro

Sooooooooooooooooo......I have made the BIG,excellent, amazing decision to quit my dance teaching job in the midwest and pack my suitcase and move to NYC to try to dance professionally! Only, I'm not quite moving to the city...just Hoboken! And also, I don't quite have a room, just living on the couch of one of my best friend from college's apartment. Whew! I made it here!!!!!!! I'll be sharing my hopefully successful, but also the crazy, unsuccessful, funny, and whatever else happens at the auditions I go to in the city:)