Recurring Nightmare

I know everyone has them.  I had one other other night.

In this specific dream, I was trying to complete a simple task (check if my dance class was canceled on its website).   In this dream, I thought class was canceled, so I wasn't planning on going, but then my friend Rachel texted me saying she thought it wasn't canceled.  It was right at the time I would have needed to leave, and I wasn't dressed or ready.  So, I began a race against the clock trying to check online if it was canceled.  However, I kept having simple little problems.  I was mistyping the website.  Then I was clicking and it wasn't going through.  Then my phone froze.  Then, finally, in a flurry of frustration, I woke up.

However, in my constant recurring nightmares, I am trying to complete a simple task (like change the channel on the tv or put on a sweater) and I, for some reason, can't.  I keep running into roadblocks.

Does anyone else have this kind of recurring nightmare?  What do you all have for recurring nightmares?  Naked in public dreams?  (I used to have those too.)   Is one of your nightmares that this blog turns back into 'Jaime's dream analysis'?  Don't answer that.  

Putting A Goal Down In Writing

So, the other day, I was having a conversation with someone where it was addressed that it helps to publicly tell people about a goal as a means of a) being more committed to it and b) having others help keep one in check and lend support.

Anyhow.  With no further ado.

One of my goals is to have a good side tilt.  It's a dance move.  It's pictured above.  Mine right now is REALLY not good.  Especially for my flexibility.  I know this is something that is going to take time, training, and patience.  The main reason I don't have it is I haven't put the time into training it yet.  And, as an adult, sometimes it's easy to just let these things go and accept defeat on some things.

Hence, me creating this blog post.  My goal is to, by the end of October/early November, have a side tilt much like this dude in this picture.   I will post an 'after' photo.  The before picture is too embarrassing.

Please help keep me in check, dear readers.

A Whitney Houston Tribute

Whitney will always hold a special place in my heart as a child of the '80s who grew up a dancer.  I learned choreography to many of her songs.  Senior year of high school I choreographed a dance to 'One Moment In Time'.  She's part of childhood memories for me.  I'll miss you, Whitney.  You're yet another example of how, on many occasions, bad things get the better of good people.

This is my favorite Whitney song.  It perfectly embodies the time that it is from.  :-)  And, as an angsty teeny-bopper girl, I could totally relate to this song.

In Case Anyone Was Wondering....

My all-time favorite dance from the So You Think You Can Dance stage....

Still Allison.

I'll let you know if anything changes, but I really don't forsee that happening.

Me, Dancing

Tuesday Night Jazz

I'm in the blue in the front.  I wasn't mentally/physically prepared for the camera, plus I didn't have time to do my makeup, so I really can't say this is my best work.  But hopefully there'll be more better ones to come.

So You Think You Can Dance Tour

I'm going this Tuesday.  Thanks Kellie!

Happy Birthday

Tomorrow, October 1, is the three year anniversary of the opening of my dance studio, visceral dance center.

Let's all take a moment.

It Happened Again....

I was back in high school...AGAIN...I was a senior and I had to choreograph a dance for my high school orchesis (dance team) show. I was going through my ipod looking for the right song. Gosh, I feel so old, back when I was in high school, ipods hadn't even been invented!!!!! Eek! I guess this tradition of dreams of being back in high school is going to continue into the new year....

My New Favorite SYTYCD Choreographer

Stacey Tookey.

Mia Michaels who?

I kid, I kid. No one can replace Mia. However, Stacey's pieces have all been home runs so far in my book (Falling Slowly, the Mistress Piece, Fear, and whatever yesterday's piece can/should be called). That and she doesn't seem to have the overinflated ego/artist mentality/bitchy edge to her that many of her caliber (or below her caliber, ahem, Laurieann Gibson, I'm looking in your direction) seem to carry.

Don't change, Stacey. Please don't change.

The SYTYCD Judges

So I received a request to post on the judges of So You Think You Can Dance. Well, to be specific, to post on Mary Murphy and her screaming antics.

It is very clear that Mary drinks throughout the show. She is never without the opaque cup. Might as well be a flask. Now, don't get me wrong - I will agree that her antics are like fingernails on the chalkboard. The 'hot tamale train'? Really? Where did that come from? And why the hell did it have staying power? That choo choo has been going strong for like four seasons now. Anyhow.

However. Mary is certainly not my least favorite judge. Sorry, I almost kind of like her. Maybe because she actually is a respected member of the ballroom dance community and actually (at times) has some reasonable feedback about technique. She is an expert in her field.

This brings me to Nigel Lythgoe.... What the hell is his point on the judging panel?! Yeah, I get it, he's the executive producer. Yeah, I get it, he's an expert in his field (that being making money and successful reality shows). However, I will argue he is, in no way, an expert in dance. At least nowhere near what Mary Murphy, Mia Michaels or Adam Shankman are. He's got an opinion and maybe some experience in watching dance, but that's about it. His real area of expertise ogling females. However, an old man's viagra induced haze does not a good reality show make. Anyhow.

I would seriously boot Nigel for Paula Abdul. In fact, I'd seriously boot Nigel for a grapefruit. Your thoughts?

So You Think You Can Dance: The Start of Season 6

Ok, is it just me?

I f&*#ing hate this bitch.

It's Laurie Ann Gibson from SYTYCD (well, apparently - she just randomly showed up one week last season). She made last season's winner (who I was never impressed with, but winner nonetheless) cry. Anyhow.

So You Think You Can Dance already has a bitch - Mia Michaels. However, the fundamental difference between the two - Mia Michaels is fucking amazing. She's Mia Fucking Michaels - emmy award nominee/winner. She has at least 2 of the best 5 dances each season to her name. She choreographs like none other. She's like pizza - even when she's bad she's good.

Laurie Ann, however, is NOT. She's not bad. But she's yet to impress me. She's yet to do anything choreographically outstanding. She's no Mia Michaels. To my knowledge, I've seen two routines of hers - and they both seemed like standard jazz fare. Fine. Good. Nothing more.

Anyhow. I think her biggest problem is she thinks she's better than she actually is. She carries Mia Michaels' attitude. Perhaps even moreso than Mia. She's marching around there being like "I'm Laurie Ann Gibson, so move the f' over and bow down'. Yet she's the weakest of all the SYTYCD choreographers. Including Tyce DiOrio and Brian Friedman. And Wade Robson during his fox routine.

Am I the only one who feels this way about her? Please let me know.

Guilty Pleasure - Dance Movies

So a friend of mine and I have plans to go see the above movie. Well, the remake. I am super excited about it. However, it is not getting good reviews. However, I didn't expect it to. It's a guilty indulgent dancer movie. Much like:



Which I have to admit - I love it but it's baaad. I think the critic who said 'There are some amazing dance sequences in this film. However, in between these dance sequences, the actors are allowed to talk - this is where the problems come in," hit the nail on the head. Also, the jazz class is painfully bad/unrealistic. Note to any of my readers who are not familiar with what a jazz class consists of - it is not supposed to mirror the "Call on Me" music video. Just sayin'.

Memories/Shameless Self Promotion

My college dance team - the Illinettes. I'm in the front row - third from the left.