Sissonnes

Svetlana Zakharov: I like her top... =)


I like sissonnes (sp?). We had a new combination for center: sissonne, sissonne, sissonne, arabesque with allonge (I really liked the arms on this one). I could easily imagine us dancing La Sylphide.

And we tried double pirouettes. Tried being the operative word in my case. Rio and Marion nailed it though. Well, another thing to look forward to in the near future. Wohoo for clean singles. But then, those were in soft shoes.

Ms. Mylene was merciful to us today. We didn't have pointes on throughout the entire class. Tomorrow night is sure to be hell though. It's back into toe shoes. I'll probably kill off another toe. I'm becoming a serial killer.

We did two new barre exercises, one of them was petit battement. It's too fast for me. I skip the beating entirely. I look terrible. Then we worked on penches. I'm still somewhere between the 6:10 and 6:15 range. Ms. Mylene had us do it facing the mirror so we could see how far we could go and so we could have something to anticipate. Just keep telling yourself that that leg will get to the six o'clock position someday... That and doing stretches and strengthening exercises.

Stupid splits. Can't get down into them unless I'm so warmed up I'm sweating like a pig. And even then, I feel like I'm ripping my hips out.

But at least I can control my stomach more in the grand battement. I'm not leaning back or front. I'm much more stable even after just a week of pilates. I got a copy of Mari Winsor's Pilates program. I've been doing it every night since. It's a great workout that leaves me feeling the burn in my core. But it makes me feel taller and more supple at the end. And it's just a 20 minute routine so it's perfect for study breaks. Thanks to Jacks for recommending pilates. It would be fun to have someone personally help me with it but my budget can't hold that right now.

I wonder how my two month break from ballet class is going to affect my dancing (or attempts at dancing). I'm looking for ballet schools in the US and Singapore that are near to where I'll be staying with my Aunties. But I doubt the family will be thrilled about me taking classes while I'm there. I could sneak off for the classes... Hmmm...

All in all, I had a great class tonight. I didn't hate the mirror so much. And Ms. Mylene gave me Angela's place on the barre. Now me and Marion lead the ladies through the barre exercises, both of us on oppossite ends of the barre. This might explain why the newbies behind me were lost in the middle of battement fondue. I was a mess. I had temporary, selective amnesia. I couldn't remember what to do for the darn exercise. So sorry ladies.