Thursday, December 30, 2010

New Year’s Resolutions…

I am not a big fan of the New Year’s Resolution. This is probably because usually by the third week of January mine like everyone else’s is out the window and I have already gone back to old habitats. Last year I joined a gym and vowed to go every day, well that worked for about a week. Then the second week I went 4 out of 7 days. Needless to say by Feb 1, my resolution was out the window. So this year I am going to try something new, a few resolutions that if I don’t stick to only hurt me and not my piggy bank.

This year I resolve to take more ballet class. It was taking ballet as a child that solidified my love for dance. I was able to perform in the Nutcracker which made me love the element of make believe not only in general, but also through ballet. It didn’t matter if I was a lowly mouse or a beautiful snowflake; I loved to be a part of this production. During ballet class I can finally pretend to be the sugar plum fairy that I always dreamed of being.

I resolve to let more people know how much I admire their dancing. Sometimes in class I will see someone do the combination in a way that completely inspires me. After class I would want to tell them what an amazing job they did but something would stop me from telling them. I think part of it’s from being shy or me worrying that it may be embarrassing for me or both of us. I don’t want people to think I’m some weirdo or think I’m just spreading sunshine around the room for the fun of it. When someone has come up to me to compliment me it had always been a highlight of my day and given me that extra little bit of confidence. Being on either end of this compliment can turn a bad day into a better one.

Finally I resolve to try and enjoy the journey and not just the destination. I want to enjoy all parts of class not just the last ten minutes when we are doing the combination. In rehearsal with Synthesis Dance Project I want to enjoy the creation of a new piece, not just performing it onstage. Just like there are beginnings and endings to every facet of dance, there are the same beginnings and endings to a new year. With the New Year upon us challenge yourself with a resolution that is realistic, attainable, and brings happiness to all around you.

Happy New Year to you all and Happy Dancing!

Alana Sampietro, BDC Student and member of Synthesis Dance Project


Thursday, December 23, 2010

The small things…

Last week in class Tracie gave us one of her challenging turning combinations across the floor. It might sound simple… 3 pique turns followed by an outside drag turn, into a side attitude turn which leads you to gently fall to a roll on the floor to get up and start all over again. You could hear people start to groan after the 3 pique turns because that’s where the challenge started… remembering to really use your plie to get into the drag turn otherwise you would never have enough momentum to make it into the side attitude turn and finish the combination.

After we had all tried the combination once on the right Tracie stopped the music to redirect our energy. She started saying that instead of focusing on what we can’t do well that we should rather celebrate and enjoy what we can do. She went on to say how dance is all about taking steps forward and every time we make it to class it’s a step in the right direction.

As class continued I thought why did I just spend the first 8 counts worrying about if I would get all the way around in that attitude turn. I was missing out on enjoying the rest of the combination. As I began the infamous and dreaded left side I said “screw it,” I wasn’t going to let 2 counts hold me hostage. I was going to enjoy what I could do well and know that there was the possibility that the turn might not be so bad after all. I can’t say the result was better/worse based upon my enjoyment. Sometimes I made it all the way around and sometimes I fell a little short , nonetheless I enjoyed the combination a lot more because I let myself go with it.

In class and rehearsal I often find myself focusing on my own short comings. I want my legs to be higher, I want more flexible hips, I want a back that bends in half, you get the point. I never take a second to celebrate where I am or how far I’ve come. This class taught me that dance is a lot more fun when you forget about all the cant’s and focus on the cans. I can’t promise I’ll be able to do that all the time but I can sure try. I recommend you do the same and let yourself go every now and then. Who knows you might even enjoy it !

-Alana Sampietro, BDC Student & member of Synthesis Dance Project

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Generosity of Spirit

The Radio City Rockettes, the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, ice skating in Bryant Park, Santa Claus at Macy’s and the hustle and bustle of New York City during the holiday season. I love this time of year! I don’t mind dodging tourists all bundled up or the occasional spray of sludge from a cab; it’s all part of the winter season in the Big Apple. This is the season where it is better to give than to receive and to extend ourselves and kindness to others.

This week during our company rehearsal Tracie asked me to be more generous with my movement. At first I wasn’t sure what she meant or how I could do this. How do I give my movement to others? During class on Thursday I really wanted to find a way to be more generous, so I took a step back and I watched and observed others. I looked for people who pulled me in to their dancing and the qualities they had that perhaps I was missing.

There was this one girl who was in the third group and with one movement she pulled me in with one reach of her arm. She was shorter in stature, but her energy extended beyond her limbs. Her movement was so generous that it was able to pull me in and above all it really inspired me. She was not only true to the choreography but true to herself and the choices she made within the combination. She was generous from head to toe giving all she could and not even realizing how important her dancing had become to the rest of us. This inspiration is what I was looking for and what I needed to capture in movement myself. I need to send my movement and energy out past my limbs and not hold on so tight. This will let me be more generous with my movement. After watching I was so inspired and excited to share what I had learned.

Just to walk into class and see lots of smiling faces on these cold winter days is inspiring, but on this specific day this girl gave me an early Christmas present that didn’t even need to be wrapped. J

During this season of giving, we cannot forget about how much we have to give. We have so many talents and gifts to share that don’t need to be purchased. In class our energy and movement choices are enough to inspire others. Who knows who may be watching you for inspiration, for all you know during this time of year it could be Santa Claus.

Alana Sampietro,

BDC Student, Company Member of Synthesis Dance Project

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The Importance of an Hour and a Half

It’s all about me and it’s all about being able to get in that Dance class, I get an hour and half to just focus on me and what I love todo … Dance. In my life I am constantly running from job to job; first and most importantly I am a dancer. I am a company member in Synthesis Dance Project, I teach at a studio in Maplewood NJ one night aweek, I own a studio in Princeton, NJ where I spend four to five nights a week, and I own a dance competition that tours 13 weekends out of the year. It feels like I never have a moment to catch my breath. In class I can not only catch my breath, but I can find it and use it to inspire movement.

My home away from home is Broadway Dance Center. I have been a student at Broadway Dance Center for the past ten years. I used to run up and down the stairs from class to class at the old studios. Now I love the sleek, clean and modern feel to the new studios. When you walk into the lobby of the studio on the 3rd floor I am greeted by some of the happiest people on earth. I have watched as the staff helps customer after customer navigate the class sch

edule and their levels. They always bring a smile to my face no matter what kind of a day I’m having.

You can usually find me in one of Tracie Stanfield’s classes or a ballet class. Class is where I can fine tune my technique, build strength and endurance, and just focus on myself. My favorite part of class are the people in it. I love to look around and be inspired by the talent and the work ethic in the class.

This past week my inspiration was a guy who took Tracie Stanfield’s Adv Beg Jazz Class. He seemed like your average guy dressed in cargo shorts and a hat. He was really friendly and smiling at all of the dancers. Most of the classes at BDC have a choreographed warm-up so the hardest part of a new class is the warm-up. So if you can make it thru the warm-up you’re in good shape. He didn’t seem to have a problem with the warm up; just the usual looking around to make sure he was doing the correct stretch on the correct foot etc. We went across the floor with leaps and again he was trying hard. I thought maybe he was a hip hop dancer who wasn’t used to leaping. On Friday it comes time for the combination and Fridays pace is the fastest because we usually have been working on the combo from

Tuesday and Thursday. After Tracie teaches the first 32 counts she asks if there are any questions or if anyone is lost. Well now the guy just starts laughing. It turns out he is a Motor Cross racer and his chiropractor told him he should get into dance because it will help with his balance, strength and flexibility. Apparently he thought he was taking a basic dance class. I was amazed that he hung in the class for that long. He tried everything and never once stopped and questioned himself or Tracie. It is amazing to me that he rides motor bikes and

flips a 200lb bike upside down and all over the course, but he thought dancing was hard.

This week I needed that kind of inspiration. I was getting down on myself because I felt like dancing was getting harder and part of me feels like when you ‘ve been doing it for so long it should get easier. But dance is hard and the constant challenge it provides is what makes me love it. Dance can never be conquered, it is a moving art form where perfection doesn’t exist. (even though sometimes I think it does). My quest to continue to grow is what keeps me dancing. Finding the time to go to class is what keeps me sane, it lets me focus on me, be inspired by others and share my passion. Who would have ever thought an hour and a half could be so important.