Yes, it's still October - time to start rehearsals for Christmas performances!
While the general public may not think about Christmas shows until after Thanksgiving, performers need time to prepare!
We've got to find and make adjustments to music, figure out costumes, learn choreography and formations. All this as personal schedules become progressively more packed with holiday obligations!
One of my teammates celebrated her 16th birthday at clogging class this week. It was neither a belated nor an early party; it was THE milestone day, and she chose to spend it dancing with us. It was a privilege to share this special time with Michaela, although she may have regretted her choice once we started singing Happy Birthday! (Yep, most of us should stick to dancing only.)
It's amazing how those who stand beside you in clogging class also stand beside you in life.
It's time to catch up on stories from previous blog posts:
1. New dance officially added to the repertoire! My team debuted "Geronimo" (choreographed by Naomi Zweben) at the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival. I shared my nervousness about dancing it in front of the choreographer in this post from September 3rd:
Fine, it wasn't technically autumn until yesterday. I'll argue that fall festival season starts with September, so it's already in full swing!
Fall festivals usually bring comfortable temperatures for clogging performances and savory treats at the food booths. While you may be able to provide examples to the contrary, I find fall festivals to be a bit more quirky and fun than the summer festivals.
It's competition time for my team! I will be headed to Bristol, Tennessee for the Dance Matrix event next weekend.
No matter how the awards fall, competitions always leave us with new inside jokes and special bonding moments. It will be a great time once I get there! BUT...
Does anybody else freak out about packing for competition?!
Wish me luck, folks! This weekend, I will be dancing with Fancy Free Cloggers at the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival (Ohio). Several clogging teams perform throughout the day at this festival. I generally love these events, where you get to watch other teams and socialize.
However, I must admit to being nervous about one of our dances.
"We've got a problem."
These words greeted me upon entering the clogging studio for dance class this week. One of our tech-savvy dancers was already hunched over the computer, looking frustrated.
The computer with our music, which worked fine for Hoedown Island practice 2 days ago and worked fine for yoga class just the night before, was now crashing every time the music player opened.
The drive home from my friend's beginner clogging class Monday night was terrible! It was pouring rain AND the road is under construction in multiple places (lines not really visible, including the center line, long waits at a traffic light where the road is down to a single lane, no streetlights to help visibility). Driving along at a snail's pace, tense and hunched over, trying to see the road, silently cursing oncoming big trucks who throw water all over my windshield, I thought about the miles driven in the name of clogging:
We've all had those shows. The ones where the audience is not particularly attentive and they don't seem to care that you showed up to dance.
My team recently performed at a resident home. One of our dancers has close ties to this facility and she has really been wanting to put on a show for the residents and staff.
In addition to clogging, I perform as half of the comedy skit team Otis & Daisy. Our skits tell the adventures of Daisy and her younger brother, Otis (played by clogging teammate Dustin Williams).
On many occasions, we need to borrow something random to use as a prop or complete a costume, and I've discovered the following:
1. My family and friends own weird stuff!
2. A little creativity goes a long way when coming up with props for cheap!
Here are ten examples:
I keep a file of dance quotes on my computer. These five seem right to share today:
1. As to dancing, my dear, I never dance, unless I am allowed to do it in my own peculiar way. There is no use trying to describe it: it has to be seen to be believed. ~Lewis Carroll
2. We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. ~Japanese Proverb
Here in Ohio, the Millersport Sweet Corn Festival in September is a big deal for cloggers. According to the current schedule, about a dozen clogging teams will be performing, along with some square dance groups. I love events of this sort and I'm glad organizer Adam King of the Yellow Rose Cloggers keeps my team on the invite list!
Last year had an unexpected takeaway: a new way to tie shoes!
If you have been clogging for years, do yourself a favor and go to beginner class!
I recently attended the very first beginner clogging class at a new performing arts/entertainment center (Congrats to a member of my clogging family on starting his new business!). It was fun to watch wide-eyed students work on finding the beat, learning the difference between a step/stamp/stomp, and cautiously attempting a (gasp!) double toe!
Class number three included considerably more happy noise: SHOES!
MISSION: Obtain a new pair of pantyhose before our second clogging show of the day. My current pair developed a runner in the foot during show number one. Clear nail polish had this contained but my only backup pair was already used once. Wanted the security of a new pair in the clogging bag.
OPTIONS: This was not my hometown, but I knew how to get to Kroger and Walmart. Kroger was closer.
Pay attention and every performer teaches something new or reinforces knowledge you already possess about putting on a show. No matter if it seemingly has nothing to do with your particular area of performance! I recently found tidbits of knowledge from an unexpected source.
Ginger has plenty going for her in her particular line of show: long legs, trim figure, gorgeous and obviously very expensive costumes, along with that special combo of confidence and pluck required to be a drag queen in the first place. Ginger had top billing in this show. Once her act began, I was perplexed to see the "star" making rookie mistakes.
