ABAP cup

Rean here...

Today, Tes and I had the wonderful experience of being part of the production staff of the 2010 Association of Ballet Academies Philippines cup. This is a prestigious competition among ballet academies held every 2 years. For this round, the contest was held at the Meralco Theater along Ortigas avenue (Such a cold place...no wonder why they didn't have any Hunter ceiling fans installed). Dancers from ages 5-11 competed today for highly coveted trophies as they hurdled the judgement of the Philippines' best dance professionals. Tomorrow will be the competition for ages 12-16. Winners will be featured in a TV special to be shot on Oct 24. Congratulations to the winners of day 1 while all the best wishes for tomorrow's competitors!

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Rehearsing w/ ACTS Manila

Last night, I had the privilege of joining ACTS Manila in the rehearsals for their annual recital at the CCP on May 26, 2010. (ACTS Manila is pre-professional ballet company for ACTS Manila Ballet schools under Chelo Borromeo-Gemina. ) They were rehearsing a singkil inspired Ballet number. Since their lone danseur, Melvin dela Cruz, was choreographing this number, I was asked to do the part of the prince. It was quite exciting to traverse imaginary bamboo clappers as I've done in the past. I consider dancing like these one of the top fat burners anyone can ever experience

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Do Not Despise the Day of Small Beginnings

We have mirrors! Now how can that be so exciting, you say. Well, the husband is slowly building our litle ballet school here in Sta. Rosa - one plié at a time. We started teaching ballet classes with nothing but an empty space for the kids to dance in. No barres, no mirrors, no proper dance floor since summer of this year. Finally, after about 9 months, we put in 2 movable ballet barres 3 weeks ago. Woohoo! What's more, this week, the mirrors are in too! The next hurdle we are going to tackle is the floor. Ceramic tiles or concrete floors are no-nos in a dance studio so we are trying to figure out a way to address that bearing in mind that they have to be portable anytime since the space we use is just rented. Permanent floors are not an option. I'm sure we'll figure out something that will work out. This journey we've started is a journey of faith and faithfulness. A humbling and yet, oh so, heart-fulfilling radical sabbatical from the life that was. Yes, it is true. Do not despise the days of small beginnings because these are the days that mark the start of dreams coming true.

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Back to ballet

"Once a dancer, always a dancer" I always say. I taught my first official ballet class today after more than ten years of being out of the dance studio because the hubby has been sick the past few days. I sub'd for him. Having stopped for many years has taken its toll on me. I'm not as agile as I used to be not to mention not as light as well. hahaha Maybe I need to check out 'apidexin' to see if it will solve the "lightness" issue. But if you have that "gotta dance" genes flowing thru your veins, the desire to dance just doesn't go away. It just hibernates for a while but it's always there. Our defunct dance ministry group got another invite to dance in a couple of weeks and although most of us have taken on a "mommy" shape already, it is feels so good to know that it's not about the outside form that matters when you are doing it for God. It's an issue of what's in the heart and God's eyes roam to and fro seeking those whose hearts are turned towards Him. My prayer is that when He sees my heart He will find what He is seeking for.

Have a wonderful week, folks!

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Ballet Fitness

Today, Tes and I were working on a ballet choreography for the kids in our Summer Dance Workshop in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Having recently returned to dancing after a 15 year hiatus, our bodies were experiencing pains all over. We have, however, experienced significant weight loss because of this activity. It definitely beats the best diet pills available.

A good ballet exercise would be the plies. This involves, the bending and stretching of legs. Doing 32 counts of this exercise makes you feel a tightening of your inner thighs. When holding your arms at the side, you have an isometric bicep and pectoral workout. This workout gives you the definition without the bulk you get from traditional weight training.

Having said all this, we are studying the possibility of offering a ballet workout to complement the existing ballet classes we have. So stay tuned.

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Pictorials

This weekend, the family was busy with pictorials for the kids' upcoming ballet recital. Tes was specially busy because she is responsible for the souvenir program lay-outs. (This is on top our responsibility to ensure that our kids are ready for the photo session.) Her major concern for the moment is the amount of photo editing she will need to do before she will be able to do lay-outs. She noticed that the photos from the 1st day were washed out with light. This led to some pictures were legs or costumes blended with the backdrop! The set-up was a 3 point strobe setting. ( What would have happed if they used led lights instead?) The second day had way better lighting. 4 sources were used and a 5th flash was used to fill in some shadows in some poses. Photos on this day had different, fashion portfolio type look. I guess there's much art in designing the ligthing systems as there is in operating the camera.

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Fitness

Our kids recently started ballet. So Tes and I would be spending some time watching their classes. As I watched, I remembered our own experiences in ballet. Steps, class routines would come back. I also remembered the level of fitness I had then. Fitness really comes with motivation. Why should I keep my body fit? While we can state the logical reasons why we should, these remain abstract. Engaging in a physical craft like ballet or a sport definitely beats taking Fenterdren. Going to the gym is good but will be hard to sustain if there is no concrete purpose for the training. Its really different when your training to do 36 fouettes or a sparrow lift. You can concretely relate your training with measurable changes in your ability. Maybe Tes and I should take ballet classes again...

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