10 Things to Remember When You're Going to an Audition

Good afternoon all!

Recently, I have been thinking a lot about what my last year of college will be like. It will be filled with performances, exams, essays, classes, and auditions. I will be able to handle it, but I am pretty worried about the countless auditions I will do in order to find a job. The real world is around the corner and I'm feeling the pressure. 

This post is inspired by my fear of auditions. There is nothing more terrifying then being unprepared for an important audition. In lieu of this, I have put together a list of 10 things dancers should think about before going to any audition.  

1. Do your research ahead of time. Go online and read about the show, company, and choreographer you will be working with. This will give you an idea of what the people at the front of the room are looking for.
2. Update your resume. Every once in a while (even if you don't have an audition tomorrow) update your resume. There is nothing worse than having to add a years worth of performances to a resume the night before your audition. 
3. Bring an extra head shot. Once you have a great head shot, make many print outs and bring them with you. You never know who you will meet at an audition.
4. Get lots of sleep. Put your social life on hold during audition season. Go to bed! You want to look fresh and well rested when you step into the audition.
5. Water and snacks. Sometimes you will have to wait hours before you get to dance at large cattle call auditions. Bring food and drinks to keep you energized and entertained.
6. Multiple clothing options. Bring a few outfit options to the audition. What if you get there and everyone is wearing skirts and crop tops and your wearing a leo and tights? You will stick out in a bad way.
7. Headphones. Bring your smartphone and headphones so you can get in the zone and listen to your favorite music before the audition.
8. Big clothes to warm up in. If you don't keep your body warm while your sitting around waiting for the audition, you could get injured. The more layers the better.
9. Plan travel time. Most auditions are held in big cities and in big cities you have to plan for extended travel time. There could be a long walk from the subway or thirty minutes of traffic in the taxi. You do not want to be late!
10. Cash for surprise audition fees. Bring atleast twenty dollars in cash. Sometimes there will be surprise fees that they don't put on the audition flyer. 

Wow, I already feel better about my next audition. Although this list is designed for dance auditions, I believe that some of the points can be used for any type of audition or interview. 

Everyone, be prepared and try making your own list of things you need to do before your next job interview or audition.

Until next time!

The Dancer Diet, Not Tutu Thin

Hey readers!

I am super excited about today's post! Today is all about food! I am going to explain what a professional dancer diet looks like. We eat healthy but equally satisfying foods that help maintain a lean, strong, and energized physique.

Below is a sample diet. I would eat this way on a day with lots of physical activity. I would have ballet class in the morning, rehearsal most of the day and Pilates class in the evening. 

Meal 1. Dancers must eat breakfast. It is crucial to get your energy up before class. Start the day with foods dense in vitamins and nutrients. 

• Green Juice: I always have a 1915 Bolthouse Farms cold pressed juice. I like the apple, romaine, cucumber, spinach, kale, and lemon flavor. It is refreshing and slightly sweet.
• Banana and PB: I love bananas and peanut butter together. I like the Jif-To-Go packages of peanut butter. These prevent that occasional peanut butter binge. All you need is a knife to spread a little peanut butter onto your perfectly ripe banana. Dancers love bananas because of the potassium. It soothes and relaxes sore muscles. Peanut butter is great too because its packed with protein and healthy fat. 
• Coffee: Coffee equals energy. Peet's House Blend is my go to roast. I combine unsweetened almond milk with my coffee because its low calorie and tastes just as good as dairy milk to me. Never forget the Splenda (it is bad for you but I'm hooked). Truvia and/or Stevia are healthier alternatives. 

Meal 2. Dancers' lunch breaks are pretty short so you have to get something quick but filling. 

• Superfood salad: Kale salad with chicken, tomatoes, cucumber, quinoa, cranberries, feta, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin seeds. This is one of my favorite combinations. This salad has so many textures and flavors. Not to mention all of the nutrients, carbs, proteins, and fats that I need. When in NYC I order from Just Salad, or Sweet Green. When I'm really in a hurry I make my own at Whole Foods. 
• Le Croix Sparkling Water: Sparkling, flavored water mimics soda. It is super refreshing and flavorful. You can also drink as many as you want! I have two to three per day. The best flavors are lemon and grapefruit. 
• Side of fruit: I like to finish lunch with something sweet. I pack a nectarine sometimes. They are refreshing and delicious. Cherries are another favorite. They are tart and have tons of fiber.

Snacks are dancers' best friends. I need snacks in between rehearsals and before performances. Here are some snack options. 

• 1 cup or so of blueberries will give you a boost of antioxidants. They are the most nutritious berry in the family. 
• A few cups of popcorn is a yummy and crunchy form of carbs to give you some energy.
• 1/4 cup of roasted, unsalted almonds is an anti-inflammatory option with healthy fat and protein. 
• 1 apple a day keeps the doctor away. Honey crisp apples are the absolute best!
• Veggies and hummus are guilt free and satisfying. Mini bell peppers dipped in Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus fit my snack bill.
• If your going to eat a bar stick with a really natural brand like Larabars or Kind bars. Some protein bars on the market are super processed and are justified candy bars. Save your calories for desert, which comes a little later.

Well deserved dinner. There is nothing better than getting home and eating a great dinner with your feet up. 

• Pan seared Salmon: I sauté pre-marinated salmon in a non-stick pan with olive oil. Salmon is high in protein and in amino fatty acids. These acids are great for your skin and hair.
• Over roasted veggies: Bake chunks of broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and butternut quash in a 450 degree oven. I put salt, pepper, and olive oil on them and cook them for about half an hour. These are so good, I could eat the whole sheet pan. 
• Bedtime tea: Decaffeinated tea gets me relaxed and ready for bed. Its a really healthy ritual to get in the habit of because it acts as a cleanse and keeps you hydrated during the night. Any decaf Yogi Tea is wonderful.

Dancers eat desert. When choosing to eat desert its always a little hard because you know you shouldn't. However, you must treat your self for all of the work that you have done that day. Life is too short to avoid desert. Here are some dancer diet friendly options.

• Frozen yogurt: Self serve fro yo is nice because you can choose exactly how much you want. Just be wise and practice moderation. 
• Dark chocolate: Practice moderation here as well. One of my favorite treats are Justine's Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. A few Toberlone Triangles are amazing too.
• JUST one of something "bad". One Hostess cupcake, not three. One cookie, or half a cookie if your buying one thats bigger than your face. One small cup of regular ice cream. I am Ben and Jerry's lover. The most important thing is to just practice moderation.

Some dancers (ballet dancers specifically) don't eat enough and are too thin. I do not want to be like these dancers. I want and need to be thin, thats the reality of the business, but I also need to fuel my instrument and be healthy. 

I hope this dancer friendly diet was interesting and even helpful for you. I also hope that the diet showed you that not all dancers are worried about looking like a tooth pick. We eat well and are more normal than you'd think.

Injury Prevention

Dancers are often getting injured. Some common dance injuries include achilles tendonitis, lower back spasms, bone fractures in the feet, and knee ligament tears. 

Thankfully I'm not prone to injury like some of my hyper mobile friends. However, all dancers should be well informed about injury prevention. Many young dancers seek out such information. 

Wikipedia was no help. In the pasted paragraph below, there's little to no information about specific injury prevention techniques. Here, also is the link to the Wikipedia page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballet_dancer

Class time is used to correct any habits that will lead to injury. If the ballet dancer is properly trained, the dancer will decrease their risk of injury. Some ballet dancers also turn to stretching or other devices, like the foot arch stretcher, in an attempt to minimize the risk of bodily damage. Nevertheless, injuries are a common occurrence in performances. Most injuries do not show up until later in a ballet dancer’s life, after years of continuous strain.

After reading this, I felt compelled to share some of the popular forms of injury prevention I was taught. Check out my edits to Wikipedia!

Class time is used to correct any habits that will lead to injury. If the ballet dancer is properly trained, the dancer will decrease their risk of injury. Some ballet dancers also turn to stretching or other methods of cross training, like Pilates, Yoga, non-impact cardio, and swimming. Outside cross training attempts to minimize the risk of bodily damage by increasing strength, exercise diversity, and stamina. Nevertheless, injuries are a common occurrence in performances. Most injuries do not show up until later in a ballet dancer’s life, after years of continuous strain.

All for now!

So You Think You Might Peek Too Soon?

Hello everyone!

I recently watched the newest episodes of the dance television show, So You Think You Can Dance. To my surprise, the contestants auditioning this season were much younger than in past seasons. I was kind of annoyed (I apologize for my blatant use of slang) by the new concept. Here's what the FOX website has to say about the new version of the show. 

FOX has renewed the Emmy Award-winning SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (SYTYCD) for a 13th season that will feature a younger generation of dancers. This season, dancers between the ages of 8-13, who are skilled in various dance styles, such as contemporary, tap, hip-hop, ballroom, animation or breaking, will be paired up with All-Stars to compete for the title of America’s Favorite Dancer. 

No one initially likes change. For example, I was uninterested in the "new generation," and I was going to purposely not watch the show.

Then, a few days ago, I heard some family friends talking about how great it was, so I decided to get off my concert dance high horse and watch. 

I loved the show! Shocker, I know. The kids were adorable, talented, diverse, and most importantly, passionate about dance. It was inspriring to see young dancers who knew they wanted a dance career at such a young age. I was this way. By the age of 10, I knew dancing was my passion and that I needed to pursue it. 

However, when I was younger, I did not dance at the level of the kids I watched. They were way better than I was! They were doing 5 pirouettes, insane leg extensions, and challenging floor work. 

The problem is that dancing is not just about technical/physical impressiveness. It is also about movement quality, storytelling, emotion, and self-expression. The kids last night were dancing at an extremely high technical level, but lacked quality and artistry. 

Their dancing lacked genuine emotion and refined quality because they haven't had enough time to train these skills. The majority of the dancers are not mature enough to work on artistry. 

The talent I saw last night was incredible, but the dancers need to remember that So You Think You Can Dance is not the peak of their careers. TV time is short lived and cannot be their reason for dancing. A moment in the spotlight fades away. These kids need to continue to work hard after the show ends. 

Peaking too soon is my biggest concern for these kids. They will become complacent in their training or burn out because they received too much career success too soon.

I had to work hard for many years to hone my skills and develop great technique. I improved and grew every year. Constant evolution kept me coming back into the studio. Each day, week, and month I was improving and doing things I couldn't do before. 

These kids already have the skills that take years to master. They have received lots of recognition on social media for their natural abilities. If skills come too easily to young kids, they forget they must work hard to continue being amazing.

Although I appreciate that SYTYCD brings high level dance to the masses, the "Next Generation," exposure is detrimental to the long-term careers of America's most talented kiddos. 

Are you a fan of the show? What do you think?

Until next time!

A Perfect Bun is the Smoking Gun

In my industry, self presentation is key. Something as unimportant as the cleanliness of a dancer's bun can immediately send the wrong message to an instructor, choreographer, or artistic director. I feel as though this concept is true for every industry. I don't like that the world works this way, but it does. How we present ourselves matters; it sets the scene before we sit down for our interviews or set foot onto the stage. 

Self presentation is the smoking gun in any professional scenario. It is the one clue that your superior needs to figure you out. It is also something we have some control over. So, we want this smoking gun to make us and not break us. 

In order to do that, we have to care enough about ourselves and our careers to think about how we present ourselves to the world. What is my image? How will this image affect me? Can I create a positive image without compromising certain parts of who I am? These are questions I ask myself when I enter an audition, important rehearsal, or class. I never want to change myself or wear something I think others want to see. My goal is to just be the best version of me. 

The care we put into ourselves will seep its way into other areas of our lives. Most of the time, the last thing I want to do is spend half an hour trying to look polished for ballet class. Most of the time, when I don't, I soon regret my lack of effort. 

What I've said is just some food for thought. See how it tastes and see if you can avoid letting your smoking gun negatively affect you. Best of luck!

Trust is a Must

I want to use this post as an opportunity for you to get to know me. Once you do, I hope you'll feel like you can trust me when we go full speed ahead into the daily practicality of my blog, Pointe of View. 

Let's start with my vision. I was born with genetic defect called nystagmus. Doctors call it "Dancing Eyes." This odd name is actually perfect for me and just means that my eyes shake back and fourth uncontrollably. 

I was also born legally blind, color blind, and have cone dystrophy, which means that my eyes are extremely light sensitive. I wear very dark, tinted contact lenses and have to wear sunglasses outside.

My vision used to be a negative burden in my life. I was teased in school because I was always squinting and looking at people funny to see them clearly. I think people also thought I was kind of a stuck up, diva because I always wore sunglasses and wouldn't acknowledge them if they waved at me from afar. As I've gotten older though, I've begun thinking of my vision as one of my unique and distinguishable qualities. It gives me a story to tell and has forced me to work harder to achieve what I truly want.

All right, we've covered my vision. Now we can move on to some background information on my life (I am mentioning this small personal history because I attribute much of who I am to my family and upbringing). 

I was born in a small town in the San Joaquin Valley of California, called Visalia. Don't worry if you have never heard of it, most people haven't. I had a wonderful childhood. My parents mainstreamed me in Christian and then public schools before we moved to the San Diego area when I was 14. 

My parents put me in dance classes at age 8. Dance was the only extracurricular I could do because I wasn't much of a singer and sports were not an option. I'm still deathly afraid of participating in any type of sport or ball game.

We moved to San Diego for many reasons, but my dance training was the big contributing factor. This relocation was proof of my parent's sacrifice for my dance training. They supported me and my dancing dream 100%. I am so grateful for having a family that put my dream first. What a blessing! 

After we moved, I started high school at the San Diego School of the Creative and Performing Arts. I trained intensly during my high school years in classical ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. In college, I continued training mainly in those three areas but have dabbled in ballroom, jazz, West African, and improvisation. I am passionate about concert style dance. My dream is to dance in a renowned contemporary ballet company that tours internationally.

I have chosen a career path that is extremely competitive and physically demanding, yet I believe I am up for the challenge. My life thus far has prepared me for this exciting but also scary career. 

Okay, the lengthy "me" narrative is done! Now, we can start focusing on what I can do for YOU. Things are about to get exciting. From now on, each post in Pointe of View will be geared toward a specific roadblock we have probably all faced. 

Post topics to come:

• Step out to stand out
• Feel it, don't see it
• Think on your toes
• Fake it til you make it
• Stay grounded
• Everyday is an audition
• Mirror, mirror on the wall
• Stretching yourself too thin?
• The perfect turn out

Please stay tuned!

An Introduction

Welcome readers!

You have entered Pointe of View: A visually impaired dancer's unique and complex perspective on life. My goal is to offer advice and insight for those dealing with life's many challenges. 

The advice is based on my life. I am only twenty (almost twenty-one!) years old but have accomplished many of my childhood dreams and will pursue a dance career despite my blindness. I have and will continue to defy society's expectations for me. I have analyzed my life and have a strong desire to use what I've learned as an inspirational handbook for YOU. 

This blog will open your eyes.