Ballet Notes

Barre

• Feet fully on demi pointe
• Stand up tall without compromising your balance (tighten your center)
• During tendu/degage/ronde jambe exercises, keep your hips facing forward, not turned out to the side.
• Relax your shoulders.
• Tendu/degage: extend all the way to the front and back (pointe your toes, girl!). Also, your side degage/tendu is more in front than to the side.
• Devellope: when extending out, your foot goes to wear you would tendu to!
• When in fourth position, your front foot’s toe should be level with your back foot’s heel, your center evenly distributed, and don’t lean back when you plié.

Center Floor

• Chaine turns
• Relax the shoulders (especially your right)
• Hold your center
• Relax your shoulders

•  Pique turns
• Higher on demi point
• Keep your working leg straight
• Pull up on your posse
• RELAX YOUR SHOULDERS

• Grand Jete
• Keep your legs straight
• Arms in first position for in between leaps.
• Lower your arm in third arabesque when leaping so as not to cover your face
• Look up higher so your leaps have more height

Vocabulary

• Frappé
• Frappé means to "strike". Hitting the floor or an ankle with a moving foot, flexed.
• Coupe’
• The working foot is placed on the part of the leg between the base of the calf and the beginning of the ankle.
• Retiré
• A position in which the thigh is raised to the second position en l'air with the knee bent so that the pointed toe rests in front of, behind or to the side of the supporting knee.
• Devant
• In front. This term may refer to a step, movement or the placing of a limb in front of the body. In reference to a particular step the addition of the word "devant" implies that the working foot is closed in the front.
• Pas de chat
• Cat's-step. The step owes its name to the likeness of the movement to a cat's leap.
• En croix
• Meaning "in the shape of a cross" or "the cross." This term is usually used when doing barre exercises such as battement tendu and battement frappé. The required movement is done to the front, then the side, then back and then again to the side (a cross shape) closing in either first or fifth position.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Seventeen (and counting)

Day Seventeen

An applicable song lyric:
And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, there you go and do it all again. I hope this feeling never ends, 'cause you, you make me happy. You, you make me happy.

Something making me happy:
Conversations with my friends :D

Something I learned today:
DON'T DRINK COLD WATER RIGHT AFTER BRUSHING YOUR TEETH!

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My family.

My 11:11 wish:
That I would do better in class.

Somewhere I want to be:
Shleeping.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
My cell phone.

Some thoughts:
 All the things I'm saying I'd miss if the Earth were destroyed are superficial...but I'm not saying "My family" because I know I'll be with them forever.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Sixteen (and counting)

Day Sixteen

An applicable song lyric:
I hope that you see right through my walls
I hope that you catch me, 'cause I'm already falling
I'll never let a love get so close
You put your arms around me and I'm home

Something making me happy:
Food. Heh XD

Something I learned today:
I need to go to college.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
Picnik *sniffle*

My 11:11 wish:
That he'd like me.

Somewhere I want to be:
Talking to Renaye.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Quasedillas.

Some thoughts:
Food is good. Dancing is good. Life is good.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Fifteen (and counting)

Day Fifteen

An applicable song lyric:
Cuz when you worry, your face will frown, and that will bring everybody down.
So don't worry, be happy.

Something making me happy:
We had roast for dinner. It was yummy. Hehe.

Something I learned today:
Patience is a virtue that I struggle with.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My dad.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I was prettier.

Somewhere I want to be:
In bed. Sleeping.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Cookies.

Some thoughts:
Don't worry, be happy.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Fourteen (and counting)

Day Fourteen

An applicable song lyric:
You can count on me like 1 2 3
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you'll be there
Cause that's what friends are supposed to do

Something making me happy:
I'm going home today *victory dance*

Something I learned today:
Watching children is exhausting!

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My momma.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish he'd like me.

Somewhere I want to be:
Hooooome.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Cars.

Some thoughts:
I need to get an iPhone stat. And a new laptop.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Thirteen (and counting)

Day Thirteen

An applicable song lyric:
And I'm juggling all the thoughts in my head
I'm juggling and my fears on fire
but I'm listening as it evolves in my head
I'm balancing on one fine wire

Something making me happy:
Fuzzy socks.

Something I learned today:
Boredom is so boring, it's not funny. Not that you said it was, but seriously.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My entertaining friends.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I could match Levi's awesome writing skills.

Somewhere I want to be:
Home.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
My 16th birthday. Heh.*Warning: Dry humor detected*

Some thoughts:
I'm going to destroy the movie Up. It can die in a hole somewhere. I'm not violent, just a tired teenager who's watched Up over five times in the last two days.

   

Yeah, my fuzzy sock looks like the carpet. 

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Twelve (and counting)

Day Twelve

An applicable song lyric:
All we can do is keep breathing.

Something making me happy:
My brother's iPhone.

Something I learned today:
Add libs with Andrew after midnight is hilarious.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My house.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I had an iPhone.

Somewhere I want to be:
Home.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Movies.

Some thoughts:
Being addicted to Facebook sucks.
Being without Internet sucks even more.
Being bored sucks most of all.
Money is good.
So are books.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Eleven (and counting)

Day Eleven

An applicable song lyric:
I am trying not to tell you, but I want to. I’m scared of what you’ll say, so I’m hiding what I’m feeling. But I’m tired of holding this inside my head. I’ve been spending all my time just thinking about ya, I don’t know what to do. I think I’m fallin’ for you.

Something making me happy:
Renaye singing on the other end of the phone ::)

Something I learned today:
Work samples are not fun.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My mom.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish he’d like me.

Somewhere I want to be:
Not at dance.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Renaye. Wait….

Some thoughts:
I GOTTA GO BYE!

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Ten (and counting)

Day Ten

An applicable song lyric:
'Cause I'm just a summer girl, I wear my flip flops, and when I let my hair down that's when the party starts.
And who needs a boyfriend? I've got my girlfriends, and when we get together the party never ends.

Something making me happy:
I look pretty. Hehe :)

Something I learned today:
Patience, patience, patience.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My momma.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I wasn't so awkward. 

Somewhere I want to be:
Getting a massage. 

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Cinnamon rolls.

Five random things about me:
I can cook. Excepting mac n' cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches.
I love sugar.
I like taking pictures.
I almost have my right splits.
I have nine siblings.

Quote of the Day:
"Pahaha yeah you married the female version of your father ;)"

Some thoughts:
IDEA asks too much of us, trying to get work samples. Helen makes me laugh so hard tears stream down my face. HURRAH! for new friends who know how to dance.  I can't wait until the next stake dance.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Nine (and still counting)

Day Nine

An applicable song lyric:

What if we were made for each other, born to become best friends and lovers?
I want to stay right here in this moment with you. Over and over and over again.

Something making me happy:
Helen's cute shirt. Hehe.

Something I learned today:
I didn't exactly LEARN this today...but I re-realized it. Music and dancing makes everything better, especially cleaning.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My curly hair.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish he'd notice me.

Somewhere I want to be:
Anywhere but here.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
All mah music.

Five random things about me:
I love to dance (lyrical, ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, ballroom...you name it, I love it)
My favorite color is blue.
I haven't gotten my permit yet (I need to do that soon...)
I have naturally curly hair.
I'm LDS.

Quote:
"Dating is the process of sifting through all the stalkers to find the one you want to stalk back."-Stephanie Nelson

Some thoughts:
My cellphone is seems indestructible. It's pretty amazing, and I've dropped it more times than I can count. Helen is pretty amazing, listening to me complain about random stuff that won't even matter in the long run. Renaye makes my days.
Picnik is so much fun to mess with. 

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Eight (and counting)

Day Eight

An applicable song lyric:
This night is sparkling, don't you let it go. I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I'll spend forever wondering if you knew; I was enchanted to meet you


Something making me happy:
I slept in. Heh heh heh. Oh, and we're having strawberry waffles for dinner. WHAT NOW?

Something I learned today:
Staying up til 1am doesn't help you get up at 7am.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
Alarm clocks.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish he'd like me.

Somewhere I want to be:
Dancing.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Computers. They're pretty amazing, you know.

Some thoughts:
Dancing is so much fun.
Divine Comedy makes my DAYS...
I am so giddy I think I might accidentally hurt someone.
Also...I got a little carried away with the camera...

~La vie est belle, Bri~

7 Reasons Not To Mess With Children

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.
The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human, it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, 'When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah'.
The teacher asked, 'What if Jonah went to hell?'
The little girl replied, 'Then you ask him'.

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, 'I'm drawing God.'
The teacher paused and said, 'But no one knows what God looks like'
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, 'They will in a minute.'

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to 'honour' thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?'
Without missing a beat one little boy answered, 'Thou shall not kill.'

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, 'Why are some of your hairs white, Mum?'
Her mother replied, 'Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.'
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, 'Mummy, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?'

The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
'Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, 'And there's the teacher, she's dead.'

A teacher was giving a lesson on the circulation of the blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, 'Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.'
'Yes,' the class said.
'Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn't run into my feet?'
A little fellow shouted,
'Cause your feet ain't empty.'

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
'Take only ONE . God is watching.'
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, 'Take all you want. God is watching the apples.'

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Seven (and counting)

Day Seven

Applicable song lyric:
I just want to be strong at the end of the road, I don’t want to hold on, I want the strength to let go.

Something making me happy:
Renaye's going to the dance with me!!!!!

Something I learned today:
I need to write things down...to remember them....

Something I need to be more thankful for:
Being able to laugh.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I was more attractive.

Somewhere I want to be:
At the dance.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Hair straighteners.

Some thoughts:
Scissor cuts hurt. Like...a lot.
Helen's tank top looks good on me. Heh heh.
I love my friends :D And laughing.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Six (and counting)

Day Six

Applicable song lyric:
 "Today I don't feel like doing anything, I just wanna lay in my bed.
Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone."

Something making me happy:
I have a Sprite. Not the magical creature...the kind you drink...and savor....and is bad for you....but you love it anyway....

Something I learned today:
Some children are veddy stubborn.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My brother.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I was prettier.

Somewhere I want to be:
In bed. By myself....sleeping....

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Sprite. Heck yeah.

Some thoughts:
I wanna do a duet to Set Fire to the Rain with Renaye, cuz it'd be epic. And, if I could choose, I'd want Shannon to choreograph it.  Cuz she's epic too.
Dancing is amazing and fun and epic and tragic and dramatic and just.....*brain explodes*

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Five (and counting)

Day Five

An applicable song lyric:
I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

Something making me happy:
I look perty :)

Something I learned today:
How to make Shepard's Pie.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
Jesus and all he's done for me. 

My 11:11 wish:
That this pain would just go away.

Somewhere I want to be:
In bed.

Something I would miss if the Earth were destroyed:
Ice cream. Yep.

Some thoughts:
I really need to learn not to get my hopes up. Maybe there's something to Helen's "expect the worst and don't be disappointed" theory thingamajig. Dodge ball is still amazing. Debating sucks like a bad kisser with chapped lips and onion breath. 

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Four (and counting)

Applicable song lyric:
Cause maybe in the future, you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back around.
Maybe in the future you're gonna come back, you're gonna come back to me.


Something making me happy:
I just ate. Hehe.

Something I learned today:
I forgot how much fun dodge ball is.

Something I should be more thankful for:
Friends who don't freak out at me when I act like a total brat.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I could be an amazing dance RIGHT NOW. (<---period.)

Somewhere I want to be right now:
Getting massaged.

Thoughts:
I rule at dodge ball. Renaye looks gorgeous in her new leotard. Helen is my best friend and I love her. La vie est belle.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Three (and counting)

Day Three

An applicable song lyric:
If you ask me how I'm doing, I would say, “I'm doing just fine.” I would lie and say that you're not on my mind.

Something making me happy:
My daddy bought me creamy peanut butter <3

Something I learned today:
I never ever ever EVER want to be a single mom.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My dad <3

My 11:11 wish:
That I could rewind my life to last year.

Somewhere I want to be:
In Anchorage, hanging with Helen.

Some thoughts:
I am never cutting my hair again.
My jacket is super warm and cozy.
Cleaning isn't fun.

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day Two (and counting)

An applicable song lyric:

"You're beautiful, every little piece love, don't you know? You're really gonna be someone, ask anyone.
When you find everything you looked for, I hope your life leads you back to my door. Oh but if it don't, stay beautiful."

Something making me happy:
My jeans. I'm pathetic, I know, but they're so comfortable! (and, I look pretty cute in them, if I do say so myself).

Something I learned today:
Twelve year old boys are the most immature things in existence.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My amazing, incredibly understanding friends.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I could be psychic.

Somewhere I want to be:
Soaking in a hot bath.

Some thoughts:
Note: Do not put red nail polish under gold crackle...it doesn't turn out well.
We need more butter.
It's great to have cars that work, even when it's -20 outside.

 

~La vie est belle, Bri~

I Will Survive: Day One (and counting)

So, I did steal this idea from my friend Helen, but in my defense, she said I could. There are 336 days until my 16th birthday, which is big, and it just so happens to be the year that the world is supposed to end. SO, I've decided to start this project and call it I Will Survive. Basically, I'll post a picture and answer these questions (and maybe occasionally switch them up) every day for your enjoyment.

Day One

An applicable song lyric:
"I'm tired of being what you want me to be, feeling so faithless lost under the surface, don't know what you're expecting of me."

Something making me happy:
My new tutu, hehe :D

Something I learned today:
That it's really hard not to talk over other people and just listen.

Something I need to be more thankful for:
My parents.

My 11:11 wish:
I wish I was in love.

Somewhere I want to be:
Lying on a sunny beach.

Some thoughts:
Some people need to just sit back and shut their mouths, because the rest of us have our own lives to worry about. Dance is altogether too hard and competitive, but I am so in love with it. Making biscuits isn't as fun as it sounds.

 

~La vie est belle, Bri~