My YAGP 2014 Experience

This was my second year performing in YAGP and my first year competing in the Senior Category! I turned 15 in December of 2013. You are basically scheduled in order of age so for contemporary I was the second person on stage and for classical I was FIRST! I could see all of the other dancers in the wings, waiting. NO PRESSURE! I placed top 12 in contemporary and classical and was awarded 3rd place for my performance of the Talisman variation.

The judges were:

Charles Askegard danced professionally with ABT, NYCB with many guest appearances at other companies. Mr. Askegard formed his own company Ballet Next with Michele Wiles (former ABT principal dancer)

Carlos Dos Santos, JR. - A noted Brazilian performer and choreographer and former principal dancer with major Brazillian dance companies.

Kee Juan Han - A native of Singapore and graduate of the Australian Ballet School.  He has performed as a principal dancer with Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and was a soloist with Boston Ballet. He directed the Arizona Ballet School for 10 years and currently is the Director of Washington Ballet School.

Adam Sklute - Artistic Director of Ballet West, Adjunct Professor of dance at the University of Utah, oversees Ballet West Academy and serves on the Board of the Gerald Arpino Foundation.

NO PRESSURE!

So, YAGP is about handling pressure. That's what I think anyway. I think it is great to do well but I also think if you approach it as a competition you are missing the point. Being on stage can be SCARY. With judges it is REALLY just nerve wracking. The harder the variations get the more pressure you put on yourself to do well and nail this or that. But for me it is about learning to perform under that pressure. To grow through practising my variations and to try to be more and more consistent as well as comfortable on stage. Develop the ability to have nice presentation under pressure with a lot of people watching. For your solo it is all you. Everyone in the room is watching YOU and they all know you are being judged. NO PRESSURE!! That being said I think it is a necessary part of my training, that I actually do enjoy, and I will continue to do with hopes of improving every year and at some point with hopes of being noticed by a reputable company.

I think my contemporary was more fluid than last year . I did the same piece. You pay for choreography so it made sense to use it one more year. You can view last year here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c52PFm2zxcg  and 2014 below.

As for Diana and Acteon... LOVE this variation but I do think it is challenging. The turns drove me crazy. I was spot on then off. Not consistent. I was worried about them for YAGP and I have to say they were not my best. I have done better.

Talisman - Probably the most fun variation and I did get the higher score with it. I just love performing it. The music is great and it's just fun to dance. I didn't even notice the adjustment I made before my develope which I guess is good. You shouldn't be thinking like that when you are in the middle of performing!

Thanks for following my journey and for your support. Everyone is always really nice and supportive. I look forward to YAGP next year and to continued growth and improvements!

Love,
Robbie

Atlantic Dance Retail Show

Robbie Downey - Ballet Freak and
Ballet Babbler

We headed up to Los Angeles from San Diego a couple of weeks ago to check out the Dance Retail Show. We were looking for new products to add to the Ballet Freak store which is getting a make over! You're going to love it. All of our favorite brands were there and we met some of the nicest people. What else would you expect from this industry?! Below is a recap written by me, with input from my mom, of some of our favorites 

The first booth we stopped at was ainsliewear . This brand provides the official bodysuit of Canada's National Ballet School. Ainslie Cyopik, a retired professional dancer, is the driving force behind this brand. This dancer gone designer saw a need for dance apparel that fit right. Dancewear needs to be functional and beautiful and we think she has accomplished this. We sat for some time with Ainslie and her business partner Terri Margo.

They let us touch the fabrics and took the time to show each piece. It is obvious that they are very proud of the ainsliewear line. The attention to detail from fabrics chosen to the design of each garment shows the care that went into developing the new line. These are high quality leotards!

I, being quite familiar with all brands and having worn mostly all of them, was in love with each and every piece. My favorite was a leotard with artwork on the back called the Valentina print. The story behind the art is as charming as the leotard. It was a piece of art created by Ainslie's father long before he could have known he would have a professional dancer for a daughter. The art was discovered by Ainslie and now graces the back of one of her perfectly shaped leotards.

To see the full line visit www.ainsliewear.com 


Next stop was to say hello to Mark Suffolk. He, of course, is the creator of Suffolk pointe shoes which I happen to wear at the moment. I'm in the Stellar model. It is lower profile and he has let me know there is an even more lower profile model coming out this summer (The Sovereign) . We attended a short seminar where Mark and Keri Suffolk discussed how the shoes are made and we were educated on the making of the shoes. They discussed lasts (if I understand correctly, are what the shoes are shaped on) and how each shoe is shaped 4 times. Each shoe has 2 lasts one for shaping it right side out and one for inside out. So if they have 9 styles of shoe and each shoe offers 9 widths and however many sizes that is about a gazillion lasts ( roughly). I think they need a lot of space just to store the lasts. The shoes must also dry on the last so it's not like they can have just one last per style. Like I said that is about a gazillion lasts. Also, the equipment needed to make the shoes is a whole other issue. Read about Mark's machine skills HERE. I can appreciate that all of this dictates what we pay for our shoes.

Me and my shoe guy, Mark Suffolk. 

Mark was even kind enough to take a look at my feet in my shoes and suggested I go even slightly more narrow than what I have now. I have already gone down one full X to XX after realizing I have a compressible foot. I will try XXN (which fits between X and XX) as soon as I can. Suffolk is the only brand that offers these variations of widths. I find it pretty useful. We all know looking for the right shoe is not fun! The shoes are made with care in England and unlike other brands they don't have "makers". Personally I find that this keeps each model more consistent and you know what to expect each time.

Suffolk is also expanding their apparel and accessories line which includes leotards to toe pads. They also now carry sewing tubes. Check it all out at www.suffolkdance.com 

Next stop... Jule Dancewear. In case you can't tell she's a dancer. A dancer against "granny prints" . She started her first business venture at 14 with a friend, also making skirts. At 16 Julia went off to train at Pacific Northwest Ballet's professional training program which made it difficult to maintain that partnership. So, at 19, with a desire to expand the line she founded Jule Dancewear. While Julia runs her business she is also currently in her 4th season as a professional dancer at Los Angeles Ballet. 

"I strive to design dancewear with stand out colors and prints with great quality, fit and functionality. The dance world can be quite competitive, so why not wear dancewear that will set you apart from the rest and give you the confidence you need to succeed!" Julia Cinquemani  

Her skirts are well made and the prints are definitely not "granny prints" . She sells leotards and leg warmers too. You can check them out at www.juledancewear.com.

Check out Covet Dance Clothing at www.covetdance.com 

Dance Passion Sacrifice Obsession! What dancer wouldn't wear that t-shirt!? We next stopped by to say hi to Sharene at Covet Dance Clothing. You have probably seen her tees around. I know I have! Great stuff. Sharene is a super creative and fun lady and her line reflects that. The apparel is quality apparel and the prints are well done. I will for sure be sporting some of her products this coming year. She even has t-shirts for your Mom! Keep an eye out for it in the Ballet Freak online store. 

Sharene is also working with artist Flaco Shalom to help raise funds for his 13th Peace project inspired by Misty Copeland. You can expect the t-shirt to be available soon! I'll keep you posted! 

Me and Aaron - Check out their website www.realfoodbarre.com .
A portion of all proceeds benefits arts education. 

Nom Nom Nom! That is what we did at this booth. Barre is a real food bar developed by professional dancers (made with real ingredients for real athletes). Co-creator, Julia Erickson, is a Principal Dancer with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. CEO and co-creator, Aaron Ingley, also danced professionally with PBT for 9 seasons. I encourage you to read their bios on the website. 

The barre is a delish REAL FOOD bar. Most "energy" bars don't have real, whole food in their ingredients. These bars are VEGAN (that's cool), high in omega-3s, rich in antioxidants and are balanced energy. What else do you want from a barre? Perfect pirouettes? Me too. My favorite is Pirouette Cinnamon Pecan. YUM!


We also stopped at Wear Moi but there was just way too much fabulousness. It needs it's own post! Coming soon and coming soon to the Ballet Freak Store =) Join my newsletter to get  updates on EVERYTHING going on with me and Ballet Freak and the Ballet World. 

Sylvie Guillem: Ballerina, Animal Conservationist and Environmental Campaigner

Sylvie Guillem in a Sea Shepherd sweatshirt. ©euronews

Sylvie Guillem is one of the most famous Ballerinas ever. A Ballerina celebrity and she has a lot to say. She inspires me in dance and in life. I love that she was given the nickname Madame Non (Miss No) and I love that she is particular and against anything mediocre. A true artist with real opinions. At 19, she became the youngest étoile at the Paris Opera Ballet and only four years later she left to be free and dance her own way. 

I really took a special interest in her when I read of her involvement with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. They are against the slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans. Sylvie became obsessed with the organization after seeing a TV show featuring them. The dancer who has never been on a diet changed her diet completely. She switched out meat and fish (which she loved) for vegetables, nuts and seeds. She even stopped eating cheese. It's amazing what happens when you make the connection between your food and where it actually comes from. "There's more protein in lentils than in meat" she said in an interview. 

When Sylvie performed at the Sydney Opera House she arranged for an information stand during each performance and before each show a flyer was put on every seat with more information about Sea Shepherd. I believe I read she did the same at Sadler's Wells in London and perhaps every show possible. Sylvie Guillem sits on the arts and media advisory board for Sea Shepherd with Sean Connery, Brigitte Bardot and Martin Sheen. 

I have two things I am really passionate about... ballet and animals. My Mom founded a non-profit when I was a toddler and I was always surrounded by rescued pets. I also helped my Mom campaign for Prop 2 in California when I was about 9. It was a proposition to make cages bigger on factory farms so animals can at least turn around or spread their wings. I wasn't old enough to gather signatures but I helped set up tables and hold the clip boards and supported my Mom. Right now we are following the Cove Guardian reports on the dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. The Cove Guardians  are a part of Sea Shepherd. 

If you are not familiar with Taiji it is a cove in Japan where fishermen "drive hunt" dolphin pods into the cove and trap them there. They slaughter them for meat which is highly toxic in mercury. They steal the pretty ones from the sea and sell them for sea parks for about $150,000 USD each. Recently a rare juvenile albino dolphin was taken from her mother and pod to be sold. Her family was slaughtered and it is reported that the mother drowned herself in dispair. If hunting is a tradition (as claimed) what is stealing them to sell? I can't tell you how much it enrages me that this is happening right now. Please learn more about it and LIKE the Cove Guardians page on facebook so you can follow what is going on. 

Quotes from Sylvie below and links to interviews. Thank you to my Mom who helped me write this. xoxo Robbie

What you can do... click here

You can also watch an award winning film The Cove. 



"...it's a fight that has real value. If we keep on destroying fish, there won't be any left. If the oceans die, we all die. It's as simple as that. People ask, 'Why not worry about saving children?' But we make the mistake of thinking humans are at the centre of everything, when we're only part of the whole. We're doing terrible damage. This is a fight against money and power, but also against people's ignorance." Sylvie Guillem in an interview for The Guardian 2/10/13

"We are deciding they are slaves, that we are superior beings ... and fur is part of it" she adds pointing to my fox-fur-lined raincoat." I do not go to supermarkets ... this horsemeat thing in England is just the tip of the iceberg. People should know that the meat they eat is created from such terrible suffering. If you don't care about the issue, at least care about that!"

Ah, so is this a regret?

"Oui, je regrette ... unfortunately, I opened my eyes too late or I would have become a vegetarian much, much earlier." Sylvie Guillem in an interview for The Australian 2/23/13

Articles: 

Sylvie Guillem: The most exciting dancer in the world is back at Sadler’s Wells – and she’s got scores to settle

Q&A Special: Ballerina Sylvie Guillem
Sylvie Guillem: 'I need to scare myself'
At 47, Sylvie Guillem continues to defy the rules of ballet – and gravity. She talks to Judith Mackrell about her new work, losing her temper – and her fight to save the world's fish

Sylvie Guillem is a ballerina barre none

Ballet's Greatest Hits

I learned about this movie from YAGP and TenduTV and I think it is something you would all enjoy watching over the Holiday break! You can download it at itunes so perfect timing for all those itunes gift cards!! =) If you use my link below a portion of the sale will go towards my training! Thanks and be sure to share this post! Merry Everything! Love, Robbie



Presented by Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the world’s largest dance education initiative, and subject of the award-winning ballet documentary “First Position,” “Ballet’s Greatest Hits” presents a one-of-a-kind glimpse of ballet from today and yesterday. The film is hosted by “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance” Executive Producer, Nigel Lythgoe, and stars leading figures from the world of ballet. Dancers such as Stella Abrera, Isabella Boylston, Skylar Brandt, Marcelo Gomes, Veronika Part and Hee Seo from American Ballet Theatre, Taras Domitro and Maria Kochetkova of San Francisco Ballet, New York City Ballet favorites Ashley Bouder and Daniel Ulbricht, Matthew Golding of Dutch National Ballet, Alejandro Virelles of Boston Ballet and Greta Hodgkinson of National Ballet of Canada perform iconic roles from the classical repertoire including Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Giselle, Flames of Paris and Don Quixote. Audiences will gain special insight from backstage interviews with the performers and ballet luminaries such as Alexei Ratmansky, Angel Corella, Benjamin Millepied, Edward Villella, Jose Manuel Carreño, Mathieu and Denys Ganio, Matthew Bourne, Susan Jaffe and many others. See them dance, hear them talk and feel their passion in a unique dialogue between ballet’s history and its present.

Director: Clemente D'Alessio

Producers:

Larissa Saveliev
Clemente D'Alessio
TenduTV
Youth America Grand Prix
Matthew Bledsoe

Dancers/Actors:

Alejandro Virelles
Edward Villella
Daniel Ulbricht
Hee Seo
Alexei Ratmansky
Joseph Phillips
Wendy Perron
Veronika Part
Benjamin Millepied
Nigel Lythgoe
Maria Kochetkova
Susan Jaffe
Greta Hodgkinson
Marcelo Gomes
Matthew Golding
Mathieu Ganio
Denys Ganio
Alessandra Ferri
Taras Domitro
Angel Corrella
Misty Copeland
Jose Manuel Carreno
Leslie Browne
Skylar Brandt
Isabella Boylston
Matthew Bourne
Ashley Bouder
Lawrence Bender
Stella Abrera

Tamara Rojo speaking at Prix de Lausanne on how to choose a company and a school and much more!

How to get THE STICK!

You may have seen it in some of my "What's in my dance bag" videos. This is a great tool to help you take care of your body. I use it before and after class. And right now they are offereing FREE SHIPPING! Click the link above to get one or tell someone you want it for a present!! =) Prevent injury and keep dancing !!!  Buy "The Stick"

Ballet Wall Art by Susan Drawbaugh

Recently we came across this little ballerina wall art entitled "Her First Audience" from illustrator Susan Drawbaugh. We found her creations to be beyond precious and we just had to share them with you. Read on to find out more about Susan and how to get your hands on some of her art for your room, nurserie or studio. 

"In our interview with Susan we asked her what inspired her to create this piece." 

Susan: "My grand daughter has loved doing little ballet moves since she saw the Nutcracker at two years old. This idea came months later as I caught her setting up her stuffed animals to watch her while she performed. That scenario was so priceless that I couldn't get to my drawing board fast enough! After the initial painting, I recreated the little girl with different hair and skin colorings to fit the look of other little ballerinas."  

Ballet Babble: What other types of artwork do you do? 

Susan: "I specialize in wall art for nurseries and children's rooms, as well as humorous wall art for grown-ups - in some cases I customize the picture to fit a particular person. Other works that I've done are illustrations for children's picture books, juvenile stationery lines, greeting card lines, children's magazine editorials & covers, company logos - a wide variety throughout the years."

Ballet Babble: "Do you have a website where we can view or purchase your work?"

Susan: "Yes. My complete portfolio of artwork can be viewed at http://www.susandrawbaugh.com. To purchase this Little Ballerina piece and/or other wall art that I've done you can go to https://www.etsy.com/shop/susandrawbaugh?ref=si_shop. Right now I'm offering a 15% discount for the Little Ballerina (and all other prints) through the month of October by using the coupon code of: wallwhimsy2 at my Etsy shop checkout." 

Ballet Babble: "Do you plan on doing other artwork for little ballerinas in the future?"

Susan: "Yes. I already have sketches in the works. There are so many precious scenes to portray of these little dancers that I can't wait to put them down on paper! "

Ballet Ballet: Is there anything else you would like to add? We really appreciate you sharing your art with us and the discount code too! 

Susan: "Thank you so much! I appreciate your sharing my work with other little ballerina enthusiasts out there! "

Twerking Will Die Tomorrow, but the True Art of Dancing Will Live on Forever

Zachary Prentice and Kaya Aman, ballet dancers on the CW reality series Breaking Pointe, dance in a dramatic short film that takes place in an unexpected location.

    

Director: Matthew Irving

Camera: Blake Hendrix

Dancers: Zachary Prentice & Kaya Aman

Music: "The Awakening"
Composed by: Andy Quinn
Courtesy of: De Wolfe Music USA

Zachary and Kaya  star in “For In This Space I Dream” (https://vimeo.com/69654832), a short ballet film about human desire, dreams, and the endless search to find oneself.

In an age where twerking is confused for dancing, it’s nice to take a step back and appreciate the human form and what it can do, without feeling like you want to punch someone in the face.

Searching for Perfection: Interview with Joy Womack and Nikita Ivanov

You may or may not know that I have been following Joy Womack's story for a long time. Sometimes I post pictures of her or share videos. I posted right away when I found out that she was the first American woman accepted in the Bolshoi company (read it here) . Joy said it best when she said "Dreams do come true". She is an inspration to me and I want to share more of her story with you. 

There is documentary being released called Searching for Perfection and I am excited to post a quick Q & A about the movie with Joy and Nikita. I have tons of ballet documentaries and I am really excited about the movie. =) 

Watch the trailer and then read my interview with Joy and Nikita below. 

1. Could you please tell us a little what the documentary is about?

Joy: I think the film is first and foremost a window into what we as artists live. Our struggles and our victories. It focuses primarily with the small things in our daily routine with some interview about our background and our dreams...

2. The short films are usually created by young independent filmmakers with very low or zero budgets, without any studio involved. Were not you afraid to be part of such a project?

Joy: At first I said yes and was very excited and then I realized the commitment and became scared. Then I realized the youth is for the young and risks should be taken in order for growth. I am so amazed at what the team put together. They are all so dedicated to their craft and passions and it was inspiring to work with! 

Nikita: No, I was not afraid at all, it was rather interesting. The team which created the film is very diverse, interesting and motivated to make a unique story. In the filming process we’ve become so close together and sharing a common goal.

3. The documentary focuses quite a lot on your private life. Your fans definitely will enjoy it. Was it difficult decision for you to open your private life to the audience?

Joy: I think back now and I know in this film it will be a very intimate look into my experience my first year. I was very delicate in a way and they caught that struggle on camera. It’s amazing how fast we grow and change... I am for it because its interesting to collaborate with other artists and open up the good and the bad. But the future is long and sometimes life definitely gives you forks in the road. Who knows where we will be in 10 to 15 years... and I am grateful that I’ll be able to look back on this film almost like a yearbook. 

Nikita: When it comes to a good story I am all right with it, why not) I trust the director’s vision and ready to any interesting ideas.

4. Were you involved in editing process or let the filmmakers decide what is the best for the film?

Joy: I think the film producers and editors did a great job getting what they wanted to share out there in a beautiful way. I feel like we may have suggested a couple things here and there but for the most part it was there call))).

5. Are you satisfied with the final cut?

Joy: I am excited to see the reactions of the viewers but most of all I really hope it blesses Dina and her wonderful team!

Nikita: I like it!

MORE INFO: 

You can find out more about Joy on her website http://www.joywomack.com/ and learn more about the movie at http://searchingperfection.com/ . 

You can LIKE the movie on facebook here... https://www.facebook.com/SearchingForPerfection

The film is produced by Dina Burlis and you can read more about her here... http://searchingperfection.com/en/production-staff/dina-burlis/

Joy and Nikita © Searching for Perfection

My Pointe Shoe Recommendation

Below is my recommendation. You can try to get one done at  http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php?showforum=44. You have to be a member to post. It is a heavily moderated forum (which is a good thing). Be sure to follow the rules for posting and all guidelines. Have your mom help you. My recommendation came from an ex-ballet dancer, company shoe mistress and ballet teacher as well as mother to a male dancer. 

This is the information my mom provided: 

Picture links below for pointe shoe recommendations. Age 14.

Intermediate. Dancing 10 years on pointe for 3. 

Length Right foot 9.25-9.5"

Length Left foot 9.5 "

Width Right and Left foot 4.5"

Big toe Right and Left Foot 3.5"

US Street Shoe Size 7.5-8 depends on shoe in suffolks album you can see them on a foot sizer.

  Her right foot is nicer and she complains that feet don't pointe or show well in the shoes she has tried when doing center work. Trouble rolling through. Nothing seems to be an extension of her foot. Just klunky. People have also suggested sewing the heel and 3/4 shanking.

1. Her feet

http://s1274.photobu...12/library/Feet

2. Her feet in Bloch Euro Balance 6.5xxx great for turning - heel looks terrible, does not show arch, sole of shoe seems to cover  so much surface area! It's very big and bulky.

http://s1274.photobu...2/library/Bloch

3. Her feet in Suffolks 6xxx - look a bit nicer but she doesn't turn or go over box as well. Was thinking about trying the stellars that are lower profile.

http://s1274.photobu...library/Suffolk

Thank you for your help!

Reply from the expert =) 

I think the Stellar may end up being the one. Have her start with size 6.5 XX (as per Mark himself)

She has a tapered toe configuration, meaning she needs to stay away from square shoes like the European Balance. She has compressible feet as well. She definitely has a space between her big toe and 2nd, which is causing the beginning of what could be bunions, so there are some strengthening exercises I think she needs to do daily. Her 5th, 4th, and 3rd toenails need to be shorter than they are too. I will write more later but am off to an appt.

Your dd uses her feet really well, and I do see what she is saying about the inequality between her 2 feet. Fortunately, she should be able to improve in the way she'd like! She will have to be diligent in doing daily exercises, but it should be able to be remedied. Your dd has low profile so low profile shoes will be necessary. She needs a medium weight shank so "Standard" or "Medium" or 1.8mm-2.0mm should work well for her. Her vamp length should probably be around 4 1/4"- 4.5", but no longer. Her side seams should be kept lower to show off her insteps- somewhere around 2" or lower should work.

She may want to be sure that she's working equally on both legs, and should probably stay away from spending time working on "the good side". That means choosing variations that might contain work that is done on her weaker side, and ensuring that she works equally in class. Theraband work would benefit her, and it would be good to get a PT's opinion in order to help maximize her progress. She seems to be well on her way!

The Ballet Hopefuls of the Paris Opéra Dance School

San Diego School of Ballet Student Show - Coppelia

Short summary of Coppelia:

Coppélia is a life size dancing doll created by Dr Coppelius. The doll is so lifelike that Franz, a young man from the village, becomes infatuated with her thinking she it is a real girl. He sets aside his true love, Swanhilde, and develops a plan to meet Coppélia. Swanhilde dresses as the doll, pretending to make it come alive, and saves Franz from a terrible fate at the hands of the inventor. It is a playful and fun ballet! If you have not seen it you should definitely make a point of it.

Here are some rehearsal videos of our show. I will load  show videos asap. We rehearsed ever Saturday and Sunday for about 3 months.

Fernando Martin-Gullans (14), Erick Garnica (17), Brittney Geoghegan - Coppelia/Swanhilde (15), Robbie Downey (14) , Polina Rozhkova (17) , Sara Yuen (17), Sophia T (14), Ruby Clementine Kerncamp (17), and Grace (13)

Staged by Maxim Tchernychev

Modas Dance Workshops and my Collaboration with Duncan Cooper!!

I will be working with Modas Dance teacher and choreographer Duncan Cooper April 18-19! Duncan was a Principal Dancer of 9 years with Dance Theatre of Harlem and also spent several years at San Francisco Ballet. We are collaborating on a contemporary piece, meaning he's choreographing it on me! I seriously can not tell you how excited I am to work with THE Duncan Cooper. And I should add the piece will be on pointe. That should be a challenge but I am looking forward to being challenged like that! As you know I am counting the days until I leave for Mr. Ellison's Ballet Summer Intensive in NYC so this is a nice opportunity to help me make it through until summer. Modas Dance has a great summer intensive in New Mexico that runs the same time I will be gone. But if you haven't decided where to go yet you can still submit by video to Modas or come to one of their workshops scheduled in April. If you are local to San Diego I hope you will come take this workshop with me! 

I will also be documenting my work with Duncan and making youtube videos for you guys! I might even be able to talk him into doing some Pas de Deux with me!

Also, many people have asked about my yagp videos. I will post them as soon as they are available! 

New Free Ballet App! How long can you last before you get tricked?

 

Get it free HERE   PSYMON SAYS


There are six 2d cartoon characters to choose from, each has his or her own unique animations. Characters include a skater, BALLERINA, pop dancer, martial artist, and your average boy and girl.

The rules of the game are simple, but Psymon Says will challenge anyone’s ability to stay focused and pay attention. The goal is to follow what Psymon Says and not get tricked into making a mistake. Nobody likes to be tricked, but Psymon tricks everyone. The best anyone can do is to see how long they can last before getting tricked. Here is a short explanation of the rules.

1. Only follow what Psymon says. Example: When you hear “Psymon Says jump kick!”, swipe up.

2. Swipe another direction when it’s not what Psymon says. Example: When you hear “Now jump kick!”, swipe down instead of up.

3. Swipe before the green timer bar is full to receive combo points. Combo streaks can quickly increase the score.

Device Requirements:

* iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3/4/5 Gen) and iPad
* Requires iOS 4.3 or later
* 39.3 MB

Pricing and Availability:
Psymon Says – Simon Says Game 1.1.5 is Free and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Games category.

Get it free HERE 

Pointe Shoe Quest! Fitting Freed Pointe Shoes and More.

This is a post compiled of information obtained in an email conversation with a very helpful online friend. She danced professionally for 17 years and began ballet at age 6, pointe at 11, and thought that she could help share some advice from her own seemingly endless pointe shoe quest. She danced professionally in numerous companies, US and European and we are so excited to have her insight!

Thank you Kelly!

All about FREED in Kelly's words.

In the end I found my shoe to be a Freed Wing Block maker Crown with cut down sides and lowered heel. Similar to Robbie,  I have wide, rather square feet with a narrow heel.  Now these shoes were a special order, but if you really are interested in trying to find a Freed shoe, maybe at least for auditions or performances, I would suggest you try to find a stock shoe in a maker that suits your toe configuration and then build a special order from that (shorten vamp, lower profile, cut down heel to help eliminate bagginess, customize shank, etc).  The beauty of Freed is that you can change almost anything once you find the right length and maker.  There is a spreadsheet I have with all the current Freed makers and their box shapes from tapered to wide and square, it might help if you are in a store looking by yourself.

My recommendation is to contact Clara76 (screen name) on “Ballet Talk for Dancers by Invision” .  I read the pointe shoe posts weekly and am amazed how she can fit shoes, Freeds are her specialty, by looking at some photos of your feet and certain measurements.  She is the shoe mistress for BalletMet and knows Freed, the makers, and how to help fix issues through special orders like nobody I have ever met.  I would highly consider sending her the photos and measurements and photos they request and see what she suggests for size and makers to try.

The other shoe fitter on the site is Victoria Leigh and she could help with suggestions on shoes by all available brands.  You have too beautiful of feet to be hiding your arches, whereas the right Freeds would be beautiful on you.  Keep in mind though that Freeds, in general, are a softer shoe and will break down faster than say, Grishko.  When I did not have a company paying for all of my shoes (sometimes 7-10 pairs a week) I would wear Grishko in class and rehearsal and Freeds for dress rehearsals and performances because you can break them in quickly and they are quiet on stage.

Otherwise, if you find yourself in NYC this summer for a SI make sure to make an appointment at the Freed USA store in Long Island (check out their Facebook page).  I would ask to be fitted by Brenda, Marie, or Mary.  Another source to check out a little more about Freed would be posts on YouTube.  Check out the youtube video featuring Marie Johanssen talking about makers and different toe configurations. (embedded below)

Personal tip for Robbie: From watching Robbie's past videos I would stick to a classic Freed and stay away from the Freed studio line.  They have a very strong 2.5 shank and can be hard to break in even for taller and heavier dancers.  Robbie may also want to ask her teachers about 3/4 shanking her shoes.  It is easy to do yourself and would really emphasize her arch.  I would experiment on an old pair of Suffolks before trying on a new shoe since it does feel different. 

Quick Tip: If you know your current Suffolk size that would be the same as your Freed size. Freeds are generally fitted 2 1/2 sizes down from USA shoe sizing.

The life of a pre-professional ballet dancer - Interview w/ Scout Forsythe age 16

Get your popcorn ready. Fifteen minutes talking to Scout Forsythe about the last few months. She talks about YAGP France, scholarship offers, attending JKO and ABT company class with Paloma Herrera and David Hallberg , pancaking shoes and she even gave me a signed pair that she wore in YAGP France 2013 to auction off as a fundraiser for my SI ! The link will be at http://www.robbiedowney.com when I have it ready .

Tips on Traveling with a Tutu with Scout Forsythe

Join My Facebook Event !

We created a facebook event to spread the word about how I can get up to $3 towards my training at no cost to you! I get up to $3 towards my training when you join Goldstar!

It's FREE & you save 50% on event tickets from sports to concerts to ballet! Please do it for me! It only takes a minute.

We get all of our ballet tickets on there at great prices! There is no time frame you can do it anytime and tell your friends.

I'm also giving away old pointe shoes to one person in the event attendee list by random drawing in November. Anyone can join the event even if you don't click the link. Also, some of you may not be able to if it's not in your area. It goes by USA zip code I think. The link is at http://www.balletfreak.com/ or also on this blog in the menu to the right. Click the Goldstar banner. My facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/balletbabble if you want to join the event.

Also on http://www.balletfreak.com if you shop on Amazon or buy from any of the affiliate links, like leotards from Motionwear, a % goes to my training. =)

"It's Possible Dreams Do Come True" Joy Womack Makes History

We have been following Joy's progress at the Bolshoi for a while now. Today we heard major news and we knew it was coming. We knew they would take her and we never doubted it for a minute, well this is ballet so maybe for a minute. Joy Womack will be the first American woman to join the BOLSHOI! THE BOLSHOI! All of her sacrifice and the sacrifices of her family have been rewarded. She left home at 15 to go to Russia to train, no, to get the best training in the world. She didn't know the language and she was the new girl. Ballet training is challenging enough with your family and friends right by your side. It is no small feat what Joy did and she deserves this. It's a real blessing to see a dream unfold and come true right before your eyes.

Joy will be able to dance in a culture where ballerinas are the equivalent of famous football stars in America. She will dance for audiences that know and appreciate ballet in it's truest form. That has got to be a huge driving force for any dancer that has ballet truly in his or her blood. And any serious dancer can relate to her quote in the picture above. Ballerinas are made of blood, sweat, tears and some actually get to dance for a living and dance where they REALLY want to. Joy will do it with the Bolshoi.  We hope you are as inspired by her as we are. What an amazing person. Congratulations Joy!!!

XOXO,

Gina and Robbie

My Volunteer Experience at Boys and Girls Club for National Dance Week 2012

On April 25th I went to one of the San Diego Boys and Girls Clubs to teach 2 dance classes. My sister Kyla came along to help. The first class was Kindergarten and First Graders and the second class was 3rd and 4th graders. Both classes were half, if not more, boys! The kids wore their street clothes but towards the end took their shoes off. I told them why I was there and how Misty Copeland used to attend Boys and Girls Club. I showed them a photo of her as Firebird and they said "Whoa! Is she real?!?" I also showed them some pointe shoes.

Only about 2 of the kids out of both classes had had ballet before. It was a totally new experience to everyone else. The younger group of boys was more willing even though they did laugh a little at the idea. With the older boys I had to explain several times how football players take ballet for flexibility and balance. When I was telling them some of the ballet stories one little boy suggested a Batman ballet. I think he might be a future choreographer. One boy yelled out "How old are you?! Are you the teacher?" I said "Yes and I'm 13." Sounded funny.

The kids followed along as I showed the positions and explained how to pull up through the top of their heads like puppets on a string.  They did tendu and even went across the floor with imaginary swords. Kyla demonstrated a leap over a shoe and they were all very impressed. One little girl really had a passion for it and she was pretty good considering. She always had a smile from ear to ear when going across the floor. I could tell she was really into it and had a genuine passion for it. I couldn't help but notice the ones that had some good turn out =)The boys definitely liked leaping the most and most added some sort of knee slide at the end or a little original twist or kick of the foot. Silly yet creative.

It was fun teaching them how to curtsey and bow and thank the teacher at the end of class. They all got a coupon for Discount Dance Supply and were on their way. I actually went there to inspire them but they actually inspired me. I have always liked helping assist the beginners at my studio but this was ALL me, except for Kyla helping out of course. I developed an even greater passion for teaching and having a studio someday. I have always wanted to start a program for low income families so their kids can train for ballet if they want. I'm definitely going to try to do that in the near future.

XO,

Robbie