2015 YAGP NYC Finals Day 2

2015 Youth America Grand Prix Finals Day 2 by Robbie Downey

I hope you enjoyed reading the Day 1 Blog! Today is Saturday, which for me is day 2. Yesterday was Pre-Competitive (ages 9-11) Contemporary and Classical. Today was Juniors (ages 12-14) Contemporary and Large Ensembles. Tomorrow is Senior Ladies (ages 15-19) Contemporary. There are three groups of us. I am in group 2, #233, and I am the first dancer out after the break! Not the first time this has happened to me. It is sorted by age youngest to oldest so if you have a birthday late in the year, like mine, you may end up first in your age group. There will be about 100 dancers in my category. Usually about 20 or so make it to the final round but that is not announced until everyone dances their Classical variations on Tuesday. Final round is at David H. Koch Theater on Wednesday evening. Awards and the Gala are on Thursday. 

Okay, so onto day 2! I walked over to ABT studios for rehearsal with my teachers, Sara and Erlends. My mom took some pictures and I will post some ASAP. We had a quick warm up class and then we ran our solo pieces. Brian and Danielle also ran their Pas de Deux. They are two other students that qualified from my studio. Rehearsal went well and I received some corrections that I will keep in mind for tomorrow!

On our way to Skirball to watch Danielle, we stopped for a green drink. I didn't really like it but I am trying to clear up a cold so I drank as much as I could. I sent off a quick snapchat before heading over. You can add me at TheBalletBabble if you have snapchat. 

My hair is pretty red right now. My mom said it matched my pants so she took a picture. I wonder how it will look on stage. We did make it in time to see Danielle and she was amazing! 

I had to leave the YAGP to head over to my Master Class with the Artistic Director of Houston Ballet, Stanton Welch. It was held at Alvin Ailey Studios. Representatives from several companies watched the class and took notes. It seems like that would make you really nervous. But, you just keep going. You can't freak out. This is why we are here... to be seen. One of the perks is running into all of your friends. You never know who you are going to see. 

My mom took this photo of the NYPD. I told her to take it before we got too close because I don't want to seem like a tourist!! 

After the class we tried to head back to YAGP to see Ellison Ballet do their large ensemble piece. After calling my sister and having her check live stream we realized we wouldn't make it in time so we watched it on my phone from the mall in Columbus Circle. Their piece looked great and I loved their energy. Mr. E has some of the best students!!

We grabbed a bite to eat and I marked some of my pieces and corrections in the room. I'm mentally preparing for tomorrow. I am both excited AND nervous. I can't wait to perform my contemporary solo. It is a different piece from the semi-finals in San Diego. It was also choreographed by Barbara Chatelain (former NYCB). She is a good mentor and I am so lucky to have her as a teacher. I'll talk about my costume when I can post photos of it. It was a custom made leotard from Canada. Off to bed. I have rehearsal in the morning before I compete. Merde to everyone who is competing! Love, Robbie

Below are a couple of random photos from today. Follow my Instagram and twitter  @balletbabble and www.facebook.com/balletbabble. 

My First 2 days in New York for ABT Summer Intensive! by Robbie

Okay so the flight wasn't that bad... but towards the end the pressure of the airplane did make my head feel like it was going to pop so we got off just in time! We have a nice little apartment for 2 weeks then we are moving to some dorms that are a few blocks away from ABT for the last 3 weeks. Right now we will take the subway. There is a CVS downstairs and we have already been to the CAPEZIO store! I also bought some cute slipper boots for the studio - you can see them on my facebook page along with all my other photos I'm uploading. www.facebook.com/balletbabble

The first day we had placement class it was half barre, half, center and 15 minutes of pointe. Melissa Bowman was the "judge". Then lunch then nutrition, injury prevention and orientation. I saw some girls I met at the winter SI prep class at CCD so it was nice to recognize a couple of people. Also I met 2 of the girls that played Clara at Radio City Hall last year. Okay I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT! But I'm pretty sure you have to live in NYC and maybe even go to the JKO School, I'm not sure.

More tomorrow!

xoxo

Robbie

Blog post from Kyono's Mom Naomi:

First day, we were approaching the building around 8:15, then we saw over 100 of people (dancers and parents) already lining in front of the building anxiously waiting the door to be open.  There were definitely sparks all over the crowds. My 2 puny dancers were almost over whelmed by other dancers whom most likely had attended ABT summer intensive previously, but they were keeping each other so accountable and weren't fazed by the spark from others.  Yes, I was so proud of them.  Soon, the line became so much longer and by 8:30 it was just so many dancers and parents from all over the world.  Finally the door opened and dancers had disappeared into the building one by one and when my girls went inside it was my turn to deal with my own emotion...... I held my tears hard :-)

Last Sunday we tested riding the NYC subway system for purchasing city maps, last minute ballet gear shopping and etc.,    The subway system in NYC is so precise and you can pretty much to every where using subway, but there are so many stairs as long as you are in NYC subway and there are no escalators what so ever, so I felt as I had been climbing at least 1,000 stairs since we arrived in NYC. ;)