Traci's Blog

Just Dance

2010-04-26T11:16:00.000-07:00

Dance is amazing! I've been very busy rehearsing and performing and working and taking classes, so I haven't posted in quite a while.

The last show I was in was Le Cid on April 17th. Venti Petrov choreographed an original ballet and we performed it one night. It was a lot fun and we put a lot of work into it for just a one night showing. There's talk of us putting on another one in June, so I hope that happens!

This is the cast!

And some new friends!

Aina-she's 18 and amazing...lives in Long Island

Pralaya- Beautiful and incredibly funny

Igor- My partner in Le Cid- a great dancer and choreographer. :)

Nolan- A sweet person and wonderful dancer

Venti- the choreographer and powerful dancer

Cast party!!! Incredibly fun and surreal experience.

More dancing to come! I'm performing at the Tribeca Film Festival this Saturday. I love living in New York City!

The Life of Pi

2010-01-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

I LOVE to read! Picking up a book and never wanting to put it down is the best feeling. However, it can be kind of like an addiction, because when I find a really good book, I get sucked in and stay up all night flipping pages. I dream about the characters, even! It's crazy. Sometimes I feel a little guilty when I put off the things I really need to do, just to finish a few more pages. I hate to admit it, but it's sort of like a TV addiction, though better for your brain. However, I always claim to not be a TV watcher, not addicted to movies, and not a couch potato. But am I an addicted to my orange papasan chair and the latest book?

...yes, I am.

So, The Life of Pi! The first 15 pages or so I kept falling asleep, but since it had been recommended to me several times, I kept picking it back up, and after finishing page 15, I couldn't put the book down. Good thing I spent Christmas here without any friends, haha. Or was it a good thing that I had such a good book to keep me company while I was away from my loved ones for the holidays? Probably the latter. My life was suddenly paralleled to the book...I was stranded in Manhattan, with the book as my tiger, keeping me alive. I also loved the focus on different religions throughout the book. :) I attended Mass for the first time in December. Midnight Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral! So amazing! And like Pi, I sometimes wonder a bit about why all the world religions cannot live in peace.

Also, I got to see my amazing friend, Chris, sing in the St. Patrick's Cathedral Choir. What a joy! Such great music, and wonderful sacred feelings.

What a great book. I would recommend it to pretty much anyone. My little brother would love it; someone who is soul searching, lonely, lost, or just looking for a fun adventure story. What good books would you like to share? Any recent amazing reads?

New Hair!

2009-12-22T20:45:00.000-08:00

So, I got bangs... :)

They're different than I expected them to be, and I got way more hair cut off than I expected, but I like it! :)

It's kind of fun to feel bangs bounce on your forehead, and a good way to keep me a teeny bit warmer.

I'm going to become a yogi

2009-12-11T12:56:00.000-08:00

So...I like yoga. It's good for me. I'll admit that it can be a little boring to me sometimes. There are so many sun salutations and when you do them like 1 million times in a class it can become monotonous. So why am I complaining about yoga, right now? I shouldn't be, because I just bought an annual membership to Pure Yoga!!

Why Pure Yoga? Cause it's actually the cheapest yoga membership near to me, and I got a really good deal.

Why yoga? Because it's good for me, and I want to get in amazing shape for the upcoming auditions. Plus, I secretly love yoga (depending on the teacher). I feel very calm afterwards, and you get a good little workout.

Why am I not super excited about Pure Yoga? Because it has a very uppity feel to it. Yoga should be more granola. More about the actual movement than about the nice surroundings and the snotty people taking it because yoga is the cool thing to do.

Anyway, we'll see how it goes. I'm excited. Flexibility! Strength! Zen! Can't wait!

Namaste! ;)

Christmas Decorations!

2009-12-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

My ward combined with the family ward and decorated wreaths for an Enrichment activity this week. Audrey and I went at the very end and gathered a wreath for each of us and lots of decorating materials!

My wreath turned out like this:

Audrey's looks like this: :)

However, we had a hard time getting mine to stay on the mantle, and Audrey didn't like where her wreath was placed, so we moved it to the kitchen.

Now we're going to get a Christmas tree, most likely today! :) Other upcoming decorations are a Star of Bethlehem and an angel. :)

We're excited. I haven't really decorated for Christmas since I was at home because my other roommates have had Christmas trees or decorations, and I haven't had the time or money to contribute. This year, however, we're going to town!! It's going to look amazing. :)

My mom came to visit me!!!

2009-12-04T13:50:00.000-08:00

I had dreamt of my mom coming to visit me in NYC, of us shopping and having fun, but I just thought it wasn't going to happen. But, surprise! It did! We had so much fun. She came to see my show, so she got here on Saturday, but all we were able to do together was go eat dinner after the show at some Italian restaurant. It was ok...I got Wild Mushroom Fettucinne but it was only button mushrooms that were not very good. A little disappointing. We also walked to Time Square and the M&M Factory. We saw where The Late Show is filmed, and my mom was pretty exciting about that (dark picture, though :P). We even had to switch shoes on the adventure because my mom was in heels and I was just in these comfy boots, and her feet were hurting. Haha, good times.

Other things we did while she was here were:

Seeing the temple, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, lots and lots of shopping, eating at Gobo, Central Park, more eating, visiting the Village, the NBA store, and more. Here are more pics. I can't figure out how to put them in between the text. :P haha

Dancing Again

2009-12-04T13:40:00.001-08:00

Ballets With a Twist by Marilyn Klaus was my latest performance, and it was definitely due. My previous real performance to that was Nutcracker back in December 2008. I had begun to wonder why I love dancing and why I put myself through the hell it sometimes is. Don't get me wrong, I love going to class and perfecting my technique and dancing skills, but it gets frustrating living in NYC and getting rejected at so many auditions. However, when I got on stage with the lights warming my body as I moved and the audience watching the captivating choreography, I remembered why I love to perform, and why I have chosen this path for my life. Now I just need to find another project and a company to dance with full time. :)

Back in NYC!

2009-09-05T21:29:00.001-07:00

Well, since I haven't posted anything for such a long time, and I'm back in NYC, where everyone blogs, I decided that I should get back into it!

Life is crazy. Over the summer I moved away from the city, went to Atlanta for a summer ballet program, and then went back to Utah. I loved Atlanta, the ward, the city, the people, and surprisingly the climate. However, there was no job opportunity there, so I left.

Utah was good and bad. Nathan and I broke up, I saw my family and friends, and that's when I found out about my non-future in Atlanta. So, I decided to move back to New York City on Saturday, flew out on Wednesday, and I'm back!!!

It's great. I'm going to live on Wall Street for a few weeks! Wall Street! Not very homy (well I haven't moved in yet, but it doesn't seem that way) but definitely cool.

And the best part is that I went to an audition for Kelly Donovan and Dancers today, and they liked me! So I think I'm going to dance for them. It seems like a small gig, no life changing adventure (at least it doesn't seem that way) but it's SOMETHING! Last year I went to so many auditions, and got nothing. That's right nothing, but a whole lot of experience. So, hopefully this is a good start for my future in New York. :)

More details to come about that, since I don't know too many yet.

I love being back. Life is, like I said, crazy! I have to find a permanent place to live, and a bed for the Wall Street apartment, but things are good. Maybe this was the right place to come after all. (I had my doubts.)

Here's to better blogging!

Lincoln Center Building

2009-01-04T19:08:00.000-08:00

It's Sunday night, the first Sunday of the new year. Church today was in the Lincoln Center building, which is also where the temple building in New York City. It has been under renovation the past few months, so I hadn't been there, except when I visited the city when I was 17. It's so nice because now church is just a few short subway stops away from my apartment, instead of on the East side where you have to ride a few subway stops, and then take the crosstown bus across Central Park. But the new year is exciting and I am filled with a spirit of improvement for my life.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays :)

2008-11-30T09:21:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving we had a huge dinner party at our apartment, with Turkey, stuffing, rolls, cranberry sauce, pie, and about every other dish you could imagine. It was amazing! I'm so happy that I have friends here and that we could have a good Thanksgiving meal together. Meeting new people, eating yummy food, cooking, playing games, watching "The Power of One," was all so nice.

At work, the General Manager brought in Christmas decorations, and one of the workers at the restaurant was so adamant about her distaste for Christmas decorations. She said that they are tacky and ugly. It was just surprising to me, because even though I think they can be tacky and ugly, they still give me a good feeling. They bring back memories of home and family. However, I think some decorations can be incredibly beautiful! The lights at Temple Square are incredible, though I'm sure some of that has to do with just being on the Temple grounds, which are always beautiful.

Anyway, I'm excited for the Holidays. I'm glad that I had a great Thanksgiving, and that I wasn't alone for it. Whether it is Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate, I'm glad we have something to look forward to, especially in the cold and dreary season of winter.

Lost my phone and have been in bed the last 2 days!

2008-11-19T16:49:00.000-08:00

Well, my title pretty much says it all. On Monday I woke up really late, and headed out to work, at Gobo, super rushed. I was planning on going to ballet class that morning (that starts at 9), but woke up way too late. I'm supposed to be at work by 11, but I didn't wake up until 10:25! Bad news, since I live on the West Side and I work on the East side, therefore requiring me to take the crosstown bus to work.

I was getting ready, saw my phone lying on my bed, having charged it the night before, and I remember picking it up. On my way to work, I reached in my purse for my phone, but it was nowhere to be found, not in my jacket, nor my purse. I thought that I had left it on my dresser or something that morning, but when I got home from work it was nowhere to be found. This was Monday, and now it's Wednesday night. I can't find it anywhere. The weird thing is that I charged it the night before, but I had a few people call it, and it was dead when I got home. So, I either dropped it somewhere and the battery came out, or someone stole it and took the battery out. I don't see how that would have happened, though. In any case, I can't find it!

To top it off, I'm ill. I have the worst flu/cold/horrible sickness ever. I've been in bed the last two days and can't do anything. Hopefully I'll start getting better soon.

I'm going back to sleep.

NYC Shopping

2008-11-07T07:08:00.000-08:00

Living in NYC makes me realize how much I seriously need to go shopping because my clothes are so out of date. I also left many of my clothes at home in Utah because I could only take so many things on my move here.

I went shopping yesterday with my roommate, Aubrey, and we found sooo many cute and fun clothes. I like all the little shops that are privately owned. It's so much better to shop at those places because their styles are unique, and they are just small businesses. However, I realized that I need to make a lot more money before I go shopping again, because when I go, I just want to buy everything, and have enough money to buy nothing. :(

President Elect Barack Obama

2008-11-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

Wow, what an historical election!

I'm happy that we're going to have so much change in our country. We have a very new, and very different president and I really think that he is going to be good for our country.

I had a rough time voting, and I'm skeptical of Obama's views, namely gay marriage, abortion, taxes, open borders, health care. I just hope that what is done with these policies ends up being good for the American people.

It's a good thing for our country that we will have an African American president, though I don't believe that's all to be said of Pres. Elect Obama. He's a very smart man, and though I've had a hard time trusting him throughout the election process, because of his friends and acquaintances, as well as his slick and smooth way of getting people to follow him, I will support him, and am excited to see what changes take place in the country.

What an exciting time. :)

My New Home

2008-11-03T17:59:00.000-08:00

So, I moved to New York City last month, on October 1st, and I've been subletting an apartment on the Upper West Side. I LOVE IT HERE! I'm taking dance classes, I got a serving job in a vegetarian restaurant, and I'm just learning to live the New York life.

Things are really a lot different here than in Utah and Arizona, obviously. I went shopping for groceries tonight, and I go shopping at a different market pretty much every time. Just still trying to figure out the best place to shop.

However, I've caught a cold, and I'm really tired, so I'm going to go to bed.

Late at Night

2008-09-30T00:47:00.001-07:00

I find that I stay up late, especially when I have things that I need to do. However, I stay up late doing things, like writing on my blog (for the third time), instead of the things I should be doing, like packing for my big move!

I'm off to bed now. I just think it's funny how much I procrastinate. (And I thought that would be over after I graduated!)

Laughter

2008-05-06T18:32:00.000-07:00

Today I find that everything is really funny. I was at work and even the smallest thing, that would not have been funny to anybody else made me giggle for a whole minute. I'm not complaining by any means. I'd much rather be laughing than scowling, not saying that I scowl very often at all. I pretty much like to be happy. I'm not a person that stays depressed for lengthy periods of time.

Tonight I'm going to a concert called Last Chance to Dance at the U of A. One of Nathan's pieces is being performed and I'm really excited to see it.

The first half of the show was produced last night, and I actually got to dance in it in a piece called "Airwalkers." I had a lot of fun because I haven't had the chance to perform jazz in it seems like years. I feel a lot more free performing jazz than I do ballet. There is so much to think about when performing ballet that it's nice to change things up a bit for a night, though I like the challenge of ballet.

This weekend I'm performing in Cinderella for Ballet Tucson and I have a bunch of rehearsals this week for it. That reminds me that I need to sew new pointe shoes tonight so I have some that will support my feet for tomorrow.

I've been trying to make a goal of running more, or at least doing aerobic exercise. It's not going particularly well because I hate running so much. Sometimes I feel like going running after work either around 5 or 9, and at 5 it is way too hot, and at 9 it is too dark for me to go running alone in Tucson. I just need to go in the mornings before work, but I am not very motivated. I think if I had someone to run with me it would be a lot easier. Maybe after Nathan's done with school (tomorrow) he would like to go running with me. I just know that he has way more endurance than I do, which presents a little problem, but it's also a nice push.

I'm going to walk up to the theatre right now. 'Til the next post.

My First Post

2008-05-03T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is my very first post of my own blog!

I don't feel like going into everything about myself right now, so I'll just say a little bit about my day.

I had a long day of work, starting at 7:30, ending around 3. It was a good day though, because it was very busy, which means lots of tables, and lots of tips. :) After that, I went to rehearsal for Cinderella at Ballet Tucson, the company I currently dance for.

I decided to start my blog this evening during a little spare time.