Last May Olivia's ballet company produced Snow White. I always love to share Olivia's pointe dancing because I am very jealous! I only performed for a few years "en pointe" and was never as poised and comfortable as Olivia is. If you're not familiar with what a pointe shoe is then consider this: they are essentially made of a "box" (front end of the shoe where the toes are smushed inside) and a "shank" (no not a homemade weapon...it's the sole part of the shoe that shapes to your foot's arch when pointed) covered in pretty pink satin-deceiving little devils!
Inside the shoe Olivia wears a toe pad-which is a very thin "cushion" over her toes. Back in the day I used straight-up lamb's wool that you shaped to your sore little piggies...not fun. When you "break in" a pair of pointe shoes you have to get them just right. If you break them in too far they won't support your foot properly. The shank could break or soften too much. Therefore, Olivia usually has two pairs going on at the same time-one for rehearsal and another for performance. It's tough to get them in perfect condition! Professional ballerinas can easily go through a pair each time they perform. Olivia's last a little longer-but after a weekend of rehearsals and performances more than likely, a pair will be what Olivia fondly calls "dead" :)
 |
| Olivia's regular ballet shoes, pointe shoes and toe pads airing out after a rehearsal! |
Considering of the stress of pointe shoes, ballet is a very impressive (and in my opinion beautiful) art. I hope you enjoy the photos and videos from Snow White. I've also included Olivia's lyrical dance from the recital in June.
 |
| Olivia and her friend Mariah posing in the dressing room (Olivia is in the big tutu) |
 |
| Olivia and her friend Trevor (Prince Charming) |
 |
| As the gypsy |
 |
| Olivia with her friend Sierra (Snow White) |
Here Olivia is a gypsy sent by the Evil Stepmother Queen to kill Snow White in her cabin. She gives her a poisonous comb but the dwarfs come to Snow White's rescue.
More Royal Wedding merriment...
One more short sequence from the Royal Wedding...
Here is a very cool scene from the forest.. Olivia is one of the creatures in the long tutus.
Lastly, here is Olivia's lyrical group number from the June recital. "Lyrical" is a dance studio's version of modern (or contemporary if you watch So You Think You Can Dance!) that is essentially free flowing ballet to pop songs.
Next up on the blog is Grant's spring sports season! Stay tuned...
No comments:
Post a Comment