This is Who I Teach

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Thursday nights I teach a marathon of classes.  First it's Magical Ballet, then tap, hip hop, and then ballet again.  The first three classes are for kids 4-5 and I either want to pull my hair out or burst out laughing.  Those kids are all off the hook!

Here's a sampling of the children I teach.

Child #1: She is tiny, looks like a four year old Reese Witherspoon, and talks a mile a minute.  To herself.  She tells these weird stories about ponies and fairies and how everyone needs to come with her and see them.  But she does it while running around in circles which frankly just makes her look crazy.

Child #2:  At first I answered all her questions.  Between exercises.  During exercises.  While I was talking.  Then I realized she just wanted attention so after I told her to be quiet (I actually had a few stern warnings) and she didn't listen I decided to just ignore her.  We call it planned ignoring in the behavior therapy realm.  This is what I got instead.  "Teacher. Teacher. Teacher. Teacher. Teacher. Teacher. Teacher. Teacher. Teacher."  No joke, she said the teacher for at least 30 seconds straight.  At least she said it in tempo with the music.

Child #3:  Whenever I tell her to do something (like listen) she completely ignores me.  I call her name and it's as if she either doesn't hear me or that's not her name (forcing me to look at the roll to double check that, yes, this is indeed her name).  But then I wonder if she knows English because everything she says sounds like jibberish.  Seriously all jibberish.  And she flails her hands while she does it so, again, I have another crazy child.  It got so bad that another student turned to her and said, "Stop it.  You look weird."

Child #4: This child decides that she must, absolutely must, walk across the floor while dragging her head on the ground.  This takes a while.  I feel stupid saying, "Please do not walk across the floor with your head on the ground" but I have to anyway.  New ground rules are made in every class.


Do you know any crazy children?  Any teachers or parents out there with similar stories to tell?  Don't you want Reese Witherspoon's bangs like I do?

Things I'm Loving Right Now

9-Clip Window Wall Frame from Pier 1 Imports.  $28.  You can clip your own postcards or photos to make your own art.  How fun is that?

Softsoap Lavender and Chamomile liquid hand soap.  I know it's random, but it seriously smells like the English Countryside.  Amazon.com.

I love postcards and this Postcard charm necklace from Forever 21 is sweet and, well, charming.

Anthropologie Aprons.  My hubby got me one similar to this a few years ago.  I love the halter neckline.

Blueberry-Buttermilk Pancakes from Williams and Sonoma.  Light and fluffy, warm and gooey, sweet and satisfying.  I broke down and finally bought pure maple syrup from Trader Joe's.  Breakfast is bliss!

What are you loving right now? 

En Pointe Photography and Portland

I have such a photography crush on my friend, Susan, at En Pointe Photography and we all know how much I would love to live in Portland, OR.  Combine the two things and voila!  Here are some of her pictures from her road trip.  Fabulous, yes?  To view the entire post, go to En Pointe Photography's Blog.

 

This is how I imagine Portland, with trees lining the sidewalk, barely letting the sun peak through.
 Ivy running along buildings and old school store front signs.
Sitting in a small cafe eating decadent treats, not too ostentatious.

Ah, Portland... when will I see you again?

More En Pointe Photography on Dancing Branflakes:

Beach Picnics

A Fun Gift

En Pointe Photography

Nordstrom and Alvin Ailey

Yesterday I blogged about Anthropologie's new 1940's inspired collection and today I found a CD to perfectly go along with your new clothes.  Nordstrom and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has collaborated for Black History Month to come out with a Big Band CD featuring legends such as Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday.  All after-cost proceeds benefit Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

I am so excited that one of the best stores has teamed up with one of the world's top dance companies.  Click here for a section of Alvin Ailey's Revelations (there are many parts to the piece).  Changed my life.

Photos: nordtrom.com

1940's Style

Urban Outfitters now has a selection of 1940's inspired clothing online.  I loved that era of fun yet sophisticated style and music.  Wouldn't you love to wear saddle shoes and flirty skirts while Benny Goodman played in the background?  Love it!

Photo via urbanoutfitters.com

Modern Dance Shots

Yesterday I posted my ballet photos.  Here are the modern dance shots.  At the last moment I decided to wear this ensemble but I grabbed the wrong shorts.  Little did I know how short those shorts were.  Sorry if I offend with my pale legs!

One of my first modern shots.  I remember thinking, "Man, this is harder than it looks!"

I like this one only because it reminds me of Isadora Duncan.  Free form.

I like my scary man calves in this one.

 Not much technically going on here but I like the post modern "I'm not doing much" vibe.

I like everything but my foot.  Can we Photoshop that?  Haha.

In my head I was doing a back bend.  My back isn't even bent!

I really didn't like this one at first but it has grown on me.  Seriously need some tanning lotion.

I don't even remember doing this one.

I like this one only because I never thought I could do it.  Tony, one of the guys helping out at the shoot, said "Jump" so I jumped and this was what happened.

Ballet is so beautiful but I find so much more satisfaction with modern.  What do you like better?  Ballet or Modern?

Ballet Photos

Here are the photos from the photoshoot I did a while back.  I will post the modern dance ones tomorrow.

You all know how I feel about having my picture taken.  Chris hasn't even seen these photos yet and I've actually had them for a while.  It's just taken me a long time to get the nerve to share them on the blogosphere.

Asha Yoga

Asha Yoga in Sacramento, CA is having a special of 10 days of yoga for $20.  I think that's an awesome deal.  I've been meaning to get into yoga for better flexibility and strength (dance classes just don't cut it).  I've also heard really good things about this studio.  I was told it rivaled the studios in New York City in caliber and atmosphere.  Sign me up!

Any yoga tips for beginning yogis?  Has yoga changed your life like it has everyone else's? 

photo via Asha Yoga

Do You Like How You Look in Pictures?

Photo by Chantou Lam.  Awesome photographer and even better dancer.  I bet her headshots were amazing. 

We had some headshots on Saturday for Dangerous Lorraines Dance Theater.  I prettied myself up, let my hair down, and tried my best to act natural and beautiful in front of that camera.  Take one.  Eh.  Take two.  No.  Take three.  One more.  Take four.  Hang my head in defeat and realize I'll never be as pretty as I hoped I could be.

The reality is is that I don't know what I look like.  I'm so obsessed with what I don't have or what I have that I don't want that I rarely just look in the mirror and just see what's really there.  I'm sure many others feel the same way about themselves.  Although, I am grateful for many things about my face.  I have double eye lids (a treasure in the Asian world), full lips, long lashes, and high cheek bones.  I get all those things from my mother.  But why I can't be happy with that?  Why can't we all be happy with what we have?

It occured to me that is why perfectly beautiful people get plastic surgery.  They see everything that's not there instead of what's in front of them.  It also occurred to me that maybe instead of wishing I was prettier, better, smarter, funnier, whateverer maybe I should just accept what's there and love it.  The happiest people I know take in joy what they already have, not what they hope to have.

Do you have issues with pictures like me?  Do you have tips on how to take a good picture?  I heard that you should press your tongue on the roof of your mouth and look above the lens. 

Beach Picnics

 

Doesn't a picnic on the beach sound so fun right now?  Check out the En Pointe Photography blog for more polaroids of a picnic on the beach.  Via the lovely Susan.

Vale, Oregon photos

One of the most memorable trips I have ever taken.  Just a few snap shots.

 It was cold and white and beautiful.

 

 We stayed in a 100 year old house that had been converted into a bed and breakfast.

 

 Although they did not serve breakfast. 

 

 Inside was covered in wall to wall lace.

 

  Not an inch of the place was left bare.  All over were pictures, trinkets, and vintage lace.

 

 A mural painted next to the post office.  The lady in the truck is my husband's grandmother.

 

 At the Starlite Cafe.  Best pies this side of Oregon!  The boot was purely for decoration.

 

 I liked this sign.  I don't know why.

CSUS East Bay Performance

Eric Kupers, a faculty member at CSUS East Bay and co-director of Dandelion Dance Theater from San Francisco, invited Dangerous Lorraines Dance Theater to do an informal performance for his students.  We trekked out at 7 am, fueled up on gasoline and McDonald's, traveled in the carpool lanes, and then had a wonderful time performing our works in progress for 100+ students.  An enlightening Q&A followed.  It was great to meet Eric, his students, and perform.  I love performing and wish I could do it everyday.

First stop: McDonalds

But I opted for pure carbohydrates instead.  Yum!

Warming up back stage.

Warming up.

Mid struggle.  Hang and Melisa in an awkward position.

Katie performing in heels.

The dancers.   Hang, Melisa, me, Katie

Left to right- Hang, Melisa, me, Melissa (co-director), Eric, Katie, and Lorelei (co-director).

Performance at CSU East Bay

I performed today at CSU East Bay with Dangerous Lorraines Dance Theater. I'll post all the pictures tonight but I have jet off to teach little kids how to pop and lock.  And shuffle and flap.  And tendu and plie.  And have fun.

 

Girl Scout Cookies

I've got a hankering for Girl Scout Cookies. Since they are typically sold from January to March I think it's programmed into my body to want these iconic treats right after New Years.  My favorites are Samoas and Tagalongs.  But I also love Trefoils.  And I know, I just know, that could eat an entire sleeve of thin mints if I let myself.

What is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie?  Were you ever a Girl Scout?  I was a Brownie only because I thought we would eat brownies.  We did not.

1940's photo: http://www.girlscouts.org
Cookie photos: http://www.girlscoutcookies.org/