Ok...so we are deep into choreography. We have to do several required elements, one of which is our circular footwork. The footwork is a series of intricate steps and turns performed on a circle. Both partners have to turn individually and as a team...and in both directions while maintaining the circle shape which extends between the edges of the arena. The partners cannot lose their hold with one another and the edges must be deep and flowing.
Here is me and my coach....JUST setting and learning the footwork sequence. It sucks here, but at least we've got some steps in the works. It will be moving to the music at about two to three times this speed.
Monday, September 17, 2007
I told you we got a video camera!!!!
Ok...here we are:
This is our "Shoot the Duck" goof off (remember my old post?)!!!
We are still trying ot figure it out at first, then...we get it! Notice how we undeniably CRASH at the end!???
Yes, that is ME squealing in the background!
I Love this video blogger thang!!!
Until Next Time,
---J
This is our "Shoot the Duck" goof off (remember my old post?)!!!
We are still trying ot figure it out at first, then...we get it! Notice how we undeniably CRASH at the end!???
Yes, that is ME squealing in the background!
I Love this video blogger thang!!!
Until Next Time,
---J
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
What not to do....
Yikes!!!
Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt!
Oh and no, I have not forgotten about the video thing. Still working on it.
Until Next Time,
----J
Been there. Done that. Got the T-shirt!
Oh and no, I have not forgotten about the video thing. Still working on it.
Until Next Time,
----J
Saturday, August 11, 2007
We Got A Video Camera
Yes, I realize this post is WORTHLESS without PICS!!
Sorry, but the fun .....news is we got a new video camera to tape our workouts and memorize our choreography. It's a great help to tape the compulsory dances and then watch yourself and critique your performance.
The point of this post? Yes, I will eventaully be posting video chronicles of our progress! Please be forgiving as we really stink right now and it may be a bit embarrassing at times to post, but the hope is that we'll be able to track our training and actually see improvement! That's the hope at least!
We don't practice again until next week, so MAYBE I'll post a video next week when I can figure out how to upload to YouTube!!
Until Next Time,
---J
Sorry, but the fun .....news is we got a new video camera to tape our workouts and memorize our choreography. It's a great help to tape the compulsory dances and then watch yourself and critique your performance.
The point of this post? Yes, I will eventaully be posting video chronicles of our progress! Please be forgiving as we really stink right now and it may be a bit embarrassing at times to post, but the hope is that we'll be able to track our training and actually see improvement! That's the hope at least!
We don't practice again until next week, so MAYBE I'll post a video next week when I can figure out how to upload to YouTube!!
Until Next Time,
---J
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
On Our Fannies...
So Jordan and I spent most of practice today...on our butts! We are determined to do this cool, special move in what's called a "shoot the duck" position. All you skater folks know exactly what that means, as it is a move you learn right off the bat when you are a kid, but as an adult it's a bit more challenging!
Basically, you glide on one foot and then slowly sink down on that skating foot as you pull the free foot out in front of you parallel to the ice. You end up gliding on one foot in a very low sitting positon across the ice. Hard! It's hard to balance. It's hard to keep your skating blade from wobbling. It's hard everything. And don't even begin to tell me about trying to rise up out of it! Argh!
Anyway we are doing it, and today we managed to do it opposite one another (me gliding backwards, Jordan forwards) and hanging on to one another. Whao! That was COOL! Although we did it so much and landed on our butts so much, I have many bruises tonight and my pants were soaking wet by the time we were done. With "shoot the duck," it's pretty much a given that you will land on your fanny a lot. :o)
We start formal choreogrpahy training next week! Music is cut. Footwork is done. Spin is picked and lifts are picked. Now we just need to get it all into 2:30 min!
Until Next Time,
---J
Basically, you glide on one foot and then slowly sink down on that skating foot as you pull the free foot out in front of you parallel to the ice. You end up gliding on one foot in a very low sitting positon across the ice. Hard! It's hard to balance. It's hard to keep your skating blade from wobbling. It's hard everything. And don't even begin to tell me about trying to rise up out of it! Argh!
Anyway we are doing it, and today we managed to do it opposite one another (me gliding backwards, Jordan forwards) and hanging on to one another. Whao! That was COOL! Although we did it so much and landed on our butts so much, I have many bruises tonight and my pants were soaking wet by the time we were done. With "shoot the duck," it's pretty much a given that you will land on your fanny a lot. :o)
We start formal choreogrpahy training next week! Music is cut. Footwork is done. Spin is picked and lifts are picked. Now we just need to get it all into 2:30 min!
Until Next Time,
---J
Monday, July 23, 2007
We have music!!!
So I have been crazy busy lately with my new business. Sorry to be slacking in the posts! Here's what I have been doing: www.jewel-images.com It's my new portrait photography business! It has kicked into high gear and my clients are taking a lot of my time!
But not so much that I can't skate or decide on music for next years Orginial Dance.
So after weeks and weeks of hunting we have decided on.....(drumroll please)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Street Dance!
Holy cow! We are going to be hip-hopping, locking and popping on ice! What a departure from the norm huh? We are skating to Usher's "Yeah!" and Eminem "Lose yourself". Woa!
Well, The ISU defined street dance as folk music, so we picked it! Check out wikpedia's definition:
And of course the ISU communique(see page 3):
"The arrangement of the chosen music should give a genuine feel for folk/country dance. It should be very distant from the feeling of the Grand Ballroom. Examples include: Village, Square, Street, Barn dance, Hoedown, Mazurka, Polka, Tarantella, Hula, Hora, Csardas, Kalinka, Gapak, Gipsy, Syrtaky, Scottish, Irish, Jig, Reel, Guajira, Cumbia, Jarabe, Fandango, Aborigines Dance, Chinese minorities dances, Lesginka, Country Waltz, Flamenco etc.
Tango is not included in the above mentioned Folk /Country dances as it was the rhythm used in the previous season.
The folk/country dance character and style must be translated to the ice by flow and use of edges.
Vocal music is permitted. Variations of tempo within one selection of music are permitted. Each selection of music may have different tempo."
We are so excited and really hope this well challenge us as dancers and really get us working harder on the ice. Our coach Anthony Darnell is perfect for this type of choreography and we can't wait to start learning the new moves!
Until Next Time,
---J
But not so much that I can't skate or decide on music for next years Orginial Dance.
So after weeks and weeks of hunting we have decided on.....(drumroll please)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Street Dance!
Holy cow! We are going to be hip-hopping, locking and popping on ice! What a departure from the norm huh? We are skating to Usher's "Yeah!" and Eminem "Lose yourself". Woa!
Well, The ISU defined street dance as folk music, so we picked it! Check out wikpedia's definition:
And of course the ISU communique(see page 3):
"The arrangement of the chosen music should give a genuine feel for folk/country dance. It should be very distant from the feeling of the Grand Ballroom. Examples include: Village, Square, Street, Barn dance, Hoedown, Mazurka, Polka, Tarantella, Hula, Hora, Csardas, Kalinka, Gapak, Gipsy, Syrtaky, Scottish, Irish, Jig, Reel, Guajira, Cumbia, Jarabe, Fandango, Aborigines Dance, Chinese minorities dances, Lesginka, Country Waltz, Flamenco etc.
Tango is not included in the above mentioned Folk /Country dances as it was the rhythm used in the previous season.
The folk/country dance character and style must be translated to the ice by flow and use of edges.
Vocal music is permitted. Variations of tempo within one selection of music are permitted. Each selection of music may have different tempo."
We are so excited and really hope this well challenge us as dancers and really get us working harder on the ice. Our coach Anthony Darnell is perfect for this type of choreography and we can't wait to start learning the new moves!
Until Next Time,
---J
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Local Competition in 2 weeks!
Wow, it's been a while since I've posted. Sorry....
I've been on vacation for the last 10 days and been out of town. Needless to say, Jordan and I are competing in the Ice Spalding Classic June 15th! It's a local competition here in Portland. We will be competing next year's compulsory dances; The Starlight Waltz and the Paso Doble. We've only been working on the dances for about a month and a half, so we'll be really rusty, but we're going to do it! It will be practice, practice, practice for the next two weeks straight! Some of the other local teams from around the area are joining in too. It should be pretty fun. The plan is to compete July 4th weekend at the Portland Ice Classic, but we'll see how we do in two weeks. The goal is to compete a lot MORE this year! It's hard to fit it all in with work schedules and life taking over. That's the plight of an adult figure skater!
Until Next Time,
---J
I've been on vacation for the last 10 days and been out of town. Needless to say, Jordan and I are competing in the Ice Spalding Classic June 15th! It's a local competition here in Portland. We will be competing next year's compulsory dances; The Starlight Waltz and the Paso Doble. We've only been working on the dances for about a month and a half, so we'll be really rusty, but we're going to do it! It will be practice, practice, practice for the next two weeks straight! Some of the other local teams from around the area are joining in too. It should be pretty fun. The plan is to compete July 4th weekend at the Portland Ice Classic, but we'll see how we do in two weeks. The goal is to compete a lot MORE this year! It's hard to fit it all in with work schedules and life taking over. That's the plight of an adult figure skater!
Until Next Time,
---J
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