Aaron's Bloggety Blog Blog!

Still Alive

2011-04-07T17:55:00.001-07:00

Hello all-
Well I have been around the world and back since I have written on my blog. I just needed a break from my brag I guess. Now that I'm back to writing lets get to business.

These two links feature an article that was written about the dance group I am directing at BYU. It is called Kinnect. The first link is the BYU alumni website. Scroll down and find the link to the article (the second link) that is featured on that website.

http://today.byu.edu/

http://cfacbeta.byu.edu/departments/dance/kinnect-teaches-byu-students-connect-through-dance

I am trying to fill the shoes of Kinnect creator Marilyn Berrett who is quoted in the article. Also quoted are some of the dancers from our group this year and the pictures are from one of our rehearsals.

Senior Project!

2010-04-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm done!!! I finally finished my senior project, which had been delayed due to weather, causing me a lot of extra stress with rescheduling and all. My project was a site specific movement exhibition. It was dance but not your average staged performance. The movement was more minimalistic and not so constant as you see on stage usually. I feel that it was pretty successful. Successful in spite of the WINDY weather(the tarp we danced on was blowing everywhere and we had to use buckets and sand bags try to keep it down) and the wet sand that would not run through the hour glass I had built because it was sticky. I definitely don't think the pictures do the event justice but it is proof that it took place.

We had two video cameras taking video footage throughout the hour performance. Hopefully one day I will be able to make a short film of the event and post it. Moving away from BYU though I won't have access to the computer labs so maybe not...

I don't really care. I going to CHINA!!!

Aaron's Brag!

2010-04-03T16:01:00.000-07:00

I was in the Daily Universe, BYU's News Paper!

I don't recall ever having that honor.

The Article was written about our show this last weekend. And in it they wrote:

"One of the dances in the show, called "All in a Day," choreographed by Aaron Shaw, was chosen out of 40 dances shown at the American College Dance Festival to be in a Gala performance.

ACDF has many dance performances from colleges throughout the region, as well as professional dance shows and workshops.

Aaron's piece was chosen out of those 40 pieces to be the opener, actually, of the concert, which is really a prestigous place to be."

So that was fun to be in the news paper. Also here are some pictures of my piece. They are from dress rehearsal and one of the dancers was actually sitting out so he could rest his ankle which he injured (not in my dance). The dancers in my piece did such a wonderful job and I received lots of positive feedback after the show!!! People were telling me that mine was their favorite...I generally don't believe anything people say to me but in this case they could have just said that it was nice...maybe they meant it!

This was my last performance with The Dancers' Company. =(
I'm going to miss BYU and I can honestly say that I am frightened for what the future holds. I hope it is excited whatever it is!!! China, Prague, California...HERE I COME!

Resume Builder

2010-03-22T20:46:00.000-07:00

So this last week was ACDF. I was sick most of the time, I only got to attend two classes which is a major bummer. But on a better note, my piece was adjudicated and was one of ten selected to be placed on the closing Gala performance out of 39 pieces adjudicated. This was such an honor. Of the 39 adjudicated about half were student, one fourth faculty and one fourth guest/professional choreographers. Of the pieces that were chosen for the Gala Performance half were again student choreographies.
My favorite part though was that in the adjudicator talk back session I got out a piece of paper to write down the critical feedback and ended up putting away a blank piece of paper. The adjudicators who are professionals in the field, one the director of Ballet West, did not make any negative comments. They just made a tone of observations of what they saw choreographically and one said the dancers may have needed a little more rehearsal time but other than that it was great.
The general consensus and some of the things I remember them saying were that my choreography is very organic (they all mentioned that), it reminded them of some sort of pre-industrial society, the comic relief was perfect, not too much and not forced but just enough, my movement pushed the dancers to their limit. It was awesome. I didn't hear feedback for one other piece in which they did not have some kind of critique to offer. But alas my piece was not one of the two selected to attend the National ACDF Conference in Washington DC.

All that aside the whole thing will still look outstanding on a resume!!! Who would have thought I could do all this in not quite 5 years. Traveling the world, presenting research, choreographing awesome works! It's pretty awesome. The best part is I'm gonna graduate and I have nothin! I have absolutely no plan and no direction. Maybe I'll go become a cement truck driver??? Who knows.

Love you all. Hope everything is going well!!!

Fruits of Labor!

2010-02-09T13:23:00.000-08:00

So I think its funny and also embarrassing that I have all this stuff popping up but it is just a culmination of a lot of hard work done over the past three years.

So my good news for today is that a piece I choreographed last semester has been selected to represent our program, meaning the BYU dance program, at ACDF.

ACDF stands for the American College Dance Festival. This particular conference is the north western regional conference. The Dancers' Company will take three pieces to show during the course of the conference. One faculty adjudicated piece, one student adjudicated piece (that's mine) and one piece to be shown in an informal showing.

I am so so so honored to have had my piece chosen and excited to see what happens. From the two adjudicated concerts(judges watch and score the pieces) at this regional conference they choose one piece student and one faculty work to go on to the national ACDF conference.

Well here's to hoping!!! But I won't keep my hopes up. It's so awesome for me that I am able to have my piece shown in this prestigious venue/conference just thought I let you all know. I feel like a pompous arrogant little terd-face! But I still am telling you all.

Love you all, hope every one is having an excellent February!

And this is a link to a youtube video I created of the piece. It is just a rough draft but is still fun to watch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPUzvepyHcY

TV Baby!!!

2010-02-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

My friends keep making references to the famous Aaron Shaw and I keep telling them it just isn't so.
It really is NOT.
But I will be on BYUTV in the next couple of weeks.
The film project that Dancers' Company did a couple years ago is finally making it on air. I'm not in much but I am in a little. I've actually never seen it myself.
February 9th at 8:00pm will be one airing for sure. There will be two more airings but I guess the times aren't set yet.
If anyone wants to tune in it might be interesting but then again maybe not.
The film is about the Women Pioneers and the story is told through dance and narrating. That's why I'm not in much of it.

Check it out if you want.
Hope you are all well.
Our show just finished this weekend and that is so awesome cuz now I can breath.
Take care everyone.

Poster Boy!!!

2010-01-19T15:47:00.000-08:00

You better believe it. That's me!!!
This is the poster for our show this year. I was quite honored have this picture chosen. I've been getting lots of compliments from people all over. One of my co-workers even tore down a poster and hung it up at work.

Radio Time!

2010-01-18T14:53:00.000-08:00

So before Christmas I went to this radio show recording and I just recently found out that is has been broadcast already. It is now available to listen to online.

All you have to do is go to:
http://radio.lds.org
Click on "Programs"
Go to "Everything Creative"
Then click on "Group Discussion 16 - Dancers - BYU Dance Company Kinnect"

The interview was about "Kinnect" a group I was on a few years ago. I didn't listen to the whole thing so... yeah, I just don't know.

Everything else has just been busy with the start of a new semester and a show coming up at the end of the month.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Chiquita Won Out!

2009-11-02T11:41:00.000-08:00

So Chiquita Banana Lady Won! Followed by Daphne's Economy Idea in a close second place. This is me posing with a random person at a party. We both represent fruit so I felt a special connection between the two of us.

This is us eating at 5 guys burgers and fries. They loved us there. It was awesome. We had a Pirate, a nerd, a stewardess, a lady bug, a lumber jack and of coarse Chiquita!

This is Kellie, a friend from a ward a couple years ago, she liked my costume.

And this was some lady at 5 guys that told me I was her favorite.

The costume albeit disturbing was enjoyed by many. Women laughed most, guys felt uncomfortable. Several times I turned around to find someone taking my picture on their camera phone.

Highlights of the costume- people pointed out-
The fact that I was wearing real heels
How strong and muscular my calves were
The fact that the dress was open in the back. I had to add a few loops and laced it up in the back like a shoe.
The fact that the bananas were real (they were super heavy).

All in all the costume was awesome and very uncomfortable.
Halloween was good. Its always fun to dress up and sometimes be a little inappropriate.

Keeping Up!

2009-10-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

So here is my promised Thursday post. There really is nothing new to report. I just registered for my winter classes. That could be the last time I ever register for classes again. Most likely not though. I'm actually hoping to go to the China Study abroad this summer. We'll see. I'm a little broke. If I do go on the study abroad I will walk in April and then officially graduate in August even though I'll be done with all of my required classes.

I still don't know what to be for Halloween. I was thinking either a whoopi cushion or the Chiquita banana lady!

Back from Tour

2009-10-25T21:14:00.001-07:00

So I'm back...from outer space! Or just tour. I'm not excited to start classes again tomorrow at 7:00am but I am excited there are only 32 days left of classes this semester. Woohoo. Well here are some awesome pictures from tour. It was a good and fun tour. Met many wonderful people and had several great experiences.

Heather and Rachel rocking out on the bus!

Aaron in his hot Lecture Demonstration outfit. (Barf!!!) Can anyone say "Morgan Pooch!" And where did that butt come from?

This is Brinly and I moving with the kids before the lec dem.

Rachel looking good. I'm sure she would appreciate this picture.

Meg, Cody, Eli, Brinly and Cambria eating dinner.

Derek and Shantal (They're married, Derek came along as part of the tech. crew) and Rachel.

This is Rachel driving the Bus, Phil was tired, he's asleep in the back.

Rachel got tired so I took over.

Derek, Rachel, Shantal, Ashley, Meg, Matt, Pat (our director), Jeremiah, Heather, Lauren and Cody at a sulfur pond in Yellowstone.

One of the pools was called "Bacteria Mat". This is Matt next to the pool.

And this is Rachel and I on the bus. Yeah!!! Tour was great, now back to school.

Heading Out!

2009-10-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

So I leave for tour tomorrow. We have to be at the bus at 5 am. Ahh. I hope I can get up that early. We drive all morning arrive in the early afternoon and have our first performance in Wyoming!!! We have a ten day tour. I'm not sure how many shows we'll do. I'll take lots of pictures for you all but I might not post next week if I don't have internet. We'll see what happens. I also find out about the LSAT on Monday. I'm planning on a 140 so I won't be disappointed with my score. Hope everyone is doing well.

Final thing. I'd like to give a shout out to my little bro! It was his 18th b-day yesterday. Go get 'em Michael. I did call him and text him yesterday, so this is not a late shout out. (I'm not that lame)

BYE!

Just Stuff!

2009-10-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

I have decided I am going to try blogging every Thursday. I'm sad how few posts I have from this awesome summer I had. If not Thursday then hopefully once a week any day!

I don't have anything too exciting to report but I will go on tour with The Dancers' Company next week. We leave Friday the 16th and return Sunday the 25th. We will be touring Wyoming and Montana, two more states I have not been to yet. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had in touring with The Dancers' Company to so many different states around our country. Too bad we never made it to Hawaii!

I will find out about the LSAT while on tour so that will be fun. School is busy. I always make sure of that. I'm excited to get to graduate soon. I'm starting to feel the anticipation. I don't know what to do after school. Please anyone who wants to, make a suggestion for what I should do. I'm not totally resolved to go to Law School. Hope you are all well!

LSAT!

2009-10-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

So I took the LSAT on Saturday. It went well. I checked in at 8:30 and we were let out at 12:30. It only took four hours! The website said sometimes it can take up to 7 hours. It seemed as though BYU knew what they were doing. Thank goodness!

Well, I did what I promised myself (just to take the LSAT) and now I have no clue what I'm going to do. I'll find out how I did on Oct. 19 and then who knows?

That is all I really have to report right now but in two weeks Dancers' Company will go on tour to Montana and Wyoming. Plan to get some nice pictures from that. Hope everyone is doing swell!

School!!!

2009-08-31T17:39:00.000-07:00

School started today- woo hoo! NOT!!! =(

I'm taking conditioning and injury prevention, not for profit finance, dancers' company, dance technique. I still have to ad 2.5 credits. Hopefully I'll figure that out in the next few days. Should be a good semester. I'm so ready to be done. Here's to a good last year!!!

Jamaica Baby!

2009-08-13T18:37:00.001-07:00

Jamaica was amazing! It was so hot and I got so many bug bites but it was all worth it. It was amazing being around the Jamaican people. They were so friendly and they had so much culture to share, such awesome dancing. The conference was outstanding, our performance went well and then my presentation came. It went pretty well but it came under a lot of fire because of what I was encouraging. My presentation was entitled "Encouraging Masculinity in Dance". Right now it is popular for all in academia to claim open mindedness and tolerance but they pretty much condemn any one with different ideas than themselves.
My presentation prompted much thought and discussion some of the more inspiring feedback,
"Yours was the only presentation in which I didn't fall asleep."
"Everyone was sitting on the edge of their seats, the whole time."
"I loved how much discussion your presentation inspired."
After the discussion began to get a little heated, someone called my train of thoughts homophobic, the presenter before me jumped up and brought the session to a close. She was a professor and I much appreciated the help.
Surprisingly afterward only those with kind things to say came to speak to me, many compliments on a job well done and people expressing agreement with my views, experience and research.
A few days after my presentation a woman asked if I was a graduate student. She was surprised to hear I was in my last year of undergrad.
I found it amazing, the response I invoked. I have never felt so in the middle of something so intense and passionate. A mother of a young boy participating in the conference expressed gratefulness and appreciation for speaking out about this issue.
I will never, never forget this experience, it was insane. If not for her expression of gratitude I would have resolved to stay away from situations like that as much as possible but because of her I have decided to take the LSAT and perhaps, not 100% sure yet, go to law school. I had kind of thought about it before going to Jamaica but this experience kindled something. I don't know what but hopefully it is a good thing.
Anyway here are my pictures, and I look forward to traveling the world as I get older!

Me and my luck $5 coin. Exchange rate for the Jamaican dollar is $80 "J" to $1 USD(US Dollar).
I found the coin on the seat on the bus and kept it for the whole trip. It is worth 4 cents. And the background of the picture is the Jamaican coast flying by, we landed in Montego Bay and drove 4 hours to the other side of the island, Kingston. Not recommended but we did get to experience to beauty of the Jamaican Countryside.

This is Trevor, Kim, Me and SaraKim at Emancipation Park before the openning ceremonies of the conference, daCi (Dance and the Child International)

This is the beautiful Jamaican Beach. I didn't even make it to the really nice beaches.

More beach!

This is our group, at the closing ceremonies, made up of students from BYU, North Texas University and Delaware University. We had a blast!

New York!!!

2009-07-28T10:59:00.000-07:00

New York, New York, New York!!! I love New York. Here are a few pictures from my trip. I had a blast, learned a lot and met a tone of new people. It was awesome!

These are my two roommates and our friend Molly.

Sponge BOB!!!

Model Shot!

First time at a bar. I drank Coke. It was funny, odd but funny. Luckily I wasn't too out of place, Molly didn't drink either.

This is my friend Carly. She'll be in Jamaica. Fun!

The reverse bowl cut. You gel all the hair up around the bowl facing the right way up and then cut along the brim of the bowl!

The view of NY on the way out!

More Catch up!

2009-07-28T10:37:00.000-07:00

These three are pictures from a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Michigan. I never understood why he was so renowned. But now I know. He designed every aspect of his homes, the furniture, the light fixtures, everything. The house was cool and looked like it was straight out of the 70's but Frank Lloyd Wright was at the peak of his career in the 1920's and died at the end of that decade I believe. He was way before his time, it was really cool to see and learn about! I really respect people who are not afraid to challenge the world like Frank Lloyd Wright!

This is I think it said the largest steam engine ever constructed. They were used around WWII I think. I doesn't look that big in this picture but it was huge. It's not even all in the picture.

I look dumb but this was me at Carthage jail.

Nauvoo Temple. Pretty!!!

Adam-ondi-Ahmen

More Ketchup!

2009-07-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

More roots!

More teaching. This time in Grand Rapids Michigan!

Light house at New Haven, on Lake Michigan.

Having fun.

Some more fun!

Rachel and I doing some of our choreography that was created using ships on the great lakes as inspiration.

Bike!

Holly and I taking care of the Horse.

Me saving Brinly's life.

Catching up!

2009-07-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Ok- It took me long enough but here are some more pictures form TDC Tour!

This is me teaching a class in Wisconsin.

This was a trip back to my roots. My Dad grew up in the Midwest and for the first time I saw my name posted on things. This is definitely where my people are!!!

This was an awesome Chicago studio where we took a class at the Joffrey Ballet School. Later a few of us saw Joffrey Ballet perform! It was awesome, better than when I saw New York City Ballet!

This is some of us walking along the river to the Navy Pier.

This is Brinly and Angela and I in front of the Art Institute of Chicago. It was a great museum.

This is me lost in the Chicago Subway at midnight. I was all by myself.
(That was just a joke. Who took the picture if I was by myself?)

On the road!

2009-05-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from tour so far. We are having fun.

This is the winter quarters temple in Nebraska.

This is us in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I loved it. It reminded me a lot of California.

That's it hope everyone is doing well.

Awards, Awards and more Awards!!!

2009-04-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

So I need to change the name of my blog to Aaron's Brag.

Yes I'm about to brag so stop reading now if you don't want to hear it. This year I received three awards that I would like to announce.

The first two were from the BYU Department of Dance, Contemporary Dance Division.
1st-Outstanding Male Performer Award- I just think it sounds cool!
2nd- Algie Balliff Scholorship Award- a $500.00 Scholarship for books and whatever else!

The grand prize award is from the BYU Department of Dance.
The Phyllis C. Jacobson Dance Award- this is a benefactor award for full tuition for all next year!

The best part about it is that I get tuition plus the five hundred dollar scholarship!!! Yeah Baby!

These are just a few fruits of my hard work at BYU. The tuition scholarship award was one of only two full tuition scholarships offered by the department each year.

So I hope everyone is doing well! I'm just busy with school, almost done with this year, one more to go! Yippy!!!
Also on April 27 I will leave with The Dancers' Company on a three week tour. We will go through Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois!!! Fun! I will try to get some pictures up soon!!!

Yay for new posts!!!

2009-02-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

So posting just isn't as fun without a camera. Since mine is broken I never post!!!

So a few things, I think all of my summer plans are coming crashing down along with the rest of our economy. Major bummer, what are you to do??? I guess I'll just have to work! I don't know what I'm doing at this point. I might stay in Provo and I might go home to California. We will see. The real reason for this post is this funny post I found on a friends blog.

1. Real Name: Aaron
2. Witness Protection Name: (mother and father's middle names): Lee Leslie
3. Nascar Name: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad): Charles John, I go by Chuck!
4. Star Wars Name: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name): ShaAa
5. Detective Name: (favorite color, favorite animal): Blue Rhino
6. Soap Opera Name: (middle name, town where you were born): Morgan Torrance
7. Superhero Name: (2nd fav color, fav drink, add "THE" to the beginning): The Green Cactus Cooler
8. Fly Name: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name): Aaaw
9. Street Name: (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie): Chocolate Cookie Crumble Chocolate Chip
10.Gangsta Name: (first 3 letters of last name plus izzle):Shaizzle
11.Goth Name: (black, and the name of one of your pets): Black Jack, Black Bubba or Black Pepper
12.Iraqi Name: (2nd letter of your first name, 3rd letter of your last name, first two letters of your middle name, last two letters of your first name then last 3 letters of your last name): Aamoonhaw
13. Stripper Name: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy): Woods Reese's

OK all you people with families you should do your kids on this one too!!!
Mine didn't make me laugh as hard as the one my friend did.
Hope everyone is doing well!

P.S. my new favorite quote in light of the economy is "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not." This is by Thomas Jefferson!!!
Thomas Jefferson

New Year?!?

2009-01-24T22:09:00.000-08:00

Wow. I haven't posted since Early November. That is a long time.
Well...Happy New Year everybody!
Anyway here's why I am posting.
Today I had the opportunity to set choreography on Utah Regional Ballet, a professional dance company. It is part of a project called the Choreographic Design Project. I made it through the application portion, which led to setting the choreography today.
I was given one hour with the company to set as much as possible. At the end they videotaped my choreography. Now they will rank my choreography to that of the other choreographers. Six will then be chosen to finish their piece and have it performed. So there you have it.

Everything else is going well, just school, school, school and work. Next week dancer's company has a performance. My parents and Michael and Leslie will be coming up for the performance. I'm excited.

Hope everyone else is doing well.
Oh and if I get to finish my piece on the company I get paid!!!

Halloween!

2008-11-16T19:36:00.000-08:00

Ok here are some pictures from Halloween! I was a kissing both. After each kiss I asked the girl to sign my box. Final tally to the best of my knowledge was 94 kisses. Not a bad night. Don't worry the majority of them were on the cheek!

Quicky

2008-10-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

So really quick. This morning the five dancer's who performed in Guadalajara had the opportunity to perform for an organization called the Mormon Arts Council. It was a little scary at first but the performance went very well. After we were done this really nice lady said, "Great job, your performance was the highlight of our little retreat here." It was up at alpine something. A little resort up by Sundance. Well she was walking away and our director said "Do you know who that is? That's Janice Kapp Perry!" So that was really exciting to get such a great compliment from such an accomplished individual!!! That's all. Hope everyone is enjoying the warm California weather. I'm already freezing my tail off up here. It snowed first time this season this morning, luckly very light!

Jamaica?!?

2008-09-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

Holy Dang!!!

Don't get sick in Mexico. Montezuma's revenge doesn't even begin to describe. I feel like my insides are rearranging themselves every ten minutes and I had no idea what my body was capable of, turning perfectly solid foods into liquid. NOT FUN!!!!
Other than that Mexico was great. I will post some pictures soon. I am way behind on my homework so I can't write long but I received an email yesterday from the DACI Jamaica board.

They have accepted my proposal!
Provided I come up with the money to pay for my conference fee's, room and board and all that good stuff I will be presenting a lecture/forum and talk back session on Encouraging men, particularly in younger generations to dance. This will all be my own research and my own writing and speaking. Ahh!

DACI stands for Dance and the Child International
The DACI !INTERNATIONAL! conference will be held in June 2009. The conference will be about four days long with an attendance from around the world upwards of several thousand people.
I'll definitely be one of the nobodies that has a smaller showing but who else can say they started presenting at international conferences before they finished their undergrad. I will be presenting along side some of the top Dance Educators in the world.
This is such a great opportunity. I will be applying for grants to hopefully come up with most of the funding for me to do this. Hopefully I get it!!!
This will be fantastic on my resume for grad school! Maybe with this kind of work under my belt I can get some awesome scholarships for my graduate work. With the economy going the way it is I'm gonna need the help!

Well, I hope everyone is doing fantastic. School is treating me well, I'm busier than an ant right before winter time. I'm working on several extra projects on top of my 14.5 credits so I have to work extra hard to get my homework done (I know 14.5 doesn't sound like much but it's a lot for me). It's a good thing I love, love, love dancing. Otherwise I would have quit by now.
Love you all. Can't wait to see you all during Thanksgiving!!!

Dancer's Company and Beyond!!!

2008-09-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

So, here are some pictures from World of Dance. The show was filmed but probably won't air on BYUTV for about a year. Boo!

This is the poster for the show. Funny how it is five women on the poster. Like women are the only people who dance.

The concert went well, all five performances, despite the fact that I broke the fourth toe on my left foot 30 minutes before the second show! The toe is fine. Unfortunately I didn't think to take a picture of my foot, would have been cool.

Tomorrow morning I fly to Guadalajara with five other members of Dancer's Company. Yay!!! It is going to be fantastic.

That is pretty much all I have time to say right now but here are a few more pictures!!!

Holly and Me!!! Holly is one of my best buds on the company!!!

Angela and I did a duet together. We received many compliments!!!

Dancer's Company!!! They are all so awesome. I love these people. How many people do you get to spend time with in bright neon spandex suits!!!???!!!

Hello Guadalajara!!!

2008-06-12T15:29:00.000-07:00

So I've got some big opportunities this summer. I made it into the musical here at BYU, Thoroughly Modern Millie but I won't be doing it because I made it into dancer's company again.

I have decided to do Dancer's company for a couple of reasons. First off, I'm going to Guadalajara (Mexico) to perform at the International Oral History Conference. We will be going the last full week in September. Our director applied for a school grant for the traveling expenses for us to go, I will only have to pay for food. And I am one of only four dancer's who get to go!!!

Aside from this great opportunity I also will be attending BYU's summer modern dance workshop. Each year the department brings in a professional choreographer/dancer to teach a workshop. While I attend this workshop I will be attending daily morning rehearsals with the choreographer along with three other dancer's from the company. The choreographer will be setting a piece of choreography on us. It is a double casted duet that we will perform all year switching off between each performance.

I am really excited and really nervous. I am so grateful as well to be the only dancer from the company to have the opportunity of participating in both of these opportunities!! No pressure. =P

I will also be choreographing a piece in the summer student showcase and performing the piece as well that was set on me last fall by Kaye Richards, a professor at the Unv. of Utah using a grant that I received, but these opportunities are not part of dancer's company. If anyone wanted to come and see the show it will be Aug. 8 and 9. Otherwise I will just try and post it on here after we have performed!!! Hope you are all well. I love you all and miss you very much!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

Sorry it is late but I would like to say Happy Mother's day to all of those important women in my life. Thank you mommy, for being wonderful. Always taking care of me and calling me and doing things for me! Thank you Abby for helping to raise me, I'm so glad you have three sons and so close together. They are going to have the most fun childhood. Thank you Grandma Dale for all the love that you show me. I love you and appreciate all the lessons you have taught me. And thank you Grandma Dee, whom I miss greatly and will always think about. You are four of the absolute most influential women in my life and have made me the person I am today. I know you all would be proud of me and the way I treat those around me, I am always being told how nice and friendly I am. On mother's day the bishops wife in my ward, Sister Hansen said I must have a wonderful mom. I do, I do, I do, and I have three other wonderful women who reinforced all that my mother taught me. Thank you. I love you all so so so much and wish I could be with you. Take care and have a wonderful week this week. It is your mother's day WEEK!!!

Life as Usual

2008-04-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Life seems absolutely so boring. I am excited to see my family tomorrow but that is about it. I am pretty much going through an identity crisis because schools over and I have way to much free time on my hands. I'm so used to doing homework that I don't know what to do with myself. No worries, Spring term starts on Tuesday! (Booooo! mixed emotions really)
I guess that's about it, just thought I would blog to let you all know I am still breathing. Take care!

Presentation Maniac!!

2008-03-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

The presentation went well, very well I think. I think mine was definitely one of the better ones if not the best. I think my topic was among the most interesting so it was hard to disappoint. People laughed and nodded so I know they were listening, and I think we all had fun. At the start of the presentation all the presenters were given a copy of the journal and a check enclosed in an envelope. The check wasn't worth much, but it sure was a nice sentiment and how many people can say they received a check from their college for presenting at their annual forum! This was a huge learning experience.
After all the presentations were over a lot of people came up to me to say my presentation was good and to thank me. One person who approached me was an Associate Dean of the College and another was the Ballet Devision Chair. Quite the honor in my mind to have these professors and administrators come up to me and introduce themselves to me!!! Wow, I can't believe how lucky I have been.
I have accomplished all of this with the Lords support. For this I am very thankful for and I know I will accomplish much with His help. I love all of you, I hate being so far away. I look forward to coming home this summer, hopefully in a couple of months I will be able to break away and visit for a short time.
My next project is already in the works. I am submitting another grant proposal to try and attend a week and a half long workshop in Washington D.C.!!! I hope it works out.
Everyone take care.

Cool Stuff!!!

2008-03-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh! Busy busy busy!!! What are you gonna do? I told my mom I would put this on my blog because she couldn't read the picture I sent on my phone! This is the ad for the writer's symposium I am presenting at. I'm really excited, its gonna be good! Since I was on my blog I decided to do another slide show. More Dancer's Company pictures. Some from my b-day, my b-day wish was that everyone would eat ice cream together. One picture was from the ranch that one girls dad owns. The bus couldn't drive us in because it was a dirt road so we walked. It was fun and funny! Texas is interesting. Two are of the cows in front of a Mc Donalds in Texas. Two are from El Paso. Two are from the Afro-Latin dance party some of us had at the hotel room for my b-day. We were in Amarillo, TX so when one girl made up a new move we called it the Amarillo! So that's it. Hope you are all well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dancer's Company Slide Show 2

2008-03-18T15:15:00.001-07:00

Sick Day!

2008-03-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

I came home sick from school today and finally found time to blog. Here are a few pictures from tour. I will be adding more later. White sands sure was a beautiful place.
I present at the writer's symposium in two weeks. I have met with my adviser to begin work on my presentation. School is busy and I am hard at work. I have several big papers coming up and several more small ones.
Last weekend I got to attend the UDEO (Utah Dance Education Organization) conference at the University of Utah's campus in Salt Lake.
The key not speaker was Liz Lerman a nationally recognized Choreographer out of Washington D.C. At the lunch provided during the conference I sat two seat away from Liz and got to meet her. She remembered my name for the rest of the day (which I'm told is a good thing) and when I said goodbye to her at the conclusion of the conference she told me that she hopes to see me this summer at her workshop in DC!
I'm already working on another grant proposal to pay for me to go to the summer intensive. Liz currently runs her own school and company called Dance Exchange (www.danceexchange.org). Seeing as this is what I hope to do eventually I would really love to go to this intensive. Everyone keep you fingers crossed that I can get another grant!!! The conference is in July and I'll know about the grant in May!!!
I also met Shirley Ririe and Joan Woodbury the creators of RirieWoodbury dance company in Salt Lake. They are a nationally recognized professional modern dance company. I had the opportunity to do some great networking at the conference. It was great!!!
Well that's about all I've been up to.
I have found out that being twenty four is making me feel like I need to get started on that whole marriage thing. Maybe now that I have some new initiative I might find someone I'm really interested in!!!
Bye All. Hope your are all doing great!

Dancer's Company Part 1

2008-03-07T16:51:00.001-08:00

Scholarly Opportunity

2008-02-27T20:50:00.000-08:00

One day I will have time to tell everyone about my tour but today is not that time! I just have some quick news to share. I have been accepted to present my paper at the Dance departments student Writer's Symposium. It is a public speaking forum where dance related subjects are presented. I wasn't selected for publishing but that is alright. The paper wasn't that good. Maybe next year I will revise it and resubmit it for publishing. So that is all. Hope everyone is doing well!!!

Valentines Day!!!

2008-02-14T19:53:00.000-08:00

Yeah!!! My Birthday has been really good. I am sad that my sister and my aunt Cari have not wished me a happy birthday. I guess Abby has on my blog. But what about Cari??? Well it has been really good. For the first half of the day I sat on a bus and watched two movies, then we finally got off and had some fun. We went to a large ranch and then took a cool ballet class. Then we went to eat a good BBQ dinner and then we all ate cold stone. I told everyone that my birthday wish was to eat ice cream with everyone on company. We totally did it and it was awesome!! Well bye!

Yeah, My Birthday!!!

2008-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

Well tomorrow I will be 24! This last year has been great for me, I only hope the next will be as good. I'm on tour right now with Dancer's Company. It's pretty busy. We've been really busy. For my birthday there isn't anything planned but to do what Dancer's Company has to do. Whatever happens it is going to be good. Everyone reading this take care, don't do anything too crazy or too normal. I love you all.

Moving to a Warmer Climate!!!

2008-02-08T00:44:00.001-08:00

Good News!!! I'm leaving for New Mexico for tour in the morning. I'm super excited. I have to finish packing now and go to bed. Everyone take care. I'll write when I get back, after my 24th birthday. I'm getting old!

This one's for Cari!!!

2008-02-01T23:05:00.000-08:00

Well my first two performances have gone well. Our show is going well. We leave on tour a week from today, Friday. I'm working hard on my paper. I'm on draft three and have a long way to go. It has been a while since I have written a paper. Hopefully when I'm published in the department journal I can send you all a copy of my paper.
Yes my birthday is coming up, I don't know how I feel about turning 24. It sounds pretty old. I guess I don't mind getting old. I don't like being old and not being married. Oh well! I don't think I'll stress trying to live like the rest of the world. I'll get married when I can. I hope everyone is doing well.
One of these days I will get around to doing that little survey Abby passed on to me in her blog a long time ago.

This one's for Abby

2008-01-29T15:16:00.000-08:00

So the reason I don't write too often is because nothing really changes that fast. I don't have any real new news. Yesterday was our first FHE with the new FHE family. It was fun being an FHE Dad. I got all of my homework done last night, that was good. I worked at a little booth Dancer's Company has to promote our concert. It was fun. I get to talk to random people as they walk by. I hope that everyone in my family is the friendly type of person that acknowledges people when they are talking to them, 'cause it is just rude to ignore people as you walk by. Even if you just say no thank you! School is going fine. Ballet is killing me!!! That is a very taxing dance form. It is really hard on your body and zaps all your energy. I hope everyone is enjoying California. I think about it every day. There's something not right about it being 19 degrees outside and the sun has been out for several hours. If global warming is happening let it, parts of the world could do with some warmer temperatures.

Well everyone take care.

Performance Time

2008-01-28T20:44:00.000-08:00

So I am super busy right now. I have rehearsals every night of the week and then performance on Thurs. Fri. and Sat. Then we leave for our tour the following week early on Fri. I'm super excited. Tour is gonna be great.

I am busy writing a paper that I will be submitting to be published in the college journal. I hope it goes well. I'm also trying to keep up with my homework and my calling. That's about everything. I don't have a lot of time for dating right now but hopefully when I get back from tour. I hope you are all well. I miss Cali. so bad. It has been pretty darn cold up here.

A few quick Experiences

2008-01-14T21:06:00.001-08:00

The first week of class went well. I have decided against take 17 credits. I will be missing a week with Dancer's Company Tour and we have a performance we are getting ready for so we are having a lot of rehearsals.
13 credits will do for this busy semester. Rehearsals are going well as are my new classes. I got all A's two B+'s and a C last semester. The C was in Human Anatomy one of the hardest classes at BYU. I'm just glad it was a C I was expecting a C-.
I started my new job teaching Gymnastics. My classes are all fun. They are all boy classes except my Tumbling class which is mixed boys and girls. My favorite experience from my classes was in the tumbling class. It's a class of young teenagers and all of the boys have pretty long hair
(longer than my), it’s what's in right now. One of the boys in the middle of class asked me "why do you keep flicking your hair, you have nothing to flick?" I told him to, "Be Quiet" and just went on but I thought it was so funny. I guess I kinda toss my hair without realizing it but it was really funny that this kid mentioned it and said I didn't have any reason for doing it!
So whoop dee do. That didn't sound as cool writing it out.
My second cool experience this week happened in my Modern Dance Teaching Methods class. I asked the class if everyone had purchased the packet because I was going to drop the class and didn't need mine anymore. So everyone knew I would be dropping at this point. After class a professor, from the dance department who is sitting in on the first half of the semester, came up to me and told me she was sad that I would be dropping the class. She said she felt that the intelligence level in the class would drop 50%. It was quite the compliment. We talked for a bit and she just told me that I was very intelligent among many other nice things. She asked me if I have felt miss understood my whole life. And one of the nicest things she said was that prophets are never understood in their time. I know she wasn't saying I would be a prophet but she was pointing out my deep thinking and the fact that I have a lot of potential.
So hopefully I will be able to tap into my potential and do something great in my life. It's funny since she pointed it out I've just been noticing different interactions one of which happened today. I asked a professor a question and she totally didn't answer my question but gave me an answer that had nothing to do with what I asked. She didn't understand what I asked but thought I asked a stupid question and answered me back with a subtly demeaning tone and I felt stupid and I just said, "OK." I wasn't going to fight with this professor in the middle of class. So I just forgot about the matter but the girl next to me leaned over and said she knew what I was asking!!! So either, we're both crazy or I am at least semi intelligent. But thinking about it, this experience happens pretty often. A lot of the time I just stop asking questions because people don't understand where I'm coming from. Even though this is BYU there still aren’t a huge number of deep thinkers maybe a high percentage but not 100% by any means, not even 50%.
Well I'm not all full of myself now, it just made me feel better not to be the dumb kid for once, cuz that is how I have grown up feeling.
I hope you all, my family and friends are doing well! It's semi good to be back at school and working toward my goal. I miss California but that is just more reason to hurry up and finish. Maybe I will find some hot genius girl to marry this semester!!!

New Semester

2008-01-06T21:45:00.000-08:00

Well school starts in the morning. I am excited and worried at the same time. I am sick still and Mondays will be really busy for me this semester. I hope tomorrow goes well! My roommates seem cool enough. That's good. I miss everyone at home already. I can't wait for my next trip home!!! I hope everyone is enjoying their 2008 so far. I have already watched my Evan Almighty movie three times since I got it. It's a great one.
I don't think I have any more random thoughts so I'll just say Goodnight. Everyone take care!

Christmas and Back at school!!!

2008-01-04T11:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas was great! It was awesome to go home and see my family. It has really made me motivated to get through school faster. I'm sick and I think it is because I really didn't want to come back up here. It sucks. I met my first new roommate and he seems cool. This semester should be better in that respect. Because I am motivated to get done now I have decided to take 17 credits. That is a lot but I WANT TO GET DONE!!!
I have to leave now to go back to rehearsal. I hope everyone is ready for a great year. I know I am. This year is going to be great!!!

Thanks Giving

2007-12-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

Well classes have finally let up a little so I have a quick moment to write about my thanks giving.

It was great. I got to spend time with my family as seen in our Christmas picture, as well as my Grandma and Grandpa and my Aunt Cari's family. I also got to spend time with my good friend Shevon. Other then seeing my family I enjoyed eating at in n out and I enjoyed play guitar hero with my siblings.

Thanks Giving was great and Christmas will be great too!

News on my life. I have finished my first final, Human Anatomy is an insane class. I have memorized over 700 terms in this class. That is a lot of memorizing. I should rephrase that I was supposed to memorize over 700 terms this semester. I probably got about 500 of those.

I performed in a Nutcracker, made some money on that which paid my rent.

I had my final rehearsal with Kaye this last Saturday. It went great. I'll miss working with her. I was able to work some things out in filming my project so that I did it on a stage with full lighting and music. It was great. I'll try to post the video when it is complete.

I got a new job that will start next semester. I will be teaching gymnastics at a local gym! I'm super excited. I'm signed up to teach two beginning boys classes and two intermediate tumbling classes. This is good because I'll be gaining teaching experience.

Things are going well. I am so excited to be done with this semester. We'll see how much I like next semester!!!

Quick Post

2007-11-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

Here I come California!!!
I am flying out in five hours and I'm super excited. This will be a nice break from classes. I'm excited to leave the cold weather and have a nice sunny thanksgiving holiday.

Five things I'm grateful for...
My Family
The Church
School
Getting to dance everyday
All of my Friends
and everything else the Lord has blessed me with!!!

I liked this picture

2007-11-16T10:23:00.001-08:00

So I stole this picture from my Aunt's Blog. I really liked it. This is my mom's biological family. My grandpa, my aunt Cari (Thanks for the picture), my aunt Charla, my MOM, and my uncle Dru. My Mom's mom passed away several years ago. Before that my grandparents had divorced and my grandpa married my grandma whom I have grown up knowing as my Grandma. I've just never really seen a picture with just my moms biological family. I wish I had known my moms mom better. I feel like I never really knew her, I don't have the best memories of her. I'm not glad that my grandparents got a divorce but I am sure glad to have my grandma Dale. I wouldn't be dancing now if it weren't for my grandma Dale. But that's a long story for this picture. I just liked it so I stole it and added it to my blog.

Ahhh! Crazy Week!

2007-11-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

This week as been odd to say the least. I failed my Anatomy midterm, that's always fun. I hurt my back and haven't danced this whole week. It sucks not to dance. It sucks to have a hurt back. One thing that happened that was really cool though, happened on Monday and I still haven't gotten over it. After my improvisation class my teacher asked to talk to me and she asked how I would feel about letting her choreograph a duet on me and another classmate. I said yes and I have been super excited ever since. She said she'll try to work things out and have us perform in Dance Ensemble next semester. I am super excited. I haven't seen anyone else perform in both Dancer's Company and Dance Ensemble in the same semester, and to have a teacher ask to choreograph something specifically on me. Ahhh! It makes me so excited...ahhh! I just hope everything works out and I get to do it. So pretty much this has been the worst week of the semester but I haven't been sad about it because I am so excited about being asked to be in Dance Ensemble.
Well thats pretty much been my week. I have gone into the training room and been realigned and massaged every day of the week. I didn't get to rehearse with Kaye on my solo. But I did get another ten out of ten on an anatomy lab quiz. That class is so crazy. I love dancing and hope everything works out for next semester!!!
Everyone take care and I will see you all in California on TUESDAY! Yay!!!

Another Day!

2007-11-08T13:59:00.000-08:00

So today is just another crazy day in the life of me. Dancing is going well. Studying is going well. Nothing too new or exciting to report. I had a good time working with Kaye on our second rehearsal on Tuesday. I think she was pleasantly suprised at the amount of progress I had made the material from last week. That was good. Now I have to do the same or better for next week.
My body is super sore today, I think from the rehearsal with Kaye. Either that or crazy Gymnastics. That class is fun but physically taxing. I'm sad that I'll loose all the musle I have built up in that class come next semester when the class is over.
I am super excited to fly home in a week and five days. I can't wait to see everyone, eat turkey, be in California, you know the whole bit.
I hope everyone is doing well. Let me know!!! Take care!

2007-11-03T22:57:00.001-07:00

Me and My friend Mary! (a vampire with blue hair)

Me and my friend Katy! (Grapes)

November 2nd?!!

2007-11-03T22:34:00.001-07:00

Well today was productive but not as productive as I would have liked. I am not motivated to good in school. I'm guessing this is the result of getting into a major. I'm just not motivated to get the A's that will get me into a program. Oh well, I'm not failing anything. I spent three hours rehearsing on my own this morning that was fun. I reviewed the five phrases I learned with Kaye on Tuesday (That's a lot of new movement for one hour of rehearsal with her) and reviewed my creation from rehearsal yesterday. I guess I'm just motivated to become a better dancer now. Next week I have my last midterm, I have to lead an improvisation in my dance improvisation class and I have to turn in the first draft of a D&C paper I haven't begun writing. I purchased my plane ticket home for Thanks Giving this week. I am so excited for that!!! All-in-all I'm glad this week is over. I can't wait to go home and see everyone.
I sound awfully A.D.D. with my sporadic writing.

I saw Bobbie the pumpkin this week and he wasn't moldy but shriveled into something resembling a large bright colored raisin. Poor Guy!!!

Friday!

2007-11-03T00:27:00.001-07:00

Yeah for Fridays! Today was good and busy. I went to the first half of the Utah Dance Education Organization Conference (UDEO) today. It was way cool. It makes me excited to get out into the professional world. After the UDEO conference I had rehearsal where the men in company had to come up with their own movement to a "theme" or "word", mine was determination. I think that my snip-it looked good. Then I went to an Audition which went very well. I spoke to the auditioner afterward and she said that I was a very good dancer. I was so excited. I was just filled with several different moments of validation today and it made me feel so happy.
Well it's late and I have a lot to do tomorrow!!!

Halloween

2007-11-01T08:44:00.001-07:00

This is my Halloween Costume. Guess what I am. That's one of my friends Richie. Guess what he is. This was at our stake activity which was really fun. There were so many awesome costumes. I wish I had taken my camera. After the party I watched part of The Sixth Sense. (Creepy movie!) Well I hope Halloween was good for everyone else. By the way I am partly cloudy with a chance of showers. You can't see that I am holding an umbrella in one hand and a spray bottle in the other, hence the chance of showers. Richie is a shadow. He was freaky looking. My friend Mary was a vampire and Katy was a clump of grapes. When they send me their pictures I'll post those. Some other cool costumes were; Marge Simpson, Crayons, Elmer's Glue, a Deviled egg (egg with horns and a tail), Hippies, Han and Leia, a Pot Head (a pot on his head and makeup to make red eyes). All of the costumes looked great.

New York

2007-10-29T09:50:00.001-07:00

These are some of my cool pictures from New York. I had so much fun. Literally one of the most fun things I have ever done in my life! I love New York. It was amazing! I took over 530 pictures, so slowly I'm going to add some pictures to my blog to show the fun time I had. So cool!!!

This the sun setting over Manhattan while floating under the Brooklyn Bridge. The Circle Line Cruise was one of the most fun things we did while in New York.

This is the sun setting over New York City! When I was there in May. It was sooooo awesome.

Monday!!!

2007-10-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Well here we go!
This week is going to be long. Not only am I going to some sweet Halloween festivities but I start working with Kaye (Oh, so excited), audition for a show I can't really do (just going for the audition experience), and I am going to the UDEO Conference on Fri. Not to mention all my regular classes which are wearing me out. Whew! I need to sleep more. Oh and don't forget Elder Perry speaking at the devotional on Tues.
Highlights from this weekend-
-Country Dancing
-Game Night #1
-Game Night #2
-Stake conference was good, I really enjoyed three of the speakers, I couldn't write fast enough.

Well that's all for now. Hope everyone who is reading this is doing well.

Still Breathing

2007-10-27T13:32:00.001-07:00

Well I finished my Anatomy Lab midterm I got a 71%, not so good. At least I'm not failing. I am so not motivated for this stupid class. I also took my D&C midterm. Not so good there either. Oh well!

I think since I am boring and have nothing else to say I'll just let everyone know that my favorite color is blue! I bought a new board game called Ticket to Ride, Days of Wonder. It is the US version of the game, there are also Europe, Germany and Switzerland versions as well. I'm excited. I'm gonna start another blog but it is going to be a writing blog. I'm going to start writing a story. It's gonna be cool too. We'll see if I'm any good at writing. It's just a little experiment. I'm also going to put more pictures on this blog eventually.

More Pumpkin Pictures

2007-10-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Carvers!!!

Yummy Bobby!!!

Pumpkin Party

2007-10-26T10:08:00.001-07:00

Bobby and I!!!

My First Entry

2007-10-26T09:33:00.001-07:00

This is my first blog. Yeah!!! This was one of my recent goals to start a blog, after of course reading my sisters blog. Well basically my life is exciting. I'm totally random. I carved pumpkins on Wed. night. I really carved a piece of a pumpkin while everyone else carved a pumpkin. I had come late after studying for my anatomy lab midterm(boo!, I think I did alright though). I didn't have a pumpkin so I used a piece someone had discarded. I named my creation Bobby! He was so awesome (just like my new blog). I don't have any classes today which is Fri. Oct. 26, 2007 because they are having dance major auditions! Rock on!

Things I'm looking forward to...
-Not having anything really major due for two weeks!
-My first rehearsal with Kaye Richards a professor in dance at the University of Utah, she will be choreographing a five minute solo on me thanks to the grant I received from the college of Health and Human Performance. Mary Lou Fullton Rocks!!! She is the main contributor and name sake of the Fund.
-Berlin Auditions.
-Registering for next semesters classes on November first!

That's about all I have to say right now. I'm excited about my new blog!