Its Too Darn Hot

All right, after a rather rough couple of days I am back at school and back on my feet. I need to remind  myself to take a few deep breaths every once in a while, collect myself and refocus. Everyone hits bumps at some point along their way and the important thing is to get back on track. So here I go.

We all sang again in performance workshop this morning. We are starting a new unit next week, our devised piece. The music director has been sitting in on these classes to familiarize himself with us and our voices to help us choose material to put in the piece. We have been encouraged to bring in pieces to show off different parts of our range, and since last week I went for contemporary belting this week I went for something different. I sang My White Night, from the Music Man, a show that I  have always loved. This week is all about stepping away from what I have done most of the term. I got some good feedback on the piece, a few things that need work as well as some things that went well. It was mentioned however that I seem to have spent to much time in the UK, and everyones accents are rubbing off on me. Gasp. I have been so hoping that being an American will help me stand out, having an actual American accent in an area where most people have to adopt one. Right, so I need to consciously hang on to that. I think perhaps getting back into some American TV is on the agenda for this weekend. (Part of me wants to get back into watching House just for the irony of Hugh Laurie).

Also had someone comment on how much they enjoy when I perform because of my music choices. I bring in music they don't know, either from shows they don't know very well, of ones that they have never heard of. And actually one of the teachers made the same comment earlier in the term as well. That makes me feel really educated and informed!

This afternoon we had an absolutely superb dance class. A new teacher, which was much needed. He basically ran the class as if it were a dance audition for a show. It was fabulous. We spent the class learning a combination from Kiss Me Kate, and then he broke us into groups of three. He got all of us working too, not just those who have no dance experience. This is what we have needed from day one! I hope we continue to have classes with him. I think everyone is a bit frustrated that we haven't been doing this all term, but we are all glad to be doing it now. Now I should start finding more classes like this in my own time. Once a week is really not often enough to get back into shape.

For the rest of this week we will have rehearsals in the evening. We have our first performance of the term on Friday, it sort of snuck up on us. I am looking forward to seeing how it all comes together this week. However tonight we have an early evening. I'm sticking around to work with my scene partner for class tomorrow, then its home and then early to bed I think.