The Variety Show Dances

On Tuesday we went through 'When I Grow Up' and 'The Nicest Kids In Town'. I am still struggling to learn 'When I Grow Up', as I keep forgetting the correct dance moves when I rehearse at home. It might be helpful to record someone else doing this dance as I keep getting it wrong. Therefore, I am setting myself the task of being able to go through the whole dance, with music, without stopping to think of the next move by next week Thursday. I aim to achieve this by continuing to go through the dance at least 5 times a day. Also, during my additional rehearsals, I've been singing the song over and over again to make sure that it sticks in my head while I dance.

I made countless mistakes during the first two runs of 'The Nicest Kids In Town', despite easily executing the whole routine, with music throughout my weekend rehearsals. This could be due to a change of environment, as I am use to practising the dance in my room in front of a mirror and so it is just as important to rehearse at college during my free time as it is to rehearse at home (this may aid my movement memory).

Today's lesson began with a warm up. Today I was disappointed with the lack of energy I put into the warm up. Although I did everything I was instructed to, I could have done it with a lot more energy, elegance and precision. On the other hand, I completed my task of being able to go through the entire 'core strengthening' part of the warm up without stopping. Also, due to the fact that I've added balancing on one leg to my weekend exercises routine, I was better able to complete the balancing part of the the warm up. I still need to do more balancing exercises in order to master the technique. It helps to look at a certain point and to keep my eyes fixed on it.
 

During today's rehearsal of 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' I spent a lot of the time helping others with the dance. This helps me to become more confident with the dance and allows me to put my time spent doing additional rehearsals to good use. I know this dance very well now (I completed my target of being able to run through it, with music, without stopping by Sunday) and my timing has improved significantly, as has the amount of energy I put into each run, as well as my posture and technique. I still need to polish the dance moves, especially the turns at the beginning, as my feet are all over the place. Therefore, I am setting myself the task of going through each move slowly and polishing them twice a day, up to next week a Thursday.

After lunch, when we were asked to practise for The Variety Show, I helped others with the dances. When we had to perform the dances, it turned out that I had once again been rehearsing with the wrong sequence of movements for 'When I Grow Up'. However, my practise of 'The Nicest Kids in Town' has been beneficial, as I can now go through the entire routine with music, without stopping (I have been able to do this since Monday, so I didn't manage to hit my target of Sunday. This means that my movement memory is worse than I predicted and I should either give myself more time to complete a target (when possible) or spend more hours a day practising). I haven't managed to find a partner to add on an extra 8 sets of 8 to the end of the routine with as of yet. So therefore, I am setting myself the task of choreographing an additional 8 sets of 8 to add to the routine and to know it well enough to be able to perform it with music, without stopping to think by Sunday. 

I stayed back today, in order to do some additional dance rehearsals at college instead of at home. This is beneficial as I am able to practise in the college environment on the actual stage that the dances will be performed. I am also able to run through the dance with other people who are in it, so that I have a better idea of the space I will have to move in and I can ask them for help if I am unsure of a dance move e.g. I asked for help with 'When I Grow Up' and so now I can practise something closer to the real routine than before, at home (hopefully it will be correct, though the timing still confuses me. Listening to the music and counting in my head should help with this). Although I know from experience that I learn dance routines quicker on my own, doing at least some of my additional rehearsals at college is also helpful. So, if we are allowed, I will spend a few hours rehearsing at college after lessons next week Thursday.

Here is an image of me putting all my energy into a dance. Engaging my core helped me to sit down, stand up and sit down again.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

On Monday we were taught the choreography to Hairspray's 'The Nicest Kids' in town. It's quite an intense, fast-paced dance, so I need to make sure that each movement isn't thrown away and is executed to the best of my ability. This dance also has a particular style, as it is from the musical Hairspray (set in the 60s). Therefore, I must remember to remain fully aware of this, especially when I have to find a partner and choreograph 8 extra sets of 8 to add to the end of the routine. I was quite slow to pick up the choreography for this routine, probably because it is such a fast-paced dance. I made numerous mistakes, but as long as I remember what I've learnt I can work to improve my performance. Here is a video of a rehearsal of 'Nicest Kids In Town:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSzuZk7i4Vg
As we were only introduced to it on Monday, I struggled to pick up the choreography. As shown in the video, my timing is off and I'm not putting as much energy into it as I would like to because I am concentrating on the next move. Sometimes I completely skipped moves. So I need to be careful not to do this in the future. 

Over the weekend and through the week I have been rehearsing the songs 'No Good Deed' and 'All Of Me', so that I am fully prepared if I have to re-audition. I also worked on improving on the things that I was given feedback on during the audition. I practised singing 'No Good Deed', using mostly my higher vocal tone (as was suggested), and recorded myself. I also practised singing 'All Of Me' more quietly, I listened to the song more and I recorded myself singing it alone (as was also suggested). In preparation for the accapella song, I practised singing 'Iris' by listening to the song, going over the lyrics and recording myself singing accapella.

Over the weekend and through the week, I also ran through 'Step In Time', but without the music as I knew that the song might change. At first, I went through it twice a day, but since Tuesday, I've gone through it 5 times a day, which has significantly improved my movement memory. I have been working on polishing each movement by going over each of them a number of times in front of a mirror and by putting all my energy into each run. I have also ran through the dance while smiling, as I find that this enhances my performance. Since Monday, I have been running through 'The Nicest Kids In Town' 5 times a day without music. I am finding it quite hard to pick up this routine, which is why I have not gone through it with music yet. However, I am currently working on polishing each movement and I aim to be able to run through the whole routine, with music, without stopping to think of the next move, by Sunday.

Today we began our dance session with a warm up. I managed to participate in most of the exercises and pushed myself, even when I felt warn-out. However, for weeks now I have been mainly struggling with the core strengthening exercises. I haven't managed to plank for the duration we have been instructed to, all this year. Therefore, I am setting myself the task of lasting for the duration of the core strengthening exercises in our next session, even if I have to work out more at home. I am also working to improve on the more 'dancy' exercises in our warm up session, by trying to be more elegant and by paying attention to timing. This is good practise for real dance routines.

I went through the dance with my group before the dance session, for extra practise and to refresh my memory on the timing. The song we are dancing to has now changed from 'Step In Time' to 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious', which is also from Mary Poppins. This means that the style is practically the same, except that during the acted parts of the song, I have to act a lady who is off to the races with her partner. Due to my extra rehearsals at home, I remembered most of the routine, even with the music, but I have to remember to adapt to the timing of the new song during my next additional rehearsal. I struggled a little with the new choreography for the dance, but with practise, I managed to remember most of it. I did feel that, as we ran through the routine, I put in less energy and my body was less tense and therefore, my movement wasn't very sharp. It is important that I put in all of my my energy into every run-through and that I maintain a 'tonic body'. Just as with 'The Nicest Kids in Town', I will be practising this dance at home through the week. I am setting myself the task of, being able to run through this routine with music, without stopping to think of the next move, by Sunday.
Here is the link to a video that I have watched for inspiration of characters and for studying the dance style:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZZelYLr0Zk

In the image below Doris (my character), being the cheerful, posh lady she is, is happy to hear that the words 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious' were the cause of a marriage.


Today we began learning the choreography for 'When I Grow Up'. Our first task was to get into groups of 4 or 5 and to come up with a short routine for 1 set of 8. I was in a group of 4. I suggested some ideas for the routine, including making our formation that of a trapezium shape, and I listened to the ideas and followed the instruction of others. When learning the rest of the choreography, I found it extremely difficult to pick it up. This contrast to earlier rehearsals, is probably due to the fact that I was a little tired, so it might help to give myself a boost by drinking coffee (for example), so that I stay alert for the next time when I feel tired before learning new choreography. I also need to really concentrate on using my core and making my movements more child-like. Also, due to my concentration on the movements, at times, I forgot to sing. It is important that I remember to sing throughout this number, so I need to run through the lyrics more and through the new dance routine, which should help me to become confident enough with both, so that I can do them simultaneously. I managed to project, which is likely due to the amount of vocal rehearsals I've done throughout the week, which have helped me to remember how to project. I also remembered to sing from my diaphragm, but my breath control still needs more attention.

The Variety Show Auditions

Today we went through our group dance pieces for the variety show. I practised 'Step In Time' 5 times a day last week and a few times the week before, so that I wouldn't forget it. I helped others with the dance by going through the moves with them and by performing the routine to the rest of the group with 2 other male group members. Despite my previous practise, I forgot the last part of the routine. I also could have more sharply executed the performance. I found that helping others to remember the dance made me feel more confident with it myself. When we performed to the other group, it went very wrong, my timing was off, I forgot some of the choreography and I could have danced a lot better. During panto, with practise, my technique was a lot better and so I need to remember to put a lot of energy into the dance, to have tense muscles and better posture. I also I need to allow my head to move more freely.

Afterwards, we practised singing 'Pure Imagination' and 'When I Grow Up'. I'm now in group 1 instead of group 2 for 'When I Grow Up', so I must learn the new lines and harmonies. My throat is very soar from practising for the variety show auditions over the holidays. I forgot to use the correct singing technique (singing from the diaphragm), which is why my throat is sore, and also because I continued to strain my voice when practising even with a sore throat. I need to take better care of my voice, especially when I have a sore throat/cold. Here are some suggestions:
http://www.singwise.com/cgi-bin/main.pl?section=articles&doc=CareForVoice

For the variety show, I decided to audition a solo piece. I chose to sing 'No Good Deed' from Wicked, because I really liked the song, I felt like I could put my emotions into it and that I could put my own stamp on it. I practised it over the holidays by first listening to the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUj2bgMEPJI), then I learnt the lyrics acapella (http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/wicked/nogooddeed.htm), then I learnt the song with a backing track ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypRLruV9Vqk) and after that I recorded myself singing with and without the backing track.

During the audition, I chose to sing acapella as the last few times I had rehearsed with a backing track, I was out of time. This was likely to be because I spent more time recording myself accapella, in order to attempt to improve my delivery, than rehearsing with the backing track. It was definitely the least nervous I had ever felt while singing at an audition, as I managed to successfully hit most of the notes. I could have sang the whole song all the way through, but I thought that my bad throat was likely to make me crack on the high notes. 

I was given feedback that I had two separate vocal tones, which I've noticed when recording my voice. I also have a break in my voice between the two tones, which makes them sound very different. I will practise more scales to try to sing through the break. I also need to work on my breath control, to support my voice. I was told to audition again next week using more of my higher vocal tone and with a backing track. I will practise this as much as possible, recording my voice and making sure that I don't damage it.

After that I auditioned a duet with Jasmine, 'All Of Me' by John Legend. I had practised for this by listening to the song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=450p7goxZqg), learning the lyrics (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/johnlegend/allofme.html), singing it acapella, singing it with a backing track (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbAU8JTvCRc) and then recording myself. Then I spent Tuesday lunchtime and two hours after the college trip on Wednesday going through the song with Jasmine. 

I was more nervous about this audition than the solo audition as I struggled with it a lot more because of my throat and because my singing lisp had returned. For some reason in 'No Good Deed' the lisp is not as apparent put in Sole/Pop/R&B songs it becomes a hindrance, as some words become very difficult to pronounce. Before the holidays, I seemed to have gotten rid of the problem, which was mainly thanks to the vocal siren (the 'NG' sound). So I must remember to do this warm up more often. I sang out of tune a few times, which was likely to be due to nerves and insufficient breath support. I also couldn't stand still, as I couldn't control my nerves. In the audition we had to sing the song twice though. Both times, I couldn't pronounce all the words properly and it was mainly the consonants that I struggled with, so I need to work on these by doing more 'tongue twisters' to help to improve my diction. 

We were given feedback that the song didn't sound quite right, which I recognised while rehearsing it, but failed to pinpoint the exact problem. We were told that our voices didn't sound too bad together, though they are significantly different. I was told to sing more quietly, as Jasmine has quite a soft, delicate voice. So I need to practise singing at a much lower volume. We were asked to practise the song on our own and to record ourselves more, to get a better idea of how we should be singing it. We were also told to work on our staging. We were asked to audition the song again next week, with all of this in mind.

Acapella Groups

In today's dance lesson we were split of into 2 groups. I am in the lowest group. I found it a lot easier to pick up choreography and it was probably the fastest I have picked up a dance routine at college so far. This may be due to the fact that we were able to learn the routine at a slower pace. However, it is a very fast-paced routine and so, often my timing was off. To correct this, I have practised the routine at home in front of a mirror (to polish each movement) twice and then twice again with music (for the correct timing). I will do this as often as I can, so that I am ready for the next half of the dance.

In today's singing lesson, we had to get into our acapella groups. My group split in half and so we are now singing 'Iris (I just want you to know who I am)' by The Goo Goo Dolls. 

Our task was to choose a group that we thought our voices would blend well in. I find this to be a difficult task as my voice and singing style is very different to anyone's in the class. I went into the original group because I was asked to join them and when we split, I looked to others to tell me what group I was in. I need to pull myself together and make these kind of decisions on my own, with confidence. Even if my voice is different to others', I should choose the group that I am most vocally similar to and not just go the group that is nearest to. Therefore, if we are ever told to choose a group that best suits us again. I am setting myself the task of making the decision confidently on my own.

Below is an image of me dancing with my dance group. This dance move would probably look better if I kept my chin up.

Duets

As homework, we were asked to prepare a duet with another person in the group. I was paired with Megan. We decide to sing 'There Are Worst Things I Could Do' from Grease. We prepared for our performance by singing it again and again. Rehearsals went well, as I played around with the notes in the song and sang loudly. However, as always, I struggled with concentrating on my own singing, when I sung with someone else. I am therefore setting myself the task of singing with other people whenever possible, while concentrating on my own voice.

During the actual performance, although I made a conscious effort to appear less nervous than usual, I sang the song completely differently, than the way in which I had practised during rehearsals. I was flat all the way through the song. I have concluded that, when I'm nervous, I just can't seem to reach the higher notes. I automatically sing really low. This is likely to be because my whole body is tense. The best way to solve this is by stretching, doing breathing exercises and shaking my whole body out. I also sang more quietly than usual, which is something that tends to happen when I'm not singing solo. I should sing at the same volume whether I sing solo, in a duet or in a group. I am also setting myself a goal to sing higher, to not sing flat and to play around with notes more next time I am asked to sing solo/ in a duet. On a positive note, I do feel more confident singing in class, now that I've sung with someone else.

Emotional Connection To Songs

During today's dance lesson, we worked on improving our contractions. Contractions begin from the pelvis and travel up the spine, lengthening the space between each vertebra, up to the neck and head, which remain in line with the spine. Each contraction is accompanied with an exhalation of breath. Then we practised lifts and counterbalancing (one or more dancers combing their weight in stillness or in motion to achieve a movement or design that is interdependent) in pairs. My partner and I managed to execute our lifts successfully and to incorporated transitions (the way in which you move in and out of a movements, phrases or sections of the dance). Afterwards we had to get into groups of two or three, in which we had to choreograph short routines of eight counts. The routine was to be part of the introduction to 'When I Grow Up' and so it had to be childlike. I was in a group of two. Our first attempt at choreographing for the dance needed to be a lot more child-like, so we adapted it by swapping the splits with a backwards roley-poly and by swinging our arms etc.

During our singing lesson we were asked to listen to a few emotionally charged songs and then we had to pick a song that we felt most connected to. I couldn't pick the song that I felt most emotionally connected with because I knew that I wouldn't be able to perform it. I chose 'As Long As Your Mine' from Wicked, as it is more to do with the situation I was in during time that I first heard it, rather than the actual lyrics. When I was practising singing it alone, I sang it exactly how I wanted it to be sang. However when performing to the class I purposely thought of the sad situation and I let my emotions and nerves get the better of me and I could not perform it all the way through without getting emotional and singing flat. I need to remember to keep control of my emotions and nerves when performing such songs. I also need to make sure that I don't always 'look out' when singing, but instead I need to make eye contact with the audience so that they don't loose connection. This is a bad habit I've picked up from years of performing in children's plays when your told to 'look up and not at the audience'. I need to break out of this habit, so that the audience doesn't loose interest. Therefore, for my next performance (singing, acting or dancing), I am setting myself the target of making sure that I look at the audience.

This image shows that I remembered to look at the audience and that I demonstrated a happy emotional connection to the song.

Being Put On The Spot

Today, during our dance lesson, we participated in ,corner work,, in which we had to spin from one side of the room to the other. I remembered to spot and I remembered the short routine, which is a small improvement from the last time we did 'corner work'. We had to get into groups of 6 and perform 3 balancing acts, in which 2 of us were not allowed to touch the ground in each balancing act. We also had to make transitions from one lift to another by dancing, spinning, jumping, etc. into the next position . I struggled to get into the second balance, in which I was not allowed to touch the floor. I also thought my first transition could have been a lot sharper, but most of my transitions were quite smooth and I remembered to keep my body tense. Here is a link to a video recording of the exercises:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/574232582612318/666201870082055/?notif_t=group_activity

Then we had to make up our own choreography for a dance routine of 8 counts, inspired by a show that we had recently seen. I chose West Side Story- as demonstrated by the clicking that I added to my routine. I repeated my dance moves over and over again, so that I would remember them. Afterwards, we had to get into groups and learn eachothers' routines so that we could merge them together. From watching the above video, I am quite pleased with my choreography, as choreographing is not something I have had a lot of practise doing. We then had to perform this merged routine to the rest of the class. I forgot the moves at times, went out of time and I felt that I could have put a lot more energy into it.

Later we had to listen to 3 tracks and identify the instruments. Each time, I could only identify the drums, which means that I need to improve on my instrument knowledge. We then had to choose a chorus or verse, from either the song 'Royals' by Lorde or 'Crazy In Love' by Beyonce and add our own creative twist to it. I chose to sing the chorus of 'Crazy In Love' as I am more familiar with the song. When I had to perform, I calmed my nerves by doing quiet breathing exercises and not stressing about it too much. However, I was still really nervous, which affected my vocals. I was out of tune, sang it much to quickly and forgot to breathe . I also think that I could of been more creative with putting my own twist on the song. I have found that, at times, my nerves do not affect me at all when I have to sing solo. These are usually the times when I have practised singing in front of people a lot. Therefore, I am setting myself the task of singing in front of other people more often, in order to help to build my confidence when singing.