Coming home from Kansas City

Today we are making our way back home, an eleven and a half hour drive day towards Jackson MS, from a weekend in Kansas City where we spent our time performing and teaching a master class.

Work . 

Our sponsors were a Ballet Company known as Dramatic Truth Dance Theater. It was special to be brought in by this particular company because apparently their artistic director and ours, have been long-time companions over 30 years, and surprisingly this weekend was the first time ever that we've partnered together! On Friday, one of our dancers taught a ballet master class at the Dramatic Truth facilities and on Sunday we, both Dramatic Truth and Ballet Magnificat put a show on together at the Bell Center of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. Dramatic Truth opened up the night presenting 'Passionate Pursuit' and then we did our ballet called 'Strategem' which is inspired by a book written by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters.

Our performance that evening was monumental, not only because we got to work with Dramatic Truth but also because it would be the last performance done on tour by our long-time, well-loved company member, John Vandervelde. He has been dancing with Ballet Magnificat for several decades and now is being called away elsewhere, by God, unto something new. He has been such a friend, role model, and teacher to us all. He is a staple to our ministry, an overseer, and holder of numerous responsibilities. His resignation with Ballet Magnificat will be made official come the fall and we will all be sad to see him go; His absence will be felt, but as one of my peers has said, 'This could be the best thing that has ever happened to this ministry.' Though change is sometimes sad and hard, it is also good and promotes growth.

John and I after a show

Play .

Prior to this past weekend, and being that it was my first time ever in Kansas City, I knew not what to expect of it. I was very confused that Kansas City was not in Kansas, but we had fantastic, hospitable, accommodating, hosts who taught us all the random facts we needed to know about Kansas City like how it is the largest city in Missouri or that the official nickname of it is the City of Fountains with over 200 fountains in the city which supposedly makes it the second with the most fountains in the world, just aside from Rome! They also told us about the best places to go sightseeing.

We had a day off on Saturday. It was a gorgeous chilly day. I did not pack the right kind of clothes for the Missouri climate, but I made due. A few of my friends and I decided to visit one of the places that our hosts mentioned called The Country Club Plaza. The Plaza is a beautiful, outdoor, 15 block, shopping mall with tons of stores, restaurants, and fountains! The air deliciously smelled of BBQ there. I thought the architecture was so beautiful! The orange shingled upon the roofs everywhere gave it a Tuscan feel, but the ornateness and colors of the archways and tiles made me think Moroccan. I had a blast exploring The Plaza and shopping with my friends. I've been on a mission to find a new purse; One that is big and durable and tough enough to handle the rigors of my tour life. Unfortunately, I did not find the perfect one for me that day. What stores do you recommend for finding a good purse at a good price?

The Country Club Plaza, Kansas City Missouri

We also made it a priority to stop at Trader Joe's, which you must know is a Ballet Magnificat Dancer's favorite, though unfortunately, we do not have one in Jackson, MS. All of us stocked up on our favorite goodies to take home with us!

I discovered Kansas City to be an altogether charming place! Great memories and friends were made there and they will be forever cherished.

This run-out to Kansas City, Missouri was actually our last stop for the season. Though I thoroughly enjoyed Kansas City, finishing with it seems kind of anti-climactic in comparison to the previous years finishing the season touring in other foreign nations. But that is okay. Things are winding down and for the next couple of months we will be laying low at our home base in Jackson, MS preparing for our big 4-week summer dance intensive(SDI) workshop held in July.

SDI is always a highlight of our year! It attracts hundreds of students from all around the world and we delight in teaching them dance classes and bible studies, mentoring them, and worshiping with them. We sometimes say our summer program is a Christian dance camp, but not only just for Christians! It is so exciting to witness how the Lord moves among the hearts of all the students, and ours! If you would be so interested to stick around, I will be sure to keep you up to date with all the details and exciting happenings leading up to our summer workshop and then on into it. Also, now that my company is spending quite sometime slowed down, settled, and at home, you can expect to see some more posts about my recreational ongoings. Yipee! One of the pros to the "off season" of touring is that now that I am home, I can return to my own cooking, and sewing, and crafting and creating! It is so nice to be reunited again with all of my supplies here at the homestead! Creativity coming soon to a blog entry near YOU! ^_^

Today I will leave you with a song I discovered by Sandi Patti, that I have just fallen in love with, as being a performer, but perhaps you might find appreciation for it too?!

  Lyrics to THE STAGE IS BARE  -by Sandi Patti
the stage is bare The crowds are gone
The love we shared still lingers on
We sang and played and we laughed and cried
And in our fumbling way we tried
To say what only hearts can know
And all too soon we had to go
But now here in this darkened room
Just empty seats there's just me and you

It was so easy to call you Lord
When a thousand voices sang your praise
But there's no one to hear me now
So hear me now, be near me now

The stage is bare
The crowds are gone
Lord now the time I need your song
To give me joy and certainty
When no one else is watching me
I need you more than words can say
Tomorrow's such a daily day
And so I need to feel you then
Holding my hand
Please hold me then
I need you, Lord

Blessings dear friends,

Thank you for reading!

comment, follow, subscribe, and don't be shy! 

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A Day in the Life of a Ballet Magnificat Company Member

Today I thought I would give you a sneak peak into the life of a professional dancer, my life! Being a company member of America's biggest and premier christian ballet company, Ballet Magnificat is truly a dream! If you have never heard of this company before, you need to check us out! My job combines my greatest passions of music, ballet, travel, people, and most of all Jesus. It is a great honor to get to do what I do, and yet I find I still must be intentional in being thankful for it and not taking it for granted, but I suppose that is with any occupation. Have you thanked God for your job today?

What My Work Day Looks Like : 

5:00AM  This is the time I got up this morning. Upon waking up one of the first things I like to do is spend time with God. I like to read my bible, pray, maybe work on the bible study book that my fellow company members and I are going through; I love doing these things in the morning before the world wakes up because it is very peaceful and easier for me to think and focus. I might have slept in another hour, but this morning I had plans to go for a walk with a friend before work, so I chose to start my day earlier as to still go through with my accustomed morning regimen. Today I got all ready and dressed for ballet before seeing my friend and decided I would do my fancy ballet bun at the dance studio instead of at home, which I occasionally do in order to save some time. After walking with my friend, I then ate some raisin bran cereal for breakfast, packed my snacks for the day and headed to work!

9:30AM  Our day at the Ballet Magnificat studios begins with a devotion time. All

A "doing our hair" selfie, before class ^_^

company members, and trainees join together for a time of worship and dedication to our Lord. Honestly what we do during this time looks different every day. Sometimes we'll sing, sometimes we'll share stories, sometimes we'll pray (actually we always pray!) After devotions the company members and trainees split up and have some time to all get ready for our daily ballet technique class. After doing my hair, I do some stretching. I often do some of the exercises I mention here to prepare my muscles for class.

10:30AM  We have class for an hour and 45 minutes. I sweat a TON, because I work REALLY hard... and also because we keep the studios at 78 degrees Fahrenheit!

12:15PM  We have anywhere from thirty minutes to a fifteen minute lunch break. I snacked on my peanut butter cracker sandwiches, some celery, and a tangerine. Yum!

12:45PM  For the rest of the day we spend out time rehearsing. I love rehearsing. Today we rehearsed The Arrival and Deliver Us. After we are done practicing our dances, we sit down and have a little pow wow where our rehearsal director so generously gives out corrections and critiques, being either collective or to specific individuals, about how we can further improve our performance. Sometimes we have to go back and retry or fix steps and formations. I like to write all my corrections down so I can remember them. Good thing I didn't get too many today!

3:15PM  We got done with rehearsal a little early today so I decided to use my time to do some work in the product room. Aside from dancing, you will find that the company members at Ballet Magnificat attend to a number of other different responsibilities that their other talents and giftings cater to such as working with the props, building sets, or with the costume department. I am one of the members in charge of managing sales merchandise and fundraising. I guess I must be good at folding T-shirts and that is what I did with the rest of my extra time, along with bagging them. ^_^

4:00PM  After my dance day is done, if I am not working from 4 to 6 with this housekeeping business I work for as a side job, I will go to the library for a couple hours to study spanish, do bible study, or like today, write blog entries.

7:00PM  When I return home from a full work day, I am ready for dinner. If I haven't already prepared my dinners in advanced on Sunday, I just eat whatever I can find or make fast. Today after coming home from the library, I just made myself some chicken quesadillas and spent the rest of my evening hanging out with my awesome housemates. 

10:00PM  I actually start preparing for bed by nine. As a matter of fact I have an alarm clock set to go off at nine to alert me that it is time to start getting ready for bed, since it is SO easy for me to get carried off and away with some project that I could be working on into the wee hours of the night, if I let myself. This year I am truly trying, with all my effort to manage my time better and make sleep a higher priority in my life since I have come to learn just how important it really is! Before bed, I shower and if there is time, I do a wind-down activity such as some stretching or reading. At ten o'clock I like to I hit the lights, give thanks to God for my day, and ask Him for a peaceful night of rest. I like to listen to music to help me slip off into dream land. And God willing, I will wake up the next day refreshed and ready to do it all over again where my reality will be sweeter than my dreams.



Be sure to check out: A Day in the Life of a Ballet Magnificat Trainee

and A Ballerina's Day at the Theater

Do you have a topic idea or suggestion of something I should write about? 
Do you have a question you’d like to ask me?
Leave a comment below!


Thanks for reading!

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An Aspiring Ballet Magnificat Ballerina

This week is going to be a big week at the Ballet Magnificat Studios! Twenty to thirty young dancers from all around the country will be coming to participate in a two-day audition that we hold, in hopes of being chosen to join the Ballet Magnificat trainee program for 2017, in which only a handful will actually be selected. *The Trainee Program is a one to four-year program with a mission and ministry focus. It is specifically structured for students age 17-24 who desire to achieve their fullest potential as professional dancers. The Program includes significant discipleship content aimed at the serious Christian artist. Class curriculum includes Ballet technique, Pointe, Modern, Conditioning, Variations, Teacher Training, and Trainee Company Rehearsals.

It seems like just yesterday that I was in their shoes when in reality was really 6 years ago. Most of the dancers that audition for the trainee program here, already know very much about Ballet Magnificat, have most likely seen us perform, and have probably attended our summer dance camp intensive a time or two, or more. I was not like those applicants 6 years ago but instead, I only knew what I knew about Ballet Magnificat by what I found off their website and YouTube which back then, was NOT very much. I was jumping into a whole new world of dance and didn't even consider dance a possibility as something that could be used to worship our Lord, and NOW because of the Lord, it's what I love, and am now doing for a living. Each year with guidance from God, a handful of trainees are promoted into the company like I was. And for the rest, God has a perfect plan for them too!

The audition process for a dancer is not usually the most fun, and having to deal with the mystery of the future can be nerve-racking for any human being. But take heart.

• Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

• Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

• Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

...Also, If you are coming to audition for the Ballet Magnificat Trainee Program, never fear because it is the MOST FUN audition you could EVER take! Many dancers audition for the trainee program with hopes of eventually joining the company. Besides the general populace of auditionees that are already familiar with Ballet Magnificat and the world of using dance for ministry, I got to wondering about the other applicants that may be like how I was: CLUELESS!

Christian ballet companies and trainee programs have numerous differences from their secular counterparts; consider the Ballet Magnificat mission statement for one thing. We are all about Jesus.

Today I thought it would be a cool idea to give you an inside look into the life of a trainee at Ballet Magnificat featuring my very own awesome housemate, Miranda! And be sure to check out the second installment: A Day in the Life of a Company Member featuring yours truly, ME :)

    A Day in the Life of a Ballet                   Magnificat Trainee           

7:00AM "This is the time I get up. Right now I am trying to read through the bible so I will usually lie in bed until 7:30 and then I will start reading my bible until about 8:15. After that I go and get dressed, put my hair up and makeup on. I then get my lunch together and then I make breakfast and eat it! For breakfast I usually make eggs and oatmeal to eat. When it is time to leave for the studio, I usually carpool with my housemate."

9:30AM "This is the time that we all have devotions at Ballet Magnificat. It will either be corporate; all together, or we will split up into groups. Today we focused on discussing our upcoming trip to Mexico." After devotions we have some time to all get ready for ballet class. Occasionally I may have to go do some work with the costumes during this time since I help on the costume team, but usually at this time we are getting ready for class. I do a lot of rolling out [to prepare for class]. I use a racket ball or foam roller."

10:30AM "We have class for an hour and 45 minutes. In general, depending on the teacher the classes can be very technical and make us work very hard. Other times the classes are basically a good warm-up, getting you ready for the day. I prefer those classes!

12:15PM "We have anywhere from thirty minutes to a fifteen-minute lunch break."

12:45PM "For example, at this time today we had rehearsal and we worked straight through until the end of the day, with a short fifteen-minute break."

2:10PM "Depending on the day; other days at 2:10 we will have a [secondary] class like pointe or bible study." 

3:30PM "The day at the studio usually ends at this time but like today, I'll stay after at the studio to work on costumes, but that doesn't always happen."

5:00PM "Today, Monday and on Tuesdays I then have to go to work after dance at five. I teach little kids how to dance! But after that I finally get to go home! And I eat, and I take a shower, and I usually watch a little bit of TV."

10:30PM "And then I crash ranging anywhere between 10:30 to 12."



* Ballet Magnificat website.

Thanks for reading friends,

comment, follow, subscribe, and don't be shy! 

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5 Ways to Alleviate and Prevent Sore Muscles

It's Friday! It has been a great week! PTL (praise the Lord)! We made it through our first full week of ballet classes and rehearsals here back at Ballet Magnificat, and man am I so sore! Did you know soreness is a result of microscopic tears in the muscles! It sounds more dramatic than it really is. As uncomfortable as soreness is, I don't really mind it because at least I know I have muscles. ^_^ With my muscles being sore it is easier for me to find them and feel the correct ballet body placement, and at the end of the week, being sore just makes me feel so much more accomplished. Not to be misleading; at the end of a good, hardworking dance week sometimes all I want to do is NOTHING because I ache so much! Unfortunately, doing nothing is an option my life does not permit. Ain't nobody got time for that. Dancers and athletes, I would like to share with you my favorite 5 out of the many ways in which you can prevent, manage, and alleviate your soreness.




#1 Drink lots of water. Make sure you have a nice sized, cute water bottle and drink water all the time! Before, during, and after exercise! This will help increase the oxygen your muscles need giving them stamina and helping them in the recovery process. I think the rule of thumb to ward off dehydration is to drink 6 to 8oz glasses of water daily. I love drinking water out of my pink champagne swell bottle!


#2 Eat bananas. When exercising, our bodies tend to lose vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, and other electrolytes. There are plenty of natural foods, products, and supplements out there that can aid in renourishing our bodies. Consider the banana! According to Chiquita Banana, on average a banana contains 422 mg of potassium. So make sure to eat up for yourself a heaping helping of nutritious fruit, and while you're at it,  some vegetables too! I need to get better at this one. Bananas in particular are known to assist in preventing muscle cramps. So be reminded the next time you wake up in the middle of the night due to those horrendous charlie horses that you get from practicing petit allegro in your sleep, YOU NEED BANANAS!

#3 Ice baths/ icing muscles. Athletes of all statures are known for reaping the benefits from the practice of bathing in ice. Ice baths reduce inflammation and are thought to constrict blood vessels and flush waste products like lactic acid out of your body, sited by http://sportsmedicine.about.com/. Both Lebron James- Professional Basketball Player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Usain Bolt- Fastest Person Ever, Jamaican Sprinter and World Record Holder for the 100m and 200m, avowal via twitter, of taking ice baths, not to mention some of my fellow dance company members as well. As for me, I am just NOT into it. But I am an advocate for icing, only just smaller muscles groups at one time using moldable ice packs or a bucket of ice water. At the end of a day filled with intense activity, I am often found to be icing a given area for typically 10-15mins.
Check out the following helpful link about icing: 8 ice bath dos and donts

#4 Keep stretching and moving through it. As I so often remark, resting vs. being active is a fine balance. Always listen to what your body tells you that it needs, but when it comes to having sore muscles you should know: light activity can help ease soreness just as well as a massage, according to a new study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, and I have experienced this personally for myself as well. In keeping active you will increase blood flow and prevent your body from growing stiff. Personally, I like to "walk it out".  After a grueling day of dance, I make some time for strolling around the neighborhood and finish it off with some light stretching. I love that walking also has psychological benefits too.

#5 My foam roller. I LOVE my foam roller. Once only used by professional athletes and therapists, foam rollers are now becoming more mainstream. The concept of rolling out my muscles using a foam roller was introduced to me by my first Pilates teacher. To the effect of a deep-tissue massage, rolling out your muscles with this handy tool will loosen them up, prevent soreness, as well as treating already sore muscles. So if you have one, roll out both before and after exercising. Foam rollers are great because you can message almost any muscles with them; from you back to your butt, legs to your feet, they make for a great investment! http://www.optp.com/ is a great place to purchase foam rollers and other physical therapy type contraptions.

Thank God it's Friday! have a great weekend!




PS: This post contains affiliate links. Clicking links may lead me to receive a small commission. Thanks for your Support! Though featured products in this post are sponsored, they are presented in an honest light based on my genuine choice, preference, and opinions.

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How to Stay in Shape During a Really Long Break

My Fellow Dancers, this one is for you. I have been off for break for a total of three weeks and the amount of physical activity I have had falls short of acceptable to say the least. My holiday breaks and the amount of physical activity I have during them tend to vary from year to year, simply based off of what other things are going on during the break. This year I have no good excuse, except to say that I have had an EXTREMELY relaxing and refreshing vacation which, not to be misleading, is also very important. But let's get real, I have one week left and need to get my act together.

Know of any dancers that would enjoy this workout? Share this post with others!

Dancers are very diverse in what ways they prefer to maintain strength and stay in shape over breaks. After all, every body is different! Some of my friends prefer to give themselves class everyday, others maybe only two days. Some of them like to do a daily 10-minute ab series to hold them over. Have you ever heard of cross-training? The internet defines cross-training as training in two or more sports in order to improve fitness and performance, especially in the main sport. Cross-training is great for dancers and practical for over long breaks. Some of my friends in the company are gym rats. Personally I hate the gym. I hate the thought of paying for something that I can do for free at my house, though I am acutely aware of my ignorance and closed-mindedness. ^_^

I really advocate Pilates. I've been learned in Pilates ever since I've been learned in ballet and they are very complimentary. Pilates is great for creating long lean strong muscles as well as enhancing flexibility, which might I not forget to add, is also very important to maintain over long breaks. Overall, no matter what method you choose to use in order to maintain your physique, whether you are a dancer reading this or a "normal person"; what I want to convince you of the most, is to listen to your body. It will tell you how much or how little, of what you need. Also as I forementioned, sometimes you might just benefit simply from rest!

Below I  share with you the systematic routine of exercises that I enjoy doing over my breaks to help keep myself in shape. A fusion of Pilates and some other things, I typically would do these every other day or so over the course of my whole break, though this time I have only just begun on this past Monday. Oh well. Here's to feeling sore and accomplished. Be sure to check out the very interesting video I found and posted at the end of this entry about maintaining flexibility. Happy exercising!

TAKE NOTE: One thing I love about this "1,2,3..." workout is the way it progresses! The order is easy to remember! Notice how with each exercise, it's reps or it's timed amount correlates in some way to its designated # in the regimen. Enjoy!  

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#1- 100 Crunches

#2- 20 Side Crunches

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#3- 30 Bicycles twists

Actually, I alternate tugging my one knee into my chest with head lifted and other leg straight about 10 times without the twist, first. 

Then I do the bicycle twist 15 times alternating slow

Then 15 times alternating fast.

#4 - 40 Triceps Dips

Like the picture.

If I am up to it, I'll insert a set of regular push-ups here too!

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#5- Single Leg Circles

A Pilates Move. I do 5 inward circles with the right leg, then the left.

Returning back to the right leg, do 5 more circles going outward this time, then left.

Isolating the hips. The bigger the circles, the more strength it takes.

#6- Hamstring Tugs

A Pilates Move. First with relaxed head and neck. I pull one straight leg above my head, holding and stretching for about 6 mins. each leg

Then alternating legs, head lifted, I tug one straight leg toward my head than the other 10 times slow, 10 times fast. than 10 times fast with no hands or arms, just slicing legs through air.

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#7- Double Leg Lifts 

A Pilates Move. (1st Picture) 7 reps. Do not let the feet touch the ground. If I am up for a challenge I will also throw in a set of Pilates teasers (2nd picture)

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#8- Numerous Leg Exercises 

-40 inner thigh leg lifts, each leg

-20 clams, each leg, great for butt!

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 -10 outer leg lifts. fast up, slow down. each leg.

The higher the leg is lifted, the more strength it takes.

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-10 leg lifts back, on stomach. I like to think these are good for arabesques.

#9 -Numerous  Stretches

  Ballerinas you know what to do! Various ballet stretches for about 9 minutes. that's about two songs on my iPod.

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#10- The Planks

 I usually do the regular front plank with bent arms, and the both the side planks, each for a minute. Feel the Burn!

To finish off...

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I usually do whatever else my body needs; sometimes some releves, or stretches or whatever. I love doing my Theraband exercises. A Theraband is a long strip of rubbery elastic, that through resistance, is used to conduct different strength building exercises for your body. Dancers love them! I often use them for my feet and weak ankles (my left one which I have sprained twice in the past) though Therabands are not exclusive to just that. If you don't have one, I'll tell ya, they are worth the investment!


 Doing all of this at leisure pace, it usually takes me about an hour to and hour and a half. I better finish up this entry and great right to it!
What do you like to do to stay in shape?





SIDE NOTE: Sometimes I feel superficial talking about all these exercises and body workouts, but honestly it's expected of me, for my career, and for the excellency of our craft. But regardless of that, let us be reminded that whether we are dancers or "normal" people, pursuing a healthy lifestyle and taking care of our bodies which includes healthy eating habits and exercise, it is glorifying to God. As believers these things should become inherent.

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

• Romans 12:1  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

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Thanks for stopping by friends, 

comment, follow, subscribe, and don't be shy! 

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   Related Content  

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• Pointe Shoe Tips & Tricks
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