Hello & Goodbye

Hello Bloggers!

So I know I have been very absent of late but this is due to the fact that I really haven't had anything to moan about :-)
I have also decided to move to the blogging world of "Tumblr". It isn't as straight forward as Blogspot but is more connected. Posts that I do on there (if I choose for them to) will appear straight on my twitter as a new "tweet" or on facebook as a new "status" from me. I will however be keeping this blog for all the 'Emo' days that I don't wish to share with people. I have always felt that this blog is more of a personal diary as barely anyone on here actually knows me.
On Tumblr I've already had some of my students find me & to them I'm happy Miss Danika so wouldn't want to scare them :-)

So here it is: http://danika-ellen.tumblr.com/ come join the party, follow me, I'll follow you etc etc...
My Blog is called: 'Vivere e Imparare' which is Italian and roughly translates to "Live and Learn"

Anywayz, all that aside I had a GREAT christmas! I got very spoilt (as I do every year) and had a wonderful day with my gorgeous family who in any situation have been and always will be able to make me smile.
Happy Holidays to you all, and sending love and blessings for 2011

a work in progress...

It's called "The Passage"
I only finished it today and I've got until the 18th of December to perfect it!
There are a couple of parts I don't love, and obviously it will have a lot more emotion when I perform it, but it's a good start
(I think)

:-(

I'm at the most annoying level of sickness right now!
Not sick enough to stay home from work, but sick enough to feel like absolute crap while I'm at work!
Ergghhh dreading this afternoon :-(


The Concert is in less than 2 weeks now, trying to remain as stress free as I possibly can!

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!

Hairdresser on the 25th and I've decided NOT to go ahead with the dreaded chop! I'm going to persevere a little longer!

Chop Chop Chop

So my hairdresser has been telling me for months now that the only way to grow my hair is to cut off all the dead bits & start fresh, however I keep persisting that I would rather just buy all the necessary products for damaged hair. Although the products have made a HUGE difference in the health of my hair & for anyone reading who's at all interested I completely recommended the REDKEN EXTREME range, it's still not as strong as it should be, and it's been stuck at the same length for months now. I think it's due to the fact my hair is very fine and often takes longer to grow combined with the whole damaged thing, but regardless it may just be time to go ahead with the dreaded chop and start over (with healthier locks).
I've got 3 weeks until I'm due back at the hairdresser so I don't have to make the decision over night.
Here are some images of inspiration for what I may decide to go with.

Summer Lovin!

I'm so very excited for summer :-)
Let me tell you, you never fully appreciate how AMAZING Australian summer is until you live in the U.K... I will appreciate it so much more for the rest of my life!
It's not just the weather I'm excited about. This summer is going to be jam packed full of fun.
Moving back to Sydney
Christmas at the Luhrmann's
New Years at the Luhrmann's
Australia Day at Big Day Out
and scheduled visits to the Gold Coast and Hobart in between all that.
Pumped!

As good as it gets (At the moment)

Fairly chilled weekend...

Taught 8am till 5pm Saturday which was unusually fun. Had some really good classes and am working on some contemporary pieces that I LOVE so I get quite enthusiastic doing those classes.
Saturday night was very chilled out I had a Sex and the City Marathon and ate my ice-cream with strawberries and MnM's as pictured a few blogs previous.

Today I was Lil miss house wife 3 loads of washing and ironing and started a bit of a craft project (will show the finished product when it's done). Also popped myself in the kitchen for a bit of cooking (second time this week).
Today I cooked my Bolognase pasta bake... See pictures below!




I sat down and enjoyed a rather large glass of red with this and it went down a treat!
Now off to read my latest Harpers Bazaar and then tuck myself into bed...
Bring on the next week, I'm on a serious countdown now!

Chicken Maggi

So 7 weeks left teaching at La Vive & only 6 weeks until I make my first of many trips to Sydney to move my life back there.
This is where the picture of the stir-fry pops into the story. When I move back to Sydney I'll be living in a house of five people. due to having five people they have decided that every house mate has a designated cooking night between monday to friday. I quite like the sound of this as it means I only have to cook once a week (and on weekends if I chose to, but I think weekends may become take out nights for me). Anyway back to the stir-fry... I've always been a fairly decent cook, not taught by anyone just make up my own things but I often make something once and then forget about it. So as I've got to cook for other people once every week I've decided to store some of my recipes safe and sound here on my blog so I can go back and get inspiration.
Here is my "Chicken Maggi"



1 whole BBQ chicken
5 packets of oriental flavoured 2 minute noodles
Broccoli
1 Red Capsicum,
1 onion
Olive Oil
2 packets Kan Tong inspirations Thai Green Curry

sigh...

I have nothing to blog about at the moment except the fact that I really would just love to completely blow my existing diet and exercise regime and eat this!!!


Day off tomorrow... Ah Bliss!

Please Sir, could I have some more?

My life could be better at the moment...
Could have more fun, more love, more fulfillment... More happiness!
Nothing I can do about this until I can finally move!
8 weeks!

A momentary lapse of reality!

happiness is fine but its momentary,

a momentary lapse of reality.

reality is fine for the moment,

it can wait – im addicted to the chase of my happiness.

grief!

I have been sooking a lot recently about the current state of my extremely damaged hair.
It wont grow, because it gets to a certain length and then snaps off. This is due to the fact that last year I had the genius idea to try life as a blonde. HUGE mistake and NEVER again. The hairdresser keeps telling me the best thing to do is chop it all off and start over but I cannot bare this so therefore, am spending $100's on very expensive Redken hair products.
Anyway to the point of this blog, I thought that if I posted some pictures of me with blonde hair it can serve as two purposes. The first being it will remind me that I did like being blonde so it wasn't all a complete waste and the second a reminder never to do this EVER again!

The Seven Deadly Sins

For our end of year presentation this December I had the bright idea/suggestion that, instead of reciting a 'traditional' ballet (something we've done every year at La Vive for as long as I can remember) we do a Contemporary piece. Miss E jumped at the idea however it then became my job to come up with a story/music/choreography for such a thing. At first it seemed a little daunting however I soon realised I'd probably be required to do a lot of this sort of stuff at uni next year and that this would be quite a good 'trial' for such tasks.
I have decided to do the "Seven Deadly Sins" as they are presented in the bible. I have done a fair amount of research into the topic and have discovered a lot of interesting facts along the way. This is actually the one thing I love about the bible. I don't believe a word of it but I find the 'tales' so interesting.
Choosing the topic was the easy part, it was more finding the music and editing it together to make one continuous piece. I have decided to use quotes and other speeches stolen from YouTube for the transition of each sin. For example the beginning of 'Vanity' starts with the famous line from 'Snow White' "Magic mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all" and for the commencement of 'Wrath' I've taken one of Lucas Scott's 'speeches' from One Tree Hill. "Does this darkness have a name, this cruelty, this hatred?" etc etc...
There is a lot of work to be done. It goes for 35 minutes in total and we have just 9 weeks to learn and rehears but I'm feeling optimistic about it, I hope I remain this way!
Stay Tuned...
SLOTH

GREED

LUST

ENVY

GLUTTONY

VANITY

WRATH

Glitter in the Air

Have you ever fed a lover with just your hands?
Close your eyes and trust it, just trust it
Have you ever thrown a fist full of glitter in the air?
Have you ever looked fear in the face
And said I just don't care?

It's only half past the point of no return
The tip of the iceberg, the sun before the burn
The thunder before lightning, the breath before the phrase
Have you ever felt this way?

Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone?
Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you're not alone
Have you ever been touched so gently you had to cry?
Have you ever invited a stranger to come inside?

It's only half past the point of oblivion
The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run
The breath before the kiss and the fear before the flames
Have you ever felt this way?

There you are, sitting in the garden
Clutching my coffee, calling me sugar
You called me sugar

Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself
Will it ever get better than tonight? Tonight

Murder!

Well I've never been more glad to see the end of group weekend!
So many fucking dramas!
Starts off with Shae (my main senior jazz/ musical theatre girl) pulling out, due to unexplainable abdominal pain. As She is centre front/main part in ALL my routines we had to have a 7am rehearsal at the studio to replace the Open jazz, Contemporary, Cabaret, Musical theatre & Variety routines. Once this was done I had to rush to the Eisteddfod to watch my younger ones.
Due to my excellent ability to break speed limits I made it to the Eisteddfod in time only to be greeted at stage door by one of my 10 year olds with her whole arm in a cast and sling, evidently she was also unable to dance!
I then get backstage in time to prepare my girls for the Small Group 12 years and under jazz. There are supposed to be 6 girls in this dance and I only have 4 standing in front of me, Miss Elizabeth comes up to me and says "Miss Dan the other two are not coming one has a burst appendix and the other has sprained her ankle!" at which point I literally started laughing (it was either that or cry and I figured it to be too early in the weekend for tears). So in true 'the show must go on spirit' I repositioned the routine and sent them on their way.
After this things started going rather smoothly and I was thinking it was all too good to be true my 14yrs small group jazz won 1st place my 10 years jazz won 1st place and the B group got H.C & then in the dinner break one of my 14 yrs girls was messing around with her little sister and friends and some how managed to dislocate her knee, so adding one more routine I had to replace squished in the corner of a dressing room.
Finally it got to the senior sections and I was feeling relatively calm (considering the ordeal I'd been through over the previous days). The Seniors danced very well Got a 2nd for their Cabaret, 3rd in Musical Theatre, 2nd in Lyrical and HC in their Variety and then...

They decided to RAPE my new jazz routine!

Honestly I sat there in tears and when it was over I went straight to the car because I didn't want to have to talk to anyone especially NOT my students coz I actually would have verbally abused them. As I write this I'm actually still incredibly angry, it's so much worse as a teacher when your routine looks bad you take it so personally & you feel like everyone thinks it's your fault Ahhhh I'm so fucking upset & lucky for those girls I don't have to see them until Term 4 starts coz If I had to see them on Saturday I would literally lose it!!!!
I guess it's done and dusted now so there is no point dwelling on it and once I've written this blog I'm promising to just put it aside and work on making it amazing for the concert so the parents can see what it is supposed to look like.
Solos start this week and they are VERY stress free so I'm going to sit back and relax and hopefully not witness the murder of any more of my routines!

Knock On Wood

Well Done ladies...
Knock on Wood First place :-)

Craving

Why can't you want me like the other boys do?
They stare at me while I stare at you
Why can't I keep you safe as my own?
One moment I have you the next you are gone
Rehearsed steps on an empty stage
That boy's got my heart in a silver cage
Why can't you want me like the other boys do?
They stare at me while I crave you

I walked into the room dripping in gold
Yeah dripping in gold
I walked into the room dripping in gold
Dripping in gold
A wave of heads did turn, or so I've been told
Or so I've been told
My heart broke when I saw you kept your gaze controlled
Oh I cannot solve

Why can't you want me like the other boys do?
They stare at me while I stare at you
Why can't I keep you safe as my own?
One moment I have you the next you are gone
Rehearsed steps on an empty stage
That boy's got my heart in a silver cage
Why can't you want me like the other boys do?
They stare at me while I crave you



It's true I crave you
Crave You
It's true I crave you

Let's just stop and think, before I lose face
Surely I can't fall, into a game of chase
Around his little finger, that boy has got me curled
I try to reach out, but he's in his own world
This boy's got my head tied in knots with all his games
I simply want him more because he looks the other way

Why can't you want me like the other boys do?
They stare at me while I stare at you
Why can't I keep you safe as my own?
One moment I have you the next you are gone
Rehearsed steps on an empty stage
That boy's got my heart in a silver cage
Why can't you want me like the other boys do?
They stare at me while I crave you



I am craving you

I smell a memory...

scent is such a strong vessel for nostalgia. There are very few scents I am likely to forget, and each one brings to mind particular memories. Lately with the commencement of spring the flowers have started to open, bringing with them the most beautiful essence. Two flowers in particular remind me of summer and the happiness it brought to me as a child and these are the Gardenia and Jasmine flowers. Just yesterday I was half way through my daily run and as I past the gardens in the middle of Rushcutter estate I took in a deep breath & smelled the most distinct smell of summer only to turn & find my precious Gardenias and next to this a beautiful jasmine bush blossoming so brightly. It definitely made me smile.

boring blog!

There hasn't been a whole lot going on in my life at the moment, & this is my sole excuse for lack of blogging.
Due to Simon leaving I'm stuck again in Port Macquarie with no friends. Not trying to say this is at all a good thing but it has had it's benefits. I have had a lot more time to go to the studio to practise my solo and have been able to go running a lot more than usual, which is imperative as I'm on a major health kick at the moment (purchased a very pricey pair of Nike runners this morning as part of 'plan motivation').


Another thing Simon's absence has created is my new found obsession with the Harry Potter books. I'm currently reading the 3rd book in the series which I cannot seem to put down. Parallel to reading the books I have decided to watch the movies. For each book I finish I have been (before moving on to the next book) watching it's matching film, this intern has lead to my adoration for Emma Watson (the actress who plays Hermione Granger in the movies). I think she is absolutely gorgeous in a real natural, girl next door type of way, & her accent reminds me of my friends back in London who I so dearly miss.


On another topic, the eisteddfod starts in just 3 weeks and I'm shitting myself! I have a lot more new routines than the previous eisteddfod which intern means I'm up for a lot more judgement erghhhh can't wait till it's all over!

oath to thy blog!

let it be heard that on this day, Sunday the 29th of August I am here by declaring my dedication to getting into shape for the eisteddfod routine my darling students have entered me in. The routine will be performed at the Glasshouse on Sunday the 3rd of October and I'm nervous as all hell due to the fact I haven't danced on a stage since my full time graduation in 2006. I have decided to start running every second day and going to the studio 30 minutes prior to starting work every other day to practice my dance. If I'm going to go ahead with this thing I'm going to do it well, so wish me luck coz training starts in the morning!

Harry Potter (thanks for waiting)

So after years of refusing to buy into the hype of the Harry Potter phenomenon I finally caved and decided "you can't knock it until you try it" & bought myself the first book.
I think it's safe to say I'm officially hooked, I'm being like a child waiting for the 2nd book to arrive in the post.
I hope the rest of the series doesn't disappoint!