EHU- Final Year Twenty-Second Week

Monday

Our morning yoga was cancelled which honestly was HEARTBREAKING. I have really enjoyed it, and especially as the beginning to my week. Out of a routine from going home over the weekend, I didn't quite manage to get up and do the 1.5 hours of yoga that I would have wanted, but I did get about 45 minutes done.

In uni slightly later for our contemporary class, we focused on fascia. This was a concept used a lot of the time in Malta about how thinking of bodily systems can help our movement. Tapping back into this I felt i could move more like me and also found it easier. Even easier than last year, which makes me feel great to see improvements. We played with breathe and its effect on our pelvic area and how we can move with this. I really enjoyed the freedom I found in improvisation, and then putting back to our 'stock phrase' and seeing how it changes our performance quality.

Home- food shop- eat- gym- yoga reading. My evening flew by and I felt so productive and relaxed. This showed in my yoga flow with my body being more flexible and flowing between each movement with a better dynamic quality.

Tuesday

Feeling ill this morning was an understatement. I woke up several times during the night not being able to breath and felt sluggish more in my mind. I woke up later than I normally do, but still enough time to collect myself and my body before class. A quick struggled, stretch and I was in.

Today we had a workshop with protein dance, working with one of the co-directors on their newest piece 'The Little Prince'. The workshop flowed easily with; warm up games, a technique section, corner work, phrase learning and then character development. I'm so glad we went through the movement as it was a beautiful blend of technique and acting. We performed it a few times and then to get the correct sensation moved around the space only using our arms as if we were in anti-gravity, putting this back into the phrase changed ALL of our dynamics and I felt I performed it so much better. Really enjoying it.

A lunch break and a plan for todays dissertation and I was back at University. I started feeling not go great again- especially after moving in a workshop- but the break was what I needed.

The dissertation was the BEST ONE we have had so far. We began with a candle meditation and then lead into two other tasks. Having that time to relax and trust myself gave me the confidence, and maybe also for the performers a clear mind, to create some beautiful movement. I now have some material to also edit into a projection.

Later that evening we went to watch protein dance's performance. This is definitely the year of staging as it was INCREDIBLE, and the 4 cast members changed characters so efficiently a lot of people expected it to be performed with a larger cast. It showed a beautiful blend of dancing and incredible acting and singing, and is the kind of performance I could easily go into after graduation if I were to go don that route. It brought back wonderful memories of Malta where I learnt the story of 'The Little Prince', and the beautiful symbolism that comes within it.

Wednesday

Today I was so happy to have a lie in and it made me feel a little bit better. I slomped (yes its now a word) out of bed and round to our weekly catch up coffee. My cuppa tea made me feel miles better and started my morning off well. After a slow and relaxed start to the day cooking and cleaning, i headed into Uni for our rehearsal for the intensive piece. It has changed a lot since its original creation but being able to watch how it moulds shows me how you can change a performance without needing to add anything else. I helped direct today as we adapted it and put in two of our understudies, due to me being abroad for next weeks performance.

When home I was feeling productive enough to start getting some online work done. Blogging, researching and tweaking.

Thursday

Our 9-11 careers lecture was based around our own CV's. We looked at some current dance jobs at the moment and I am hoping I will find the one i will apply for during my masters.

Straight after lecture I was on the phone about my summer job, which seemed quite fitting after the lecture. I am becomming more calm about everything and confident in myself.

I had a REALLY productive day today and feel amazing about it. A lot of headway in my dissertation; projection, music and plans and then my immersive performance.

A day at the laptop actually wasn't all that bad.

Friday

9-1. These lectures always confuse my brain without realising it which is good as I am getting the information in a relaxed way. By recreating an immersive performance we ended up doing a type of meditation anyway. I really need to keep it up.

My day was still productive when home, but i didn't get onto my actual uni work until the late evening.

I am becoming so tunnel vision for my future and what I see in the next year, but remembering to enjoy the now and dance through the parks on the walk home.

Saturday

Today was a long day in Liverpool, full of the WEIRDEST stories. It was such a nice relaxed day and I keep falling in love with this city.

Sunday

Early morning and up in the studio. At first I didn't think I could but once moving I wanted to stay there all day. I think England is in some heat wave right now, being hotter than most of Europe, and the studios were sweltering (I don't think the mirrors and windows helped).

I finally finished my audition video, and am quite proud even though it is still rough and needs cleaning.

I am all packed for my mini holiday next week to Amsterdam, and then the day after the audition.

Lets bring on this week.