Year in Review 2012-2013

When I first started the blog, Year in Review was one of my first ideas for a post.  It was almost the experiment to see if this was going to work.  Now, as that post has been overwhelmingly more successful than any other post in views, I feel that a sequel is necessary.

This has been a great year.  You don't know how hard it was to order, let alone select, the days involved in this.  It is a year highlighted by false rumors, accusations, and letdowns, as well as a year of excitement, reward, and joy.  It is a year that had promise, and met expectations in all direction.  It contained unforeseen rewards, as well as unforeseen consequences.  It is a year that will always be remembered.

And now...the 5 best days of this past year (with links included to their respective posts for your convenience):

• #5: February 19th, 2013  For musical theater dance class, we all had to do a choreography project.  We each, either as a single or as a group, had to choreograph a piece and teach it to the class.  For my piece, it was an easy decision: "The Jellicle Ball" from Cats.  After preparing the piece the week before, this was the day that I presented it to the class.  This was a great success.  The class managed to get extremely well into the dance, and loved it.  They all managed to take it in without any real problems, but it wasn't overly simple or cheesy.  As we approached the end of the class, numerous people were asking if we could just do it again.  If they could do it again.  If they could do it again.  Even months after, word seemed to get around, and a few people even asked me to show it to them, and everybody seemed to get a kick out of it.  Cats is a show that I have always wanted to do.  This alone was worth it.  
• #4: December 15th, 2012  The performance date for QVMS's production of The Little Mermaid Jr.  After a rehearsal process that had been going great, all there was left to do was watch the show.  The first show went well, but wasn't as much as I had hoped for.  Although the crowd did go crazy as soon as the mersisters came out on their heelies.  Between the shows I got the confirmation I had been waiting for: that GZ would be doing the choreography the next year.  And then the final show was terrific.  Everything I had dreamed about was coming true that day. The cast party was amazing, which I brought out the cape for.  It was one of those occasions where you could just stand in the middle of the room, look at everything around you, and be happy.  I haven't been to a lot of those.  It was a very nice time.  I would do the choreography this year, but I just can't keep that chance away from GZ.  I'm going to miss it, but at least I'm still going to be there.
• #3: November 30th, 2012  For the first time in six years, I went to Light Up Night.  The plan was I would only go if I knew about it in advance, as my parents were out of town.  Throughout the entire week, no one asked if I was going.  I didn't plan on going.  However, during Little Mermaid rehearsal that day it began.  A few people asked, I told them I couldn't.  For a while, I didn't go.  I read, practiced piano, listened to fireworks, and was fine.  Then, at 7:36, BF calls me and asks me if I'm there.  I tell her I'm not.  She informs me that I am coming now.  After making the arrangements, I was there in ten minutes.  We, and a whole group of others, including ES, KR, PR, CP, and a few people who were coming in and out, had a great time with Duck Duck Goose, ninja, and singing at the SU Methodist Church.  In addition to happiness, there was a feeling I had that day.  It was one of acceptance.  Of being a part of the group.  I had only felt it on certain occasions, but it was stronger here with this group of people from Little Mermaid than I have yet to have felt among my peers in high school.  I am going to remember this day for a long time.
• #2: March 22nd, 2013  This was the day in which it was announced which singers would be progressing from the PMEA Regional Choir, to the PMEA All-State Choir.  A day of anticipation and excitement.  The rehearsals were already starting to go much better than they had the day before, and of course, everyone was nervous.  Whenever someone came up to the stage, hopes got up, even if they had nothing to do with the announcement.  Dr. L even started to get annoyed.  Then, at 11:00, it happened.  This year, there was only one time I was ever more nervous for anything (see #1).  RH, JD, and I were accepted into the All-State Choir.  In addition, I found out from Mr. B that RS and I had secured first chair in our respective sections!  I could hardly believe it!  The rest of rehearsal was worth it on it's own!  Although there were moments where I felt that I wasn't living up to first chair, even on the selections we auditioned with, there were also moments, especially in "Signet dem Herrn", where I was getting congratulations everywhere I went!  It's one thing to have that first chair, but to be living up to it was ten times better.  Though when I got home, the excitement continued.  I had told my family and friends as soon as I found out that I was going to states, but I hadn't told them about first chair.  When I got home, the news got better.  With the concert the next day, I learned that instead of just my mom and V going, that my dad and J would also be there.  We called Baba and Jedo, and they agreed to come.  Then, I found out that KR, KD, and MC would also be coming!  I was so happy that, for the best concert of my life up to that point, at least nine people had accepted my invitation to come!  I guess the feeling that best describes my joy is one of accomplishment.  I had doubted my ability to sing well on numerous occasions.  There was no doubting it now.
• #1: July 6th, 2013  I woke up early.  We all had to be there at 8:00 to prepare for the dress rehearsal of The Diviners for the morning cast.  This went well, although it was a little anticlimactic for the people not actually performing.  Then came their show.  It went really well, and seemed to get a great reaction!  It was easy to get excited, even though I wasn't actually performing.  Then we all had a quick lunch, and went to watch the Group III dress rehearsal of Godspell.  Their show was terrific, though KR did injure herself.  Better then Mary Poppins, though I knew that our Drowsy Chaperone was still better than that.  Then came our dress rehearsal, which had no complaints.  The Group IIIs all watched ours, and we heard nothing from good things from them, which was a nice contrast to last year's Legally Blonde.  Then it was time for our performance of The Diviners, the one we all knew most of the campers would be coming to.  We got ready quickly, and were on.  It was incredible.  I performed extremely well, and we had some of the audience in tears by the end.  I was hearing nothing but good things from my peers, even from some of the alumni who I believe may have been in the show themselves.  I was extremely happy then.  Though the best part was yet to come.  As I was cleaning up after myself, PG told me to meet her at some discreet location (which is hard to describe online) in two minutes.  I had my suspicions as to what this was about, but I wasn't going to dare say anything.  Then she gave me the news.  I was about to bear the biggest secret that PAC had to offer.  She told me the specific line, how to position it with the applause, and we went through the pose together.  I was nervous.  Excited, but nervous.  I felt it was just going to be best to avoid communication with people altogether.  But I didn't want to be an outcast.  Though I didn't want to say anything.  I couldn't practice it, someone might see me.  Not to mention, KR was still on her painkillers, all happy, and couldn't seem to understand why anyone wasn't as happy as her.  We watched the Group I and II performances together, but then, when it came time for Group III, I went to get ready.  I tried to put it out of my mind, only focus on how great all the shows were.  Then it was time for our show.  The crowd loved it.  They were into it from the beginning, appreciated mine and RG's tap duet, laughed at the jokes, applauded the big numbers.  People noticed I was nervous.  I told them it was just because this was the first big part I had had in a long time, though that wasn't true anymore with Ferris Layman.  The last scene began.  Then it came.  I saw N lean over to tell the drummer something.  I said the line.  I heard the music.  Then I shouted, "Ding Foo!"  It's amazing how just two words can make the audience cheer that loudly.  Meanwhile, I realized something.  I had pulled it off.  I hadn't told anyone, though tempted at times.  There's no feeling like it.  It's a feeling of honor, as only one person gets it every year.  It's a feeling of accomplishment, as you kept it successfully.  It's the congratulations you get from everyone after the show.  It's the fact that you are happier then anyone else.  It's the fact that you never imagined this would happen to you, it would happen to someone else.  It's the fact that you aren't being congratulated for your tapping, but the Ding Foo is all you want to talk about.  It's amazing.

So that's it.  2012-2013.  Although the writings themselves may be a little anticlimactic, as I have already written entire posts about each one, it's a nice thing to do.  I believe if you knew what everyone's favorite days were, then we would know a lot more about the people involved.

Another year begins.  Senior year.  A year with so much promise.  Will it live up to it's promise?  Well, 2012-2013 is going to be hard to beat.

-NM

Summer Dance

Every year, WDA hosts a summer dance camp for three weeks.  Normally, it is a three week period over the end of July and early August.  However, this year they decided to do it differently.  They did one week in June, one week in July, and one week in August, in an effort to get more people who otherwise would have been at their summer intensive.  

The first week featured ballet classes with Mr. M, who came from out of town.  He is just a great teacher.  Almost everyone was there, from levels 5 and 6 for him.  The only drawback of this week was that school was still in session for the first few days, and it got kind of tiring.  

The week in July had more of the traditional feel.  There were never more than 8 or 9 people there, which was great.  We took a nice variety of classes, and got a lot of individual attention.  It wasn't late at night, so one could still do stuff afterward.  It was really a great time.  

The final week, which concluded last Friday, was also nice.  Most of the people were back, and we had a nice-sized class.  We had good discussions, good classes, and all-around fun.  In addition, there was the pizza party on the last day to say goodbye to RE.  However, it was slightly plagues by a few injuries.  

It also made me appreciate the intimacy of the studio more.  The final week, we had a few girls come from another studio.  When we gave one the birthday circle, she was confused.  The entire time, everyone was capable of having conversation with anyone.  It was very nice.  

Overall, it was a good time, but I think I liked the old system better.  It seemed that just as soon as my muscles started getting back into the rhythm of dancing again, the week would end and I'd go through it all again the next month.  Nevertheless, I don't regret doing it, and hopefully I can next year.  

-NM

NYC

I hope you know what the initials stand for.  I was there. 

The idea was that before everyone in my family's senior year, we get a trip with our dad to someplace in the world with my dad.  Having never been to NYC, I really wanted to go there.  I made the right choice.  

We arrived Tuesday at around 2pm.  The first day we just walked around the city for a while.  We saw R Center, and M's, and St. P's, and more.  That night, we went to dinner, and then saw Pippin.  Pippin was amazing.  The acrobatics were spectacular.  The theater was also really small, which was perfect for the show, and meant that we were really close to the action.  Great show. 

The next day we saw the Statue of L.  Although it took up most of the day, it was worth it.  We learned so much that we never would have learned before, completely worth the tour that we got of the grounds, even if we never got to go inside. Then we arrived back at the hotel, relaxed for a while, and then had dinner with one of my dad's residents.  Then we saw Matilda, which was only okay.  Just not a great show. 

Our final day began with the ES Building. The view from the top makes it clear how amazing of a city NY really is.  You really can see everything.  Then we went to C Park.  We managed to get lost on our own.  At 3, I went for a guided tour alone, as my dad couldn't take the walking, and no one else signed up.  Amazing tour.  I saw so much, and we only saw about half the park.  After that, we went to see Cinderella.  This was the best show that we saw.  Between the costumes, the singing, the acting, and the dancing, it was a marvelous performance.  Would love to see it again. Beforehand I had heard complaints about the new book, but I actually liked it much better than the old one.  After the show, we had another nice dinner, and then bed.  

All in all, there were many things about the city that surprised me. 

First of all, there was the fact that every language was spoken everywhere it seemed.  If you found any random person, probably less than 50% of the time English was their first language.  Especially at the Statue of L.  

The next was the easiness to travel without using the roads.  We didn't take a car, and there was no reason to.  We either walked or took the Subway everywhere we went.  

Another thing was the overall safeness of the city.  I honestly felt safer in T Square than I felt in PGH.  It was incredible.  

I could go on forever on what this place was like, but I will spare you.  It was that amazing of a trip. 

In fact, there were only two things I didn't do that I would have liked.  We didn't see E Island (as it was closed), and I didn't get to ask a can driver about what happens to the ducks in the C Park lake when the pond freezes over (as we never took a cab the entire trip).  But I can live without both of these things.  It was wonderful.  

-NM

C, A, and JN

This family is among the greatest family friends we have ever had.  Even if we only see them about once or twice a year.  

CN is an energetic type. She always seems to be coming up with suggestions for stuff to do that should never be followed (not that anyone takes these seriously).  She can get hyper easily, but is always fun to be around. 

AN is more calm, though she does have her own distinct personality. She and our A, sharing the same first name, were one of the main reasons our families met in the first place. She and A are a lot alike, which only increases the bond. 

And then there's JN, the competitive one. Always looking for a game to win, and always disappointed with a loss. Although his sportsmanship could be better, he definitely fits in with the rest, and definitely adds something. 

Our families, minus my dad and J, met in AI, FL this vacation. We had such a good time together. We swam, did mini golf, Segways, intense capture the flag, and so much more together. We had so much fun!

We anticipated some of it. We always have a good time together. It's amazing how people can not see each other for a year, and then jump right into the pool like we've seen each other every day for months. 

May the visits keep coming. The more the better. 

-NM

Cats vs. NAfME

JD and I have been accepted into the NAfME National Mixed Choir. We are the first people from QV to ever be accepted, and the congratulations are pouring in from even the least expected people. It seems improbable. As my dad put it, "I was excited just when you got into Regionals!"  "You're an All-American!" And he's right. I never dreamed the day would come. But come it did.

However, there's a catch. Although not completely finalized, the dates for the WAS production of Cats, which I am already in as Macavity, would overlap. 

I don't know for how long, but it seems like I have always wanted to do Cats more than any other show. The reasons are obvious. It is a show of high-energy, all out fun dancing. People who have done Cats before have all said that it was extremely fun to do. The few experiences I have had with various dance numbers have all been experiences to remember. Everything about the show strikes me as enjoyable. 

I don't like decisions. A lot of the time, you end up having to disappoint a lot of people to please others. I want to do Cats. My family want me to do Nationals. With congrats streaming in from everywhere, there is a lot of pressure to do the choir. I still want to do Cats. 

Friends are there for a reason. Even though I was on vacation, the power of text messaging was still at my command. I asked for help. The best response probably came from RS. Although she didn't make the decision for me, she laid out the advantages and disadvantages of both Cats and NAfME. 

The favorable solution, fortunately, came to pass. A comprise. With all thanks to Miss S, I will be doing both. If the dates interfere, the part of Macavity will be double casted. I will still be doing two shows. It couldn't have turned it better. 

And if you see Cats on October 27th?

Your Macavity's not there!

-NM