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.
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
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