Goodbye Dublin

Today is my first day off in three weeks! It feels so nice to rest my legs. We leave for Russia tonight. I am so nervous for the first show! After our five hour flight, we are taking a nine hour train journey to somewhere in Russia (I really should know this) only to have about an hour or so before our first show! Anyhow, I am leaving my laptop behind because I don't want to lose it in Russia, so I will try to go to internet cafes as much as possible to keep this blog updated! I cant wait!

Newbies!

Dublin ctd.

Hello Friends!
Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I'm sitting in the bar right now because that's the only place I get internet connection!
Anyhow, I really don't even know where to start.
I guess I can do a day in the life kind of thing.
I'll start with last night. So last night, After rehearsals, we walked back about a mile walk to our hotel, shopped a little on Grafton street like we usually do. (It's on our way home! the best shopping in Ireland!) Then after some freshening up we went and got some takeout kebabs and pints and pints of the chocolate milk. (the dariy products here are so much better!) The eight of us spent the rest of the night eating, relaxing, going over steps, talking, lounging, doing crossword puzzles, and laughing.
Really quick, a little about the cast thus far. So there are 2 Americans, including myself. The other is Kirsten from Colorado. Then there's Sean from Canada; Gillian, Damian, and James from Ireland; Caroline from England; and wee Jack from Scotland. (he's only 17! he cant go on tour quite yet because he's too young)
Anyhow, then I read some of Michael Collins' biography that Gillian is letting me borrow. She's educating me on Irish history! It's quite fascinating, really. There's a lot more blood spilt in Ireland in the past hundred years than one would imagine.
Anyhow, then this morning we went to breakfast in our hotel. I enjoyed our typical Irish breakfast -- eggs, sausage, blood sausage, toast, beans, etc. etc. Then we walked to rehearsals. Today Mark worked with the girls first on how to present ourselves and be more feminine. hahaha. It was fun. How to walk when on stage and make the arm movements look better. Then the boys joined and we dissected and worked on three of the dances that we've learned so far. It was hard work because today we focused on being sharp, keeping straight legs, perfect cuts, and having lots of lift. Even though it was hard work, it was worth it, because the dances are looking better and better. Then we walked home and I took my laundry to the laundrette and now I'm in the here! Tonight we're going to go out for dinner and then go out dancing in the club in our hotel. (As if we don't dance enough during the day!)

Anyhow, so that's kind of what a typical day is like. I miss everybody tons and wish I had more time to talk on the phone!

Lots of love,
Laura

(We also have days when we get out early! I got a change to do some sightseeing and saw the Dublin Castle and some awesome Rembrandt etchings.)

Ireland!

Sorry it's been so long my dear friends! I only have a couple of minutes so I'm going to make it quick!

I got here just fine and did tons of sightseeing the first day! Went all around Dublin, touring Grafton St as well as taking a tour of Trinity College and seeing the Book of Kells and Book of Durrow. (Art history dork!!) Anyhow, the library there was "class" ('cool').



I also got a phone, so email me if you would like the number. It was a bit of an ordeal though to get the darn phone, but I have it now, so it's all good.

Anyhow, everybody here is lovely. I am sharing a dormitory like room with 5 girls and everybody, including the four boys are lovely. We are just the newbies. The actual cast will be meeting up with us in a couple of weeks. Anyhow, all i've been up to so far basically is dancing 9 hours a day learning the show! I don't think I've ever learned so much material this fast in my life! It's so fast paced, but I love it. It's a dream come true, literally!

More updates soon!
Tons of love,
Laura

Maps

This is the schedule through January, roughly. Eek!

Only In Ireland

In the midst of packing a couple of t-shirts, trying furiously to keep the darn bag under 15kg, I receive an email about rehearsals from Ann Marie, the organizer.

Our rehearsals are where? You guessed it! In a pub!




Okay, so they aren't in the actual pub, but the rehearsal space just happens to be right above it. Anyhow, now to work on them college apps.

She's Leaving Home

So, this is it! I leave for Dublin in four days and have never felt such a myriad of emotions. Mostly, I am excited, but of course, as is for most teenagers, leaving home for the first time is bittersweet.

So how did I get this sweet gig you might be wondering. Mostly by listening to my heart, as cheesy as it sounds. And when it was looking like it wasn't going to happen, I held the words of Randy Pausch (RIP) close to my heart. "Be thankful for brick walls," he says. "They're there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things" I wanted this pretty badly, and for quite a while too.

So basically, the lovely Jane (Teacher), graciously accompanied me to my audition in the loveliest place in the world -- Tennessee. Not only is Tennessee, Dollywood, and its surrounding area the most magical, beautiful, place in the world, it smells good too! What's more? I got the job! So since that weekend in May, not only have I been obsessed with Tennessee, but more importantly anxiously awaiting my new job with Rhythm of the Dance.

Obviously this couldn't of happened without some very fabulous people. First, the fam. Thanks for driving me to endless dance classes and putting up with hundreds of feises and the ridiculous drama that accompanies any competitive activity, as well as always loving me no matter what. Next, I want to thank my dance teachers for providing me with the skillz and confidence to get this job. Also, I would like to thank my teachers over the years who have shown me what it is like to be passionate about your work as well as encouraging me to follow my heart and my dreams. And of course, my friends -- thanks for listening to me stress, whine, and complain trying to figure out what I want as well as never giving up on me.

Anyhow, now to tackle packing a for a year's travel in one suitcase.