roxy is awesome fo realz

hey beautifuls, this proves all internet things are fads lol no ones posted in MONTHS lol so here is my awesome post about posting, yep its just that deep be amazed!!!!

HEY, FACEBOOKERS!

Become a fan of Cassandra Shaffer Dance Ensemble on Facebook! It's the new cool thing to do.

Go on, don't be shy...

Le Sacre Du Printemps: The Oddball Child

You heard it here first:
Le Sacre Du Printemps: The Oddball Child.
There are no elders, no mystics, and no implied nudity in this version of Le Sacre. CSDE and Stravinsky's score tell the tale of the Spring family, a normal middle-class family with four children, one of whom has always been a little....strange. Things start getting stranger after the young woman turns sixteen, and soon the family learns that something evil is afoot...

We also started our first pointe piece since......since..... since Rebekah French's solo in Season 1. Which doesn't really count, because it was a solo and also because she ended up not doing my choreography. But that's another story for another time. We're doing Celebre Tarantelle, and I love that it's being created at the same time as Sacre because of the opposing duality between both pieces: One is ultra-classical, ultra balletic, petite allegro and pointe work that involves many releves in a row and fast footwork. The other is as far from ballet as you can get-- very angular, very athletic, very Horton. We are going to be in great shape by the time this ballet is finished. In the meantime, we will be very sore.

Today's rehearsal was also a happy occasion because Diana came back! We haven't seen her in a long time (since Big Range), and we sure did miss her. In addition, we recently welcomed Robin Lynne Evans to the Ensemble. She is a recent graduate of Sam Houston State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in dance. Welcome to the family!

Checking In/Announcement

Greetings from California!
Roxy is now the CSDE production assistant-- which means she's in charge when I'm not around. Tim is choreographing for the next 2 weeks while I'm at UC, but she'll be the "Mom" of the group-- so between now and the 15th, if you're going to be late/absent/etc let Roxy know. I'm 2,000 miles away; so until I get back letting me know doesn't help (especially because internet/cell phone service is hit or miss up here). :>
Congrats Roxy!

I miss you all, and I can't wait to see what you've been cooking up in Tim's rehearsals. :-) See you in two weeks!

Here's the schedule again in case anyone needs it:
Friday, August 8th from 7:30-9 (Danielle & Cassandra Out)
Sunday, August 11th from 10am-12pm (Danielle & Cassandra Out)
**No rehearsal August 15th**
Sunday, August 17th from 10am-12pm

Love,
C

Delicious cake and a webisode!

It was a lovely Sunday for our ensemble today. Amy came in to finish creating her piece on us. Her husband Jed (our company photographer/videographer/security) came with his cameras and took lots of pretty pictures of us.
The Dance Formerly Known As 'Whirlwind'™ is really beautiful. I love A's style of movement. Although, I did come to the odd realizaion that I remember her piece from one rehearsal to the next WAY better than I can remember my own dances.
She used some interesting choreographic devices as well as the "sticky note" method of arranging phrases (she can explain it better than I). It's a really interesting method of creating work; I'll have to keep it in mind the next time I get hit with choreographer's block.

Since today was essentially Amy's last rehearsal until Baby W arrives, we had to send her off with cake. And when there's CSDE, food, and post-rehearsal/post-performance merriment...we get goofy. And when we get goofy, the cameras come out.

This......this is not your typical behind-the-scenes documentary. Behold:
CSDE Webisode 2: Delicious Cake
CSDE welcomes new dancer Danielle; discusses Amy's piece, Danny's type-cast roles and costumes; and Baby W's first performance. While eating delicious cake.

Hee! Enjoy.

What a Year :) - the Re-post

Comment from "Roxy's life Update, " Re-posted as a main topic as requested by Cassandra :)

Love you all- xoxo

Aims

Rox,

I was thinking about what you said yesterday, that all of us have gone through so many changes this past year that we've been together as a company, and you're so right.

All of us have had big life changes and revelations, experiences, and lessons learned. But ultimately, we've all been bettered by this year and now we find ourselves in a better place than where we were before...even if we don't feel like it! We've all moved forward, and everyone is now in a new and exciting place!

Cass has all of her performances with Sandra's co. to be proud of, and Diana and Mel and Mari are all moving on to new places in their careers involving travel, Dr. Dan is now dancing with Hope Stone Inc, Jed and I are real close to welcoming our little bundle of joy to our new house that we've worked so hard for, and look at you! With an apartment of your own and making strong decisions about your life, even if they feel like little ones. I'm so proud of all of us, and excited about the next year of this company's progress, dance-wise, and in our personal lives!!!!

Love you!!!!!!

Tentative Casting: Round 1

This will change, especially as new dancers join us. I don't want to run you all too ragged; (seeing as Danny and Roxy are in every piece so far) I haven't even posted the casting for Tarantella yet for that reason. So here's the first draft, let's watch and see how many times this all changes, shall we? ;-)

Metamorphosis
I. When I was a child...
Danny Magner
Danielle DeWitt
Timothy Johnson
Marisol Sarabia
Roxanna Temple

II. Faith, Hope, and Love
Danielle DeWitt
Angela Fry
Timothy Johnson


Vis (Choreographed by Timothy Johnson)
Danny Magner
Roxanna Temple
Shanon Adams
Angela Fry
Marisol Sarabia

Whirlwind (Choreographed by Amy Thornton Willa)
Danny Magner
Timothy Johnson
Cassandra Shaffer
Roxanna Temple
Amy Thornton Willa