I was super excited to attend this Contra Dance event tonight. Not knowing exactly what to expect I went in with an open mind, and the willingness to try and learn anything that was thrown at me. I wasn't totally sure on how I would feel leaving this new activity but I couldn't wait to find out. Right when we got there, we were welcomed with open arms and an open dance floor. We arrived a little bit earlier than everyone else to get sort of familiar with the calls and the steps.
This event made me feel very included especially because I had the opportunity to dance with almost every person there. I felt especially included when my new "boyfriend" (the so-called creep) asked me to be his first dance of the night. I took him up on this offer because I knew he would guide me through the steps while looking longingly into my eyes. He did help me with kind of getting the hang of it but after he asked me to dance the waltz with him I felt that this night was a little too participatory for me.
This event was different than a mainstream forum for public dancing and music making because this event was solely participatory unlike other events where they are usually presentational. This event also was so participatory that I felt obligated to dance with anyone that asked because, of course I was enjoying the dancing but just as a way to not be rude and go against the participatory aspect of the Contra Dance. When we walked in, I went to go take out my wallet to pay one of the guys in charge came over and told us that it was free the first time.
I would attend this event again because I really enjoyed the free-spirited and inclusive atmosphere that we were in. Sadly, if my "boyfriend" Bill is there I am not so sure if I will also be there... Just kidding.
The benefits of participatory music making and participatory social action are that they have the ability to bring people together without a sense of competition or hierarchy. Everyone is encouraged to join in no matter their skill level. Through participatory music making and social action everyone is a part of the same activity and has the ability to experience flow or a sense of communitas with the people around them. Being able to experience these things brings people together and connects them to each other on another level.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
The Punks are Alright!
This movie really caught my eye and put me on such a personal level with the people involved in the movie. I have always been pretty aware of the horrible problems that Indonesia and Brazil face everyday but this movie really raised my awareness and made me emotionally connect to Dolly and the problems that he faces. My perception of youth culture in these countries has changed because physically seeing and hearing the disparity in these people's voices made me realize how lucky we are here in the United States and how unlucky the people of Indonesia and Brazil are. These countries are stuck between a rock and a hard place because they don't know if they should modernize their countries or become extremely religious.
Dolly makes $2.65 a day, working or better yet over working and being abused working in a Nike factory. It would take him two months worth of his salary to purchase even one pair of the shoes he is physically exhausting himself to make. The thought of this makes me sick to stomach knowing how hard he works and how much time and effort he puts into this job, where he can't even purchase one pair of those shoes. These kids living in Indonesia do not get the ability to experience, do, and have the things that we have here. They do not receive the same opportunities that we do and therefore as said in the video, never be doctors or lawyers. It is so absurd to me that with all of the money that some companies have that they still do not pay their workers.
People need to become more aware of the issues that are taking place in these countries. Everyone in this world has a purpose in life and a reason why they are here and none of these people get the chance to figure out what that reason is because of the limitations set on their every day lives. Dolly spoke about how he feels that his life is out of his control which really made me take a step back and realize that here we have the ability to choose the occupation we want. We have the ability to get an education, make money, get a job, and eventually move out of our parent's homes and start lives of our own with our own control over them. Dolly will never be able to experience these things and I just cannot stomach this thought.
I can indirectly relate to the artists in the movie because they use their music (Punk) as a way to escape the control that they are under and escape the system. Punk music is their outlet, or remedy for their sickness and I can relate to this as well. I use dancing and the music that I dance to to express my feelings or even to just relieve myself of my stress. I express myself through my movement to tell a story or to just present my mood. Dolly uses the punk music to escape the horrible working conditions he works in, his abusive boss, his close to nothing pay, and his four hours of commuting. It is hard to say that I can compare myself to him because of the horrible conditions that he has to face, but I understand his ideas of using (punk) music as a way to express himself and to let go. Although these artists and I don't directly use music the same way, we both use it as some means of release or as an outlet to our thoughts and the things we cannot control.
Punk music is a total DIY type of music because it comes from feelings, personal experiences, and hardships faced in the people that sing/listen to its lives. When I am at dance and I get the chance to improv during a class instead of rehearse for a change, I am ecstatic. Improv, better known as improvisation is the time where my teacher puts on a random song and we have the ability to just "do it ourselves" and let our bodies do the talking to the words or sounds in the music. It is a very DIY activity because you are making up your own steps in relation to how you feel or interpret the music.
Punk music is a total DIY type of music because it comes from feelings, personal experiences, and hardships faced in the people that sing/listen to its lives. When I am at dance and I get the chance to improv during a class instead of rehearse for a change, I am ecstatic. Improv, better known as improvisation is the time where my teacher puts on a random song and we have the ability to just "do it ourselves" and let our bodies do the talking to the words or sounds in the music. It is a very DIY activity because you are making up your own steps in relation to how you feel or interpret the music.
The people of Indonesia and Brazil and I are connected. We are connected in the fact that both of our actions effects the other, in someway or somehow. They get rid of such things as labor/environmental laws as a way to allow huge companies to come and make factories in their countries. This benefits the people of these countries because it does give them jobs, and it benefits us because we get the product that we want, but there are better and less destructive ways of achieving satisfaction for both places.
Capitalism works for some places and does not work for others. The United States is a very good example of successful capitalism and Indonesia is a very good example of how capitalism does not work and destroys and eliminates opportunities. If we slowly took it upon ourselves to stop contributing and buying products from the companies that have these factories there, solely for the purpose that what they are doing is completely wrong, then they would eventually have to change their ways. This would benefit the people of Indonesia because it would free them of control, and although there would be a large increase in unemployment rate and crime, it would soon be solved by them starting to build up their own country and economy.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Bloomington Farmer's Market
The farmers market was like something I had never been to before. I have been to street fairs and county fairs, but never a market where everything was so closely knit and so personal. I have never seen people actually selling their homegrown produce right out of the trunks of their cars. That was so interesting to me and also shows the hard work and effort these people put into what they do.
Going to a supermarket and going to a farmers market are two totally different worlds. At the farmers market, people were dancing, singing, and playing/performing music. There was also a lot of families with little kids and strollers. No one was in a rush to quickly find all of the items that they wanted. Most people were just casually walking around looking at everything and also eating as they walked! There were conversations going on everywhere and it was of course not a problem because the farmers market is so open and sharing. People go to these markets to buy fresh produce instead of the produce sold at grocery stores.
Food was being sold to be eaten right on hand and that is what people do, as well as buy produce in bulk to take home. There are no shopping carts for people to use and a lot of re-usable bags were what people put their items in. All of the homegrown produce looked delicious and I even bought a bag of white peaches. They are delectable. At almost all of the produce stands you had the ability to find, peaches, apples, tomatoes, watermelons, peppers, flowers, honey, etc... There was also a little section where they were selling baked goods such as, muffins, cakes, cookies, breads, and scones. There also was a place to get iced coffee, smoothies, and juices. A lot of people were in line for these types of places because they were selling freshly baked goods and people can't get enough of those!
Behind the baked goods was a small section for promo tables and public information. Not a lot of people were near these tables. There were things like dairy delivery services and power drink trials, but the booths were pretty much empty.
There were a lot of performers at the market. There was a native man and woman who were playing the drums dressed up in costumes and singing. Little kids surrounded them and sang/danced along. There was also a band that included a stand up base, guitar, banjo, and fiddle. People were watching them perform. There was also a lot of soloists playing the guitar/harmonica and the stand up base. The people walking around weren't as interested to watch them but they did take a second to stop and listen. The music was not what you would hear on the radio but more just people singing, what sounded to me like a sort of folk or country music. People congregated towards the native man and woman but other than that most people were just walking around enjoying themselves.
I did not notice a specific place that EVERYONE was near. People were everywhere exploring everything. The crowd at the market consisted of people of all ages. There were a lot of families with young children and strollers. There was also a lot of elderly people as well as teenagers and young adults. (about 20-30 years in age)
There was an art fair behind the market as well as the food being sold. At the art fair there was handmade jewelry, pottery, soaps, plates and more. I was standing in one of the jewelry tents and as I was about to purchase the earrings he made, a woman came in and addressed the man who was selling the jewelry by his first name. (Arturo) The community at the market is mainly townies as well as the vendors which is why they all know each other and are friends. The market also attracts just about anyone interested in fresh/ homegrown produce and handmade items.
The participatory parts of the farmers market are similar to the participatory parts of music because every person there was enjoying the sound of the music and was there for the same reason to benefit and help each other. The market wouldn't be a smooth running event without the venders, buyers, musicians, and planners. Everyone was experiencing communitas, because the whole market was moving at the same pace. When Isabel and I were fast walking back to the meeting place that Matt told us to meet at, we felt out of place because we were sticking out and not going with the flow of everyone else. I really enjoyed the market and hope to go back many times throughout the year!
Going to a supermarket and going to a farmers market are two totally different worlds. At the farmers market, people were dancing, singing, and playing/performing music. There was also a lot of families with little kids and strollers. No one was in a rush to quickly find all of the items that they wanted. Most people were just casually walking around looking at everything and also eating as they walked! There were conversations going on everywhere and it was of course not a problem because the farmers market is so open and sharing. People go to these markets to buy fresh produce instead of the produce sold at grocery stores.
Food was being sold to be eaten right on hand and that is what people do, as well as buy produce in bulk to take home. There are no shopping carts for people to use and a lot of re-usable bags were what people put their items in. All of the homegrown produce looked delicious and I even bought a bag of white peaches. They are delectable. At almost all of the produce stands you had the ability to find, peaches, apples, tomatoes, watermelons, peppers, flowers, honey, etc... There was also a little section where they were selling baked goods such as, muffins, cakes, cookies, breads, and scones. There also was a place to get iced coffee, smoothies, and juices. A lot of people were in line for these types of places because they were selling freshly baked goods and people can't get enough of those!
Behind the baked goods was a small section for promo tables and public information. Not a lot of people were near these tables. There were things like dairy delivery services and power drink trials, but the booths were pretty much empty.
There were a lot of performers at the market. There was a native man and woman who were playing the drums dressed up in costumes and singing. Little kids surrounded them and sang/danced along. There was also a band that included a stand up base, guitar, banjo, and fiddle. People were watching them perform. There was also a lot of soloists playing the guitar/harmonica and the stand up base. The people walking around weren't as interested to watch them but they did take a second to stop and listen. The music was not what you would hear on the radio but more just people singing, what sounded to me like a sort of folk or country music. People congregated towards the native man and woman but other than that most people were just walking around enjoying themselves.
I did not notice a specific place that EVERYONE was near. People were everywhere exploring everything. The crowd at the market consisted of people of all ages. There were a lot of families with young children and strollers. There was also a lot of elderly people as well as teenagers and young adults. (about 20-30 years in age)
There was an art fair behind the market as well as the food being sold. At the art fair there was handmade jewelry, pottery, soaps, plates and more. I was standing in one of the jewelry tents and as I was about to purchase the earrings he made, a woman came in and addressed the man who was selling the jewelry by his first name. (Arturo) The community at the market is mainly townies as well as the vendors which is why they all know each other and are friends. The market also attracts just about anyone interested in fresh/ homegrown produce and handmade items.
The participatory parts of the farmers market are similar to the participatory parts of music because every person there was enjoying the sound of the music and was there for the same reason to benefit and help each other. The market wouldn't be a smooth running event without the venders, buyers, musicians, and planners. Everyone was experiencing communitas, because the whole market was moving at the same pace. When Isabel and I were fast walking back to the meeting place that Matt told us to meet at, we felt out of place because we were sticking out and not going with the flow of everyone else. I really enjoyed the market and hope to go back many times throughout the year!
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Four Fields Of Music Making
Each field of music music making has its own specific purposes, practices, goals and values.
Participatory:
This first clip I have chosen represents participatory music. It is a video of the people at my sleep away camp coming together and singing what we call, "Friends, Alma Mater, and Taps." At the end of every evening activity each night, the owner of my camp counts us off and we all wrap our arms around each other and begin to sing. This is an example of participatory music because everyone joins in together no matter your musical talents. Mitch cues the piano and Ira hits the first chord and we all begin singing, "friends, friends, friends." Everyone experiences communitas and a feeling of togetherness. New counselors and campers are invited to join right in by being handed a sheet of paper with lyrics. After about 3 or 4 nights they have every word memorized and no longer need the lyrics sheet.
The potential that this song has is that it has the ability to connect every single person while they are singing it, and for the rest of their lives. Anyone that has experienced singing this at my camp has an eternal indexical relation to this song. The limitations that this song does have, is that there is no room for creativity or adding any instruments or dancing. This song is sung one way and one way only no matter where it is actually being sung. The expectations for this song are always the same and we always are expected to participate and sing it exactly how it is.
There was one instance when I was about 9 years old and we were singing this song after an evening activity and it came to the part where it says "all hail to thee," and I vividly remember the obnoxious older boys behind me who screamed "HAIL TO THEE" immediately following the line in the song. Little did I know that this was extremely disrespectful until after we finished singing and the owner of my camp came over to my section in the amphitheater and screamed at these boys. Ever since that day, every single time that we sing this song my friends and I squeeze each others hands so incredibly hard for fear of hearing the extra "HAIL TO THEE" and then feeling the wrath of my camp owner.
This song is not necessarily supposed to be a form of entertainment, but just as a way of bringing us altogether. Even though most of us value music to be exciting and upbeat, we do not get bored when singing this song because it is of such value to us in a different and completely meaningful and symbolic way.
Presentational:
This next clip that I have chosen is a representation of presentational music. It is a video of half of my jazz production this year at my studio to a Britney Spears mega-mix. This video is an example of presentational music because there is an obvious distinction between the performers and the audience. We also rehearse day in and day out to perfect this routine. Even though we are not responsible for audience participation because we are rehearsed and competing, the audience participation feeds our performance. If the audience is going wild while we are performing, it makes us perform that much harder and that much stronger.
This performance is presentational because we are up there obviously to please the audience, but mainly to please the judges. If we win first place with this dance, (which we did) that means that we successfully provide and sustained the interest of the audience and especially the judges. The standing ovation from the audience AND judges, that we always receive the second we hit our ending pose is also a result of our ability to keep the audience entertained for this long 7 minute dance. We always start this specific routine off with the oldest age group of dancers to get the crowd going, and from that moment on the dance never lost any steam or excitement until we finally walked off the stage.
The potentials that come from this dance are obviously winning and getting a standing ovation from everyone in the room. We are always expected to be perfectly clean/together, exciting to watch, and to give it our all. The values for a dance competition are really only understood specifically by people who judge or participate in the actual dances. The audience doesn't always know all of the hard work and effort or even technicality of the dances. The limitations that come from this dance can be when someone messes up and then that messes up the entire dance which could effect how we place or on how the judges score us.
High Fidelity:
This next song that I have chosen is clearly a high fidelity song. This song was made to get everybody on their feet. The moment you hear the words "Just one night all we got," you immediately want to get up and dance. All of the different instruments are easily heard and it has the power and potential to make you want to dance and sing along to the words and bounce to the beat.
This goes along with the values that people have in our society that the track should sound like and make you feel how it would sound and how you would feel if it were to actually be live. This type of music and thing song too is made with money in mind and made to sell and attract a listening audience.
The limitations that follow this music field are that there is no real connection on a personal level with the performer and the audience because as much as you think that you can feel what they are trying to sing about, you don't actually feel the emotions directly from the artist.
Studio/Audio Art:
This last song that I have chosen is a perfect example of studio/audio art. This song is completely computer generated and could not actually be performed live. The person who makes the song has complete control over what the song is going to be or the final product. The potentials that this field of music has is that it is abstract and unknown therefore it does not have to be authentic.
The limitations that this field of music has is that there is no way for it to be played live and there is no way to connect on an emotional level. It does not necessarily follow the specific things that society values because there is no emotional connection but it does take part in being a money making music field. The ability for this type of music to make money is possible but it doesn't promote the specific artist or his/her talents.
Participatory:
This first clip I have chosen represents participatory music. It is a video of the people at my sleep away camp coming together and singing what we call, "Friends, Alma Mater, and Taps." At the end of every evening activity each night, the owner of my camp counts us off and we all wrap our arms around each other and begin to sing. This is an example of participatory music because everyone joins in together no matter your musical talents. Mitch cues the piano and Ira hits the first chord and we all begin singing, "friends, friends, friends." Everyone experiences communitas and a feeling of togetherness. New counselors and campers are invited to join right in by being handed a sheet of paper with lyrics. After about 3 or 4 nights they have every word memorized and no longer need the lyrics sheet.
The potential that this song has is that it has the ability to connect every single person while they are singing it, and for the rest of their lives. Anyone that has experienced singing this at my camp has an eternal indexical relation to this song. The limitations that this song does have, is that there is no room for creativity or adding any instruments or dancing. This song is sung one way and one way only no matter where it is actually being sung. The expectations for this song are always the same and we always are expected to participate and sing it exactly how it is.
There was one instance when I was about 9 years old and we were singing this song after an evening activity and it came to the part where it says "all hail to thee," and I vividly remember the obnoxious older boys behind me who screamed "HAIL TO THEE" immediately following the line in the song. Little did I know that this was extremely disrespectful until after we finished singing and the owner of my camp came over to my section in the amphitheater and screamed at these boys. Ever since that day, every single time that we sing this song my friends and I squeeze each others hands so incredibly hard for fear of hearing the extra "HAIL TO THEE" and then feeling the wrath of my camp owner.
This song is not necessarily supposed to be a form of entertainment, but just as a way of bringing us altogether. Even though most of us value music to be exciting and upbeat, we do not get bored when singing this song because it is of such value to us in a different and completely meaningful and symbolic way.
Presentational:
This next clip that I have chosen is a representation of presentational music. It is a video of half of my jazz production this year at my studio to a Britney Spears mega-mix. This video is an example of presentational music because there is an obvious distinction between the performers and the audience. We also rehearse day in and day out to perfect this routine. Even though we are not responsible for audience participation because we are rehearsed and competing, the audience participation feeds our performance. If the audience is going wild while we are performing, it makes us perform that much harder and that much stronger.
This performance is presentational because we are up there obviously to please the audience, but mainly to please the judges. If we win first place with this dance, (which we did) that means that we successfully provide and sustained the interest of the audience and especially the judges. The standing ovation from the audience AND judges, that we always receive the second we hit our ending pose is also a result of our ability to keep the audience entertained for this long 7 minute dance. We always start this specific routine off with the oldest age group of dancers to get the crowd going, and from that moment on the dance never lost any steam or excitement until we finally walked off the stage.
The potentials that come from this dance are obviously winning and getting a standing ovation from everyone in the room. We are always expected to be perfectly clean/together, exciting to watch, and to give it our all. The values for a dance competition are really only understood specifically by people who judge or participate in the actual dances. The audience doesn't always know all of the hard work and effort or even technicality of the dances. The limitations that come from this dance can be when someone messes up and then that messes up the entire dance which could effect how we place or on how the judges score us.
High Fidelity:
This next song that I have chosen is clearly a high fidelity song. This song was made to get everybody on their feet. The moment you hear the words "Just one night all we got," you immediately want to get up and dance. All of the different instruments are easily heard and it has the power and potential to make you want to dance and sing along to the words and bounce to the beat.
This goes along with the values that people have in our society that the track should sound like and make you feel how it would sound and how you would feel if it were to actually be live. This type of music and thing song too is made with money in mind and made to sell and attract a listening audience.
The limitations that follow this music field are that there is no real connection on a personal level with the performer and the audience because as much as you think that you can feel what they are trying to sing about, you don't actually feel the emotions directly from the artist.
Studio/Audio Art:
This last song that I have chosen is a perfect example of studio/audio art. This song is completely computer generated and could not actually be performed live. The person who makes the song has complete control over what the song is going to be or the final product. The potentials that this field of music has is that it is abstract and unknown therefore it does not have to be authentic.
The limitations that this field of music has is that there is no way for it to be played live and there is no way to connect on an emotional level. It does not necessarily follow the specific things that society values because there is no emotional connection but it does take part in being a money making music field. The ability for this type of music to make money is possible but it doesn't promote the specific artist or his/her talents.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Emotion and Meaning In Music
Somewhere Only We Know - Keane
For the last 9 years I have attended a sleep away camp called Camp Towanda, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The relationships and experiences that I formed there will be with me and guide me forever. The lessons that I have learned are lessons that I have taken with me, applied and will continue to apply as I extend my life outside of my camp and my comfort zone. Going to sleep away camp has provided me with experiences that I have the ability to utilize right here at IU. It has made me stronger as a person as well as very independent and reliable.
There are many traditions that we do at camp, which is what makes camp well.... camp. The traditions have been carried out for years and will continue to be carried out for many more years to come. I spent 7 weeks at this 500 person camp every summer for the last 9 years and I couldn't have asked for anything better. This song means the absolute world to me because of the connection and memories I have associated with it.
I know this song inside and out, and whenever it is played whether I am alone, with my friends who don't even know it, or just anyone random I begin to cry (frame). When this song is played with the girls who have the same connection to it as I do, it is like the entire world stops and we are all as one, back in bunk 00 in a huge circle with one big string wrapped around all of our wrists to represent our togetherness and eternal bond.
When I hear this very personal song, Somewhere Only We Know (sign) I remember my unbelievable summers at camp and the exact moment when this was played for my group of 29 best friends (object). Every time that I now hear this song I begin to cry because of the emotional attachment that I have to it and the memories that flood my memory of some of the best experiences of my entire life. (interpretant)
This specific memory that is triggered by hearing just the first beat of this song is my indexical relationship or indices with this song. I hope that here at IU I can create the same feelings and memories to many other songs and situations as well.
For the last 9 years I have attended a sleep away camp called Camp Towanda, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The relationships and experiences that I formed there will be with me and guide me forever. The lessons that I have learned are lessons that I have taken with me, applied and will continue to apply as I extend my life outside of my camp and my comfort zone. Going to sleep away camp has provided me with experiences that I have the ability to utilize right here at IU. It has made me stronger as a person as well as very independent and reliable.
There are many traditions that we do at camp, which is what makes camp well.... camp. The traditions have been carried out for years and will continue to be carried out for many more years to come. I spent 7 weeks at this 500 person camp every summer for the last 9 years and I couldn't have asked for anything better. This song means the absolute world to me because of the connection and memories I have associated with it.
I know this song inside and out, and whenever it is played whether I am alone, with my friends who don't even know it, or just anyone random I begin to cry (frame). When this song is played with the girls who have the same connection to it as I do, it is like the entire world stops and we are all as one, back in bunk 00 in a huge circle with one big string wrapped around all of our wrists to represent our togetherness and eternal bond.
When I hear this very personal song, Somewhere Only We Know (sign) I remember my unbelievable summers at camp and the exact moment when this was played for my group of 29 best friends (object). Every time that I now hear this song I begin to cry because of the emotional attachment that I have to it and the memories that flood my memory of some of the best experiences of my entire life. (interpretant)
This specific memory that is triggered by hearing just the first beat of this song is my indexical relationship or indices with this song. I hope that here at IU I can create the same feelings and memories to many other songs and situations as well.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Jordana Peskin - Music Identity
I am Jordana Peskin. A competitive dancer from New York learning and experiencing an entirely new world, better known as Indiana University.
As cliche as it is to have a song directly about New York, it describes me and where I have grown up. I was born in Manhattan and my dad has worked in New York City in Midtown on 42nd street between 2nd and 3rd ave. for 20 years now. I now live just about 30-45 minutes outside of the city depending on traffic. I have grown up being a fan of every single sports team that plays for New York. I am in a New York State of Mind and plan on moving into an apartment in the city after college. Whether I am taking the train with my friends to go shopping or just taking the train to go take dance classes the city is my home. I have had numerous dance competitions in NYC and many memorable family dinners also.
This song represents my new journey here at IU and also ties together my other 4 songs. It describes how these next four years will be my "Stairway To Heaven" which is my ideal world of living in NYC, dancing, living in the moment, and working my butt off until I reach perfection no matter what it takes to get there. This song has also been my stairway to heaven since the moment my dad played this song for me when I was probably still in the womb. I have grown up listening to this song just about everyday on my dads playlist of about 20 of his favorite classic rock songs that I know just about every word to. This song has great meaning in my life and will forever.
This first song that I have chosen is New York State of Mind by Billy Joel.
As cliche as it is to have a song directly about New York, it describes me and where I have grown up. I was born in Manhattan and my dad has worked in New York City in Midtown on 42nd street between 2nd and 3rd ave. for 20 years now. I now live just about 30-45 minutes outside of the city depending on traffic. I have grown up being a fan of every single sports team that plays for New York. I am in a New York State of Mind and plan on moving into an apartment in the city after college. Whether I am taking the train with my friends to go shopping or just taking the train to go take dance classes the city is my home. I have had numerous dance competitions in NYC and many memorable family dinners also.
The next song I have chosen is Till The World Ends by Britney Spears.
I have been the biggest Britney Spears fan for as long as I can remember. My parents still have videos of me singing and dancing along to our recorded VCR video of one of Britney's concerts. Whipping my hair and practically eating the microphone, I liked to think I actually was Britney. This song is about dancing till the world ends and that is basically what I do every single day of my life. I've trained about 30 hours a week for dance since I was about 5 years old. To finally end my senior year, my dance studio did a huge production number to a Britney Spears mega-mix. What more could I ask for? The closing song to our dance was Till The World Ends and it clearly expressed my and all of my team's intentions of literally dancing till the world ends. I miss dancing more than anything in the world right now and hope to find some dance outlet here at IU. I always live in the moment and when I am on stage performing with my team it is a feeling like no other. Not to mention the indescribable feelings we all have when we receive the standing ovation from the judges and the entire audience. It is truly magical.
The next song that I have chosen is Right Now by Rihanna (ft. David Guetta).
As I just described about how I completely live in the moment when I am on stage performing, I also live in the moment with my decisions. I have been in many difficult situations regarding my dancing and going away to sleep away camp. There have been some days when I was at camp and wanted to come home immediately because I felt like I was missing out on the opportunities at my dance studio, but then there are other days where I have been at dance, completely hating my psychotic teachers, where I wanted to get as far away as I can, pretty much all the way to my sleep away camp in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. This just describes half of how I am but I also am a very big planner. I always plan my weeks and write down every single thing that I am going to do over the course of the week down to the actual time and travel time in between.
The next song that I have chosen is Perfection by Clint Mansell - Black Swan Soundtrack.
Darren Aronofsky did a brilliant job with this movie. He showed the world exactly how cut throat and psychotic the dance world is especially when it comes to prestigious ballet companies. This movie is based on the production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake where the principal ballerina has to portray both roles of the white swan and the black swan. Natalie Portman plays Nina the perfect white swan, but not so perfect black swan. Nina strives for perfection in both roles, which is how I am in all aspects of my life. I am a perfectionist and things always have to be perfect and in order or feel completely lost. The 2 different roles of the white swan and the black swan also relate to me because I am a Gemini and I have two different personalities.
The final song I have chosen is Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin.
This song represents my new journey here at IU and also ties together my other 4 songs. It describes how these next four years will be my "Stairway To Heaven" which is my ideal world of living in NYC, dancing, living in the moment, and working my butt off until I reach perfection no matter what it takes to get there. This song has also been my stairway to heaven since the moment my dad played this song for me when I was probably still in the womb. I have grown up listening to this song just about everyday on my dads playlist of about 20 of his favorite classic rock songs that I know just about every word to. This song has great meaning in my life and will forever.
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