At first I only had rehearsals twice a week, but we added more rehearsals as the show got nearer. The weekend before the show opened, we had rehearsal from 9AM until 9PM on Saturday, and 12PM until 6PM on Sunday.
The party scene is very long, but we learned all the dances, the entrances and exits, and our places for each part of the music. Because this is a ballet, we've had to work on acting without talking. Our actions and facial expressions had to tell the story.
The battle scene isn't as long as the party scene, but it is more complicated. We had to learn how to time our moves so that it looked like we were really fighting, but so that no one got hurt. We finished the whole scene just a day before the opening of the show!
I was really excited about being in my first ballet. I've learned a lot in ballet, but I've also learned about acting and theater. It's been a lot of hard work, but it has been even more fun. I was a little nervous and excited before the first show. Once I started walking in at the beginning of the show, I just paid attention to what I was doing. It felt a lot like rehearsal except that we were all in our costumes. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun while performing. After all those weeks of rehearsal, the show went by so fast! I wished that we could keep doing it again and again! Be sure to read my article on page 3 about the history of "The Nutcracker" as well.
During all this, my mom has still managed to keep me busy with school work. In Social Studies, I've been learning about the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. In science, I've been studying light and its properties. I've started some pre-algebra work in math and I like it. I enjoyed my art classes where I learned the seven elements of design and how to use them in my drawings. Each week in art I also studied a famous artist such as Paul Gauguin, Pierre Renoir, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, Vincent VanGogh, and Gustave Caillebotte. I've also been keeping up with my piano and flute lessons and am active in my boy Scout Troop.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
This site gives the history of Christmas celebrations in America from the early 1800's until the present day.
http://clevermedia.com/game.php
This site has lots of fun games. My favorite is "World Conquest," an online version of "Risk."
www.christmascarnivals.com
This site claimes to be the wolds largest Christmas site. I'm not sure it is true, but it all sorts of Christmas information including the history of world Christmas traditions, words to Christmas carols, ideas for decorations, gifts and cookies!
In 1911, Roald Amundsen and his 4 team members reached the South Pole and planted the flag of Norway. Just one month later, British explorer, Robert F. Scott and his team would reach the South Pole and see the flag. (The South Magnetic Pole was reached back in 1909.).
The U.S. Bill of Rights was adopted in 1791. The Bill of Rights contains the first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. See if you can name all 10 Amendments. (Check here to help you remember: www.billofrights.org)
Celebrate this great composer's birthday by listening to some of his music. One of my favorites is the famous 5th Symphony 1st movement.
This is the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. If you have snow, go out and play in it to celebrate the new season.
Enjoy celebrating the holiday with your family and friends.
Gabrielle is almost done with her music and piano class called "KinderKeys." She learned about Tchaichovsky, Beethoven and Mozart. Gabrielle learned the names of the white and black keys on the piano and how to tell whole, half and quarter notes. Gabrielle likes when they get to pick rhythm instruments and march in a rhythm band.
Gabrielle is really looking forward to Christmas. She likes when we do our Jesse Tree. We read from the Bible and draw a picture to place on the Jesse Tree. It is getting full of ornaments!
Gabrielle has enjoyed playing outside in the snow. She helped dad build a snow fort. She also really likes sledding! She is looking forward to more snow this winter!
