M&M x
After rehearsing for many hours, the day finally came where we got to perform an amazingly choreographed contemporary piece by Jessica Borg. We both had so much much learning and performing such an incredible dance and what made it even better was finding out we'd made it into the finals for the Fast & Fresh competition which will be held at the Riverside Theatre this Saturday night. Wish us luck!
M&M x
0 Comments
After receiving lots of questions we've uploaded our Q&A video. Feel free to drop any more questions you may have into our ask.fm as we are still going to be answering them. Enjoy :) M&M x After crossing off the days on our calendar for some time now the 5th of November is a date that will be remembered for m&m. Minnie completed her final ballet exam and will now await her Advanced two, R.A.D examination results. Whilst Minnie was gracefully finishing her exam, Maddie was at the studio working on the Progressing Ballet Technique DVD which both m&m will be featured in. Just when we thought this day could not get any better, we were invited to go and witness the beauty that the Australian Ballet staged in their La Bayadère. The talent that was showcased was nothing less than mesmerising leaving us feeling inspired. Afterwards, we were honoured to meet some of the cast, one being the beautiful Jessica Fyfe. Jessica played the demanding role of Shade III with so much control and elegance. Brooke Lockett also took our breath away both on stage and off. Brooke was so willing to take a photo with us and get to know us personally. We have found a friend in this wonderful dancer and she has also agreed to keep in contact with us and be apart of an online interview. We were on such a high when talking to Brooke when she told us to wait at the stage door just a little bit longer. A few minutes later we saw Brooke approaching us from the distance holding two pairs of signed pointe shoes. Not one pair, but two! We were amazed at how easy- going and genuine Brooke and will be forever grateful for her kindness towards us! M&M x Only 4 days until our very first M&M Fundraiser and we can't wait!
Make sure you come along and check out all the yummy sweets we will be selling as well and coffee and tea for the parents. If you don't treat yourself to the good/bad stuff you can still contribute as we will have a fat free Contribution Jar to drop any of your extra change into. We look forward to seeing you there this Saturday (08/11/14) at Sonja Dene Dance Studios, 18 Anvil Road Seven Hills. As you may know we are filming a Q&A Video on Friday night and would love for you to pop in any questions about our daily life as full-time dancers in our Ask.fm M&M x Here's a quick quote to get you through your Monday!
M&M x
We will be filming a Q&A video next Friday (7/11/14) If you wish to ask us a question you can by going through: Contact Us Or you can ask us anonymously through: Ask.fm We are looking forward to answering your questions.
M&M x Wow! We didn't realise DanceSpirit actually did an article on us! We are absolutely astonished with the amount of publicity we are getting even being noticed by an American Photographer Chris Peddecord inviting us to do a shoot with him whenever we hit the USA! Thank you or all your love and support. M&M x How are you celebrating your Halloween?
We got some awesome eye make-up done by our very own Miss Viktoria to keep in the spooky spirit! Fitness class is one of THE most important classes in our weekly repertoire, giving us extra strength by doing sensible weight training with our own bodies, increasing our stamina and agility and helping us maintain a healthy body and mind. Many of our exercises have been adapted from Pilates.
Our exhausting, yet rewarding routine consists: (see images below for clarification on a few exercises and tools) -Run x 10 {in a loop with chairs on one end creating an obstacle to run through therefore waking up the smaller muscles to help you change directions quickly} - Bounces x 16 + 1 leg Bounces x 16 + Rises x 10 {this is adapted from Pilates, standing with your hands on the barre and pulling away with legs bent and basically bouncing. This engages the muscles at the very top of the hamstring giving you a lean derriére.} - Run x 10 - Oblique Sit Ups x 15 {We also do this in Pilates, laying on a ball side ways with your feet against the wall for stability, you relax over the ball then pull your body up side ways engaging your obliques. Swap to the other side after 15.} - Run x 10 - Oblique Pulls x 20 {Sitting on your mat with your legs bent or straight in front of you, holding onto your theraband in each hand which is tied to the barre. Pulling with one arm whilst turning your torso in the same direction keeping your opposite arm straight. Continue this changing arms each time until you have reached 20.} - Run x 10 - Magic Circle & Plank x 20 {As we only have one 'magic circle' we take turns using it as the other other person planks until they are done. You simply lay on the ground on your back with your legs bent, putting the magic circles just above your knees on an angle and squeezing for 20 using your inner thighs. As 1 person uses the magic circle the other is planking either on the Bosu or without.} - Run x 10 - Step Ups x 10 each leg {Placing a chair infront of you, step up onto the chair as you would on stairs starting with either your left or right leg first then stepping down off the chair keeping your posture aligned giving you the full benefit of step ups. Once you have completed 10 step ups starting with your leg of choice do 10 more using your opposite leg.} - Clams {Lay on your side with your legs bent making sure your feet are inline with your tailbone. Tie the theraband around your thighs for a more advanced method but not recommended for beginners. Open your top leg (working leg) as far as your hips will let you and repeat this for 10. Then straighten your working leg and pump slowly for 10 then increase the speed for another 10. Bring your straight working leg inline with your opposite knee therefore being 'knee to knee' and swing your leg back and forth with control for 10, at this point you should start to feel your rotates switching on giving you a 'dead leg' feeling if you are doing these correctly. After this bring your working leg back inline with your spine as it was for the first set of pumps. Bend your knee into your chest without losing your alignment for 10. this completes the clams sections... on one leg. Repeat on the other side :) } Repeat all this 2-5 times. Loving our new M&M t-shirts which arrived in the mail yesterday. If you are interested in purchasing one message us on Facebook, Instagram @minnieandmaddie or in our Contact Us link. You can come check them out in person at our Sweet Saturday stall 08/11/14 and place an order then. M&M x Thank you Dance Spirit & DanceTrain Magazine for sharing our blog. This is the best way to boost our publicity. M&M x does pilates improve a dancer?Pilates is something that is involved in our weekly routine here at Vocational Ballet College. It is suitable for a wide range of people. Seniors, children, couch potatoes and fitness fanatics but pilates is essential for dancers! As our pilates exercises increase in difficulty, we are feeling a lot stronger within many elements of our technique. Not only gaining strength in our dancing but pilates is teaching us to use the right muscle groups. With some exercises tweaked especially for dance purposes, we are forming the ideal ''ballerina's body''. By correctly and repetitively working through our exercises we are creating longer and leaner muscle groups instead of big, bulky ones. Pilates gives us a good opportunity to strengthen certain muscle groups and/or parts of the body. As a dancer, your pilates program will be forever changing and evolving so never settle for anything easy however, never push your body over its limit. Pilates is one of those classes that I really look forward to doing and I highly recommend it to those who are wanting an extra push. - Minnie I have definitely felt the difference in my dancing when adding pilates to my repertoire. I would recommend it to everyone but dancers in particular! - Maddie M&M x Video Credit: Jessica Borg Video Editor: Minnie
Spoken & Written By: Minnie and Maddie Do you like sweets? Do you like to indulge on your weekends? Well, we have the perfect thing for you. Come along to our Sweet Saturday on the 08/11/2014. We will be located in front of Sonja Dene Dance Studios at 3/18 Anvil Rd, Seven Hills NSW 2147. There will be a large variety of food which will be at your pleasure. Prices will vary from .50c to $5.00 so bring your spare change and help us kick start our 'Wi$hing Well.' Also available, there will be prize tickets in hope for you to win several great prizes including a pair of m&m's designer pointe shoes at the SDDS Annual Performance. You won't want to miss out! Can't wait to see you there. m&m x |