It's taken me a while to start writing these last post of Israel because I am not ready for it to be over.
The shows were killer. I am very proud of my stamina, although it could always be better. I think it's an accomplishment to have made it through the 105 minute show (in which I was on stage 85 of those minutes)
There are things about being a dancer that will never change, and my life will be easier when I just except them. One being, a week before the show, shit ain't gonna to be done;) It happened in high school (I thought, can't wait to be a professional and not deal with this) At Lines (better but still felt panicked a week before the show) and in Israel (Learned a piece 2 days before the show. xo dancer life) I reminded myself I had complete faith in Mika and knew it would all come together, I just had to trust.
By Thursday we had all lost our minds and it was apparent. It's great when dancers in their 20's decide the best way to deal with stress is to dress up like a dork
We also adopted Hali's game of 'Shoe Golf' the last few weeks of Masa.
The first run we did, I had serious doubts of my stamina and ability to make it through TWO shows in a row.
Two days before our show, after last run=utter exhaustion
*THESE ARE REAL LIFE PICTURES.
NO STAGING INVOLVED.
We all deal with it differently...
Literally passed out before the bag could come off
By show day, I felt optimistic, and with a quick prayer for my survival, we jumped into the shows. The first day of shows went well, but after the show we all sat on our balcony and stared at each other in utter defeat.
hahahahahaha!!!!!!
The next day, I felt a million times better. I think adrenaline from the show, knowing it was our last day, and said toe injury (details to come) gave me the stamina of a...I'm going to go with wolf.
Time for the toe story. Beginning of the first show, second day, I was on stage when I felt my toenail rip. I looked down and there was blood on the stage. Luckily there was a black out 10 seconds later, so I wiped up the blood and ran off stage for my 60 second costume change. As I ran of stage the tech guy came over to see what I was wrong. I told him, "It's fine. Gotta change." I start stripping and he shines a light down at my toes. I take one quick glance and see blood and an entire nail in the wrong direction. He tells me I don't have to go on stage (at which I think I rolled my eyes) and said, "Yup, it's just a toenail. Get me tape" He comes back with tape and I slab it on and run back on stage. I guess he told one of the choreographers, and she told Mika I had an emergency. (I've never, ever gone to Mika for help, and she told me later that when she heard I 'needed' her, she thought, I was dying) Well, she can't leave the light booth so Roni comes taring back stage asking where I am. She finds me waiting for another entrance and starts patting me down, asking what's wrong. I was so confused and gave her a dear-in-head-lights look I'm sure. I told her, "I broke my toenail" I start laughing and tell her it got blown out of proportion. I made it through the show although it was very pain full, and my foot wasn't pointed half the time I'm sure. Mika came back stage right after the show to check on me and I gave her the same explanation. She laughs, gives me hug, and I admitted that I got blood on the mattresses we had to dance on. By the end of the shows 'MASA roomer' was I had to go to the ER in the middle of show...even though I was on stage the whole time. It's nice to know everyone cares so much though.
. The second show, I was so pumped up on adrenaline, I barely noticed my toe. When I got home though, I had the fun task of getting the toe off my nail and assessing the damage. It was pretty gory and the next few days I developed awesome toe muscles from holding my toe up while I walked;) As of today, my toe is healing great. I was worried it wouldn’t heal quickly (and have auditions in 3 weeks) but it’s all going great.
We finished our shows with our dinner in the café and some bubbly to celebrate. I’m so glad I got be in this show. It was challenging in every way, and the last infusion of KCDC I need before I left. I am so proud of all of our work we've done in the last 5 months with this group. We ended with an awesome group of people and friends for life.
Go MASA Spring 2011!
