Leaping at the David Koch Theatre

It's not every day that you get to stand on the world-renowned David Koch Theatre stage in New York City. This is a photo of me leaping on that stage which has seen some of the world's best dancers and is the home of New York City Ballet! Such a breathtaking and magical experience to be onstage in that theatre... I'll never forget it!

Classes!

The Bolshoi Ballet Academy New York summer intensive started this past Monday! I am utterly exhausted from all the dancing but I'm loving the Russian classes so much and it's thrilling to be dancing in Lincoln Center! 

This photo is of New York City Ballet's rosin box in the David Koch theatre studio which is where I have partnering class. So amazing and definitely worth all the toe pain! :) 

At The Ballet!

Today I saw Marcelo Gomes and Julie Kent in American Ballet Theatre's Swan Lake! It was utterly breathtaking and so gorgeous. Such a thrill to watch them dance! I also had the pleasure of meeting them at the stage door afterwards. So inspirational!! 

Hello New York!

This is the view from my Aunt and Uncle's apartment. So gorgeous! 

NYC Here I Come!

Today I left for New York City! I flew from Juneau to Seattle and am now on the flight to JKF (posting this on the inflight wifi!). The anvil clouds are utterly gorgeous and remind me of Hayao Miyazaki's film Castle In The Sky. I only wish they didn't create such strong winds to jolt the plane around!

Introduction

Dear Reader,

Thank you for visiting my blog! I am one of fifteen students who have been selected to study ballet and Russian language and culture in Moscow this summer through the 2013 NSLI-Y (National Security Language Initiative for Youth) Program that works in concert with the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the Russian American Foundation and Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet Academy. It is a great honor!

 

I will spend 3 weeks in New York at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive (June 24th-July 12th) and then fly to Moscow to spend 6 weeks training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy whilst learning about the Russian language and culture (July 13th-August 24th). I am so excited!!!

 

Here is an article that I was featured in with more information about the NSLI-Y program by RIA Novosti, a Russian American news website: http://en.ria.ru/world/20130605/181511046/US-Ballet-Hopefuls-Win-Prestige-Bolshoi-Scholarships.html

I will be writing about my experiences here and hope that you will follow me as I take the leap from my small hometown of Juneau, Alaska, to the big cities of New York and Moscow!

 

I cannot guarantee that I will be able to post regularly, but I will do my best! 

Happy reading!

Love,

Máire