Get to the Pointe — pointe

On this episode of 'Pointe Shoe Fitter Reacts,' Josephine reacted to a Dhar Man video featuring Jordan Matter and Lizzy Howell. This skit video is actually based on Lizzy Howell's experience as a plus sized dancer. Although some elements may be dramatized, it gives insight to her specific experience and story. And one of our favorite dance photographers, Jordan Matter, makes an appearance as well!  Do you know Lizzy's story? It's certainly a lesson we can all learn from.

After a hurricane and 12 hour train ride, we made it to made it to New York successfully! And to celebrate, Josephine watched the latest Rybka Twins video! They took us to their fitting as they got new shoes, and attempted the famous 32 fouetté challenge from the Black Swan variation of Swan Lake. Did Josephine like the new shoes? How did the twins do? Did the 12-hour train ride affect our sanity? You'll have to watch to find out!

If you're into ballet at all, you probably know about YAGP - Youth American Grand Prix - even if you don't know you know about YAGP. Youth American Grand Prix is the world's largest non-profit international student ballet competition. YAGP holds regional competitions around the world, open to dancers 9-19, giving dancers-in-training stage time, master classes, and most importantly: opportunities to be seen by some of the most prominent figures in ballet.  You might recognize YAGP from the 2011 documentary, First Position. This film featured YAGP as the vehicle for many hopeful dancers to win scholarships to major ballet companies around...

Here I am, once again - feeling lost, and now and then.... (comment below if you got that 2000's children's sitcom reference) Tik Tok 11, y'all. This is a rare episode of Josephine reacting to ballet tik toks that doesn't include cups. Why?  1 - Perhaps in our chaos, we've been able to put out some neutral good energy out in the universe - and dancers are listening to us and NOT injuring themselves for views. Yay! 2 - Dancers are back in studio and therefore actually dancing and not on Tik Tok (even though we are still amidst a pandemic)....

This week, Josephine dipped her toes in the Barbie Cinematic Universe for the first time. All of the Barbie ballet movies are set in the context of Barbie, telling her younger sister Kelly, fairy tales - with a ballet twist of course.  Since Josephine grew up with brothers, she never watched these movies. She was mostly interested to see how the children's movie would handle the darker themes of the ballet. There are many versions of Swan Lake globally, but in general, it's a tragic ending. Odette usually dies of heartbreak in swan form - and Black Swan really cashed in...