Get to the Pointe

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...

Josephine, meet Jo Jo Siwa! Although their names are so similar, Josephine has only caught a glimpse of the fabulous Jo Jo Siwa in past Dance Moms reaction videos.  So this week, we decided to let them meet - digitally of course. Josephine watches Jo Jo take a dance class for the first time in several years. Similarly, Josephine has not taken a dance class in about 20 years either! She totally relates to the pre-class anxiety and drive towards perfectionism. How would you feel taking dance class for the first time in a while? 

You asked for it...so here it is!  Josephine watched a full episode of Dance Moms - the most ballet focused we could find, of course. (Due to copyright we couldn't show the ending dance in full). She got to see a baby Jo Jo Siwa and witness the true stars of the show...the Moms! In general, Josephine doesn't watch a lot of TV - no less, reality TV. But, she got hooked in. Wanna see why? Step into the chaotic world of Dance Moms with Josephine!

This week, Josephine reacted to a piece by Jerome Robbins called "The Mistake Waltz." This amazing choreography is just part of Robbins' comedy ballet, The Concert (Or The Perils of Everybody) which was created and shared with the public in 1956. It features a group of ballet dancers making, well, mistakes! Still beautiful, definitely hilarious.  Robbins is often recognized as the most influential American choreographer of the 20th century, being a vital part of New York City Ballet. You may have seen his other work in West Side Story as well as Fiddler on the Roof. Need a little giggle...

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)....