A week ago I had the privilege of going to watch a performance of 'Rooster' by the Rambert. The Rambert is one of Britain's oldest dance companies, which is full of talented dancers from all over the world. Their pieces are always different yet intriguing and their performances always polished. 'Rooster' was no different.

 

The actual Rooster performances come at the close of the evening and it is absolutely worth waiting for. The intricacy of the movements, the flexibility of the females and the strength and physical prowess of the males is all showcased beautifully. Every single dancer had great musicality and fully embraced the iconic music of the 60s that supported the final act. Aside from a few forgivable off-balance landings and losses of synchronicity - have you ever tried dancing with that amount of energy for that long? - the Rooster performance piece was beautiful. Miguel Altunaga, who finishes the piece with a little comic sigh, is a clear audience favourite but the performances of Vanessa Kang, Adam Blyde and Mark Kimmett that most impressed me.

 

Prior to Rooster came three very different performances, of varying enjoyment. A brilliant little solo skit titled 'Dutiful Ducks' initially brought about laughs, from the repetitive audio and word imagery that is hard to not find amusing. But the talent of the soloist in question quickly commandeered our attention and his performance was nothing short of perfect.

 

The first performance was, by and large, great. I loved the use of all the different all in one costumes, which ranged from red all the way through to galaxy print. It was the performance in between which I unfortunately cannot remember the name of - despite having the bought the programme! - that I found the least enjoyable. The dancing again I simply could not critique, even if I had the audacity to attempt to. Instead, I found myself feeling quite nauseous as a result of the somewhat chaotic soundtrack. Full of bird sounds and intense squawks, I felt a little like what I imagine a really bad trip feels like. I have never taken drugs so I can't verify the validity of my here claim, but my ears felt awful and my concentration was spent. The longer it lasted, the less I was able to focus solely on the dancing, as magnificent as it was.

 

It was fine though because as I mentioned, the wait and the anticipating following that somewhat unusual birdlike performance was so worth it by the time Rooster came to the stage. I could have watched it time and time again, and from the reception given by the audience following the performance, so could many others.

In amongst all the reality shows and talent shows and reality talent shows, there's one programme that still gives me goosebumps. Don't get me wrong, I will probably (read: almost definitely) be tuning into X Factor this coming Saturday but it is Sky 1's Got To Dance that has my continued allegiance. And when you look at this year's finalists, is it any wonder why?

 

All of the acts who have made it through to the final and a few of those who didn't (I'm looking at you in particular Marvel) are talented beyond words. Watching performances like the ones we've been privileged enough to see are nothing short of inspiring and Got To Dance has me itching to get back into training myself. But of course there can be only one winner so out the nine remaining, here are my top favourites.

 

1. Dance Illusion.

 

 After being in university competition squads, I'm used to performing in big groups so watching an act like Dance Illusion always appeals to me. These guys were so tight in their performance and technique, and I am so excited to see what they bring to the final. I thought their Grecian-style semi-final piece was off the charts, so I really hope they showcase a performance as inspired as that one was.

 

2. Bitter Harvest.

 

I can't lie - I am a ballet girl at heart. I love everything about ballet and how antithetical it is; its rigidity versus its fluidity, strength versus suppleness, performance versus precision. Never underestimate how hard it is to make ballet look as effortless as Bitter Harvest manage to. Sometimes in a pas de deux it can look as if the man is little more than muscle but his primary role is to make his partner look good which, in Bitter Harvest,  happens with ease. Whether they'll have enough of a presence to compete with the larger groups in the final is yet to be seen, but I hope their performance is as beautiful as always.

 

3. Duplic8

 

These boys have absolutely stolen my heart. I love that they are such a fresh and unusual combination of dancers who clearly work well together. They're cheeky but they can afford to be with the talent they possess. I did think their semi final performance left a little to be desired when you compare it to other routines which focused solely on the dancing and not the gimmicks. But there is no doubt about it, they're amazing to watch and have a great shot if they can just marry their personalities with a high-level performance.

 

4. Dan-I and Sia

 

The final, and possibly my favourite, act worth watching is Dan-I and Sia. Watching these two dance is like watching water flow. It is gentle and it is refreshing and the two of them are always moving, so in sync. I absolutely loved their semi final performance and I hope the power of their ability shines through in the final in amongst the more animated, thematic performances. I can't wait to see what these two bring to the table and it's an absolute pleasure to watch such graceful dancers really commit to each other's performance.

 

All of the finalists are incredible performers so Friday's Got To Dance will be a show stopper no matter what. Bring on Friday night!

The title says it all! For the last time ever, I made the massive trip up to the Midlands this weekend ready for my final year at university. I was a bag of nerves at the thought of the upcoming year but taking the time to decorate my room has really helped. It's surprising what a couple of candles and photos can do to a room! I've tried to go for a blue and white colour scheme - an attempt to generate a place of calmness and relaxation. Whether it will stay calm throughout the year is a whole other story though! 

 

 

 

I wanted my room to be a home away from home but also be quite minimalist and sophisticated. I mentioned before that ballet is also an underlying theme, so I have a few balletic items which add a splash of colour. I also have my trusty fairy lights as well as the addition of my childhood light-up globe. It's mostly to help me map out places I'm studying in my History modules but I also actually just really like it! It's a really soft bulb so it's perfect to have on in the evening when I'm browsing blogs or channel hopping on the telly.

 

In an attempt to become more dedicated to my course (and hopefully future career!) I've consciously tried to include literary aspects in my room too. I wondered for ages how to achieve a literary-inspired room and I found some inspiration from a variety of places: I made some hanging paper heart garlands from an online tutorial, by cutting up strips of an old book and attaching them with cotton. I also have a few little postcards I bought during my trip to Paris but I really love my typewriter alphabet cushion covers - a cheeky little find from The Range perfect for all things literary!

 

So there we have it: new year, new room!

 

Jade :)

My usual, trustworthy types of post have well and truly failed me this week. Or rather, I've failed them - depends how you look at it! I haven't painted my nails all week and I've lived in outfits I definitely don't want people seeing! In short, I've been a bit of a bad blogger. (Sorry!)

What I have been doing in between uni work is browsing for quaint little things to decorate my uni room with. The spaces which I live in are very much an extension of me and I like to have active walls and shelves covered with all sorts, especially when I'm at uni and feeling a little bit homesick. I think it's nice to have a few home comforts and nothing makes me feel more at home than my interest in ballet. I've mentioned before that I dance at uni and that my parents are both professional dancers-turned-teachers, so dance does make me a feel a bit more at home. This is a bonus really because dance, ballet in particular, has really hit the high street of late. I already own a cacophony of ballet related paraphernalia but I've still managed to spot a few more I'd love to add to my collection!

I love both number two and three - I think the chrome finish for number three is really beautiful and I like that all of these can be bought for pretty much anyone of any age. The wall stickers would be great for a children's room and the Minnie Mouse one is perfect for any fan of dance and Disney!

 

Like I mentioned earlier, I already own quite a few ballet related items thanks to numerous birthday and Christmas presents over time. Since I enjoyed researching this post so much, I figured I'd include some of my own ornaments which I would love to say I had to dig around for but the truth is, all of them are currently on show in my bedroom at home. Doesn't say much for my non-girly protests, does it!

 

 

 

 

These a just a few of my favourites and I have a great fondness for all the ornaments I've collected over the years, perhaps none more so that the ballet shoe endorsed door sign. I know, I know, it's pink with smiley faces on it - everything I claim to dislike! But it was on my bedroom door for as long as I can remember and when we moved house in December, the sign somehow got forgotten and was left behind. It was still term time at uni when we moved so I didn't realise until a while after we moved that my door sign hadn't moved with us! Thankfully we were able to get it back eventually and though I no longer have it on my bedroom door, it does have pride of place on my bookshelf.

I know this post probably won't appeal to a whole host of people, but I love dance and I loved researching and writing this post - it was a perfect break from reading literary criticism!

Jade :)
 

I love ballet. Fact.

I've danced since the age of four and though I often claim I'm not the world's biggest girly girl, ballet is one of my main artistic outlets. And now my little outlet is finding its way to the high street and I for one couldn't be happier. Now granted, leotards are - in my opinion - one of the most unflattering items of clothing to wear. They're tight, they usually cut up higher than a tiny pair of bikini bottoms and more often than not, the ones with the pretty, delicate straps make it incredibly difficult to wear a bra. But stay with me, because ballet really is brilliant.

(x)

 

1) Ignore everything I just said about leotards. Fashion leotards, whilst posing a few of the same problems, can actually be used to create a beautifully sculpted outfit. For instance, wearing one under a skirt eradicates the problem of tucking in a top and leaving you with a mound of material around your waist. For example this collection of leotards by American Apparel via Asos would be perfect to be used under a skirt or pair of shorts. I personally own a lace and a plain black leotard, the latter of which I use for ballet practice and nights out (not on the same day though!) Two for the price of one!

 

2) Tights. Every ballet dancer needs a few trusty pairs of tights to wear under their leos (and that goes for the boys too!) Now if any of you have done ballet before, you'll be aware of the annoying seam that often travels up the back of your leg.  Luckily for fashion, this part need not be copied. Typically ballet tights are pink or pale peach in colour but whether you prefer plain or patterned, with autumn just round the corner tights can act as a perfect balletic barrier.

 

3) Dresses. Now ask anyone to draw a ballerina and nine times out of ten, they'll draw a young girl in a frilly tutu. As fun as tutus are, they're not the most practical item of clothing to wear out for lunch or in a busy night club. So instead, dresses with chiffon sections or skater-type skirts are brilliant copies. A few notable ones to try are this pleated dress from Rare, this zip chiffon dress from New Look or even this textured lace dress from Forever 21.

 

 

4) Ballet pumps are a perfect way to finish off a ballet-inspired outfits and there are plenty of pairs to be found. Asos in particular have a large number to choose between and in a variety of style, design and colour. Also, shoes with ribbon are ballet-inspired and I remember seeing a great pair on Miss Selfridge a few months back.

 

5) And finally, a ballet bun to - quite literally - top it all off. No longer are bun rings only for ballerinas. Now because I had to wear my hair in a bun for ballet examinations in the past, I was a little hesitant to try wearing a bun ring outside of dance but now I can't get enough of it. It's perfect for windy days when you want something pretty yet practical and really helps to make an outfit look completely different. With big buns being so on trend, you can find bun rings almost anywhere - I've been buying mine from Primark but I've seen them in Boots, Superdrug and online in places like Asos too.

 

So there we have it - balletic beauty! The best thing about using ballet as inspiration for fashion is that it breaks all the stereotypes. No longer do you need to be tall, slim and flexible to be as beautiful as a ballerina. And that goes for actual ballet too. I'm far from the typical ballet dancer - I'm average height and my flexibility needs a lot of work -  but I won't let that stop me from doing something I enjoy. So to finish, I thought I'd post a little picture from my past.





Yep, that's really me.



I think I was about 6 or 7 in this and it is not the best ballet photo ever! The tutu I'm wearing is far too small for me and my supposedly "pointed" foot is actually terribly sickled. But I thought I would share it all the same.

Do any of you dance? Or find your hobbies making a foray into fashion?