This Week's Theme: Can You Guess It?

This week, I am going to talk about turn out.

Turn out is a difficult and beautiful thing--imperative for dancers.  I am still working on this, but I am going to try and post a few of the techniques I've learned over the years.  

So, keep on the lookout for some helpful hints!   

See how much turn out she needs to extend her leg in the back?

~Mandy

Turn Out!

A I read my religion textbook, I stumbled across the fact that Catholic's disinterest in Christ is proven by the poor turn out at Mass.  Only 25% of Catholics go to Mass every Sunday.

"EEEEK!" My heart began to pump wildly, me head began to spin, my throat got choked up, everything got fuzzy.....  Well, that's not exactly how it happened, but I was astonished.   I am blessed to belong to a church that is well atended at all times, so I didn't realize what was going on.  

The words "turn out" continued to twirl through my head.  Each dancer wants more turn out.  It is the desire of each ballet dancer.  Not every dancer has perfect turn out, in fact, hardly anyone does.  "Stunning" turn out is attempted by sickling the ancles, destroying the knees by cranking the feet further than possible, sticking out your hind-quarters, and thousands of other "personalized" methods.  But the true way to get turn out is to work and exercise, to become stronger and more flexible over time.        

Is the same true about going to Sunday Mass?  Often, people don't even try to show up at Mass.  They can say "Oh, yeah, I'm Catholic" but the only time they show up at Mass is on Christmas and Easter!  They are witnessing to the truly stunning Catholic faith, by turning it into a twice a year event!  Just like dancers who crank their feet out while leaving their knees behind, these Catholics go to Church and then act as if Christ doesn't even exist! 

The way that we achieve turn out in ballet is work and practice, practice, practice!  And the way we achieve Sainthood is practice, practice, practice, practice, and more practice!  But, just as in a dance class, we aren't alone on this journey.  Turn out requires patience on our part and the help from an instructor who will tell you your mistakes over and over again.  So with "turn out" at Mass, it is just the same way.  We have the ultimate dance instructor, the one who "loves us as if there was only one of us" (St. Augustine).  He is attentive, loving, kind and holy, and always picks us up after we fall.

So practice your turn out this week.  Get to Mass, pray the most amazing prayer ever.  Maybe you won't "feel" anything.  Maybe it will be the most stunning and awe inspiring event of your entire life.  Either way, it is the greatest gift  you could have, so don't pass it up!  If you had the chance to work under the personal instruction of George Balanchine or Enrico Cechetti, you wouldn't pass that up, would you?  Today, this Sunday, you have the opportunity to work under the best coach ever.

I'll see you in Mass! (that's where I'm headed today!)

The joy of the Lord is my strength!               

~Pandy

The Whole Pointe

I saw the first quote on line:

"If dancing was easier, it would be called football"

As I wiped the tears of laughter from my eyes, I began to wonder, Do people really think that dance could be easy? Dancing is such a big part of my life that I haven't often questioned the thought that some people don't know what a dance class is like. At all.

Then it hit me: Is this how some people feel about Christianity? There are people out there that think that Christians hide behind their faith--use it as an excuse for why things are like they are. These people don't know what it's like.

The next quote was on the same site:

"Life without dance is pointeless"

As I wiped tears of laughter off of my face a second time, I considered. Yes, life without dance would be pointeless and really quite tragic, but not pointless. See, life without God would be pointless. We wouldn't exist without God, so what would the point be? So here comes our first quote, "If dancing was easier, it would be called football". I agree, but imagine this: some people don't know that!

Life without dance is pointeless, life without God is pointless. People don't know the amazing realities of our faith. And without God, life is pointless. Living without God, their lives--so many lives--are pointless.

We have the treasure, we have the pointe (so to speak)! So get out there--show them what their missing! All of these pointless people need a point, so point them to the cross.

Christ is the point.

-Mandy

Alleluia!

Jesus is risen! He has redeemed us and enabled us to get to heaven. WOW.

At Easter Vigil Mass, I got so exited about singing the Alleluia. The drums started thumping and the piano began pounding, and the guitars started thrumming, and I became so excited! I had been waiting all of Lent to say "Alleluia!" and I finally got to shout it out triumphantly to all around me--with the entire chorus of heaven. While the deacon walked up to read the gospel, we sang:

Alleluia, alleluia,

alleluia alleluia,

alleluia alleluia,

alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus is alive,

risen from the dead,

the stone is rolled away,

now He is glorified.

The tomb is empty!

Over sin He has conquered!

Death where is your sting

now that Jesus lives?

Alleluia, alleluia,

alleluia alleluia,

alleluia alleluia,

alleluia, alleluia!

I got tingles as we sang "death where is your sting?" Singing the alleluia is a way of taunting the devil. It shows that Jesus Christ WON! We are not afraid of death, for we know that that is not the end of the story! We are the victorious people of Christ who's savior has defeated what humans fear most - death! We are not afraid any longer.

As you sing the alleluia next Sunday, remember that death has no sting any longer, for HE HAS WON!

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Pandy

Bring Him To Class

As a Christian, as a Catholic, I want to bring the joy, peace and truth of Christ to others. I once asked my friend if she knew of any dancers that were saints. Her reply was "I think one was a dancer for a court of something...until she converted to Christianity." Now, that wasn't exactly the answer I had been hoping for. I wanted a handy little book that had facts about a bunch of dancer saints and some cute ballet photos..... Well, too bad :)

How do I bring Christ into my dancing? Where do I find time during class to surrender my dancing to him? Before I go on, I understand that sometimes, once you are in class, all else flits from your mind. I also understand that sometimes when in class, everything except dance comes into your mind. Both have happened to me. So, here are some things to try. They don't have a guarantee I'm afraid, but just keep in mind that God wants to be with you everywhere.

1. As you journey to dance class, take five minutes to commit the class to Him. Tell the Lord that you want to dance for Him. Remember to ask to dance with Him forever in heaven! Pray that you will be able to do your best and glorify His name. Ask for humility and respect for your teachers. This is where the second commandment comes in. Just because your teachers aren't your biological parents, they are guiding you and teaching you. Respect is essential, even if you don't see eye to eye with your instructor.

2. While your teacher compiles combinations, pray that you will have the strength and ability to do what your teacher asks. Pray that you will be uplifting to others and be aware of them as well as your self.

3. Think about it. God is with you all the time, right? So He is the ultimate dance partner. How great would it to be to dance with someone who loves you so much that He died for you? Someone that won't look down on you because you don't have a perfect body, or if you don't do the steps right. He loves you for who you are, and He loves you when you dance. So take Him with you.

4. Don't forget Psalm 149 verse 3: "Let us praise His name with dancing!" We are praising the Lord's name! Dance can be worship--try to make it worship.

So bring Him to class! He loves you and wants to be with you always. Dance with Him.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Pandy