Don't Limit Yourself!

Have you ever heard someone tell you not to limit yourself to a double? Or a triple, or whatever you're used to doing?  My teacher told us to stay in releve the entire time we're turning so that we can see where we are falling, because dancers often automatically drop out of a pirouette just because they are used to stopping, not because they are done with the turn.

Today I read from two different sources about the power of expectations.  The Word Among Us said, "Don't limit what God can do for you, in you, and through you.  Life with him is full of surprises!"  So it's the same with God?  In One Thousand Gifts Ann Voskamp, went as so far to say, "Expectations kill relationships--especially with God" (169).

Wow.  Today I don't want to limit myself to what I expect from God, or to a double pirouette.  It won't be easy, and I won't do it perfectly, but I think it's what God wants of me today.  Are you with me?

"He must increase but I must decrease." -John 3:30

-Mandy

P.S.  The dancer in above video does a great job of pulling up during her whole turn.  This is key for multiple pirouettes!!

Cupcake Day

This isn't a ballet post... balletic stuff will come soon :) but here's what I have for ya'll today:

Today is National Pro-Life Cupcake Day.

The point is to hand out cupcakes in remembrance of all of the kids in the world never had a birthday, who never got to eat a cupcake in celebration for their life.

Life is a precious gift that is being denied to many children.  Today we remember their would-have-been birthdays with a cupcake and a prayer.

Lord, thank you for the life that you have given us.  Please bring the souls of the babies that haven't had birthdays swiftly to you.  Lord, please bring an end to abortion.  We ask this in Your holy name, Amen.

Happy Dancer?

Hey look!  See it? a pretty dancer :)  Not surprised, are you?  What can I say?  I really like inspiring photos of beautiful dancers.

Oh look... there's another one. ;)

Ok - just one more:

Notice anything in particular about these dancers?  They're all smiling.

So? Here's a little story:

You just finished a difficult combination.  Panting hard, you follow your teacher's instructions and head to the center.  Guess what you get to do?  Jumps.  Hard, slow, jumps.

How do you get through it?  Well, here's one thing that helps me (with hard combo's and dances, unless, of course your teacher tells you not to): SMILE.

It helps!  Smiling helps relax your face and with your body relaxed it can be easier to work.  It won't solve all of your technique issues, but it will help you relax and make a difficult combo much more enjoyable.  It also looks polished and professional.

Try it - God loves a happy dancer. :)

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Mandy 

Maybe...

Maybe you are that lucky one with a perfect leap.  Maybe your feet put Svetlana Zakharova to shame (ok, so I don't know if that's possible...) Maybe you are that one who has the best expression.  Maybe you are great at petit allegro, but adage kills you.  Maybe pirouettes are your forte but your jumps just don't make the cut.  Maybe you feel like a great dancer.  Maybe you just don't feel adequate today.

No mater where you come from, no matter how you do it, this is true:

Dance with what He has given you and He will make it great. 

Trust that God has a plan.  Trust that God knows how tomorrow will work out and how the next 12 years will work out.  He will make your life-dance great, no matter where you are.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Mandy

Only Reflection

"All beauty is only reflection." - Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts (112).

I read this passage in Ann Voskamp's great book this morning.  Immediately I thought about ballet.  In most circumstances, dancers strive to achieve beauty, and after much hard work, it's usually achieved!  Sometimes I have a moment where I look in the mirror and think yes!!! it's working!!!!  Even though I don't have those moments all the time, it's easy to let prideful thoughts seep through the success.

So when I read this passage, it made me realize how wrong I am about my beauty.  What I see as beautiful in the mirror is a reflection of the beauty of God, not of my success.   "He has not called me to be successful, he has called me to be faithful." -Mother Teresa of Calcutta.  So when I am successful, I want to turn it into faith by giving it to God.

Dear Lord, please give me the true humility to see Your beauty in everything others do and the things I do too.  Use me to reflect You today!!!!!!!

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Mandy

Picture from: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/grand%20jete?before=17

The Freezy Dance

Today I have a really mini testimony to share.  It has to do with ballet too - here goes:

Yesterday my two year-old little brother was privileged enough to receive a freezy.  It was bright red.  He proceeded to bring it down into our basement.

I didn't take much notice of this occurrence until I went downstairs to practice ballet.  (We have a hard floor downstairs and we have some mirrors that I got from my Grandma's house set up.  A ledge along the wall serves as a barre - I am so thankful for the set up!!)  Anyways, I was about to slip my technique shoes on when I noticed that sticky red drips covered the floor.  It looked as if my brother had sprinkled his freezy all over the floor.... I sighed, grabbed up a wet paper towel, and wiped up the mess.

It only took a few minutes, so I was soon running through plies and tendus.  When I get to degajes, I tried to make myself really push against the floor.  I have had many teachers tell my class to pretend that something sticky is on the floor and we need to try to work through our feet before they leave the ground.  Guess what?  Pretending that something sticky was on the ground became really, really, easy, because now there was something sticky on the floor!  As I began to degaje side, my foot came in contact with a bit of freezy that I had missed.  Sssliiddeee!  My foot pushed against the stickiness, through the ground and lifted off the floor.

The moral of my story??  (yes, there is one :P)

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.

God used my two year old brother to help me with my technique by spilling his freezy all over the basement.  Maybe you think it's just a coincidence - God didn't do anything.  I don't think so.  God is always working - you just have to look for His loving hands.

How has God worked in your life lately?

The joy of the Lord is my strength!

-Mandy

Picture found at: http://www.classicalballet.com/

{love me through the trial}

I know that You are always loving me.  I know that everything that You do in my life is a reflection of Your love.

This doesn't seem like Your love.  I can't see how You will show me Your love through it.  It's not what I want right now.

But somehow you are going to love me because of this.  So even though I'm really confused and frustrated and sad, I'm going to hold on.  Because I know that you'll love me through this trial.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!