The run down...

So this is how I got where I am!

I began ballet at six years old in 1985 at the local school with Sandy Beck instilled in that we dance because we love to. I progressed through the grades and at 14 Mrs Beck asked me if I would be the assistant in the Saturday morning classes. It was while being a starfish or making diamonds, and making resources for the class room that I knew that I wanted to be a teacher not a dancer. I helped every saturday and as I got older would help from 9 to 1 and then go on to my saturday job.
During school in 1994 I did two weeks of work experience at Roynon Dance Centre with Mrs V Wilkinson. It was the run up to the show and I saw the teachers role for the first time, helping back stage, making props and seeing the ground work. I helped with little ones and attended day time classes.
In July 1996 attended a 2 week course at the Royal Opera House, taking class everyday at Pineapple, attending work shops, listening to lectures and watching Manon at the ROH.
Post 16 I attended college and started A level dance as well as academic subjects. The course stopped due to low numbers and I went into work, fitting 2 jobs around dancing.
I achieved my Elementary ballet in 1997 with highly commended as a 'once a weeker', taught by Mrs Beck for 2 hours a week and Julia Chittenden for 1 class a week. All the time I wanted to be a teacher, and my teachers suggested I auditioned for the Royal Ballet teachers training course but was unsuccessful.
When I was 19 I discovered I was pregnant, but after I had my son I attended the amazing Chichester ICB 2000 with Miss Fish, Miss Rycroft and Mrs Prime (& Kate!) in an attempt to really focus on my teaching.
My teacher encouraged me to teach classes and I began to study for my associate. I had success with my coaching, and I had 2 pupils audition successfully for the pantomime at the Mayflower Theatre.
As my son got older I became a lone parent, it became too difficult to continue with teaching and I was forced to stop.
I married in 2004 and my daughter was born in 2006. I had floated from job to job and decided that I would start to study and teach again in 2007. I started to study the FDI.
After my 2nd son was born in 2008 I continued with studying and started coaching small community based classes in a multicultural and less affluent area of Southampton where there is a high percentage of unemployment. I went to local primary schools and taught free work shops on a voluntary basis. I pre-registered and entered my first pupils for Primary.
I took my DDI practical exam in July 2009, had another son in 2010 and finally qualified with the DDI May 1st 2012.

Bursary

I am planning to apply for a bursary to help pay for the costs of my training for my teaching exams. I am entitled to apply as I have attended a summer school.

All I have to do is convince the people in charge that I am a viable prospect and this means getting very good again. No problem...

Wish me luck!

Long day

I am at ballet camp at the moment. It is hard work and I am three days in and totally drained and therefore skiving this evenings lecture and taking the time to write my essay in stead and to stop and think and just try to organise in my head all the information that I have been presented with.

Day 1 was ok. Mainly stuff that I know inside out, Primary ballet, grade one and two, nicely punctuated with tea and coffee drinking and some food. Then the evening was hardcore lying down. Pilates with Yoga and relaxation afterwards, taught by a fantastic but clearly mad lady!! How can lying down hurt more than dancing. I do not understand.]

Yesterday was Grade 3 and 4 and I was pleasently surprised by what I have retained from my DDI ballet exam and all the faults that are there and how to correct them. The evening session we viewed the dances through the grades and then nipped down to the pub. AWESOMES!

Today has been harder. Grade 5 and 6. New bits of work and old bits that I have forgotten. That has sucked. Plus it's been the kind of day that has just dragged and dragged.

So tonight is going to be bit of essay writing followed by and early night and a fresh start tomorrow. Heres to a new day.

Excited!

This time tomorrow Miss Chris DDI Ballet will be at Chichester summer school working towards DDE ballet which is both terrifying and REALLY exciting.

I am really looking forward to a full week of studying a subject I love with a passion. I know quite a lot of the stuff so I am confident in my ability. I get to stay on the university campus and pretend I am a real student!

I have also registered this week for DDI Tap, National and Modern. Scared now!

Too much to do!

Once again I have too much to do.

G goes away on Thursday night till Tuesday morning.
S goes with Grandpa on Saturday till Tuesday night for a football trip.
D is off to the Isle Of Wight to stay with her cousen until Wednesday.
The smallest boys are swopping between Grandma and Nanny.

And I am off to Chichester Summer school for a week. I am doing the Imperial Ballet course in a bid to hit the ground running on my DDE qualification. All I need to do is finish my essay, do lifespan exam and observations and I am on the way! I want to get this done by the end of the next academic year if possible, and then will push on for the tap and modern DDI's.

But before I do that I have to make sure there is shopping in, laundry done and bags packed.

In other news - the little old lady who has taken to Toby has suddenly presented him with some money. It's amazing but disconcerting. We are going to buy book shelves and a bike shed for their bikes. :)

Monkey Faces

Today the monkey faces that are my children have been helpful and not helpful.

Currently they are being naughty, but it has been a long day and I am ignoring them slightly.

Oh Monkey faces, How much do  I love you??

As much as any one loves their kids.

Pink Monkey is loud and giggly and showing no signs of tiring tonight.

Blue Monkey is being a baby at the moment and asking for milky.

Smallest Monkey is scampering up and down the bunk beds as only monkeys can!!

Biggest Monkey has gone to watch football with Grandpa.

They've had a busy day helping uncle Terry do gardening. :)

Trying to do it all

I am currently trying to do too much.

Teaching course in ten days which I need at least one more pair of shoes, a leotard or two and some new cut off trousers as mine have holes in now.

Last night I went to an open ballet class on the stage at the Mayflower run by English National Ballet. Was awesome! Had so much fun but now I want to go back today. They are doing a teachers course based on Rite of Spring in the Beyond Ballet Russes scheme. It sounds like A LOT of fun. Soooooo tempted!

I need to set up an account for dancing monies to go into.

I need to beat the laundry mountain again.

I need to find money and go food shopping.

I need to clear the garden out again.

I need to print some music and lyrics off.

I need to do a chocolate project with D.

Lots and lots of stuff to do!

Busy again...

Anyone see a theme here? I don't seem to go ten minutes with out being far to busy for my own good. This is no good. I think I need a holiday but then with 4 kids I would still be super busy.

I am enjoying the holidays. I am not quite as full on with work while I am off. I still do the day at the day job and am teaching a bit but it's only about 4 hours a week.

S is struggling with the monotony of the holidays and the lack of routine, Aspergers means he is how is was anyway and I don't think I'd have him any different but it is a struggle when I am officially the least organised person in the world - BUT - I am getting better - D's party has been organised for weeks now! All we need to do this morning is the food bit. And wrap a pass the parcel and buy some card inserts and collect the balloons - but considering the amount of stuff we have done I reckon that is small fry. I have made the jelly, made the dough for the cheese straws, bought the squash. I feel all efficient.

I am doing Campnanowrimo currently, this is taking up all my spare time, I have to write 1600 words a day till the end of August. I am currently failing to get all this done each day and am lagging behind horribly. I keep finding odd ten minutes and crossing my fingers that I'll have time to squeeze in another half hour or so. That's where I will be headed after I have made the kids their breakfast and then I will be cleaning house and organising party. And this evening I am off out with the man in doors to Wickham festival again. :)