This week has certainly been off to a busy start! I can’t
believe it is already Wednesday evening! I have taken five fantastic technique
classes at the Studio Harmonic – two contemporary classes with Nathalie Pubellier
and three ballet classes with Wayne Byars. I’m pretty sure Wayne is my favorite
teacher I have had here in Paris, so it was nice to get to take his class for
three consecutive days. As much as I love having variety in my training and
trying different things, I enjoyed having the consistency of these classes
because it allowed me to apply corrections from previous classes and develop a
stronger understanding of his ideas. It is truly amazing to watch him
demonstrate…he claims that he’s old and can’t move any more, but he just flies
effortlessly across the floor and has unbelievable balance! Some of the
corrections and analogies he gave really made sense to me, so I hope I can keep
trying to incorporate them into my classes. It has been wonderful to have some
different voices giving us feedback throughout these four weeks – I feel like I
will be coming home with a lot of new and valuable information!
After our technique classes, we’ve had some busy evenings as
well, particularly Tuesday! We went straight from class to Cimetiere du Pere
Lachaise, where we divided into small groups and saw the graves of some really
interesting people. We were all responsible for researching some information
about a few of the people buried there, so I actually learned a lot as we
walked around. Plus, we found the memorials for Isadora Duncan and Alwin
Nikolais – two very significant figures in the dance world. I was particularly
excited about Nikolais – I love his technique, ideas, and philosophies about
dance!
After the cemetery, we went straight to a special French
dinner hosted for a few of the American groups staying at the FIAP. We had the
opportunity to meet some students from other universities and were served a
three course dinner that took about two and a half hours! Overall, it was
definitely a fun experience…I could have done without a few of the games
though.
Later, Paige and I finally did the one thing that we have
been waiting for since we got here almost four weeks ago…we went to the top of
the Eifel Tower! We climbed the stairs to the second level (which drastically
decreased our wait time), and then took the elevator all the way up to the top!
It was such a beautiful view, especially at night when the city is all lit up!
It was a lot of fun for us to look out, see some of the big landmarks, and know
that we have actually been there! It was definitely a wonderful way to spend
the evening! Our way home was interesting too…we caught the very last metro
back to the FIAP. As we were walking out of the station, they were closing the
doors and locking up for the night. If we had stayed at the tower for another
two minutes, who knows how we would have gotten home!
This afternoon was lovely as well! After my last ballet
class with Wayne, Gianna and I took the metro down to Madeleine Square and
explored some of the amazing shops in the area. We wandered down to the Opera
area too and I finally tried my first macaron at the famous “Pierre Herme”. I
must say, it was absolutely delicious! At around 5:30, we met up with the rest
of the group at the Musee Rodin. The museum showcases the work of Auguste Rodin
in an eighteenth century mansion and it’s beautiful gardens. Some of the most
famous works there are his “The Thinker” and “The Gate of Hell,” which were
both fantastic to see!
So after a long and busy day, I’m finally home for the
evening to catch up on some rest before tomorrow. We have a ballet/repertory
class in the morning, a walking tour in the afternoon, and then a few of us
will be going to the Netherlands Dance Theater “Move to Move” live cinema
screening in the evening!
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