Field Trips, Dancing, and Dada

These past two weeks have been extremely interesting in STAC. A lot of things have happened recently for the better, and I'm really excited to see where that takes us.

Last Friday we went on a field trip to NYC. We went to Sculpture Center, MoMA PS 1, and the Whitney. There was also a show, but due to my unexpected illness, I missed it and had to go home instead. That being said however, the part that I went on was awesome and I cannot wait to go on another trip and have a better experience!

My favorite museum we went to on the trip would probably have to be the Sculpture Center. I didn't love everything there, but there were some exhibits that I really thought were cool. For example, the broken mirrors in the shapes of stars reflected onto the walls. I thought that looked really awesome and was really clever. And the bare tree outside of the Sculpture Center was really cool too.

Another thing I liked during the trip was the music room in MoMA PS 1. It was just a plain white room filled with speakers that played all different notes. As you walked around the perimeter of the room, you could hear the individual voice parts. If you walked into the center of the room, you heard one combined song. It was really interesting. That was my favorite exhibit of the day.

And as insignificant as this may sound, I learned how to be weather prepared on this field trip! Walking through a monsoon (literally, a monsoon) in NYC really makes you appreciate things like Hunter rain boots and rain coats. So sure it sounds stupid, but this trip really made me appreciate all of that stuff.

Dada dance. Like I mentioned in an earlier blog post, Luke gave us Dada assignments based on our disciplines. He told us to create Dada. And well, I think dance really did a great job of creating Dada.

Due to time constraints and music classes, it was hard to find time to get together as a whole and work on the choreography. But, after a while of worrying, we finally found time, and finished our piece. It was certainly not what we expected at all.

At first, we wanted our piece to be about self-expression, and to incorporate tap and ballet and hip hop to "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga. We also wanted to do something where we wore one ballet shoe and one tap shoe. And we had another idea where we flip flopped music and dance genres and mixed it up. But all of that soon changed.

We ended up using the song "Dance In The Dark" by Lady Gaga with some of her other hits ("Money Honey," "Bad Romance," "Teeth," and "Born This Way") mixed in and "Welcome To The Jungle" by Guns n Roses. Clips of "Blow" by Ke$ha and "Freewill" by Rush were also used throughout the number.

What started off as a dance about "self-expression" soon became a dance about human nature, power of women, suicide, and reincarnation. Did we ever expect it to be that way? Well, hell no. But that's Dada.

The girls wore tribal face paint and feathers while the one boy of our group wore a bandanna. It probably symbolized something subconsciously, but to us, it just made it look better. I think the costuming was a huge part in this piece. It really showed some of the main ideas in this dance. And it looked weird in the beginning, which made it Dada.

I am honestly extremely proud of how this dance turned out. We all worked so hard on this choreography and I am so proud to say that our hard work paid off.

I think I've learned a lot from Dada. Dada really taught me to be free, not just with dance, but with art and life.

Dadaists have it kind of easy in a way. Aside from being sneered upon by some, dadaists can be who they want to be and get away with it. And call it art. No matter how you express yourself, while using Dada, it's art.

With dance, it would sometimes be hard for me to just let go, given the fact that all my life I've been told to have perfect posture, pointed toes, and technique.

In Dada, flexed feet is not "illegal," perfect posture is not "mandatory," and technique can be applied in many different ways. It gave me a completely different outlook on dance, art, and life itself. And I'm honestly really glad that it did.

Acting, Splattering, and Inspirations

Today in STAC we continued with our weekly acting classes. Last week, I blogged about how I "just wanted to be right" and how "not getting the right answer frustrates me." Today I learned something that changed all of that. In acting, most of the time, there is never a right or wrong answer. When Luke said that, it made me realize that everything that I got worked up over last week, was really for nothing. Wanting to be right. Well, what is right? To me, right is doing the right thing. To me the right thing is being truthful and honest. And by doing something that is morally correct even if it isn't the "cool" thing to do. Is that what "right" is to someone else? Not necessarily. To someone else, right could be a completely different thing. So really, in acting, when you're picturing real life experiences or real things (like we've been learning to do), the right answer is what is right to you.

We did a ton of exercises today, and I was catching myself off guard a lot. In one exercise, we had to picture that we were holding our phones, and a cold glass of water. Then we had pretend to set it down on the floor. After all of that was finished, Luke told us to start walking again, and I almost bent down and picked up my "glass of water" before I left. That was really interesting to me.

I started to feel a lot more this class. Last class, I was too hung up on other things. This class, I felt everything Luke was telling us to feel. I felt the gravel we had to "walk on." I felt the cold glass of water in my hand. I felt that string pulling me in the right direction. When Luke told us to picture something that made you angry, I honestly felt straight up angry. Everything became real today, and I was so happy that it did. Seeing and feeling everything probably means that I'm on the right track to becoming a better actress, and I cannot wait to see where these classes will take me.

Yesterday in STAC we finished up our Dada pieces. Last week I blogged about how I wanted to "take my work and make it more Dada then it already is," and I really think I did that successfully.

I started the period with this, and no idea what to do next.

After a spontaneous thought, this came about. And I love it!

After I was finally finished splattering my work in the back parking lot, Mr. Ganes told me that my next Dada project, should be something different. He said "If music is freedom, then what is not freedom?" This took a ton of thought. I decided to just start with the colors and background and see where it took me. This is what it looked like when I first started:

Soon enough, it turned into this:

I love the way this came out. The wave pattern coming out of the corners symbolizes the secrets slowly unfurling into empty space. Did I intend it to be that way? No, I just needed a place holder. But as I started to analyze it, that's exactly what I saw.

Art was really awesome for me these past two weeks. I've come a long way in just two classes. I came into STAC believing that I was not someone who was good at art. And I'm coming out of this week realizing that I can do art. And if I try really hard, I can do a pretty good job.

Lastly, this week I was inspired. By my little sister, Mary. Before I continue, let me just say that no matter how many times she makes me want to pull my hair out, Mary is a wonderful girl with a heart of gold, and I know for a fact that she is going to grow up and do amazing things.

Today, she came home from school, and told us all about how she decided to spend recess today playing with a student from the STRIDE program (special education program in her school). She went on, saying that she was put in the school "golden book" (a "good deed" book) and how she played with this little kid, not because she wanted to be in the golden book, but because she knew it would be a nice thing to do.

Now, all I need to say is, can't we all learn something from her? In society today, some people are so twisted. It is no doubt that to some people, all society values is fame and money. Where is everyones compassion sometimes? Where are people's morals sometimes? Doing the right thing voluntarily, because you know in your heart that it's the right thing to do or the nice thing to do, is something that society has lost over the years.

But when Mary told me that she played with this STRIDE kid, just because she knew in her heart, that it was a nice thing to do, I saw she was one person, changing the world. She was making a difference. I'm sure, that she inspired other kids on the playground this afternoon to do the right thing. And those kids might just grow up and change society one day. One person makes a difference. Today, my sister made a difference. Not just on the playground, but to me too.

She inspired me. Granted, I always try and do the right thing, but still, what she said meant a lot. And I reflected on it all night long. I want to take what she did and spread it. I want to inspire others with her story today. And I'm starting with this blog.

Spread.



This Is Life Before You Know Who You're Gonna Be, You're Fifteen...

Yesterday was my fifteenth birthday, and I can honestly say, it was probably the best one yet.

I'm not a materialistic kind of person, but my present from my parents was one in which will completely change my life. This year, my parents bought me an interface, microphone, and keyboard and pedal for recording purposes. Up until yesterday, I've been using Garage Band on my Mac to record all of my music that I've written. All of this new equipment will completely bring it to the next level. Professionalism. Or at least, as professional as you can get as a fifteen year old in your basement with a pink interface. I'm really excited to start using all of this new stuff and to bring all of my music to the next level.

Also, the song "Fifteen" by Taylor Swift meant a lot yesterday too. Sure, it sounds cheesey, but the first thing I did yesterday morning was watch the music video again. But when you're a girl and you love Taylor Swift, things like that just sort of have to be done.

That song has been played exactly 102 times on my iPod, but when I listened to it yesterday it sounded different. That 103rd time was different. And I really don't know how, but it was. Maybe because for the first time I could actually relate to it? I don't know. But, it was interesting to see how things that as a young girl were just songs change into works of poetry and art once you start to grow up and understand them more.

And the video was different too. I saw myself in Taylor, as the girl walking around in a dress, looking everywhere, taking it all in, and whispering to her best friend in class. Back in middle school, I was too afraid to wear a dress to school or to talk to some of the people that I consider friends now. Growing up can really change things.

If younger Sarah could see all the things that older Sarah has accomplished today, she wouldn't believe it. I did not expect to be where I am today 5 years ago. And to be here, and be happy with my life, and excited for what's to come, feels exhillirating.

Taylor Swift - Fifteen Music Video

And lastly, the fifteen candles and strawberry shortcake. Well, what could honestly be better than that? Spending my birthday with the people I love was fantastic, and I can't wait to make fifteen the best year yet.

Pasteling, Acting, and Dada, Oh My.

Dada. That word has become the focus of my week in so many ways. Before Monday, I had absolutely no idea what the hell Dada even was. But now that I know, I can't get it out of my head.

So, I guess, I'll start with art. Today with Mr. Ganes we started STAC Art in the form of Dada. It was such an interesting experience for me. To take something you love and all of the ideas in your head and to just, create. With no rules, no rhyme, no reason. Because that's what Dada is, to me at least. No rules, no rhyme, no reason. Anti-art.

At first, I got kind of uneasy, because art isn't my best subject to begin with. Anti-art? All I could think was "How the hell am I going to do this?" Well, I really don't know how, but I did. After a couple of minutes of just thinking, it finally just all came out. The time flew by and before I knew it, 3 periods were over, and I was almost finished with something that at first I thought I never could have accomplished. And I am really proud of how it's coming out so far. I can't wait to work on it again next week and see where it takes me.

My work on my Dada Art so far. Feeling really accomplished, and cannot wait to make it even more Dada then it currently is.

Acting. For a while, I've loved everything about acting. And I still do. Now, granted, I have a ton to learn, and I am so thankful that we are going to be having these weekly acting classes.

Before this class, in my head, when you acted, you became another person. That was like the unspoken rule to me. But now, after what Luke told us, I realized, to act you don't need to become another person. Not only that, but even if you think you are becoming another person, you're not. Deep down inside, no matter who I'm playing, I will still always be Sarah. Every character I play will always have a little bit of Sarah in them. And that is what acting is, or at least, that's what I got from the lesson.

Next, we started to walk around the stage. Because as Luke said, 90% of the time that you are on stage, you're either standing, walking, or moving. Not saying a line. So, we just walked. It may seem to some that walking is just trivial and that it doesn't help us act. But believe me, that was the most intense thing I ever had to do in an acting class. Well, besides steal the hat, but we'll get to that later.

As we walked Luke would call us out and ask questions about the first thing that came to our minds or what we were feeling or he would give us scenarios. For example, he told us to imagine someone who has really made us angry at some point in time. And to just visualize yourself walking up to them, and telling them everything that made you mad.

After I pictured it in my head, my jaw tightened and I stood straigher and walked faster. Just by picturing a personal experience, all of the emotions I had felt in that moment all came flooding back. And for a while after the exercize, the anger still lingered. Not for just me, but for a lot of people. Some, even sadness.

The walking exercises were extermely powerful. All night long all I could think about was that one person, that one scenario. And it really amazed me that one acting exercise could do that.

And then came, the hat. That damn, cheap cowboy hat. The hat that made all of us crazy. At first, the assignment seemed simple. Just pretend that you're walking in, stealing the hat, and leaving. Easy, right? Absolutely not. Stealing the hat had become the hardest thing I did that entire class.

When we picture stealing, or sneaking, we picture someone looking around constantly and being sly and suspicious. But, that's overacting. Actually, from what I understood, it isn't even acting at all. And a lot of us (and myself) struggled with that aspect. Everything we knew about sneaking had become fake. We had to take sneaking and make it real. Which is honestly a lot harder then you think it is.

So after countless (and yes, I mean countless) trial and error, I finally started to get the idea (though I never did actually get to bring that damn hat offstage). But it frustrated me. I just wanted to get the hat correctly. I just wanted to be right. But thankfully, Luke pushed me until I got it. If he hadn't pushed me, I wouldn't have learned half as much. At the time, sure, I was frustrated that I couldn't get it. But, I'm happy that I messed up, because I learned so much through my mistake. I'm really excited to go to acting again next week. I'm really open for a whole lot more knowledge and exercises, and I want to use the corrections that Luke gave me to improve.

And lastly, the Dada Dance Project. We all got split into groups based on our discipline (in this particular instance I was put into dance) and were told that we needed to create a Dada project with our discipline. Well, all I can say is how excited I am to start our Dada Dance Project. There's really not a ton of details now, we're still working, but once we have them, I cannot wait to blog all about it.

This second week in STAC has been amazing and has made me even more excited for the rest of the year. I honestly cannot wait to tackle more projects and to become a better actress and artist. So by the end of the year, I intend to be

Drawing, Singing, Acting, Dancing, Oh My.

Writing On Walls...

Today we did the coolest thing ever. We created a mural on the wall outside of the STAC room intertwining all of the things we love.

When Luke first described the task, I expected it to be pictures all around our work and colors and abstract, things like that. But, it was the complete opposite. And honestly, I like it a whole lot better then my first vision of our mural.

We started with our names in the center. Every word had to be parallel to the floor and capital, and we needed straight lines that connected the words. We wrote things that we love, connected to our names, branched out all over the wall.

So for example, the first thing I wrote was family. After family, I needed to write what I love about family, which was love. Then I needed to write what I loved about love, which was security. And so on and so forth.

Things started to get really interesting once we all started attaching to each others sections of the mural. We began finding ties in our interests, and loves.

While creating my own section of the mural, I watched others in the class create theirs as well. By doing this, we learned a ton about ourselves and about each other.

I honestly think that this was such a smart thing to do today. Not only does it look absolutely amazing and really creative, but it also was a great way to start off the STAC year. For the past two first days of school, we haven't really gotten out of the STAC room at all, and it was mostly talking. Today was really fun to just get out into the hallway and create.

I honestly did not expect the wall to become a huge web of passion. Because that's what it is to me, a huge web of passions and loves. I love the way it turned out, and how different it looks. Most murals in my experiences have been pictures or paintings, and this is really different. Which already says a lot about STAC. Being different. And I really love that aspect of the class. This wall shows that we can all be different and still interconnected.

This particular activity really brightened my day by a lot, and I left school with an open mind. I haven't felt that way in a long time. I felt really relaxed and at ease when I got home, and that was such a change from the past two days of school. I guess creating does that to me, and if so, then I cannot wait to create some more.

Our whole portion of the wall, and all of our webs interconnected.

My personal portion of the wall/web.

Starting STAC And All About Me!

Hey Internet! This is the first time I've ever written on or kept a blog (other then the two months in 5th grade when we used one, which I don't really think counts all that much) and I'm excited to see where I go with this. I have a feeling that it will actually be pretty fun.

So, a little about myself. My name is Sarah, and I love everything that has to do with music, acting, dancing, or writing of any kind. I'm absolutely in love with musical theatre, and become attached to just about any musical/play that I see (attached to the point where I'm trying to figure out which character I could play in the rarity that it would be run at our school). Singing and dancing are like second nature to me, and I find myself subconsciously doing both, just about anywhere. Literally, anywhere, anytime. My life is like a High School Musical movie, but I honestly love it and wouldn't have it any other way. And over the past couple of years, I've come to appreciate and love acting a lot more then I did when I was a kid. The idea of playing someone else, becoming that one character, and performing as them, and not yourself, has become something that I find absolutely interesting. All of that being said, I honestly think I'm almost addicted to performing. Being on stage, in front of any audience, is probably the greatest gift you could ever possibly give me (and my birthday is a week from Saturday, just saying...) The stage feels like home to me, and that is where I want to be all the time, 24 hours a day. I've also come to love writing over the past year, and wrote a full length novel for one of my electives last year. That was a fantastic experience for me as well. Once it was finished, it was almost surreal. I was amazed at myself that I had actually finished a full length novel. As you can tell, the arts mean the world to me, and I aspire to do something with any of them some day in the future.

That is why I think STAC is perfect for me, and so far it's going great! It's fun to be in a room surrounded by people who are passionate about the same things as you. Although I've only been in for two days, it seems to me that STAC is a group of people who all share the same love, and want to share that with the rest of our school. And believe me, I'm so glad that I'm officially a part of that.