Week three

week three was a way different feel compared to the first two weeks. Last week's entry was actually week two and a half... The highlight of week three would be my private session with Brenda, but I already wrote about that! Mostly last week I just took class all around town. I had another disappointing sub a few days ago, but I must say on Monday, this guy Nicholas Young subbed for Michelle Dorrance, and his class was amazing. I have yet to catch Michelle this trip, which is a drag because her class is one of my favourites. Michelle and Nicholas perform together in Stomp. I haven't ever seen Stomp, I now think its about time I check it out! All in all, I was pretty happy to have an extremely fulfilling class!! Other classes I really enjoyed last week were Claudia Rahardjanato, and Chikako Iwahori. Chikako was one of the musicians playing for Heather's intensive, so it was cool to be in her class and see how she carries over her musicianship to her choreography as well as teaching style. Both of these ladies work with Barbara Duffy and Max Pollak on the regular...two very different styles, but both I totally love...probably why I enjoyed their classes so much too. I took Barbara's class today, and get to see Max perform tonight! I will probably start working privately with him next week. I will be writing about that in my next entry!

So, other than dancing last week I had some fun social events. I went to the Mets game with Dave Binney. I went to see him play last Tuesday at 55 Bar, and on Thursday we went to the game, drank a lot of beer, ate hot dogs, pretzels, and cracker jacks, and I got sunburned. After we went for more beer, then Indian food, baskin robbins, then more beer. It was a long day. I was well behaved at the game, no heckling from me this time! When we reached the gates, I had my beautiful water bottle that Rob gave me for Christmas confiscated! I guess since 9-11, security measures are pretty drastic. You can't take metal/plastic containers or liquids into a ballpark...I wasn't aware that the same security protocol is applied for ballparks as airports...now I know. I did however get it back!! The nice people at the gate put it away for me, so it was luckily returned! I mean, who would steal somebody else's water bottle, but hey, mine's a really nice one, and it was a really nice gift! We went for awesome Indian food in Queens. I'm told Queens has the best food in New York. And this was pretty amazing food. One tip though, don't ever order beef at an Indian restaurant, its not their specialty. I ordered beef because I was sick of chicken, and the server said the beef was fresher than the lamb, but it wasn't nearly as good as the chicken Dave ordered. It was a bit spicy, but crusted in mint, so the flavour cooled itself out. It was awesome, and because of the mint it was green...we ate green chicken. I posted some pics... I couldn't resist. Then Dave wanted ice cream...I have no idea how he had room for it. At baskin robbins I called Sandra, because it was her birthday! When I got a hold of her she was on her way to dinner after 4 hours at the spa...not a bad birthday!! After ice cream, which somehow I helped finish, we went back to Manhattan for a few more drinks in Dave's neighbourhood. He lives in Irving Berlin's house...how cool is that?? Long day...but good day. =)

The next day I went back to Queens to hang out with Tom Delbello, my friend from Sheridan. After graduating he worked on Disney Cruise lines, and lived in Toronto for a very short time, but has been living and working out of New York ever since. I saw him for a night of debauchery last visit, and was very excited to meet up with him again! We went to the Studio Square Beer Gardens. It was really fun! It was awesome to hang out and meet his friends here. He is going back to Toronto mid August to perform in Boys in the Photograph until November. I'm sure we will have a few more hangs before he takes off.

On Saturday I went to class in the morning, then met up with Henry Hey to go sailing. Henry and Dave both come into Toronto to play at The Rex, where I worked for three years. So, a month ago, when Henry was in Toronto playing with The Chris Tarry Group and heard that I was moving to New York, right away he asked if I wanted to go sailing. It didn't take long for that to actually happen! It was so fun, and beautiful, and peaceful. We borrowed Chris' car and drove north of the Bronx to City Island and sailed along the Long Island Sound. You could see Queens, and in the distance past the bridges through the smog you can see Manhattan. It was a great escape from the city. I got home so relaxed after that. An amazing afternoon. Hopefully there will be more adventures on the boat.

On sunday I went to class, and was fully planning on checking out some music in the evening, but I wasn't really feeling well. It was a gross rainy day anyways. I ended up renting a few movies and hanging out at home. I really needed the down time. I was missing the brain release of watching TV, so a few movies in the evening really helped me chill.

Pretty good week three I think! Excited to see Max tonight, also excited to meet up with Shauna Hoskin, who I danced with in Edmonton as a kid, just like Pam and Jess Pecush who I met up with last week. Shauna has been based out of New York around the same time I moved to Toronto. We haven't been in touch for a while, so I am really looking forward to catching up.

till next week...


at xo