15 days to go!!!!

OH MY GOLLYGOSH!

15 DAYS TO GO UNTIL LONDON 2012 KICKS OFF!!

We are in the Stadium rehearsing now. Trust me it's quite a sight, however it's definitely bigger on the outside (in my opinion anyway!)

The choreography is learnt, its now just a case of blocking, entrants, exists and cues.

The atmosphere is electric in there, once the music starts blasting and the lights start strobing........AAAAAAAAAAH.

I hope you will all be watching! Beijing is a tough act to follow, but believe me, we will leave you all amazed, enlightened and empowered! 

I've recently had a local radio interview which was so much fun, but i've just had to turn down a television appearance.....sad, but the journalists have a job to do and I can't AND WON'T reveal anything!!

Another piece of excitement......I'M IN THE PARALYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY!

wooohooo. Joined quite late so having to pick up the routines very quickly! I hopefully will do a separate blog on this!

Moving up to London on Monday for a month. Renting a flat. WOOP

God its all happening!

THANKS again for reading! REALLY hope you all support London 2012. Support us and SUPPORT your team!! Whatever country your from!!

WoW 3000+ views!

Thanks for reading! :o)

Haven't posted on here much lately.

Times are a changin' and things keep moving forward.

I'm sure many of you have read the "leaking" of information about the Olympic Opening Ceremony.I for one was quite surprised upon hearing this information, nothing Danny Boyle said in the interviews was news to me, us volunteers had been told all this information before and we get to see it all happening at rehearsals.I was just surprised that information has been "leaked". We were under such scrutiny to keep everything a secret!!!Mind you, Danny has only revealed a TINY fraction of the ceremony plans. PLEASE don't look at his plans and say "oh how boring, not gonna watch that!". The ceremony will be a celebration of all things British. There will be something in it for everyone and I know you will love it! It is such an honor being a part of it all, and the realisation of the scale of what I am part of is slowly dawning on me!


I can always create a flip side here.

I still have the ongoing battle against university goers. People STILL looking down their noses at me, mind you not much about my life has changed (I did pass my driving test a couple of weeks ago with 2 minors! SO HA BEAT THAT!) 


I'm sure "friends" rather acquaintances will calm down in the next year or two. Most people my age have just completed their uni studies (I defy you to walk into a job in September)
And by next summer the vast majority of people I was around at school will have finished.


SOME DAYS I can get away with saying to myself "I don't need to prove anything to anyone" yet others I think "Oh god i really am a waster".


No I will not be earning a six figure salary, no I may not accept promotions nor even be offered them. No I won't live in a mansion, but hey what is exactly wrong with a council house? And if I change my career every 5 years, there is NOTHING wrong with that. 


Some people need to be careful. I have already turned my back on people that once cared about me, because they couldn't accept my choices, believe me I WILL do it again. < - Man is that UBER bitch or what?! Another UBER bitchy thing I do is to somethings coax things out of people.....let me explain.....
- If someone starts down the old "university is it" road, I will try and coax out their real feelings, usually by pretending that what they are saying either 
a) Doesn't hurt me
b) I pretend to agree with what they are saying, acting as if I have had a "change of heart"


Based on their comments during this conversation I either EMBRACE or DITCH. Be warned people.


But seriously, do NOT let others judge you. Turn your back on people who cannot accept you for who you really are, it's they who have the problem not you!

EUROVISION 2012

That title was a warning!!!

If you have NOT watched Eurovision 2012 yet then please do not read any further!!!

So ladies and gentlemen what a night! What a Show!
Azerbaijan hosted the competition in Baku.
Great Britain started the ball rolling with Englebert Humperdink. Oh dear, and where did we finish? Second to last, poor old Norway at the bottom (although I thought there's was pretty good!)


Who were my favourites?
Russia - Singing grannies, and i'm so so pleased they came second, well deserved!
Iceland - Never Forget - Possibly the best song of the night, deserved to do so much better than they did!
Norway - Just failed
Jedward - Well done boys a valliant effort. Not as good as last year, the novelty has worn off!!


My shock/ memorable moments?
ALBANIA - Just wtf????? Its a singing competition isn't it? NOT shouting! Jesus christ woman!
Israel - quite catchy, enjoyed the song
Moldova - The woman dancing in the pink tutu......too much red bull? 
I liked the Greek entry, typical eurovision pop!


And LORDI doing the votes from Finland! An added bonus!


Also well done to Graham Norton on his flawless commentary, always makes us chuckle!


And we have our winner!
Euphoria - Sweden. When I first heard it in the semi-finals I knew it had to do well and I believed it would win. A worthy winner. That sort of sound is very in (even if the dance moves aren't!)

Rehearsal number.....can't remember!

Yup
Another Sunday, another rehearsal.
This was our first time in the new venue, it's outdoors. I won't reveal on here where exactly it is, but apparently people do know.


Quite alot of blocking happening today. They created an area the exact size of the stadium, and believe me you feel like an ant inside it! They spent time blocking us, so we knew were exactly we would need to be, what direction to travel etc.


We went through the routines. Painfully they keep adding new pieces on (my brain couldn't take too much today). I think it was easier to dance outside, but I swear there is less room. Without revealing too much we dancers need alot of space to work in, and somehow we just don't have it.


Also spent time "funneling" (watch on the 27th July and all will be revealed.) We worked out where trap doors will be, YES I FINALLY GET TO USE A TRAP DOOR!


Also did a little partner work. Standing close by our dance partner in a SPOONING fashion. Always rather odd to be spooning someone you only met a few minutes ago! Although he was a rather nice boy! The choreography for this number in particular is very challenging on the brain, think quickly! Did hit one or two close dancers on various parts of their bodies! 


All in all a good rehearsal. We have been told make-up ideas and costume changes. I haven't yet resolved my costume drama, but watch this space.....


Trust me, it is BLOODY HARD to not reveal just little snippets of information. After today I do feel more excited, as the scale of what we are part of slowly becomes real.

Gamesmaker - Volunteers Remember?!?

So yes, as predicted, I have rolled out of bed feeling like a complete zombie! Not in quite as much pain as I was 3 weeks ago after my 3 hour Zumbathon, nevertheless muscles are hurting!

Yesterday was challening, both physically and mentally. Yet I feel it is only just the beginning. I can appreciate that we as performers are going to be "pushed to our limits" as they said, we are of course right in the action on the opening night, all eyes on the world will be on the stadium where we are performing, and we have to make it look good. All this pressure is one reason I didn't follow drama as a career. Dance is even worse! I'm not a professional dancer, and my body (at present) is not used to working so hard, so quickly, so intensly. I'm hoping it will get easier as time goes on.......

Yet at the back of my mind, I do keep thinking.....we are only volunteers! Should we really be pushed like this? We have given up time to make the weekend rehearsals, and for some (me included) there is a signifigant financial commitment being made. Yes they are paying for any travel expenses within London, but for me, this offer is useless as I leave the train at Stratford.......no travel across London required.

My parents are both gamesmakers (the team of Olympic Volunteers).
My dad is in the trasportation team, driving important people around from the Olympic park and Westfield shopping center, to various destinations around London.
My mum is with the security team. Welcoming guests to the Olympic Park and aiding with the security procedures.

My dad has recently been given his shifts. And to be honest, they are horrific. He is being asked to work all hours of the day, for 9 hours at a time! Now, correct me if i'm wrong, no PAID position is having to work like that! Somedays he is working 9am-6pm and others he is 4pm-2:30am, and some are even through the night!!!! These are not hours that my dad is used to working, and I'm not even sure he was told to expect these sort of hours, and I think that is bad on the gamesmakers part. He was selected for the Paralympic Games period, yet he is having to work 5 weeks!!!! And the Paralympics only runs for 10 days! Mum is now dreading the arrival of her shifts, fearing that they could be very similar.......

My parents are not alone in their grief. All one has to do is log onto the Gamesmaker facebook page, and the wall is full of other people's concerns about their hours, destinations, financial problems, and places to stay. How are people who finish their shift at 2:30am going to get home?? Some people, who have regular jobs, have only asked for 2 weeks off work (the time the Olympic Games runs) yet are being required to work for 4 weeks! It's not consistent, and unfortunately I fear that many people are going to have to give up this wonderful opportunity because they have not been told the correct information of what is going to be required of them right from day 1.

I fear my parents may go the same way. My dad feels he cannot work the hours being asked of him, and mum is going to turn down this opportunity if her hours are anything like his....and I think that is such a shame.

What I have also recently discovered is that many of the volunteer jobs within the games also are available as paid positions. I for example have a job as a programme seller (this is also a volunteer's role), there are paid security, paid cleaners, paid transportation and EVEN (as I discovered yesterday) PAID OPENING CEREMONY PERFORMERS!

Please don't get me wrong, I am honored to be part of the games. I just feel so sad for the people who desperately want to be part of it all, but just can't comitt to what is being asked of them as volunteers.......

Looming Rehersals

AHHHHHH

It's getting closer and closer and more and more real 

My rehearsals for summer 2012 officially start THIS WEEKEND.
I've had my final email from the team before it all kicks off in 4 days time. Final confirmation of times and venues, and a rough idea of what will be happening on Sunday.


My rehearsal schedule has been changed, ALREADY! With more dates being added to my diary, and only 1 taken out! My times are all over the place too, varying from 9am-1pm, 1pm-6pm and 6pm-10pm!


Some weeks I will be going a full 7 days in between rehearsals and others I have between 3-4 per WEEK!


Unfortunately where I live, is right on the coast of Suffolk, and it takes me 30 minutes on the train to my nearest station for London. My local train doesn't run on a Sunday morning, thus meaning for the first few weeks i'm having to stay overnight in London. Something that I hate having to do, but it's only for the first 5 weeks. 


I'm very nervous as this is such a massive opportunity for me and it's just making this such an exciting time in my life . I won't ever get an opportunity like this again. 


But don't rely on me coming back and updating you of my progress on here....no way! I'm sworn to secrecy! 

A random One

Yes this one is totally random
I thought I would upload some BIG DANCE piccys, a random selection! :)

Wonderfully bad quality of me in the BIG DANCE 2012 shirt! :) And no, I do not usually go around with blue lips, that was left over from a theatrical make-up tutorial/ tester thingy...lol

MAKE UP AND ALOT OF IT!
1 layer of foundation
Covered with white face paint, then white powder
Eyes are 5 different shades of blue, plus green eye liner


Blue dots from top of one eye across to bottom of the other


BLUE LIPS


I've decided I actually look like i have frostbite. Mind you I chose blue, another girl chose red and orange....FIRE i'm guessing.....


















And where did I go for all this??
LONDON- CITY HALL, on the embankment, the rather oddly shaped building!

Eurovision 2012

Okay so i may be 2 months too early, but I am SO excited about Eurovision 2012!!!

I've been on the website and listened to most of the songs already, I don't usually do this, as I like it to be a surprise, but I thought I would be different.


My family always has a bit of a party during the evening. We write comments on each song, sing along, eat traditional food. What do they eat in Azerbaijan????? LOL


So, I HAVE CHOSEN MY WINNER ALREADY! Russia. If they don't win, it's a joke. When I first heard the song, I thought, oh dear lord. But actually, it's annoyingly catchy. So out of tune, key, note, everything, YET GREAT. If you haven't heard it, here is the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdgbM8k_wNg

I've heard our entry is supposed to be a favourite. I like the song....but we never win, and really we need to go into the competition knowing that!


My other favourites are:
Italy - i've been told noone likes them, so they won't win.
Iceland - Could do well


I can't wait!!!!

Big Dance 2012

A couple of days ago I went up to London for an audition/ welcome event for Big Dance 2012.

Big dance is a bi-annual event that was started by the Mayor in 2006. 


This year they are tieing their celebration in with the Olympics. The main festival will take place during 7-15 July with many events happening across the U.K. Its a big celebration of dance, with many events taking place at Museums, Theaters, Shopping Malls and other public places.


I am hoping to not only be a dancer within some of the events, but also to be a volunteer for others. At the event on Thursday they outlined some of the volunteer roles that need to be filled. I'm hoping for crowd control/ ushers, only because I need something with very little rehearsal time. I live a good 1 1/2 away from London by train, and commuting could soon cost a lot, plus my olympic rehearsals are scattered here and there. I also volunteered to be on the social media and reporting team. This would involve twitter, facebook and also being out in the action armed with film equipment, filming the event and also filming the reactions of the general public.


One of the most famous things that Big Dance organise during this event is Flash Mobs. For anyone that doesn't know what those are I shall explain....
Basically a Flash Mob involves a group of people (planned) gathering in a public place, and perform an unusual and spontaneous act for a short period of time and then disperse. The effect is really incredible. Generally the groups are made up of many dance schools and groups who have had the time to rehearse and then come together to perform. This is something i've always wanted to be part of, so fingers crossed. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ie_xbrDx0
Watch this flash mob, be blown away!


I came away from my trip on Thursday with my head spinning with all this information. And a FREE BIG DANCE t-shirt.


London 2012 is offering so many once in a lifetime opportunities. While I still have my life, before embarking on a career and living alone in September, I am going to make the most of every opportunity. 
I'm so lucky to be involved in the Olympics in so many ways. And to possibly be involved with Big Dance is just icing on the cake. I'm not a professional dancer, I only have 6 years dance experience from when I was little. I never got the opportunity to showcase any skills at my 6th form, and even if I did get the chance I would have been too scared to say yes, fearing that I could have been a repeat of "Susan Boyle". The only time, recently, that I have danced in front of an audience was back in 2006, at my Senior School during our Christmas show. The surprised comments from staff and pupils gave me a real buzz, but not enough courage to get me back onstage again. Until now!