Hi everyone!!!! Well since the last time you heard from me I had my first competition with my pro and it was amazing. I did better than I could have ever imagines. I placed first in all of my divisions, including the scholarship division in which I won a little $$$, which in turn straight to more coaching lessons (of course) and maybe a cute new pair of shoes, but basically more lessons. I am going to San Diego tomorrow to see my coach and work on some new routines for my next upcoming competition in San Francisco at the end of the month. I will be doing approx. 30 dances, possibly more, so i will be a busier than my last. I will keep you all posted as to how I do, but for now here are a few pictures from my first competition.

Thank you ballet

Stay tuned…

Briana

Hope everyone had a beautiful holiday season and I know it was hard getting back into things, but here we are almost done with January already! How the time flies, it is truly amazing. I have my first ballroom competition coming up on February 12 at the Irvine Marriott called “California Open”. After my Christmas showcase I put on at my ballroom studio, I got a wonderful response from my students, their parents, my friends and family about my performance, it really gave me the boost I needed to just work work work to be the best I could be for this first time out on the floor. My partner has decided for the first few competitions to start me out at a little lower of a level so I will stand out and look polished and clean. After that, I will then change my routine and go into an open division, which allows me to do more steps that relate to ballet/lyrical background. In the american smooth divison, which is what I am competing in…there are only 4 dances in the category (waltz, tango, foxtrot and viennese waltz). I will keep you all updated an post some videos from my christmas show so you can see, but for now here are a couple of pictures.

Hello everyone…I am alive! I officially made it through my Christmas showcase and it was wonderful!!!! It was a small first showcase, but filled with friends and family and long-time students. Everyone enjoyed themselves and I think it was a great success.

So for me I am now onward to my next mission…I never take a break! I am going to be competing with my professional partner in the American Smooth division of ballroom competitions hopefully in February or March of 2010.  I have a lot of work ahead of me as far as choreography, cleaning up technique, finding a dress (saving $3500 for a dress aaaaahhhhh) etc.  But I really feel likes it’s my time to think of me and try something new. I have a wonderful partner who is looking out for my best interests so I feel like I am in good hands. I will keep you all posted on my progress and post some pictures as soon as I get them from my Christmas show.

Happy Holidays

So I went to my ballroom competition I told everyone about and my rankings went up!!! It has taken some getting use to, but this “ballroom way” of competing is actually quite interesting. If jazz, ballet, etc. competitions could somehow integrate this way of scaling, it might make things a bit more interesting. So every ballroom dancer when entering any competition has to enter with their NDCA number (national dance council of America)…you must register yearly for this membership. Every time this number is entered into competition, you can actually log-in online and see where that dancer has been and how they scored at the competition with heir different partners, different dances, etc. it is very interesting. Every ballroom competition is run under one main organization and follow the same set of rules and require each participant to be a member o the NDCA. Each competition has a different organizer who puts the event together but there are never any competing competitions in the same area on the same weekend, so the same people compete each other constantly to get ahead in their ranking. Anyways, I thought I’d share this new way of thinking with some of you to see what you thought…let me know.

Briana Haft

Hi everyone…have had some busy weeks lately, sorry you haven’t seen anything from me…but some cool things have happened and wanted to update you all. Just this last weekend, I had competition again in Woodland Hills. Mary Murphy, from SYTYCD took over ownership of the competition this last year and it was her first time putting it on. The event was called “Hollywood Classic”…it was a ballroom competition. I was extremely impressed with how well it was put together…the theme when you walked in was all Hollywood glamour…disco balls and boas on the tables, red tablecloths and chairs, red carpet when you enter, a huge academy award background, Oscar statues around the room, cut-outs of hollywood superstars…it was very nicely done. Due to it’s first year there were not as many entrants as a normal competition, but I think that will change next year. My partner was pretty nervous this time performing again, since we have not competed in about a month. I think he did okay considering, but still a lot of hard work ahead of us !!! That night after we competed we stayed to watch a wonderful showdance couple, world champions of the world perform 3 different cabaret (theater arts…kind of like pas de deux…all lifts) routines by Victor Da Silva & Hanna Kartunin…amazing!!!! At this time Mary gave Nigel Lithgoe a lifetime achievement award for all of his work on the dance industry, as he has opened so many doors and accomplished so much since he has been in America. Overall it was a great weekend, and now back to work since I will be going to competition in another two weeks and then my Christmas showcase with my professional partner December 5th. Have a great Monday…

Briana

You know how I know it is almost winter…I am sick!!! hahaha…the only time I ever get sick is when kids go back to school and fester between each other…get each other suck, and then bring it into the dance studio to get the dance teachers sick. This is why I have been silent the last few days, I have just been trying to get over this thing, and I think I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

In the midst of all of this, I have been rehearsing for an upcoming Christmas Showcase I am putting on at my ballroom studio this December. I will be dancing with my professional partner, Martin Tomaszewski, and also with some of my students. Overall I believe I have about 8 routines to learn…don’t know why I do this to myself, but it is my business so I guess it’s my job. Now I’m in the process of doing the fun part and finding costumes for all of these dances haha, which can get costly so I have to be creative. At the end of the night, I’ve invited a Professional Latin couple, husband and wife, to come and perform a few dances for us, which I am very excited about. They are ranked in the top 8 of the world right now in their Latin division, so I cannot wait.

With Halloween coming up I am also throwing a costume party at the studio for everyone to come to with a live DJ, food, and drinks. We’ve had it in the past, and it has always been a blast. I’m thinking of doing a tribute to Michael Jackson and teaching the group who comes how to do a small section from “Thriller”…can you imagine a bunch of older Asians dancing to “Thriller” in Halloween costumes and ballroom heels…..OOOOOHHHH my I cannot wait! I will videotape it and post it on here for you to see if they actually agree to it…it’s going to be hilarious, so stay tuned. Hope you’re all well and staying healthy!

Briana

In the last few days I have really witnessed some pretty hurtful moments as a teacher. I know everyone is struggling these days with the economy and whatnot, but some people are really suffering! A couple of my kids I have been teaching for a few years just dropped out of all of their classes this season due to financial issues at home. People are getting sick left and right…just feel like everyone has been dropping like flies whether it be because of financial reasons, sickness, injury, or school related activities. I have found it really difficult to keep myself motivated as a teacher/choreographer when you feel as though you are not doing your job of motivating people. Although it is not because of me that things are happening, for some reason I still feel bad when I lose people. Guess it’s just a part of life’s cycle…people filter out and new people filter in. The one thing I would like to tell those kids who are having financial issues at home is…please do NOT give up. There ARE programs out there for scholarships through your studio, or non-profit organization that I’m sure would be willing to take into consideration what you’re going through. I hate to lsoe people that are going through tough times, because those are the ones that seem to really love it the most! If anyone is having trouble, please let me know if I can help give some suggestions. Thanks for listening, and keep positive everyone…hopefully the touch times will be over soon! Good night…

Briana

The last few days have kind of been a roller coaster for me. In this exciting journey of my many adventures, sometimes I have good days and some days are a bit rough. It’s amazing when things are going well, isn’t it? But just when I thought things were getting easier, hahaha, they don’t and I get let down a bit. I guess I am just very sensitive when it comes to achievements. I am very hard on myself, and that’s probably why I can do a lot of things I can…but as any normal human being, it is very easy to get in “rut”. I swear it is like a downward spiral, “as my mother always says”…thinking negatively never gets you anywhere. I know every person goes through a phase in their life asking themselves the big question, “What am I doing with my life???” “Am I where I want to be”, and honestly at this point in time tonight I can say that I am doing everything I love and I couldn’t ask for anything more. And then there is also doubt. “Should I get a REAL job….the 9-5…is that right for me…am I going to make it on a dancer’s salary?” I know this is a bit scary to talk about, but we all go through it and it’s perfectly normal. I’ve gone through those periods where I think I should go back to school and do something other than dance and get a backup plan. Heck, sometimes at night I still wonder that (especially having a difficult day). But would I really be happy, is what I always ask myself. Could I ever stop what I’m doing?…and the answer is always the same, NO! No matter how much crap and drama I have to deal with, this is all I know and it is a part of me. The further I get away from where my heart really lies is the more untruthful I am being to my real feelings. We all know dancers are on the low end of the totem pole and our life expectancy isn’t necessarily the highest for our career, but those little things aside…I’d rather be dancing or teaching 10 hours a day to try and pay rent then sit behind a desk doing something just to pay my bills. Who cares about money anyways (hahaha I don’t say that when I want to go shopping, but you know what I mean).? UGH!!!! I just have to keep plotting along and have to believe that good things happen to good people, and you will always have those certain people that can screw you over, but one day it will come back around and there will be light, hopefully soon, at the end of this long journey ahead of me. Thanks for listening, and keep dreaming big, no matter what anyone tells you!

It seems as though all of the bloggers…including myself ,had a very packed last few days!!! Sorry it has been a bit since I last posted, a lot of many crazy things have been taking over in my life (guess that happens when you do 50 things). In my last post I had mentioned my Achilles injury. Since then I have been trying to be good and follow my order from the doctor to STOP dancing on it for 10 days. I made it about half of that and went back to see him a couple of days ago. I have been so good about taking care of it that he has given me the okay to start dancing on it 25-50% more…not full out yet, but just to start and test the waters to see how it hold up. So far it has not been too bad, but it’s going to take some time for it to really heal and get back to normal. It was a close one though!! Achilles problems are something I do not want to add on to my resume that’s for sure.

Because of the injury I called and had to cancel my competition coming up, which is unfortunate but probably the best thing for my future. Probably starting next week I will kick everything back into full gear and see how it goes because I have two competitions in November that I will be dancing in, and need to get my booty into shape…it’s amazing how not dancing for a week makes you feel like a fat cow. UGH! Salad and sit-ups for me for the next month till competition I guess.

I have many things coming up, so I will keep you all posted more…I promise.

Briana Haft

So I am up and awake even though it is late, because I can’t sleep from this pain in my Achilles. I went to the podiatrist yesterday and they told me to stay off of it for at least 10 days and to come back and get more x-rays. I hate feeling so helpless…my poor kids today when I was teaching were playing dance charades with me because I was too gimpy to teach certain things…it really makes you stand back and appreciate the art of what we do as dancers and instructors daily. It’s SO important to take care of your body, because this is all we have in our lives to keep us going…if I didn’t have dance I don’t know what I would do. A very close friend of mine was such a beautiful dancer, and she got to her potential and ended up stopping because of those many instances that come into our path in life, and she chose the road without it, and she regrets it now! Just reminds me that no matter how hard things ever get, I am reminded that I do what I love every single day of my life and should be so thankful.  If I could touch someone and teach them what dance really is, and how it feels when you really give into the beauty of it, I will have fullfilled my duty as an educator.

Now I just have to be patient and try to let myself heal before I really injure something. So, this picture I posted above was from my last competition with my student. Today I had to tell him that I can’t do our next scheduled competition in 2 weeks, and I’m so bummed. I posted this picture so it could keep me focused on trying to get better and give me something to look forward to.

If you are someone who has ever lost track in your life of what you really love, just remind yourself of what it would feel like to lose anything and everything and be left doing something you hated everyday and hopefully you will feel better. Sorry for the deep blog, just kind of helpless with one good leg.

Have a good nite everyone…