| | Most of the Information from Workshop meeting is Posted above, enjoy!
Well, you've just come back from the Big meeting. You got your letter, inviting you to participate in the workshop audition for the Performing Arts Company, and consequently, the rest of the upper teams for the year. You're excited, of course... I mean, they think you're a contenda'! You're so ready! But will you be in four months?
Tips for Preparing over the summer:
Physically- DO SOMETHING! Too many of us get home, and have no class, and a job where we sit around all day, and it's so easy to justify it... we earned the break, no? So much work over the school year, we can take it easy. With that attitude, you'll be out of shape in two weeks, mark my words.
Here are some possible activities: Get a jogging buddy, play lots of basketball or soccer, join a swing club that practices more than once a week, Take lessons in Clogging, Irish, even social dance!
Oh, and make sure that you've worn your dance shoes often during the summer, unless you like getting blisters and reforming your callouses all over again in three days!
Mentally- While this is more physical than mental, here's my tip:
Take private lessons in dance, especially clogging and Irish. The difference is you have the teacher and their personalized feedback and help, all to yourself! They can give you special routines or exercises specially tailored to strengthen your weaknesses.
When you have the opportunity, take an expert, or at least someone more advanced than you in any form of dance, and ask their opinions. Listen to this~
PAC dancer testimonial "I was at a dance camp, and they happened to have a ballet instructor who was from Russia, and was formerly part of the Folkloric ballet, that does a lot of Folk-type dancing on a high level. I showed her some of my Ukranian turns, and asked for her help. She, first of all, was very impressed to see someone learning her dance form, and flattered that she was asked for her opinion. She shared tips with me about 'shooting energy' from my fingertips and keeping my shoulders down. My turns, which had struggled before, became much easier."
Academically- Have you cleared a few spots in your schedule for every eventuality as far as changing when you find out what team you're on? I ran into a problem because I had a class I HAD to take for the major, but it was the same time as the team I thought I would make. Luckily, I made a different team, but had I made the team I had projected, it would have been disastrous. Putting adjustable classes (G.E.s, Religion, fun stuff) at the 9,10, and 2 o'clock spots will make changing your schedule last minute not as stressfull.
Make sure you're ready for a new semester. If you make back-up (9-RB), you'll have some extracurricular performances that you'll have to make, and the higher up you get, the more responsibilites on council and class rep stuff you'll have. Think about Christmas Around the World week last year, and judge how many heavy classes you reall need to take.
Remember: GPA for SPAC and PAC is 2.5!
Spiritually- PAC workshop is like an alternate universe. You're not in school, not working, not doing anything but cramming dances into your skull, rolling-pinning your legs because they're always sore, and hanging out and renewing friendships with fellow folkies. It's great fun, but there's always that table at the front, those people who are watching you, looking at everything you do as an indication of where you'll be valuable in the program. There's sometimes an almost ballroom-like sense of competitiveness and jealousy, and everyone is looking at other people, thinking "oh, I stink compared to them, I'll never make it." or "she's good, but I'm better than her in [insert dance here], but she'll make it anyways because Ed likes her." But on the other hand, there's a great chance to help other people through it with you. People help each other with routines, give and recieve feedback, and constantly soothe other's nervousness and insecurities.
To become one of the people who go through workshop uplifting others, and to have a good experience, take a break and ponder these points:
1. What is God's purpose in having you at BYU?
2. Why does the team you're on need to dictate your happiness?
3. How would you like to be treated by others, and will you do the same?
4. What are your spiritual rolling pins and power-bars? (what soothes your pain and makes you ready to stand again?)
5. What are some spiritual habits you'll need to develop or retain in order to come out of Workshop content and ready for the school year? (programs of scripture study, temple attendance, and daily prayer)
Financially- Yup, financially. Being on PAC and even SPAC are often expensive ventures. Between Tour fees, costume fees, tour clothes, and accessories, you will really need to plan out your money. For example, Tour this year was $1,000, $750 for the tour and $250 for the clothes. Add on the many often unplanned expenses (such as hair for the girls, cowboy boots for the guys, random costume and makeup bits, clog shoes and character shoes) and you have a lot of random expenses. So work hard, get a job, be ready to be dirt poor!
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