Friday, September 27, 2013

Glee Season 5 Premiere: An Ode to the Beatles

5 years after graduating from Homestead High School I found myself back in high school again; this time at the fictitious Carmel High as a part of the hit TV series, "Glee." Since my youthful looks have not left me yet I have been able to portray a 15-year-old glee club member over the years. Check out the pieces that Vocal Adrenaline was a part of during the series premiere (9/26/2013):

"Help"

"All You Need is Love"
The Vocal Adrenaline ladies
Vocal Adrenaline
"Glee" is probably one of the funnest sets to be on, and head choreographers Brooke Lipton and Mandy Moore are a wonderful pair to dance for. Vocal Adrenaline is known for its insane lifts and its army-like precision, and I never know what to expect when I step into rehearsal. The partner work is generally physically demanding and gravity defying, and I attribute much of my partnering experience to the show.

Can't wait to see what this season has in store for you Gleeks out there!

Friday, September 20, 2013

Concept Videos

Concept videos are always fun to be a part of. I enjoy them because I get to be a part of the creative process and see the choreographer's ideas come to life.  Here are two videos that I danced in for Pat Cruz and Feng, respectively:



Friday, September 6, 2013

New Things in New York

I found myself back in the Big Apple a few weeks ago for work, and this time I was stationed in the never-before-explored Brooklyn (BK).

BK flaunts the reputation of being an up and coming part of NYC, the "new" Manhattan if you will. The area I stayed in is considered Fort Greene (with Prospect Heights not too far away), and it was structurally reminiscent of the all too familiar Lower East Side in Manhattan:

My future apartment building.

"Turn To Me. I See Eternity."

Something old, something new.

"Euphoria is You For Me."

Trader Joe's. Brooklyn-ized.
Exposed brick, abundant retail shops and food spots, and heavy foot traffic made this charming neighborhood an exciting place to explore.

My friend Liana and I walked a little less than a mile to the highly acclaimed vegan restaurant M.O.B. We were sorely disappointed to find it closed for summer holiday (apparently a common thing for businesses in NYC). A quick search with Yelp later and we ended up at Sun in Bloom, a quaint vegan establishment nestled in Park Slope:


Mildly expensive but incredibly delicious, the alternative food at Sun Bloom did not disappoint. The extensive menu covers the basic vegan food categories from raw sandwiches to gluten-free, dairy-free, and processed sugar-free baked goods.

And I of course had to find a yoga studio while I was in town. Yelp led me to Mala Yoga, a small studio located in Cobble Hill. I purchased a new student deal ($30 for 3 classes), and went three consecutive mornings. While I enjoyed the intimate classes and mellow energy at Mala Yoga, my body and brain are accustomed to the more energetic and powerful vibes at my studio in LA (Yogaworks on Larchmont). I was disappointed by Mala's lack of a Brooklyn equivalent to Colleen Garrity or Vinnie Marino.

All in all it was a very enjoyable trip, and I hope to visit again one day soon.

I < 3 BK