Week # 7 in Toronto

We are now into week #7 in rehearsals here in Toronto and we are finally onto "Golden Mickeys"!!! Finally, something I will be performing in! The show is a movie award show theme, like the Golden Globes.

We worked on the opening number which is super cute. I play one of the 4 paparazzi characters who are taking pictures of the celebrities arriving at the show. It's a fun number!

We also worked on the Tarzan scene in which I will play a monkey. That includes some rope climbing and spinning; it's called Spanish Web. I do not have a strong stomach for spinning. My stomach does not like it at all! A few people said my face looked green when I would get down from the rope. And it is also difficult being the person on the bottom, who we call the setter. The setter is responsible for spinning the flyer. They have to whip the flyer around with the rope the whole time they are going through numerous poses. My partner is pretty tall, so my short arms had a hard time trying to figure out how to get the circle big enough for her, along with a million other things you have to think about while setting. But, by the third rehearsal I felt better about the entire Spanish Web situation. I didn't feel as nauseous and my partner and I had each done the whole web routine to the music! Yay :)

Tomorrow we rehearse the Beauty and the Beast scene. I am excited! I recently found out that in the script Beast transforms in the Prince at the end of the scene. At the end of that scene, Belle and the Prince meet centerstage as they kiss....

This should be interesting...

I wish I had pictures to post, but we are not permitted to take photos while we are in the rehearsal studios :(

Home to NH

So... last Monday, the same day as the Canadian Thanksgiving, my grandmother Jones passed away. I was very upset to hear the news when my Dad told me. But, he assured me that she went very peacefully. I was devastated that I was so far away from my family at such a tough time. Fortunately, Disney allowed me to take the time I needed to go home to be with my family. I was very lucky to speak to an extremely nice agent at Air Canada. She gave me the starting rate of a direct flight to Manchester, so I was able to go home to NH for the weekend.

The service was held at the church my grandmother went to for years. Going to the church brought back so many memories. Her service was very lovely and I am so proud of my father for giving such a great speech. I love you Dad.

Here are some photos of my trip home. We had a birthday party for all the fall birthdays in the family; we made candy necklaces as you can see. :) I made the blueberry pie for my Mom for her birthday, she loved it! :) And it was beautiful time for the foliage.

I am so thankful that I was able to go home to see my family :)

Canadian Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is a Canadian holiday, Thanksgiving! They gave us the day off, so we decided to have a Thanksgiving celebration. I am bringing pumpkin pie, apple pie and pineapple souffle. I made them tonight. Don't they look delicious??

Toronto Islands

Today we had another beautiful Sunday in Toronto. A few of us took a ferry over to the Toronto Islands on Lake Ontario. Since we live so close to the water, we thought it would be a nice day trip. It's about a 10 minute ferry ride for only $6.50.

It is like one big park on Toronto Island with gardens, bridges, swings, food stands and also some beaches.

The picture with the girls was taken on the ferry. The two on the right are my roommates Daisy (middle) and Tara (right) and Kimberlee is on the left. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to take the trip to Toronto Islands.

People I Met in Toronto

Here are some pictures of my fellow co-workers. They were taken the first week I was here.

Top Photo...

The 2 girls on the left are 2 of my roommates. The one in the middle is Amber, it was her birthday that night. The girl furthest to the left is Tara, who I share a room with, we are very much alike in so many ways! :) The girl on the right is Loreen, she is a dancer and is from France, you can tell by her accent! She is very sweet.

Second Photo...

This is the first Saturday we were in Toronto. Just a group photo before we went out for some drinks. The girl to the right of me is my other roommate Daisy, she shares a room with Amber and she makes friends with Tinkerbell.

Third Photo....

This is my good friend Jemma, she is from London and has an awesome accent. She reminds me most of my best friends Deb and Lindsey. :)

Bottom Photo...

This is just a silly group photo with mostly characters :)

My Apartment in Toronto

Here are some pictures of the apartment I live in here in Toronto. It is a 2 bedroom apartment and there are 4 of us mouse-height characters living in it. The living room and kitchen space is very spacious, and I love all the windows facing out to the city! The tub is in our bathroom is grand, I love that as well!

Dancing In Toronto

This week at rehearsal we worked on the show "Believe", and we will continue with that for the next 3 weeks. It is a brand new full-length production that will be performed in the Walt Disney Theater on the ship. I am an understudy in that show for a part that is not in the entire show, so I have had some days off here and there.

In that time that I had off, I took dance class at 3 other studios. Monday night I took a jazz class at a studio close to our rehearsal space. Tuesday afternoon I took another jazz class at a studio in the northeast area, which was close to the first studio I went to two weeks ago. And lastly, on Tuesday and Wednesday morning I took an open company class with the modern dance company, Toronto Dance Theater. The marks 4 different places I have taken class at! :)

My dance teacher growing up, Susan Smith, is from Canada and has always spoke very highly of Toronto Dance Theater. She has encouraged me to audition for them before, so I was very interested in taking class with them. Each day a different company member teaches the class. Tuesday was a modern class, and Wednesday was a ballet class. I really enjoyed taking class with them, because they are professionals. It was great to be surrounded by their energy and their skill level; and it wasn't too intimidating. The studio was on Winchester Street, which may be the most beautiful street I have seen here in Toronto. All the photos posted here are taken on that street.

Saturday night I went to another dance performance. It was a modern dance company called Dancemakers, who are based out of Toronto. The theater was gorgeous, which explains why it was $32 for a student ticket. The dancing was pretty good, but the artistry was the more interesting part for me. It was not something I would have to see again, but I can totally appreciate their work. That company also holds open company class, which I plan to take sometime.

This weekend I plan to see 2 or 3 more shows. There is another modern dance show, as well as 2 cirque shows. One is called Cirque Eloize, which is a french cirque company and also Cirque du Soleil has a vaudeville-style show here right now too. I am so excited to see all of them!

Overall I am trying to keep myself motivated with my dancing. I try to give myself class on days that I do not take class. My time here has made me realize how much I still want to pursue my dance career after this contract. I am forever grateful for this opportunity to travel and work for a great company, but I am missing dancing terribly. I know now more than ever that I must try to pursue dancing for a dance company when I get off the ship. :)

Tata for now!