Choreographers Block!

As many of you Dancing Readers know, I go back to Oklahoma several times a year to teach my mothers dance students. I love them! LOVE THEM! I love teaching them, hanging out with them and feeling as though I have 200 younger siblings that I love to pieces. 

Every August, I go back to Oklahoma and do choreography for the dance company. (The competition team.) I almost always know half way through the year before what I want to do the next year... not this year!! I have several ideas, but I hate it when I do something that has already been done. So... I am watching some old videos for fun and inspiration...

Hope you all enjoy my little church going teen dancers as much as I do!! 

Happy Anniversary to ME!

Wedding Wednesday will return next week... 

Until then, enjoy my walk down memory lane!

The next 7 days I will be celebrating my 10 year Anniversary in NYC!

Today we go from birth to junior high! 

My first solo award.
April 1994.

This story begins so long ago I don't even know the real beginning. 

I guess you could say it begins from the very first time I was asked that age old question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" You see, unlike most children I had the same answer from the first day I was asked until, well, now! I have always wanted to be a dancer. Always. No wavering from this decision. Even when I left the college dance department... I still wanted to be a dancer. It is both a blessing and a curse to know what you want from such a young age. But I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Like any other life long story (career) mine has its ups and downs. Mostly ups. 

You see, I came into the dance world naturally... my mother is a dancer. And when I was a kid she so badly wanted to not be pushy... that she enrolled me in gymnastics. NOT DANCE! Ugh! (backfire much?) All my little friends took dance, but not me. So sad. I did not start dance until I was 5 years old. While this may seem young, I was in the 1st grade. It's old in dancer years people! :) Anywho, my mother taught dance at a local studio in town and I took my first classes from the owner. I loved it. I got to be "teachers kid" but not really. Best decision ever! Had my mother been my teacher at 5 years old... I think she would have killed little bossy me. 

My first real downer (or so I thought) in dance was the summer before my 4th grade year, when my mother decided to open her own studio and leave the place I began my training. I can only imagine what she felt like when I told her I still wanted to take jazz at the other studio because she was just a ballet and tap lady! (Oh boy she must have wanted to kill me!) But ...I will never forget my mother calling the old studio and asking if I could still take one class there. The answer was, "No". She asked for me! Can you believe it?! What a woman! I was heartbroken but soon learned how awesome it was to take from my mother! 

"Keep Warm" Jan. 1992
(and yes, I am still a foot shorter than these girls)

The next few years were a learning curve for us all. I started to get really great ballet training (Thanks MOM!) and Mom learned the jazz & funk world inside out. By the time I was in 6th grade... we won our first high score overall! 

"The One" April 1993

After 7th grade, I attended my first dance camp. Talk about falling in love. Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute was and still is one of my favorite places in the world! Ballet for 6 and half hours a day and I loved it!

Mountain View Cabin... LOVE!
June 1994.

And by the time I was in 8th grade... we were killin it! We were, and still are, the only dance studio to perform at an OU halftime. We promoted the opening of the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History all year long! It was amazing! Not too mention... got a PERFECT score at competition!

"Jurassic Park"
Promoting Sam Noble Museum of Natural History April 1995.

I attended Quartz Mountain again this summer and then my whole world got rocked...

Stayed tuned for the story of the boobies tomorrow! 

My 1st Child is a SENIOR!

Yup, that's right, I had my first set of children at the age of 13! 

And yes, I said set! 

Aren't they just the cutest?!

Okay, so they really aren't MY children but I feel like they are. They are my dance children. I was there when Spence was born...she's mine!! These girls were in the first ballet class I ever taught at the age of 16. They have been dancing at my Moms studio since they were 4!! I have watched them grow and become such wonderful young ladies. I love them with all my heart. And... they are the reason I cannot have children of my own! I blame them. They are just too perfect. How could I compete?

Anywho... my babies are graduating this year. And they are going to college to be dancers!! I am as happy as happy could be! As part of my Christmas present I got to go to their last 1st dance competition to see them dance so pretty.

Didn't they grow up to be the most beautiful ladies ever?!!!

I love love love my girls! Expect to see several tearful posts about them throughout the year!

All Hallow's Eve!

I absolutely love Halloween! 

Here is a little routine to get you in the spirit!

This is from last dance season. 

"The Time Warp" Teen Musical Theater Company.

I love em!!

Yay!

I know, I know... I have been bad about my blogs this week! But... I have been super busy! Busy Bee I say! Cannot wait to have a moment to breathe. But until look at my precious little dancers that were crowned Queen and Princess last night!!

Love you girls!!

And They'll Be Dancin'.... Yeah!

As many of you know, I am obsessed with my dance kids! I cannot get enough! 

I went back to Oklahoma June 15-17 and did a little Summer Workshop that was quite possibly more fun for me than work. Miss Michelle, Miss Annie and I began classes at 9am and finished about 4:30pm! I learned a BIG lesson while teaching this week as well... those 1st graders will wear you out! I was exhausted by 11 o'clock in the morning!! We did some fun things during the week... 

My 1st & 2nd graders got some cool sunglasses to wear in class... 

Their helpers (Katelyn & Spencer) may have liked the prizes more! Landy didn't want the boy glasses I brought him so he went without but still danced like a champ! 

The kids were great and I wish that we would have danced for all 5 days during the week... maybe next summer! Here is a little video I made for my own use but thought you all might enjoy it as well! 

Happy 20th Anniversary SCD! (Short Version)

Le Jazz Hot!

Welcome to the my countdown to My Mother's 20th Annual Dance Recital. This is where I post a picture & story from the past each day until recital. Today happens to be... the 20th Dress Rehearsal at SCD!! That means... only 2 pics left!

"Le Jazz Hot"

Oh,  how I loved this piece! All my Teen & Senior girls in 2007! I miss the days that I dressed half my women as men. Awe, memories. What am I talking about?! Now I have real men!! 

Back to the wonderful "Le Jazz Hot" piece. The song itself is just amazing. From the Victor/Victoria soundtrack. The lovely Julie Andrews! I mean, you can't get much better than Julie Andrews. The accents you can hit choreographically with this song are fabulous. I had a ball doing this piece. And let's face it, I could not have done this one without my lady in red... Katie Parish. She was made for this one! I think the only thing I would change if I had this one to do all over again would be that I would have my "ladies" in heels and not jazz shoes. (This was before I decided that all my dancers would wear heels each year. Now, it is a must.) 

I don't remember if this piece won all that often. I thought they were fabulous but it was definitely a different kind of piece for competition. Very musical theater, no tricks or anything fancy. I just hate when things need to have fuete' turns or giant leaps when the piece itself would look so much better without all that non-sense. I do know that this routine was picked to dance in the showcase at JUMP! which means it was our highest studio score that day. Yippee! Yay girls! 

Regardless of how they scored it will remain in my top 5 favorite pieces I have ever choreographed. LOVE IT!!

Tiddlywinks!

Welcome to my trip down memory lane, where I am posting one SCD picture and story, a day,  from days gone by as a countdown to the 20th Annual Recital!! 

"Tiddlywinks"

The birth of Hip Hop at SCD! Sure we have had all boys hip hop since year 1 and we always took hip hop at convention and such but this was our first real hip hop company routine. (Unless you count Jump! hehe) "Tiddlywinks" was performed by the teens and seniors in 2001! Gregg Russell did the choreography and they were awesome!

Now, for those of you that know My Mother's background in dance. Having her company do a hip hop routine was not only completely different from anything she had ever done but also genius! This is what makes her so great!! Hip Hop was not something that was trendy and going to go away. (Unlike the horrific thing most schools call contemporary these days.) Hip Hop, like it or not trinas, was here to stay. You cannot be a working dancer in today's world without training in all fields. The more you know the better. Instead of taking the snooty, I will not do hip hop route, she bit the bullet and her kids loved her for it. 

 For the "Shannon Moment" of this routine:  What the heck are Tiddlywinks? Why on Earth is a hip hop routine named Tiddlywinks? She also called them Skittles! Um, Mom they are dancing to "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang! Where did you get Tiddlywinks? Anyone? Got a clue on this one? Miss Michelle and I laugh about it daily!

OOOOOOOOOO-klahoma!

Welcome to my trip down memory lane, where I am posting one SCD picture and story, a day,  from days gone by as a countdown to the 20th Annual Recital!! 

The studio has been very fortunate to be a part of big celebrations in the great state of Oklahoma. The first was HUGE for me as a kid. Not only because it was the biggest audience I had ever performed in front of or because I am a HUGE SOONER FAN, but because Sam Noble was an amazing man who had made an impact on my life!! 

Still at a loss... we danced several times in honor of the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History at the University of Oklahoma!! 

Our first performance was at Dad's Day! We were performed Jurassic Park with The Pride of Oklahoma! We still are the only non-university group to have done that!! We then went back in the spring and performed in the field house but this time just with our recorded music. Jurassic Park also happens to be the first routine we had ever win a Convention 1st Place Overall award. (and for you new kids... this was a BIG DEAL!! they only gave 1 out of 100 routines!! again, none of this everyone gets a trophy crap!) 

On a personal note: Jurassic Park was a really great event for my entire family. My brother was in the routine... He played Fred Flinstone. Oh the memories. My Uncle, who helped get us the gig, had these huge dinosaur balloons that he blew up at both events. And for my Daddy, well, the man calls Owen Field, Mecca! So, naturally he was just giddy. I have toured all over and danced in some pretty cool places but this remains one of the coolest. 

Another event that was super cool was also fairly recent. 

In 2007, the Great State of Oklahoma turned 100! The SCD Company was asked to perform in the Centennial Parade. It was a big honor. They were scarecrows and naturally Mom couldn't have them going empty handed... so all of them had brooms! Oh those brooms!! 

The scarecrows were a big hit! Everyone along the parade route loved them and talked about how energetic and fun they were. Miss Michelle was the ring leader and that made it even more fun! The parade aired on PBS live! Super cool. I attended and was pretty jealous that I was not out there dancing. They all looked great. And check your local school libraries because they are all listed by name in the Centennial book that was given to each school in Oklahoma. Again, I am jealous! 

Beat with a B-E-A-U-T-Y!

Welcome to my trip down memory lane, where I am posting one SCD picture and story from days gone by as a countdown to the 20th Annual Recital!!

"Body Beautiful"

Body Beautiful Baby! This dance was one of my favorites. I wasn't even in it! 

They mixed this song from the "To Wong Fu, Thanks for Everything! Love Judy Newmar" Soundtrack with Vogue by the obvious artist. They had stools and steps (the same steps that are currently being used by Miss America) and they had some fierce costumes. Amanda looked like a freakin' rock-star on those stairs and it was a new direction in choreography for Miss Shannon. 

On a personal note:  I never spell beautiful incorrectly because of this routine. I sing this song every time I write the word. Every time. No lie!! 

Double Trouble

Welcome to my trip down memory lane, where I am posting one SCD picture and story from days gone by as a countdown to the 20th Annual Recital!!

 

 "We Go Together"

 This may be a somewhat selfish post but hey, it's my blog so I can do that!

These two routines happen to hold a very special place in my heart. They were the first two routines that my mother ever allowed me to choreograph for competition. Yes, I did 2 little Jr. trios with my cousin Megan in years past but this... these were actual GROUPS!! While it may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, it was HUGE for me. 

I started my choreography with "We Go Together" and I can still remember every rehearsal I had with them. I was probably a little over confident in my abilities and my mother was just as willing as ever to allow me to teach these girls. (She must have had a back-up plan because I was only 14 years old and a freshman in high school!) I do remember after one rehearsal when Mom questioned if I was going to finish the routine in time for competition. Of course! Although, I admit I was a bit nervous about it myself. But have no fear... my girls didn't let me down. We finished and cleaned...And let me tell you... They got a Perfect Score at one of their competitions!! This was the beginning of a beautiful relationship... I have choreographed over 25 routines on these amazing dancers!

 

"Papa Ooo Mow Mow"

Now moving on to "Papa"! How I love these girls!! These girls broke the mold! I don't know why but for some reason we didn't have a lot of time to learn this routine so, we did something we never did back then and learned the entire routine in just 3 hours. We do this every August with almost every routine now, but back then that just seemed like way too much information at once. Oh, take another look at the picture... they are SEVEN!! Yup, that's right! These kids not only learned their routine in 3 hours but were the youngest of our company members! 

So, while these 2 groups of kids were my first real students they were also my saving grace. They may never know it but they helped me to survive high school. I hated everything about high school. I felt like an outsider with big boobs and dreams that others laughed about to my face. These girls grounded me and made me see the bigger picture. They made me feel like I belonged. They have always made me feel that way. I look forward to seeing them update their Facebook pages with pictures from college, weddings, and now their children. I'm not sure that Mom had this connection in mind when she allowed me to choreograph for them but it has been one of the best gifts I have ever received. 

I love you girls!!

 

 

The Blues Brothers!

Welcome to my trip down memory lane, where I am posting one SCD picture and story from days gone by as a countdown to the 20th Annual Recital!!

"Blues Brothers"

Oh the stories that come with this routine! 

This routine is my Daddy's all time favorite. Every time we bring up old dance routines Dad picks this one. It was a lot of fun to perform I will say that. 

Now, note I said fun to perform... NOT rehearse. I do not know why but I just hated rehearsing this routine. I watch videos of it now and all I can think is "why can't you all clap on the beat?!!" I just remember practicing that music change so many times and clapping and clapping. Apparently, there are those of us in this routine that are a little "rhythmically challenged!"   

Remember earlier this week when I said that Miss Shannon made us dance with our costumes? Well, she was at it again with this one. The younger girls in this routine stripped their suit pants and  gave them to us big girls. We then slid on our knees downstage (the front of the stage) playing the guitar! Yup, that's right! Those lil pants turned inside out and made bright blue guitars. Now, who thinks Miss Shannon does drugs? Nope not a one! She is naturally this nuts! This routine won quite a few awards if I remember correctly and I am sure that stripping those pants helped! :) 

We took this routine to Los Angeles in the summer of 1998 and performed at Encore Performing Arts Nationals! Unlike other nationals this was not a competition but a real show in downtown Los Angeles. You had to score high enough at their regional showcase to qualify. Obviously the whole group didn't go but a really good portion of us did. An alumni joined us and learned to routine and we added some younger siblings as well. There was a portion of the routine when 3 girls tumbled downstage. One of them happened to tumble right off the stage into the orchestra pit! Ahhh!!! Have no fear, those Bahner children are resilient! That child popped right back up and back onstage to finish the routine! A-mazing!

So friends, what was your favorite SCD routine of all time? Please comment and share!

Can You Do The Can-Can?

Welcome to my trip down memory lane, where I am posting one SCD picture and story from days gone by as a countdown to the 20th Annual Recital!!

"The Can-Can"

Oh, the Can-Can! I just loved this dance. 

Now to be perfectly honest, I am sure that I loved this dance because I was in the center the entire time. What can I say? I like the spotlight! And, I was not in the center because I was awesome or something... it was a costume issue. Nevertheless, I got to be center and that made me (the showoff that I am) love this routine. But really, who wouldn't love the Can-Can? So full of energy and life!

I remember that this is when I fell in love with Smiley. I had already been in love with Baby Kate since the day she was born! They were so precious and so good for their age!!  

This picture was taken backstage at Starlight Dance Competition. We were BIG TIME at Starlight, let me tell you! I mean, we had already won the big prize there before!  If I remember correctly some of the older girls in this routine had been to prom the night before. Wow... troupers!! I was just in 7th grade so that clearly was not an issue for me. Couldn't tell you what this routine won or anything else about it. I have no memory of performing it at LADF or anywhere else. I, for some reason, have a very vivid image of us doing it at Six Flags the following fall. Maybe it is because we got to be INSIDE the Batman Theater that year!

You ladies remember Jazz Boots? Whew! No wonder recital was still 3 hours when there were half as many routines... lacing those bad boys up was a nightmare! 

 

Let Me See You Shake Your Tail Feather!

As many of you Dancing Readers know, this year marks the 20th Anniversary of my mother's dance studio. So, as a countdown to the recital on May 7 & 8 (please everyone come down and see it!) I am posting one pic plus story a day,  from the past!

"Rock-A-Doodle"

Now, if you know My Mother and I mean, KNOW my mother,  then you are aware that she is a bit of an overachiever and real go-getter! These are NOT bad qualities... just qualities of someone who may be a tad bit crazy.

The studio had only been open about 2 years when The Crazy Lady took us down to Six Flags to perform. We just took a few routines and the first year we danced outside of the Batman Theater (outside not IN the theater) on the cement and in the hot Texas heat. We didn't care! We were pretty sure that this made us rock stars. (Oh the naive youth! ) 

Most of the routines we took were from the previous year and didn't need too much rehearsal but Rock-A-Doodle was a new routine. (I am not sure why I wasn't in this one because all my friends were) It was a pretty cute routine with mixed ages. This routine may also mark the beginning of Miss Shannon's crazy costume designs. See those cute little feathers on the girls booties? Well those suckers ripped right off and became hand props! (This was not going to be the last time she made us dance with our costume!) If I didn't know better I would think my mother was high... but no, she is just naturally this way! I LOVE HER!!

 

Meow

As many of you Dancing Readers know, this year marks the 20th Anniversary of my mother's dance studio. So, as a countdown to the recital on May 7 & 8 (please everyone come down and see it!) I am posting a pic plus story, a day, from the past!

"Cats"

 I feel so bad that I do not have a pic of the entire group. I know there is one at the studio but I live 2,000 miles away so this will have to do!

 The year was 1997 and there were 72 dancers in this routine!! Let me say that one more time 72 dancers in this routine!! (Seriously, my mother is psychotic.) All 72 of us wore these lovely white crushed velvet unitards. It must have just looked like it was snowing to the audience! The older girls had pink in their ears and rhinestone chokers collars and the younger girls had blue in their ears with big bows on their collars.  And don't think for a minute that my enormous boobs looked good in this get up!  When I get to Oklahoma I promise to update this post with a new group pic! 

If you look closely in the back right hand side of the photo you can see one of our props. Yup, that's right. Big 'ol bouncy balls. (Again, my mother is psychotic.) Did she give her high school students these bouncy balls, NO! that would be too easy... she gave them to the younger kids!! Oh, the torture of these rehearsals!! We spent hours upon hours at the Plainview Gymnasium rehearsing so that we could all have room to move! 

Sure, if you follow dance competition, you are thinking to yourself that people put their entire company onstage together all the time. Yes, they do! However, they usher in and out each age group and then they dance maybe eight sets of eight together at the end. Not my crazy Mother!! We were all dancing onstage the entire 4 freakin minutes all 72 dancers!! (All together now, my mother is psychotic!) 

Oddly, this routine brings back some of my very fondest dance memories. The four girls in the picture were my group that started the whole routine. And I am not sure why but Kari just had the hardest time pretending to be a cat waking up. She always looked like she was getting a flea off her ear or something. Erin, Caroline and I would get the giggles at this and it was all over! As much as I have always complained about the big number rehearsal! I have nothing but fond memories of this crazy psychotic episode of my mothers work. 

*Oh, and this also happened to be the year that we moved recital from The Goddard Center to the Washington Theater. We had outgrown the stage and needed room for all those furry little friends!!

 

We won what?

As many of you Dancing Readers know, this year marks the 20th Anniversary of my mother's dance studio. So, as a countdown to the recital on May 7 & 8 (please everyone come down and see it!) I am posting a pic plus story from the past!

"The One"

So, way back in April 1992 we were a little green to the whole competition thing. I'm not going to lie, things are a bit hazy as I remember them. I cannot for the life of me tell you what our other routines were this year. I think they were Thriller and Willimania but I could be wrong. (Note: I only list 3 routines because that is all we had!) What I do know is this, for the two years prior to this we had worked all year on our one or two routines and then taken them to one, yes just one, competition. The one competition that we normally sat through awards without ever hearing our names. Oh, the heartbreak! None of this, every kid gets a trophy stuff... we were tough!
So, back to April 1992, things changed!! They changed BIG! Here we are at our first competition. Competition NOT convention. We did a ballet routine of all things and got first place. Then we got First Place Overall!! What? Huh? Mom asked if they give it to everyone! We did it and we didn't even know it! We beat the pants off everyone else there without a clue!! This would soon become an SCD tradition but this was the first time it happened! We were the first SCD kids to do it!

Now for the "Shannon Moment":  We are all very lucky to be in costume in this pic because well, Miss Shannon... that is some outfit and hairdo you are sporting!!

So ladies, anyone feel like adding to this memorable time in SCD History?

Let the Countdown Begin!

As many of you Dancing Readers know, this year marks the 20th Anniversary of my mother's dance studio. So, as a countdown to the recital on May 7 & 8 (please everyone come down and see it!) I am posting a pic plus story from the past!

So.... "C'mon shake your body baby do that Conga!"

The dance season was 1995-1996. This group was essentially what would be today's "SCD Elite Company" but back then was just another routine in the Company. 

This was the first year that I, as a student of my mothers,  remember thinking that we were really looking good. Yes, yes I know that the year before we had a banner year! But this was the first time I could physically SEE how the dancers were changing. We began the routine with a turn sequence that included more than half the group! For all you SYTYCD fans, this was new to us! It was new to most competitive dancers for that matter. Our little girls in blue were pretty fabulous for their age and we felt like a real team. Not the poor little small town studio without a clue that we had been not so many years before. I cannot remember one award this routine received but I can remember this... I felt like I was a part of something special when I was with these girls and these moments have shaped my life.

Now for those of you just waiting for your first "Shannon Moment"

Please raise your hand (or leave me some sort of fun comment) if you remember this:  "C'mon Chicky Baby do the Conga" vs. "C'mon shake your body baby do that Conga". I know you remember, Annie does! Please comment if you read and you remember. I cannot wait to see how many Shannon stories and jokes this week collects for me! 

Love you girls! You are always in my heart, at every audition and every show. Honestly, these are the moments that make my career easier. 

The SCD Kids Rock my World!!

I apologize for the lack of posting this past week! I have been in Ardmore with the SCD Kids and The Crazy Lady my Mommy.

My dance kids are AMAZING!! I love them like they were all my younger siblings. Some of them I have known since they were born and others entered my life through dance alone. Whether I have known them for one year or sixteen I truly love them and would do anything for them. They are just those kinds of kids.

This past weekend they went to dance convention in Dallas. They were fantastic!! They worked hard in all of their classes and rocked in competition that evening. For those of you that don't know what dance convention is, here is a break down of the weekend. Dance Classes all day Saturday & Sunday with a competition on Saturday night.

 

Only our Elite kids were required to attend but most of the kids came this weekend any way! I was pumped!! They were so freaking precious and had such great attitudes! It was nice to see them all enjoying their time on the dance floor and really going for it! 

Congrats to my awesome kids!! Sorry I cannot be at the next two competitions but I am sure you will rock them as well!!

THROW A LITTLE GLITTER ON IT...

First, I would like to apologize for my lack of posts! My parents don't have wireless internet (gasp!) and I cannot type on their computer. Not too mention, the Debbie Show took over my life last week.

Speaking of... This is the year of the prop at SCD! I mean, really! What in the world were we all thinking?! Miss Michelle has a BIG, I mean BIG, Box in her contemporary piece. I have a rolling piece of scaffolding with a juke box attached in my musical theater routine, Mom has a chain link fence in her lyrical and let's not even talk about the number of props in the production number! I left out some props too!

Michelle and I painted numerous days last week. I glittered everything on Friday. If you know my mother, you know that we LOVE the glitz. It makes it all so fabulous! I even glittered the girls tap shoes!

I wish I had a picture of all the props at once. It took a trailer to get them to the theater! I was too busy setting lights once we got to the theater to get those shots though. :(

The show went great! I love my kids and cannot wait to see them compete in February.