Archive: November 2011

Opening Night Tomorrow!

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Olivia

The Nutcracker opens tomorrow at Clowes Hall, 7:30 pm! I’m currently watching the dancers in Act II perform one last dress rehearsal in preparation for Butler Ballet‘s show tomorrow, and everyone looks great. I love watching the process of a program coming together, knowing all the individual struggles and seeing my friends overcome problem areas and grow ever more exacting. Press lifts which might not have worked in October sail into the air without a hitch now, and we are no longer satisfied with what seemed a good run a month ago.

Basically, I’m very proud of everybody, and you should come see the performances this weekend. Show times are:

Thursday, Dec 1, 7:30 pm
Friday, Dec 2, 8 pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 2 pm
Saturday, Dec 3, 8 pm
Sunday, Dec 4, 2 pm

It’s not too late to buy tickets! (Especially if you didn’t win one at the Apartment Village’s Bingo Night.)

"The Nutcracker" by Butler Ballet at Clowes Hall.

Tagged: ballet, Clowes, dance major, Nutcracker, performance, show | Leave a comment

Nutcracker: One More Time

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Olivia

This will be my last Nutcracker at Butler, and I’m not nostalgic quite yet. I have all year for that, right? So far, we’ve run through the ballet in the studio and spaced in the theater. Tomorrow comes tech rehearsals — dancing in fake snow — and a costume/orchestra rehearsal, both in the theater.

It’s always strange jumping right in after Thanksgiving Break. I recommend lots of Pilates.

I am drinking lots of water and listening to music. Also, reading Richard II for my Shakespeare class. I think I got food poisoning from Mongolian Grill and am quite grateful that grossness was over quickly; on a sadder note, my roommate has ushered in the Nutcracker cold/sickness. Tis the season.

My posts grow more scattered as I grow busier.

CLOWES!

Come see the show!

Tagged: ballet, Clowes, dance major, Nutcracker, performance, production week, show | 2 Comments

I am thankful for family

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Olivia

I am thankful for my family. You don’t realize how unique your family is until you go to college, live with other teenagers, and hear the stories. I did not know how ridiculous family jokes do not quite translate to the uninitiated. I did not realize what varying types of love we show our siblings. I especially did not anticipate my love of rabbits trebling five times twenty-three.

It’s good to be home this week. Remember to stay in touch with your family when you begin college, and cherish those times you get to spend with them. (Even when they drive you nuts).

My family likes Bananagrams.

My pet rabbits were excited to see me when I landed in Richmond on Saturday night.

Stay-in-touch tips? Use Skype, text pictures of your lunch to your dad, write real letters to your mom, and make sure share the silly stories when you return during a break from school.

Tagged: family, holiday, rabbits, thankful, Thanksgiving | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving Break Youtube Collection

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Olivia

Thanksgiving Break. A time for family and friends and relaxing… and English papers? But of course. In case you actually have a few hours to yourself and want a frivolous activity, I have gathered a collection of funny/odd Youtube videos from the recommendations of various friends and sisters.

1. Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

2. Adorable Owls!

3. Scary Cat Massage Lady

4. Mameshiba!

Okay, I suppose I should finish that English paper…

Tagged: holiday, internet, papers, procrastination, silliness, Youtube | 1 Comment

College Cooking: Leftover Soup

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Olivia

Thanksgiving Break had begun! And Thursday night I found a bunch of perishable items in the refrigerator that needed to be eaten. How does one get rid of onion, carrots, celery, and pasta? One makes soup!

This is the first soup I’ve ever completely winged, and I messed up a fair number of soups last autumn so I was a bit wary. My schoolteacher roommate makes soup all the time and brings delicious smells into the apartment, so I was inspired to try once again… and it worked! Hence this addition to the College Cooking series (which now has the grand total of two recipes — see the first here).

Leftover Vegetable Soup:

Sauté some onion in olive oil (or butter if your apartment has run out of olive oil like mine). Add a few pinches of thyme or another herb of your choice.
Heat about two or three cups of vegetable or chicken stock in a pot.
Add chopped up carrots and celery or whatever vegetables you have leftover. Add the onion.
Bring to a boil, then simmer for a while.
While simmering, throw in some already-cooked pasta. I used angel hair pasta because that’s what I had. You could also do a cup of cooked rice. You could also add some canned chicken (or be fancy and cook it yourself) if you want meat in your soup.
Add more spices — I chose to add a few large pinches of dried parsley, some onion powder, salt, and pepper.
When the vegetables are soft, remove from heat. I let mine go a little longer because I was doing laundry, and the noodles just absorbed more liquid and it was delicious.
Eat!

Tagged: College Cooking, cooking, recipes, soup, vegetables | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving Checklist

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Olivia

Thanksgiving is next Thursday, and Butler students, much as we love to study and attend class, are counting down the days until sleep and family bonding commence. Inspired by Andre’s post, here is what I hope to do over Thanksgiving break:

See my family. I haven’t been home since August, and I did not spend much time there this summer either, due to BSI. I guess it’s training for the real world of jobs next year.
See my friends from home.
Play with my rabbits.
Play with my sisters.
Take dance classes — as possibly teach as well! My Teaching Analysis of Classical Ballet class should come in handy.

Belly bump with my sister?

Oh yeah, also:

Finish a paper on Shakespeare’s Othello.
Write a review of another Shakespearian play.
Write a dance critique of a performance I’ve seen — I think I’ll do mine on the Luna Negra program I saw a few weeks ago.
Reassemble my Irish Lit paper from its URC format to submit as my senior English essay.
Begin my research paper for Financial Fictions class on the metaphoric Fall in Frank Norris’ The Pit.
Arrange dance photos for my resume — YIKES.
Begin a paper for my Theory and Philosophy of Dance class: “What is dance?” I’m going to answer, “Derrida.”
Finish my knitting project?

Will all this happen? Probably not. Can I try? Meh… I’ll let you know.

Tagged: Derrida, family, holiday, homework, Irish lit, papers, Teaching | 2 Comments

Nutcracker World, Post-Studio Dress

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Olivia

What happens in Nutcracker world after Studio Dress?

As I talked about this weekend, normally we run both casts during Studio Dress on Saturday. Because the Inauguration occurred that morning, we could only complete one cast. Hence Tuesday… Studio Dress II: The sequel, the Nutcracker returns, oh my goodness, this happens more than once?

So we had two versions of Studio Dress this year. With or without the sequel, the week following Studio Dress, which is the week before Thanksgiving Break, we run the ballet once a day. Act II comes first (since the children in Act I are still in school when we start) followed by Act I with Mother Ginger tacked onto the end of the entire process (ditto the parenthesis). And then we do it all again the next day.

The Monday classes resume after Thanksgiving Break, we go to the theater, and that weekend sees our performances. It’s getting close, y’all.

You can never have too much Nutcracker… So you’d better get your tickets.

Tagged: ballet, dance major, Nutcracker, rehearsal, Studio Dress | Leave a comment

Studio Dress, Nutcracker 2011

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Olivia

Studio Dress = all the dance majors run a ballet for the first time completely put together, in costume, in the largest studio in Lilly Hall. Because The Nutcracker is double-cast, we usually run the show twice. This means Studio Dress takes all Saturday.

Butler Ballet's The Nutcracker... Dec 1-4, 2011

This year, however, our new university President Jim Danko’s inaugaration was the morning of Studio Dress. We started in the afternoon, only ran one cast, and will finish with the other cast during the large rehearsal slot on Tuesday.

Studio Dress is always slightly manic, but fun. This year, thanks to the shortened time, it seemed like the rehearsal was over before I knew it! The costume shop has been extremely busy getting everything ready, and the costumes all look fantastic. I have the most enormous crown; I used about thirty pins because I was afraid it would fall off if I spotted too quickly, and it seemed secure enough.

I forgot I haven’t written about this before… I’m actually dancing as the Snow Queen now. I injured my foot earlier this semester and the faculty decided to take me out of the Grand Pas so the injury would not get worse. I understand the decision, though I’m still pretty disappointed. But… my foot feels better, and I’m excited to be in the snow scene! I think the shows will all be beautiful, and I urge you to buy your tickets to see this year’s Nutcracker performances!

Tagged: ballet, dance, dance major, Nutcracker, performance, rehearsal, snow, Studio Dress | 3 Comments

Inauguration 2011

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Olivia

Last year when I learned past president Bobby Fong was leaving Butler, I was definitely sad. After all, how many university presidents will let themselves be hoisted onto the shoulders of their students to crowd surf during Final Four celebrations?

I must say, I have met new president Jim Danko a few times, along with his wife Bethany, mostly through activities with the Butler Catholic Community or with Butler Hillel. I don’t know much about President Danko’s administrative policies, but he is always friendly. And Bethany Danko — who is extremely sweet — bakes a mean cookie.

(She is known as The Cookie Lady or The Cookie Fairy among the BCC.)

This Saturday was President Danko’s inauguration, and while I couldn’t attend the actual installation ceremony (see Studio Dress, preparations for), I went to the student breakfast in the Johnson Room. Open to all Butler students, the event mixed breakfast (bacon and the infamous Atherton cheesy eggs, anyone?) with President Danko and First Lady Bethany Danko with other adminstrative people with Blue II. Guess who was the star of the event?

That’s right, Blue II even has a tux for the inaugural gala tonight…

Tagged: administration, BCC, Blue II, Bobby Fong, inauguraton, president | 4 Comments

Tech Fast… for real this time

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Olivia

Okay, after a false start (I thought this was last week originally) the Technology Fast is here! I am not in fact blogging — this post has been/was scheduled to publish. I am currently not on my computer, ipod, or cell phone. I’m also probably wandering around campus trying to meet people: My usual trick is to text him/her asking for an exact location rather than trust he/she will show up at the preordained spot.

Joking aside, the tech fast is a great event sponsored by the Butler Catholic Community. The goal is not to deny the utility and convenience of entertainment and communication technology — if you are reading this, then you want to know more about the life of a Butler college student (or about my life in particular, if you are my dad) and are using technology to do so. However, a short fast from technology introduces some perspective. Do I really need to text my boyfriend if he is three minutes late? No, of course not.

At the end of the fast, all participants are invited to attend a supper and discussion of the event at the Blue House. I did not go last year, though I participated in the fast, but the people who went were extremely enthusiastic. This year I’m planning to attend, so I report all awesomeness I encounter!

If you are reading this, you might consider a mini-fast of your own: Even just four hours makes you aware of how often you use technology… and perhaps how often technology is really necessary.

When not on a tech fast, you can find BCC updates through our Facebook community page.

The Butler Catholic Community: not always completely serious...

English majors, please excuse all the passive voice and second person I’ve used in this post.

Tagged: BCC, Catholic, spirituality, Tech Fast, technology | Leave a comment

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