the eve of the concert

Okay, so it's been awhile. Since the semester really got going, I haven't had much free time. Although today I had class the first time since last thursday, so I guess I can't complain too much. Monday was a holiday, and then Tuesday was a Monday schedule of classes. I only have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I've like a little winter break this past week. I've been working though, and dancing too. We have a dance performance tonight, but I'm not performing in it because I have an orchestra concert. Anyway, I'm still obligated to go to all the rehearsals, and Monday night we had a 4 hour practice to finish choreographing the slipjig and reel that they're dancing tonight. It's a really neat dance and I think we all work pretty well together. Although, I have to admit I wasted a good 15 or 20 minutes of practice time trying to figure out if we could have a part where half the dancers were on their knees holding hands and the other half came up from behind and lept over their arms. We had a hard time clearing this jump, and I ended up kicking the club's president's hand a couple times pretty hard, so we gave up. We're putting it in the "bank" for future shows, though. We also just found out that we've been given funding of about $1200 for costumes. We found some simple, long sleeved black dresses for about $50 each that we're going to buy, and we already have green capes to wear on the back. It's an exciting time for Step About Boston.

So my orchestra concert is tonight, although it feels like we just started the music. There are 3 pieces total (I think) but woodwinds only play in 2 of them. The pieces are fairly hard, and honestly, I think they're beyond what the group should be playing, at least with only this many practices. But we'll see how it goes. Now I have to go get dressed up and walk through the rain to get to the dress rehearsal. As a wind player, I'm opposed to dress rehearsals immediately prior to the concert. It totally wears out your mouth. Just thought I'd throw that in.

And something else I just remembered: next Wednesday I'll be participating in a video conference with Bill Clinton and a few universities in Africa about African policies during the Clinton years. Pretty exciting, huh?