Updates!

I got my edited Varnam song from my teacher 2 weeks back -- Yay! When I got my edited Varnam music, I felt like things were falling into place and I could really do this :) Other updates -- learnt the Andaal thirupaavai (Andru ivvulagam alandaai) from my teacher's friend who also happens to be a great teacher himself! Am very excited about the Andaal piece makeup -- the long flower garland that I can wear and the kondai! I am still learning the Padam (Maadu mekkum kanne) from my teacher -- should be done soon.

We are now focusing on the nitty-gritty details since the choreo is mainly done and I have the jathis memorized for the most part. Yesterday's class was a pretty long class -- 3hrs 45 mins. My teacher said henceforth classes will be this long (need to remind myself to eat well and carry snacks/coconut water to class). It takes a lot of patience to train a student for an arangetram!

And, my photo shoot photos are here (worth the 6 hours that went into it)! Here's a glimpse:

Have to take an appointment with the tailor so my teacher and I can tell him how to fix the fan of my costume (the fan kept coming off during the photo shoot!) and then brochure design is next! It seems I have to pay $500 to rent the hall for my rehearsal which makes it a $1000 in all for the hall (not as inexpensive as I assumed it would be but not bad either).

Affirmation: I will practise an hour everyday at least so my stamina keeps getting better!

Better.

I danced the varnam from start to end for the first time in today's class (except for forgetting a little bit of a swaram) and it felt good. My teacher started the keerthanai choreography which is double good. My photos from the photo shoot have not arrived yet. Eagerly waiting for it.


Woke up at 7.30 today again to practise and was sort of zoned out the whole day. Need to schedule a time that better suits me. Talked to a few (dance) friends and they offered to help in any way they can. Always nice to hear that.

Less than 2 months remaining. My last day at work is this Friday. So, that should give me a lot more time to focus and practise.

Affirmation: I like to practise everyday. It is not hard. It is enjoyable. I want to do it.

Low point.

Last Saturday, my teacher said she was very disappointed with my arangetram practice. She said I was not in the zone yet and I needed to practice regularly. She said perhaps I need to get out of the house to not get distracted. She seemed quite upset. I had a mental block that my choreography was not yet complete. My padam (part of which I know), my keerthana and mangalam were left. Also, we needed to stitch the varnam music together.

I kept an alarm for 7.30 AM, my sis-in-law gave me hot tea and I practiced for an hour. It felt good :) So, plan to do that regularly and slowly up the practice to a couple of hours.

My photo shoot is complete! Waiting for the photos. Then, I'll have to design my brochure. K needs to arrange the food. I have a yes from a photographer and a videographer each of which will be less than $500, which is good.

I don't have a rehearsal date at the hall. Apparently, I need to pay another $500 to book the hall for a rehearsal.

For now, focusing on the items with choreo complete -- Pushpanjali, Muralidhara kavuthuvam, Ananda narthana Ganapathy, Thillana and Varnam.

Affirmation -- I will practice every day.