Life is an Adventure...
  • Home
  • Crafting
    • Replicate and Duplicate
  • Cooking
    • Make it Yourself! >
      • Recipe Cards
  • Dancing
  • Photos
  • Travels
  • Research

Oh... hi!

9/4/2014

0 Comments

 
Well... it's been over a year since I posted last - I'm the worst.  Needless to say, things got a little crazy and out of control.  A LOT happened...

So, maybe I'll just try and sum it up with some quick bullet points and snapshots...
  • I discovered a new love for West Coast Swing - JP, Katie, and I went up to Vermont last September on a whim for the social dance at the 2013 Vermont Swing Championships.  We were completely wow'd, a little over whelmed, but overall had an AMAZING time.
Picture
  • I continued horseback riding for the Fall semester - even broke out Mom's old saddle! :)  (The Spring got a little too crazy though, so I took a break until after the semester ended...)
Picture
Picture

  • Krista came to visit in October and we had a girls weekend while the boys went off for James' bachelor party.  We took Lucas apple and pumpkin picking!
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Ballroom had a full-fledged Halloween costume party! 
  • I presented a poster at the AVS conference in Long Beach, California in October.  I ended up being able to fly out there a few days early and spend some time with Aunt Carol and Uncle John - it was great to visit them and to have them come out to the conference with me! :)
  • The family at Thanksgiving!
Picture
  • Also in November, we had a Bachelorette party for Adrienne - we had a great time playing Bachelorette Bingo!
  • Here are some quick pictures of JP and Lucas playing some video games together - because cute.
  • And then, of course, James and Adrienne's wedding! :)
  • Christmas was great - Dad got me a couple of snowball guns that we couldn't wait to try out!  And I made beard hats for the boys! :)
  • For New Year's, I drove to Cleveland to visit Krista!!!!  We got SO much snow while I was there!  But we had a great time - we went to the botanical gardens, the art museum, a little shopping, some snowy walks, and a lot of time snuggling up with knitting and some Downton Abbey.
  • Matt and I hadn't really been able to dance together much this year - we competed at Tufts in December and that was pretty much it, unfortunately.  (And lets not even talk about the fact that I danced even though I had pink eye, a fever, and just generally felt pretty miserable... hence the decision to only do Smooth...)  But I DID go to Columbia's competition with the rest of the team and TBA'd with Steve - we had a blast!  And did really well in Rhythm! :)  (And thank you to Eric for the great photos!!)
  • But Matt and I FINALLY were able to dance at the RPI competition!  JP and I danced a 3-person Cha Cha with Rozalyn - toooooooo cute.  And I was able to wear a bunch of new dresses!  I'm completely in love with the green one.  

              (All of these photos are thanks to Jay Zhang, Chris Shake, or Eric Lam!)
Picture
My absolute favorite... THANK YOU JAY!!!! <3
  • I suppose the next big milestone was USA Dance Nationals!  It was really overwhelming but Matt and I danced our hearts out and did pretty well for our first time out there. :)  We got 7th in the Adult Champion Nine Dance!  We also danced the Adult Pre-Champion and Champion Rhythm and Smooth events (I honestly don't remember what we got in any of those four... haha I told you - I'm the worst...)
  • So I suppose there is one MAJOR detail I have neglected to include, thus far... Sometime in February, I decided to audition for the musical.  Crazy right?!  The show was Gentlemen Prefer Blondes - if anyone was going to be Marilyn, I just knew it had to be me.  PLUS Jen was going to be the choreographer - how fun!!  So I went to the auditions, nervously forced my way though a song (When You're Good to Mama, from Chicago - obvi.), read my monologue, and then rocked the little piece of choreography for the dance audition.  I found myself with a callback for Lorelei, Dorothy, and Gloria - crazy!!  Long story short, I found myself as Lorelei... :)  Nothing says "stressful" like having your very first theater experience be the leading character...  But I more than survived - and while I had a few jitters opening night, by the end of the third scene I was completely comfortable and loving performing!  All in all, amazing.  I would pretty much do anything to put on that blonde wig and belt out Diamonds one more time!!!
  • JP did the trifecta for his birthday - QUITE an afternoon/evening/night! 
Picture
  • At the end of May, JP and I headed up for a long weekend in Montreal to go to the Canadian Swing Championships.  The whole thing was SUPER fun - it was mostly Lindy Hop (and also Blues, Rockabilly Jive, and Balboa) but there was some West Coast, too!  We got to watch some amazing dancing and were bummed that we didn't plan on staying for the full competition weekend.  We ended up going into Montreal for the second half of the weekend (dancing was actually in Sherbrooke) and then JP stayed for the American Helicopter Society conference for the rest of the week with his lab group, while I went home early.  This was definitely the spark of West Coast fever. :)
Picture
Picture
  • I PASSED MY CANDIDACY EXAM!!!!! Thank God.
Picture
  • JP, Katie, Susan, Steve, Emily, and I all met up in NJ for the Liberty Swing weekend at the end of June - amazing.  SO many workshops and SO much dancing!!!  Amazing - I can't wait for next year!
Picture
(Photo from Steve's camera)
  • I also used this summer to unleash a little bit more of my creative side - with painting!!  Definitely something new for me, but I'm loving it.  Don't get too excited - I've only done three Painting at the Pub nights, but Kristen makes the whole thing really easy-going and it's super relaxing!  I can't wait for the next one! :)   June was "Fireflies in the Moonlight," July was "Aloha Summer," and August was "Under the Sea" - which Mom even came out and did with me!
  • Another cuteness interlude - Lucas just HAD to help JP with his guitar.  #adorable.
Picture
  • Mom, Dad, and I took a mini-vacation in mid-August to go up to Lake Placid for the weekend.  It was perfect - although I forgot how chilly August actually is up there!  (Our first stop was to the Gap outlet to stock up on cute sweaters and scarves).  We also went for a trail ride at the Olympic cross-country facility and had a nice time exploring Mirror Lake and the downtown area!  Overall, very relaxing.
I ended my summer with a trip down to Maryland for Labor Day weekend - I went to visit JP, who has an internship down there for the Fall semester.  I didn't take many pictures, but I was able to get a few from our trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore!  We also went out West Coast Swing dancing Friday and Monday nights, had crab cakes in Annapolis Saturday night, and then had a pretty relaxing day on Sunday (grocery shopping, brunch, some pool time, went to the movies to see Guardians of the Galaxy, experimented with pumpkin tomato sauce and tortellini for dinner...).  All in all, a pretty great weekend :)
Whew!  I think that just about sums it up?  Maybe I'll be able to stay more on top of this from now on... Or maybe not...  I'll certainly try though!!!

0 Comments

2013 RPI Dancesport Competition

5/6/2013

0 Comments

 
Let's just say, there is NOTHING like competing at home.  :)  The best part this year?  Cousinly support!!! Thank you a billion times to Sara, Chris, Mia, and Alex for coming out to cheer us on!  (And yes, you heard me right! Us = Ali + Mom + Dad!!  They were great...) :)

This year's competition was a HUGE success - even though we had two other competitions plan their's for the same date as ours - and we had a TON of fun. We actually got to spend some time with competitors from the other schools, too which was awesome!  (Isn't making friends fun?)

Matt and I did Open American Smooth (Waltz/Tango/Foxtrot/Viennese Waltz) and Open American Rhythm (Cha Cha/Rumba/Swing/Bolero/Mambo).

Pictures speak louder than words, maybe?  Here are some highlights from the day!


Setting up for the Waltz, our first dance of the day - Sara caught me looking over at them! :)
Picture
Waltz (Photo by Sara B.)
Picture
Waltz (Photo by Sara B.)
Picture
Waltz (Photo by Sara B.)
 
Picture
Waltz (Photo by Sara B.)


Picture
Waltz (Photo by Kevin K.)
BEAUTIFUL shot:
Picture
Waltz (Photo by Chris S.)
Picture
Waltz (Photo by Sara B.)
Picture
Waltz, I think? (Photo by Sara B.)
Then it was time for Tango.  I think this is possibly our best dance of the entire day... Plus, it's my favorite... :)

And thanks to all of the wonderful people taking pictures, we have our opening from all kinds of different angles!
Picture
Tango (Photo by Sara B.)
Picture
Tango (Photo by Katie W.)
Like this one a lot... 
Picture
Tango (Photo by Sara B.)
Picture
Tango (Photo by Kevin K.)
Super fierce!!  Check out that glare! 
Picture
Tango (Photo by Katie W.)
This one is DEFINITELY one of my favorites... AMAZING line!!   (Especially impressive once you realize that I'm actually completely off the ground... super intense, too!)
Picture
Tango (Photo by Sara B.)
Simply stunning.  I can't believe Sara managed to capture this one:
Picture
Tango (Photo by Sara B.)
And the full picture, courtesy of Katie:
Picture
Tango (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Tango (Photo by Chris S.)
Bendy dip!!! :)
Picture
Tango (Photo by Sara B.)
Picture
Foxtrot (Photo by Sara B.)
Beautiful photo from Kevin of the start to our Viennese Waltz!
Picture
Viennese Waltz (Photo by Kevin K.)
And here's just a few from Rhythm...
Picture
Rumba (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Rumba (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Rumba (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Bolero (Photo by Katie W.)
All in all? AMAZING day dancing :)  We took first in Smooth and second in Rhythm!

And thank you again to those of you who let me steal these pictures from!! <3

I also managed to get some pictures of Mom and Dad!  They did GREAT and managed to get a few call-backs! :)

(I'm pretty sure these are all from Rumba.)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Can't wait to have them at more competitions with me!  Maybe this summer... :)
0 Comments

Holy Cross 2013

4/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Back in February we packed up with the team and headed out to Holy Cross for (you guessed it I'm sure...) DANCING! :)

Matt and I only went out for Smooth - we left the competition early so that we could get back in time to go to the monthly USA Dance that night!  (Sunday competitions are so hectic!)  

Main reason we had to get back for it?  We were one of the showcase performances! We danced our Tango - I'm not usually one to toot my own horn but... wow.  I can't believe I don't have any video of it!!! Probably some of the best dancing we've done... We went for it and held nothing back!  (Plus, they PACKED the dance floor at Holy Cross, which made Smooth... well... a little rough!  So I think we were both pretty amped up over that and had a lot of angst to flavor our Tango) :)


Anyways!  Katie got a few great photos that I figured I'd share.  (The big windows in the ballroom were beautiful but made avoiding backlighting a little rough... but you get the idea anyway!)
Picture
Open American Waltz (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Starting the Tango (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Leg crawl! (Tango again...) (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Viennese Waltz! EXPLOSIONS! (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Giving a little attitude in Foxtrot! (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
More Tango! (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
More Tango... apparently our most photo-worthy dance? (Photo by Katie W.)
Picture
Another from Viennese Waltz (Photo by Katie W.)
I think this one might be my favorite from the day though!
Picture
Open American Tango (Photo by Katie W.)
Sure my face is covered, but whatever!!  Still an awesome action shot.  :)
0 Comments

Tufts Competition, 2012

12/2/2012

0 Comments

 
Written: January 3, 2013 - I'm trying to catch up on a few things I let slip by...
Between the baby shower and Secret Santa gatherings, I'm not sure this weekend could have been any more jam-packed.  Well, unless we added going to Boston for a ballroom competition, of course.  Why did we do that again?? :)

It was Matt and my first competition dancing Open level Smooth.  We ended up placing 5th of the 5 couples, which was definitely a little disappointing.  But we danced really well and the team was super supportive and wonderful!  We also had the leader from the couple that placed second congratulate us on our dancing and he said he thought for sure we would be in the top 2 with them!  (I have no clue how he had time to watch us while he was dancing but, either way!  Super flattering!)  Given that it was our first competition at Open?  I'm thrilled... We just need to add a little bit of polish and I think we're good to go!  (No to mention, after looking at the couples, I'm pretty sure we should have had 3rd...)  Mom was also able to come to this one, which was really special (Dad was away on a business trip) and Rob came, too.

Anyways!  There are a few videos... but for some reason I'm not sure I want to post them at the moment... haha  (Ask me if you'd really like to see them and I'm happy to send you links!  You know... like if you're my Aunt Carol, or something) :)

Here are some photos from the day though!
Picture
American Tango (photo by Chris S.)
Picture
American Tango (photo by Chris S.)
Picture
American Tango (photo by Chris S.)
Picture
American Tango (photo by Chris S.)
This is probably my favorite of the day:
Picture
American Tango (photo by Chris S.)
Picture
American Foxtrot (photo by Chris S.)
Picture
American Foxtrot (photo by Chris S.)
Picture
Gold Swing (photo by Chris S.)
Picture
Gold Bolero (photo by Katie W.)
(P.S. This orange dress is for sale if anyone is interested!  It's in perfect condition - just comment if you have any questions about buying it!)
0 Comments

2012 RPI Competition!

5/8/2012

1 Comment

 

Saturday, March 31st

(Yup - I'm more than a month late... My excuse this time?  I was the Competition Coordinator, which on top of being a PhD student was enough to pretty much drain me for a few weeks... but I've just about recovered and am finally getting all caught up!)

The competition ran unbelievably smoothly and I'm thrilled with how the whole weekend went.

I was really nervous that I wouldn't be able to dance at all (yup... the whole back thing still not going so well) but given all the work I put into planning it, I begged and pleaded with my physical therapist to let me.  I actually was fine the entire weekend and my back didn't lock up at all!  (Well... until I tried to shampoo my hair the following Tuesday... that apparently was the straw that broke the camel's back?)  

Matt and I weren't sure how we were going to do, overall given that I hadn't really danced at all the 2 weeks before the competition (and unfortunately haven't danced since, either...) but we survived!

Standard was first thing in the morning and we generally did pretty well!  My back was really tight so by the time we got to Viennese Waltz I kind of wanted to cry, but as we warmed up and stretched it definitely improved.  


Picture
(photo by Chris)



For Gold Standard, we placed first for Waltz/Quickstep, first for Tango/Foxtrot, and second for Viennese Waltz.

Check out those wings! ;)
Picture
(photo by Chris)
Picture
(photo by Chris)
For Gold Smooth, we ended up taking first in Waltz/Tango and first in Foxtrot/Viennese Waltz! 


Woo hoo!!!


More or less sweeping the morning?  I'll take it!

P.S. I love this picture because it's super rare for Matt to smile like that during Smooth or Standard.

Picture
American Waltz (photo by Chris)
Picture
American Tango (photo by Chris)
Rob and some of his family came to watch (thankyouthankyouthankyou!!) for a little bit and he took some video of smooth:  

(Or just link to the video here:  Gold American Waltz/Foxtrot/Tango/Viennese Waltz)
It was so nice to have a little cheering section there for me.  :)  I'm definitely a fan of "close to home" competitions.
Picture
(photo by Chris)



By the time we got to Rhythm, we kind of decided to just cut loose and go with whatever!

Kicking it off?  Krista and I danced Silver Swing/Mambo together!  I led Swing (shown here at the right) and then I quickly ripped off the black sweater with our number and gave it to her so she could lead the Mambo!  No callback, but ridiculously fun and totally worth it...




Picture
(photo by Chris)
For the rest of Gold Rhythm, Matt and I ended up with fourth in Bolero, fifth in Rumba/Cha Cha, and fifth in Swing/Mambo.  We danced the hell out of it and played with it more than ever - amazing.

Picture
(photo by Chris)
Yup.... that's right... we brought it.

And guess who else "brought it"???  MOM AND DAD! :)
Picture
They competed for Newcomer Cha Cha and Rumba - there was a lot of stiff competition but they were AWESOME!  I could be a little biased... But I think they were a pretty strong team favorite!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Ricardo checking out some footwork... :)
Like I said, all in all the competition went beautifully - but the weekend isn't even close to over!

As soon as the competitive dancing was finished, we packed up, changed, and headed out to the Crooked Lake House for the second annual Dancing at the Lake, co-hosed with our local chapter of USA Dance.  We had some social dancing and a professional showcase by two of our judges - Ricardo Sopin and Iraida Volodina.  (They are incredible dancers and super nice people!)

The icing on this cake?  My sorority formal was happening - same time, same place! - in the other banquet room.  The 6 of us that are on the dance team were thrilled that we were able to pop in and out of both.  :)  And we invite all of the girls over to see Ricardo and Iraida, which was pretty awesome...

The long day and late night didn't end the festivities - all day Sunday was some more dancing!  Well... for some of us anyway.   Ricardo, Iraida, and Jen Volpe (our regular professional coach) each held a workshop and then private lesson session for us.  I think Matt and I ended up taking 4 lessons - and my back held up through it all!!

Was I exhausted?  ummm... HELL YES.

Was it totally worth it?   Again - hell yes.

:)

1 Comment
<<Previous
    Picture

    Alison "Ali" Rose

    Currently working on a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and all of the side projects that help get me through it!

    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Categories

    All
    Apartment
    Conferences
    Cooking
    Crafting
    Dancing
    Everything In Between...
    Have A Giggle
    Photos
    Presentations
    Research
    Travels
    Video

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Creative Commons License
    My Life is an Adventure... by Alison Rose is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.