I spent the last part of my summer at home for just about two weeks (home is in Simi Valley, California). I always forget just how pretty the California mountains can be and what the valley view looks like as I fly in. It's so different from Virginia, and because it was home for so long, there is a kind of welcoming feeling I get when I see the layer of smog over the valleys.
I knew I didn't have long before returning to Richmond and the start of the season, however time seemed to catch me rather off guard, and the weeks went by quickly. I always return to the same classes when I'm home -- it's nice to take class with professionals all visiting from other companies, to hear their stories and push myself against their dancing. I usually see the same dancers who have similar layoffs as Richmond Ballet, and so most of them I've come to know fairly well over the years. I'll typically see dancers from such companies as Tulsa Ballet, Sacramento, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, Eugene Ballet, and Los Angeles Ballet.
Taking class in Hollywood is always fun because I run into dancers who have taken their careers into acting. I usually see Amanda Schull from the dance movie Center Stage, who is always kind and very humble, usually not admitting to where people may know her from.
Los Angeles is also really big into a new form of workout called Cardio Barre. It started in Hollywood, where I actually saw actress Amanda Bynes. Now that its become a bigger thing, we actually have a studio right in Simi Valley which combines some of a ballet barre with arm weights and a nonstop hour of cardio. It's usually pretty intense no matter what kind of shape I'm in, and also great for my stamina. While bike riding is not as big at home as it is here in RVA, my sister Kailyn and I did our share of riding our beach cruisers around town, which I found to be great for my core strength in learning to ride with no hands!
California is much more spread out in general, although the valley I'm from is fairly close to the beach. I didn't get many chances to make it over the pass into Malibu, but the day I did get to go ended up being a great weather day, although I have to admit that the Atlantic Ocean is so much warmer! After being in the Pacific for just a little while, my legs started to turn red and numb.
I had a great time spending my final weeks of vacation with my family, which is nice seeing as how I won't see Kailyn as much this year. It was so nice to have her around, and is something I know I'll miss here in Virginia. I'm really looking forward to this season, and we're off to a great start -- it's been nice to get back to work and into a routine again. I hope everyone enjoyed their summers, and I'll be seeing you at Studio Theater!!
-Kara
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