Eloquent Confabulation

Captions for Portfolio Photo 1 A cash donation, giving to a...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:01:53 -0400

Captions for Portfolio

Photo 1
A cash donation, giving to a greater cause. Brothers of Western Michigan University’s Alpha Tau Omega fraternity raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

Photo 2
Trying to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, freshman at WMU,Chad Whalen, braved the 30 degree temperatures with his fraternity brothers at the Western Michigan Flagpoles on February 27. The members of Alpha Tau Omega are camping out in the cold for 48 hours to help raise money.

Photo 3
Students a part of the Young Republican Society at Western Michigan University encourage others to register to vote in Kalamazoo, February 20.

Photo 4
With the upcoming elections, member from the Young Republican Society ask passers-by to register to vote in Kalamazoo.

Photo 5
With a”My Name is Indigo Montoya” t-shirt Travis Mattson, a senior at WMU, keeps in shape by using free weights to work his triceps. Mattson said he benefits from the 24 hour fitness room at the Centre Apartments

Photo 6
When the bus has no more seats available, this Western Michigan University student uses his saxophone case. He keeps a beat in mind and spirit as he rides his way to class.

Photo 7
Waiting for the bus to come, this student stands on his long board. “All strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet,” said Stranger on Long Board.

Photo 8
A group of friends travel down Western Michigan University’s campus. The guys joke about how pretty they look for the camera.

Photo 9
Students prepare for their recital in Dalton Hall at WMU on February 9.

Photo 10
Practicing poses, these three dance students understand the art of performing.

Music: Dream by Priscilla Ahn

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:47:00 -0400

Music:

Dream by Priscilla Ahn

Captions for Final Photo 1In order to further their flexibility,...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:25:18 -0400

Captions for Final
Photo 1
In order to further their flexibility, the students of Dance 1200: Jazz Technique 1 at Western Michigan University stretch in their straddle split position. Even though it is a beginning dance course, many of the 27 students strive to become dance majors or minors at WMU.
Photo 2
Shoes are not permitted in the beginning jazz and modern dance. The shape of the foot while dancing is a key element in the aesthetics of dance.
Photo 3
Abdominal work outs which involve a number of different types of crunches mixed with some Pilates exercises in order to strengthen the core. Many of the dance movements rely on the core so it is important to keep the abs strong, according to Kirsten Harvey, Jazz Technique 1 professor.
Photo 4
As the other students watch Professor Harvey demonstrates the correct way passé, Izzabella Irwin practices off to the side. Irwin has auditioned to become a dance major twice already and plans to audition again after taking more upper level dance classes; she said she wants to get all the experience she can.
Photo 5
Listening to Professor Harvey talk about technique, 18-year-old Izzabella Irwin takes note of each word.
Photo 6
Izzabella Irwin, a freshman at Western Michigan University catches her breath after her Jazz Technique 1 and prepares for her Modern Dance class. She takes these classes back to back along with an Interpretation class.
Photo 7
While preparing to relevé, rising from a flat foot to a point, Izzabella Irwin, freshman at WMU, checks her form in the mirror. Irwin, who has been dancing since she was seven, strives to be accepted into the dance major program at WMU.
Photo 8
The class practices quarter turns in preparation for their dance combination. Flying across the dance floor, Izzabella Irwin demonstrates her skill from eleven years of dance classes but still makes every effort to become better.
Photo 9
As the jazz students take individual time to work on what they need to, Izzabella Irwin works on the moves she feels needs practice. “I feel like I’m really hard on myself. It’s really hard not to compare yourself to the other dancers,” said Izzabella Irwin.
Photo 10
Alone on the dance floor, Izzabella Irwin talks personally to Professor Harvey about her taking her dancing to the next level.

Dreaming of Dance through WMU's Programs

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:15:50 -0400

She put pennies and Playdough in the bottoms of her shoes, a little girl of 4 or 5 years old, and wobbled as she tried to walk on her toes, wanting to be prima ballerina.

Now, Izzabella Irwin, an 18-year-old freshman at Western Michigan University, continues her dream of dance but not without effort. She has been dancing ballet since she was 7 years old and started dancing jazz and modern when she was 16. This semester she is taking the beginning jazz, modern and improvisation dance classes with hopes of getting into the dance major program.

In order to become a dance major at WMU, the students must endure a grueling audition process which includes a full day of ballet, jazz, modern and improvisation. Over 100 students come to audition with high hopes but only twenty or so get in, depending on the year.

“It’s really intimidating, the audition process,” said Irwin. “…I feel like I’m really hard on myself. It’s really hard not to compare yourself to the other dancers while dancing, thinking if they are looking at one girl more or if someone’s leg is kicking higher.”

The dancers must do everything on the spot in the audition, said Irwin. They give us the combination we need to dance three times only and they don’t repeat it after that. They want to see the dancers who can pick it up really fast and on the spot, she said. That’s what they’re looking for.

“I’ve auditioned two times already and they only let you audition three times to get into the program,” said Irwin. “I plan to get a minor in dance first and take a few of the upper classes before I audition again since I only get one more shot at it.”

At the moment, Irwin is placed in an awkward position with what to do to further her dance career at WMU. She was placed in the upper level classes in all three sections of dance that are available, jazz, modern and ballet, but she must be at least a dance minor to take them next year. She was put on a waiting list to become a dance minor, so officially is not in the program.

“I’m number sixteen on the minor list,” said Irwin. “The advisor said she’s hopefully optimistic that I’ll become a minor before fall.”

Not only does Irwin dance but she also plays a lot of instruments and art projects. She said that although dancing in a dance company after graduation would be a great experience, what she really wants to do with it is open a studio in a small town that incorporates dance, music and art together.

“Raise the roof for arts!” Irwin said smiling. “Dance was a really good outlet for my teenage life. All of those arts are such a good outlet for teenage angst.”
Coming from a small town Irwin understands that sometimes it’s easy for kids to plateau at a certain level because that’s where the teaching level ends. She wants to help kids through that give them more opportunities and just take their art to the next level.

“Usually it’s not the kids’ choice to dance but it’s more of the parents pushing it on them. They put them into classes early and then they grow to like it,” said Irwin.

“It was all me, though. I wanted to be a dancer earlier but my mom made me wait until I was seven.”

Irwin never felt like she was being forced into dancing and because of that, she thinks that’s why she feels so passionately about it. It also helps to begin dancing at a later age because when a person’s feet or ankles aren’t fully developed it’s a lot easier to develop ankle and foot problems due to dance. Irwin experienced no serious injuries from dance, only a pulled muscle here or there but said she was one of the lucky ones.

“Even though I love to dance every style, ballet is my favorite,” Irwin said. “I think that’s because it’s where I feel the most confident in. It feels like home.”

Little Excerpt...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:36:00 -0500

The pan stared at her from the stove. She eyed it right back, gazing over the crusty burnt edges, orange liquid pooling in on one side, sticks of leftover disintegrating cinnamon. She shook her head and tried to restrain herself from throwing the object of disgust on the floor. She did restrain, knowing that if she did, it would be her cleaning it up (like everything else).

Asked me to clean up after her, like I’m her mother. On Valentine’s Day! Like I don’t have other things to do. Amy decided to throw the pan into the sink. That’s fucking it. This pisses me off.

…..

bookmania: Home Library (Photo by srk1941) Another future...

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:46:09 -0500

bookmania:

Home Library (Photo by srk1941)

Another future libaray for me to wish for

Assignment 4 of Photojournalism… be a creeper and take...

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:14:40 -0500

Assignment 4 of Photojournalism… be a creeper and take pictures of strangers haha

"Time that withers you will wither me. We will fall like ripe fruit and roll down the grass together...."

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:49:59 -0500

“Time that withers you will wither me. We will fall like ripe fruit and roll down the grass together. Dear friend, let me lie beside you watching the clouds until the earth covers us and we are gone.”

- Jeanette Winterson, Written on the Body (via bookmania)

Assignment 3 for Photojournalism

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:28:00 -0500

Assignment 3 for Photojournalism

So I now have a new celebrity crush. It started with Orlando...

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:22:17 -0500

So I now have a new celebrity crush. It started with Orlando Bloom, Gerard Butler, followed by Chaning Tatum with others sprinkled in the way. New crush (drum roll, please)…. Christopher Volpi, lead singer of Ready Set Fall.

The reason? he is my boyfriends blue eyed twin (with piercings) haha

"I hate it when Cher cries."

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 13:29:19 -0500

“I hate it when Cher cries.”

- M—— B——

Photo

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:42:39 -0500

Funny things professors say

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:52:00 -0500

So I very much enjoy quoting professors while I’m taking notes. There are some great things that I feel that they say that needs to be expressed to the world. After my Photojournalism class, I decided that I should blog some of these nice phrases that my wonderfully awesome professor said during class.

- “It’s a dance with your space”

-“Be careful when you shoot (with a camera) horses, they have really big heads and, I don’t know, they look weird.”

-“It’s just a shovel, a man, and corn”

Thank you for making the lectures even more entertaining, Professor M. Speaking of entertaining lectures, I’m off to my Studies in Novel class soon where Prof. H is quite the eccentric character. Let’s paint a picture: the first day of class, and every day after, refuses to sit in a chair. Instead he sits cross-legged on the table in the front of class. He also likes to evoke the imagination and get the class to disagree with him by showing different viewpoints of the book. Also, his beard is pretty cool too.

Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll have plenty more quotes before the night is out.

S—-’s prof said: It’s like food porn. (discussing how while reading Little House on the Prairie books because she is a vegetarian, when the books talked about meat it was like food porn)

Assignment 2 for photojournalism

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:20:24 -0500

Assignment 2 for photojournalism

It is my wonderful roommate’s last night to hang out with us before she goes off to the...

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:26:51 -0500

It is my wonderful roommate’s last night to hang out with us before she goes off to the national guard. I’m going to miss her face, oh, so much. I hope that she has the change that she wants in her life and is happy down at basic traing. DO PUSH UPS! :)

So in celebration of her amazingness, we are having a hangout night. Even our good friend, Fergerburger, is coming down for a visit and is bringing Cheesecake. It will be a great night that may have some tears but will have some teeth being shown too :D SMILES.

I love you dear roommate!

Hello everyone, So for my photojournalism class I had to take...

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:24:39 -0500

Hello everyone,

So for my photojournalism class I had to take different types of pictures to practice aperture and shutter speed. These are what I came up with. Enjoy!

This is such an awesome video and song.

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:33:22 -0500

This is such an awesome video and song.

This is GREAT!

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:32:40 -0500

This is GREAT!

More on the Job Hunt Front

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:31:07 -0500

Blah! Why is trying to get a job so complicated in this day and age? I think I’ve applied to two jobs which have NOTHING to do with my major and I plan on applying to more that have nothing to do with what I originally wanted to do. I don’t know. Life. Grr. I’m just going to make very. short sentences. to show. my frustration. Any advice from the blog front?

bookmania: from The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch...

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:28:38 -0500

bookmania:

from The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom