Dudes who like My Little Pony...

This trailer was surprisingly uplifting... Check it:

 "Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony"

"You're not my mom, I'll do what I want..."

I hate it when my (beloved) Thesis Committee is smarter than me.

They are.

I KNOW THIS.

But they are so so so smart... and quick with their red pen swords, slicing away all my lovely syntax and verbiage. Ugh. Can't a girl catch a break? I'm feeling pouty at the loss of one particular descriptive passage:
"The process became more liquid, more malleable, like heated gold.  Like a blacksmith, I was hammering out the chaff  from that which would, at the end of the day, make the best piece of fine glided prize."

Not totally prize-winning. Ok ok. But it was a creative baby. And...

I CAN'T KILL ALL MY BABIES.

I... just... can't...

Boohoo. I'll get over it. Back to writing/editing/killing my babies.

(This is how I feel about my original cleverness that is being slashed to bits:)

(Photos and Gifs via: Tay Lamp and Comically Vintage)

Easter Creeps.

 Ohhhh Easter... a time to remember and celebrate Jesus Christ, our Savior, his sacrifice, and the Atonement. A time to join together with our families and communities to worship and give thanks. A time for heart warming stories and tearful remembrances...

It's also the time to celebrate super sketchy bunny costumes.

Ranging from the monstrous...

 ...to the pathetic (creepy pathetic). 

 I wish I would have done an entire month of sketchy bunnies (a la October's Monster Mash).

C'est la vie. 

 The real question is this:

ARE THEY???

(Photos via: Fail Blog, and the generosity of my good friend Denise H.)

Sleeping Beauty in Wonderland

I am truly worried about my friend Audrey. 100% stressed out over this. She is in the hospital being treated for a condition called Myedema Coma, something so rare that even the doctors treating her have never done this before. Last Friday, the day of her birthday party, Audrey had a car accident caused by her thyroid shutting down, which led to the myedema coma. Audrey's husband is busy trying to keep family and friends updated, so I've been keeping a close watch on my girl's facebook, hoping for good news, good changes. As she slips in and out of wonderland, I worry that she'll lose her way home. I am crossing every finger and twisting up all my toes that this Sleeping Beauty can make it back to us quickly. Please please please send your prayers, the very best of wishes, and good vibes for my sweet friend.

Dancer, A Documentary, by Alyssa Tolman

I always really like talking about my talented friends.

Well, get to know this girl: Alyssa Tolman.

Alyssa, I stole this photo off of facebook. Don't be mad.

She is an extremely talented, extremely hilarious lady. Please check out the video below, a mockumentary she wrote, directed, shot, and edited: Dancer, A Documentary.

Tolman is a hottie dancer herself, a fellow graduate student at the University of Utah, so her inside take on the dance world (more specifically, ballet vs. modern) in this tongue-in-cheek mockumentary is well-played, poignant, and, of course, very funny.

Dancer, A Documentary

(starring Jamie Myers as the Modern Dancer and Hannah Bowcutt as the ballerina... watch for my cameo as obnoxious vegan. I'm faaaaaaaaaaaaamous.)

Goodbye, Liz.

My sentiments exactly:

I am a work of fiction. (Photos from my Thesis Piece)

Title:

I am a work of fiction. (2012)

Choreographer: Claire Valene Bagley Hayes

“This piece is one-thousand piece jig saw puzzle.  It is the collection of moments, a mélange of details, a gallimaufry, pastiche, a mixed-bag of people, places, and things that when fit together form the soul/body/breadth of a singular person's reality. This piece is my montage of non-fiction battling fiction, reality vs. fantasy, my circus, my mess, my party.”

Dancers: McKenzie Barkdull, Laura Brick, Christine Crepeau, Laura Gumbrecht, Gretchen Huff, Kylie Lloyd, Samantha Matsukawa
Music: Andrew Bird, Cat Power, Dan Deacon, Edith Piaf, Emily Wells, Jacques Dutronc
Hair and Makeup: Rachel Clark, and Relik Salon
Lighting: Alyssa Tolman
Costumes: My closet. My dancers' closets. Decades, in SLC, a place I wish was my closet.

I would like to thank my splendid dancers for their stories, their timelines, their pieces to this puzzle. They have made my job easy. These ladies will probably take over the world someday. . . they have both the looks and brains. I love each one of them. Dear Committee, thank you for your valuable feedback and support! Is it cliched to say that I couldn't have done it with out you? There. I said it anyways.

I will post a video later/soon/as soon as I get it. I need to thank the most excellent photographer, Alyssa Tolman, of the blog The Happy Pear, for her awesome Dress Rehearsal photo shoot. These photos make me remember the magic all the more. It's hard to shoot a staged modern piece, and I am so very grateful for her glorious artist eye.

I personally feel that “I am a work of fiction.” displays a new height in maturity for myself as a choreographer.  If I could critique my own piece with fairness, which I find hard, as it is my creative baby, I would say that, to me, it was and is a successful and entertaining piece.  Not only does it portray emotional depth, but it carries forward its narrative with aplomb.  It contains a sense of childlike wonderment, while exploring various sensibilities of beauty, femininity, and a touch of darkness brought forth in irony.  Yes, this piece has its imperfections, and yes, not everyone will enjoy watching it half as much as I did.  But to me, I have created something that I can be proud of.