The Doors of School

 by Sam Quinn

Life is a series of doors.  One must have the courage, determination, and maturity to open them and endure what the other side has to offer.  My summer door is closing and the doorknob to my senior year of college is beginning to turn and open. What is on the other side of that door? Multiple hallways leading to new paths and beginnings, alongside of an array of emotions and obstacles.

My mind has yet to grasp the idea of entering my last year. The “real world” is so close, yet that upcoming road is something that has not yet been paved. Looking back on my entire academic experience, there have been ups and down, good and bad and am lucky to have been through it all. As I sit here reflecting and writing, I cannot even think as to where time has gone. The early school doors opened and closed in a blink of an eye, and, honestly, I do not remember much except that I was a brilliant finger-painter and struggled with the simple ways of math. (Dancers only need to count eight anyways, right?) The high school door swung open, tossing me into a sea of labels and obstructions that ultimately lead me to find my true self.

Going back to school is not just another time of learning useless information that you memorize to pass tests. It’s not another year to look back to see what you could have done differently and to be more prepared for the future. It is a time to live in the present, absorb all that is accessible to you, and to grow  as a student and person. After high school, it took a minute to figure out what I truly learned over four years. I thought about it and realized that I had done it all wrong. I came to realize that school is just one big giant math equation. There are a bunch of positive and negative elements jumbled all together. On the other side of the equal sign is the cumulative answer to what one should learn through all your years of school. And that single lettered answer should come out to be an F standing for fail. Without failure, we have not learned anything. It is okay to fall down multiple times, as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving. School is all about learning from your mistakes. In my eyes, that is the one lesson that teachers cannot teach you.  

And the door to my senior year is beginning to open. I am anxious to see what obstacles I can encounter. I am eager for the future. Most of all, I am ready to conquer rejection. Not only in the dance world, but also in life. Through failure comes success, and with success comes happiness. So look to the future, open your doors, close them and don’t look back. If your door does not have a smooth paved road lying ahead of you, keep trudging along. As the saying goes, one door closes and another one opens.

The Start.

by Sam Quinn

Came across this commercial while watching the Olympics. I thought the message was beyond perfect and can relate to everyone and anyone. Remember to always cherish the start, as it ultimately will determine the outcome of the end. Be the best you can be forever and always. Life Moves, Move with It.

My Relationship with Movement

by Todd Wilson

Cirque Inspiration: Alex Mizzen

Alex Mizzen’s background has left a wonderful imprint on the artist we find today. As a trained gymnast and a graduate from the National Theatre Ballet, Alex worked as a contemporary dancer, honing her skills and performance before embarking on the circus arena. Performing across many different countries the delight she now finds is in the collaboration of these two art forms & witnessing the magic that unfolds when they do.

Simplicity

by Sam Quinn

Simplicity, by definition, is the quality or condition of being plain or natural. I should ask: what exactly is normal nowadays? I guess normal could be defined as constantly refreshing your Facebook to see the same six people posting random quotes and pictures making fun of "Call Me Maybe" (yours truly is guilty as charged). Normal could be defined as regularly molding yourself into the couch watching reruns of "Jersey Shore" or "Dance Moms."  Normal could be defined as sleeping late, maybe going to the gym, followed by a night of caloric pizza and possibly underage drinking. The definition of normal has simply changed over the years. 


Remember the days when we did not all have cell phones and we spent our days recklessly playing outside with friends? Remember television shows that we all found exciting and actually still watch when re runs are on? Remember when Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and all that fun social media did not exist? Let's think about our lives then. Simple. Fun. Easy going. Care-free. Drama-free. 

Nowadays, we thrive on technology and social media. When was the last time you simply sat outside and watched the sun set? When was the last time you took a walk with an old friend and just talked? When was the last time you had true alone time, no cell phone in hand, no lap top on, and no Facebook chats popping up? For me it’s hard to remember. Do it. I challenge you. Embrace your surroundings. Try a day without your cell phone to cherish the truth the natural environment has to offer. Don’t let the simple, beautiful moments of life pass you by. Life moves, move with it. Just like old times. 

August 4th, BreakOut Youth Company Auditions!

Facebook Event Page

The BreakOut Studios Team consists of 13 of my best friends, there is no other group of people that I would rather spend my time in the studio with. Despite the wide range of ages and levels, there is an incredible amount of support for one another that is present, and that is a rarity amongst competitive dance teams. To be on this team is to have constant reassurance that there is someone who will never see you as anything less than wonderful. Growth is inevitable when you're a member of this team, both as a dancer and a human being. Emotional freedom and expression are equally as stressed as technique by the fantastic instructors we are surrounded by. I absolutely love every moment I get to spend with the amazing people I call my team, watching everyone grow and flourish has been the driving force behind my years on the BreakOut Team. I could not possibly be more thankful for my exposure to the true meaning of dance, and that would not have been possible without BreakOut Studios.
-Jeze Zankich 

The Breakout Studios team is unlike any other around. This was my first year and I am truly blessed to have found this studio and be apart of it. Everyone here is so welcoming and focused on learning in a positive atmosphere. You learn so much about yourself as a dancer and it is a place where you can just be yourself- no judgements. I am so thankful for everyone here and all of their help and I can truly say, after all the search, this is where I am suppose to be. Everyone should come experience this and become part of this huge family.
-Faith Chapman  

I love team because it helped me to see that as long as I am comfortable I'm my own skin then it doesn't matter what others think. The atmosphere hear let's you truly be yourself so you can find yourself.
-Britta Bozarth  

Team is a place where I can be my happy bubbly self even if im really not feeling that way. It pushes me and pulls the best out of me when I need it the most. It's an unforgettable experience and I created many life long friend ships. I learn something new everyday that I can use in dance and apply to my own life. I could be having the worst day and everyone including the teachers make me smile. Anyone would love being apart of this team,it's an honor.
-Imani Wilson  

 BreakOut Studios is a great place to dance, but even better place to be on a dance team. The staff and fellow team members are nothing but supportive and fun to be around people. You could be the worst dancer or the best, and they will treat you the same. At BreakOut, everyone gets that moment of spotlight. Everyone gets fair treatment and everyone is equal. They care about helping you improve as not only a dancer, but person as well. Throught my year at BreakOut, on team, I can honestly say, that I made real friends and had real good times and laughs with everyone. I opened up and realized it is more than okay to be yourself. Team is an honor and is worth every mintue of classes and pratices. Being a part of team is a great experince that everyone should try out for and be a part of this loving dance family. If you want to have a great time dancing, laughing, and growing, BreakOut Studios' team is the perfect place for you.
-Ashley Zambos

Beautiful Photos of Pomak Brides in Bulgaria

Pomak weddings are three-day traditional celebrations including feasts, dancing, and display of the brides dowry. On the third day of the wedding, women at the bride's home cover her face with a thick layer of facial cream. Then they stick sequins into the cream and cover the bride with a red veil. Holding a mirror in her hands, the girl closes her eyes and steps across the threshold of her father's house to take the hand of her future husband.

Various theories try to explain the meaning of this exotic ritual. Some believe that the mirror protects the bride from "evil eye," while others claim that it connects her to her dead ancestors. Anthropologists believe it is yet another variation on an initiation rite in which a girl becomes a woman and her social status is changed forever. As far as the bride's white face is concerned, Ribnovo locals have their own legend: In earlier times boys would go with their fathers into the mountains to herd sheep, only returning to the village when they were ready to get married. Since this rough lifestyle afforded them only minimal experience with women, they somehow had to learn to be gentle. Thus, the groom's first task after the wedding – then as now – is to carefully wash his wife's face with milk.

Original Article