Essen: To Eat

Hi Friends and Family!

We have safely arrived and successfully moved to Essen Germany.  In German, the word "Essen" means "meal" or "to eat." We don't plan to take this TOO literally, seeing as we have spent the last month on, shall we say, "exercise hiatus"  liberally eating our mothers' yummy home cooking as well as all the other American/Jamaican delicacies we've been daydreaming of over the last 11 months.

It's a lovely town! We are slowly but surely unpacking and making out new flat our home. I would love to tell you more. Really, I would! But I am sad to say that we don't have internet at home yet. Right now I am at a Cafe getting strange looks for using the free Wi-fi for so long. But I can tell you that we're doing well and I start rehearsals for my new show tomorrow! 

Perhaps Ryan can fill you in on the rest another day. He's a faster typist;)

LOVE YOU!!!

s i d.

One For The Money, Two For The Show

Hi people!

I would like to take this opportunity, first of all, to pat myself on the back for posting two entire blog updates within the same calendar month. (Not to mention that I also posted one on the 31st of May which is practically, like, June zero-th...or something.)

I would also like to say thanks to the nice folks who dropped by to let me know that people do actually read my cyber chatter. Consider my heart warmed:).

So, let's see...What's been going on around here?

Well, the weather is warmer...

My neighbors got a new Golden Retriever...

and, oh yeah, I GOT AN AMAZING JOB!

*[JOB DETAILS REMOVED UNTIL OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION OF THE PRESS]*

Since I just talked your ear off I figure you deserve a photo or two. These pics are from the Open House performance that took place last week at my school. Enjoy!

Lara and Sid opening "What You Want" from Legally Blonde. We started the show!

My very favorite Austrian, Stefan :). I tried to make my colleagues promise that I was their favorite American (I'm still second to Angelina Jolie in some cases.)

I wasn't into it at all.

The opening to my soft shoe tap number "Takin' a Chance on Love."

More of the same.

My class performing "What You Want." I'm in there somewhere.

Part of the Academy-wide number "Step in Time"

And here's a link to a video of me singing in a previous Open House (December 08). I'm almost too embarassed to post myself singing, but I know my Moms will get a kick out of it, so here goes:

Carina, Patrick and Sidonie in "Einen Schritt Zu Weit" (trans. "A Step Too Far") from Aida:)

It's a Party!

I've got something to say. 

This is the part where you probably say something like, "Well, silly girl, it seems that you have your blog open, so why don't you just go ahead say what you have to say rather than sitting around having hypothetical conversations with yourself." (Wow, you're snippy today!) But you see, THAT'S my problem. I have something cool to say but from the response to my last blog I get the feeling I am talking to myself. You see in blog world comments=love and love=comments. So in essence, I type with the tongues of men and angels and have not love. boo.

That's right, folks, I'm having a passive aggressive pity party and you're all invited;)!

You know, maybe I won't even share my super duper fun news. How do ya like that?! It's a real shame too, cuz it's really good. Yup. I'm just gonna sit on it. Lalala. Sitting, sitting, sitting. I'm not even gonna mention that my audition for the 50s rock musical was great fun. And you will therefore have no idea that I got a callback and that it's next Wednesday at noon.

Serves you right:).

<3

I'm in love. I'm all shook up.

It's that time of year again! The time when I celebrate being married to the most handsomestest ball-and-chain a girl could ask for. You know 'im, I love 'im.....Ladies and gentelman let's hear it for Ryan Smith!!!!! (thunderous applause:))

It's trite, but I'll say it anyway: It does NOT feel like three whole years! What an interesting phenomenon this "time flies when you're having fun" thing. Truth be told, we have done quite a lot of movin' and shakin' in the last 1096 days (Emphasis on the movin part:)). We've written a master's thesis, directed shows and summer camps, worked for Mickey Mouse and moved to the other side of the globe. It's been an amazing adventure thus far, and it would not have been half as great without my favorite curly-haired partner in crime. So, I would like to dedicate this here blog to my one and only BFF and hubby extraordinaire, Ryan:).

In the spirit of celebrating Hubby the Great, I hereby welcome you to the "Did you know" portion of my blog!

Did you know...

•  ...that Ryan wakes up every morning before 7 and makes my lunch while I get ready for school whether he needs to be awake yet or not?
  
• ...that 6 years ago Ryan encouraged me to go to my very first theatre audition?
• ...that before Ryan married me I couldn't even cook rice unsupervised? (He fixed that:))
• ...that Ryan wrote a musical for young actors called MADE that deals with issues of self worth and being created in God's image?
• ...that Ryan picked up German at an alarmingly quick pace and amazes native speakers with his level of fluency practically every day?
• ...that this February Ryan directed, fight directed, costume/lighting designed, AND created the props for his first show in Germany? 
• ...that Ryan listens with love no matter how silly I'm being?
• ...that Ryan moved across the world in a matter of two weeks in order for me to continue my education in Hamburg?
• ...that Ryan loves Jesus with all of his heart?

What a guy:)

Wherever you are today I pray that you are blessed with incredible love in your life. Being in love is so wonderful, but the love that I pray for you is the unconditional, self sacrificing love that only comes from Jesus Christ. It's only through Christ's example and grace that Ryan can love me so well. And God's love has done the same in me. It's astounding. If you don't know exactly what I mean, gimme a holler and I'll tell you more!

Talk to you sooooooon!

BIG FAT HUGS!!!

s i d.

Memoirs of a Sporadic Blogger

"Why, hello there," she said sheepishly as she began her dreadfully tardy blog update. "I hope they won't be too miffed that I've taken so long to write. Probably not, considering that they are all such forgiving, understanding, and outrageously good looking people." Sidonie smiled to herself as she thought about her forgiving, understanding, outrageously good looking friends/family. She smiled knowing that the wonderful tales of European adventures that she would soon spin for them would make their long wait worthwhile...

--------------------------------

So.

I'm guessing the question is: "Where on earth have you been?!" The short answer is: "In Hamburg." But I highly doubt that my adoring public has been waiting the last 2.5 months for the short answer. So here's the skinny:

I am about halfway through my second semester at Joop van den Ende Academy (which, if you just tuned in, is a musical theatre conservatory in the heart of Hamburg, Germany. ) I was promoted to the next level in all of my dance classes this semester which is nice. However, if you read about my dance classes from last semester you might wonder if it's possible to get any more difficult. It is. I'll spare you the sweaty details so as to avoid reliving them myself. Suffice it to say: The concentration, coordination, unnatural physical manipulation and sheer attention to detail required to dance well is indescribable. Hug a dancer:).

Voice lessons are still going extremely well. I'm working on a Handel aria right now as well as "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess and a few other things here and there. In acting, I have three monologues and a scene (all German, of course.) I still have my private phonetics class and a slew of others that make up the six day school week. With my school schedule and Ryan's work schedule, we typically get home around 9:26, cook/eat dinner, and get ready to do it all over again. 

Speaking of Ryan, he's fantastic. I just thought you should know:).

I promised you in my last blog that I had some cool news, and here it is!  I have recently been asked by the casting department of Stage Entertainment to attend a few auditions. This is good. Students at my conservatory are not allowed to audition until their third year of school. So, I have been granted the exception of all exceptions. 

My first audition was for The Lion King and it went incredibly well. But before I get you too excited I must tell you that, sadly, I will not be the next "Lion Queen." Even though they loved my singing and acting, I am, wait for it... too tall. Believe it or not, it is not at all uncommon to lose a role for a reason that has nothing to do with how you performed your audition. But don't cry for me Argentina!! (or America, as it were:)). Sometimes this totally works in my favor. Like in my most recent audition....

On Wednesday, I auditioned for a 50s rock musical called Buddy. It's essentially the life story of American rock pioneer, Buddy Holly. (Great music, by the way).  The audition notice went something like this: Seeking African American female with fantastic stage presence and great comedic timing. Should be an excellent singer who also plays an instrument. Hmmm:). 

The audition went really well! I have no idea what will come of it. Maybe my eyelashes are too long for the role, who knows? But I do know that God is in control and if it's the job for me I definitely have the divine hook-up:). I'll let you know!

BIG FAT HUGS!!!

sidonie

Floridian's Lament

Warning: Excessive whining to follow.

Guys, I am so cold. Every year, no matter where we live, I promise to have a good attitude throughout the Winter. And I really do stick to it. But this is the time of year when said "good attitude" begins to expire (see photo above). Where oh where is the sun!? I am so ready for Spring that I took the time on the train to compose this little song:

Sung to the tune of "Tomorrow" from Annie...

The sun'll come out in April

All the Germans promise that by April there'll be sun

Just thinkin' of sun, I'm grateful that I'm from Miami 'stead of Hamburg

Where there's None!

Chorus:

Oh April, dear April! Come quickly, sweet April

You're only six days away

Oooooh April, warm April! I beg of you April

You're only six daaaays Aaaaaa(*gasp*)waaaaay!

In non-whiny news, I'm back in school and participating in some exciting new activities... Activities that you can only learn about by  staying tuned to this blog! How's that for a cliff-hanger?;) Talk with you soon!!!

s i d. 

Put a fork in me.

Dear lovely online blog follower people, 

I realize that I haven't posted in a decade or so but I thought we could just glide right over that teeny detail and focus on the fact that I, Sidonie A. Smith, have just completed the most difficult, strenuous, unlikely - and let's just say it- expensive semester of my life. 

i did it:). You might ask yourself why someone with a spelling/grammar OCD as severe as mine would begin a paragraph with a lowercase "i". I'll tell you. There is nothing like moving across the world in a matter of weeks and taking on an incredibly mentally/physically intense program in a foreign language to confirm to me how HUGE God is... and how itty bitty "i" am.  All praise, glory and honor to my Father who makes all things possible. 

Here are some pics from the end of the semester. I've learned a lot:).

This is my jazz exam. I'm the one on the front row with the blue shirt and brown skin:).

Part of my duet for my jazz dance exam

More jazz

jazzjazzjazz

Singing "Mädchen Der Nacht" from Jekyll and Hyde in the Open House presentation.

________________________

DIE PRÜFUNGEN!! (the exams)

The exams were are all public and well attended by students (former and current), faculty and staff. We were judged by the program director, faculty department heads as well as by the casting directors of Stage Entertainment. Not at all intimidating;). 

So, here's what we did...

VOICE:

*Ensemble Singing- two short songs sung in groups of four. One person per vocal part. One of the songs had to be self choreographed. Went well!

*Music theory- super fun as usual - I heart this stuff!

*Sightsinging- Exactly that. You're given unknown music and you sing it. I love this stuff so they make it less pleasant for me. After I sing the music that's written THEN I have to sing the same music again except with some key variation like harmonic minor or one of the church modes or something evil like that:). 

*Voice exam- first semester students are only required to perform two pieces. Both classical. One in German, one in English.

DANCE:

*Ballet- Barre work, Center floor work, Across the floor stuff and then...

 one unknown combination that a teacher shows you and then you pick up/perform as quickly as possible.

*Jazz- Center floor work, Lots of across the floor stuff, A really cool combination that started with a short scene (in German, of course), and then an unknown combination taught by an unknown lady reeeally quickly.

*Tap- My favorite! A billion variations of time steps (including ones that I had never heard of until I moved here), a bunch of across the floor stuff, some pullback improvisatory stuff and a couple cool combinations. And then an unknown combination taught by one of the other tap teachers. 

One would think I would be used to the whole surprise combination thing, except this particular teacher doesn't wear shoes. That's right. At my exam I had to learn and perform a tap combination taught to me by a woman wearing socks. It went reasonably well.

ACTING:

Three two-person scenes in German. And then a huge sigh of relief!

_______________________

The results are in! It all went well. I have been promoted to the next level in all my dance classes and got some unprecedentedly high scores for a student in the first semester. But, most importantly I am off of school for the next full month. Yessssss. Or should I say, "Jaaaaaaaa."

Love you guys. Thanks for praying.