PTR: Checking off that Bucket List! - Page 17 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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As I have mentioned before - Emily is part of a Dance company - one in which she has to auditon for every year - they allow girls to start auditioning at 10 - and they can continue to do so all throughout high school. This is Emily's 3rd year as part of the Junior Company (there is also a Teen Company (have to be 13 to audition for this....so most likely next year - just missed this year!)). In addition to many more classes than the average dancer, these girls participate in a lot of community activities such as performing for nursing homes, hospitals, benefits - they have performed at the Ronald McDonald house, Hershey Park & Disney (of course, before our time - hopefully again soon!). So they are pretty busy - and sometimes are given the opportunity for some fun times - such as dancing with the Rockettes, cast from Billy Elliott (and soon Newsies!!!) and one of the events we attended last weekend - Tremaine Dance Convention!
Emily loves going to this convention - as Tony Bellissimo (from So You Think You Can Dance) teaches a Street Dance class - as well as Marty Dew who teaches Hip Hop - now, Emily is a ballerina......a tap dancer......a jazz dancer............Hip Hop and Street - she just loves having fun with it!!!
So our journey began last Friday - Emily took half day of school, me half day of work - and we met up with our roomies for the weekend (Jackie & Ashley - we have become great friends and also choose to room with each on these events because we get along so well and travel well together). There were about a dozen or so girls plus chaperones attending and all of us traveling at different times via train from CT to NYC - with the intention of meeting Friday early evening to attend a show in the city.
So here is our luggage for the 4 of us for just a weekend...........
And here we are on the Metro North train heading from New Haven to Grand Central Terminal!!
We arrived at Grand Central at 3:41 and the best part about this convention - it's right at the Grand Hyatt - which is attached to Grand Central!!! don't even have to go outside - and fantastic when you are carrying luggage, dance bags, and coolers!!!
We soon found Miss Marcia who was the organizer for the weekend - and she gave us our room key - and somehow - we SCORED on our room!!! Not only did we have the 2 queen beds - but we also had a sitting area - with a table, couch and chair with an additional tv - this proved to make for a comfy weekend!!!
I had brought a TON of snacks, beverages - and Jackie brought us Mommies some wine - so we unpacked and moved right in!!
Usually the first night of this event - which does not actually begin until Saturday morning - all of us as a group will go to dinner and a show together - well, for whatever reason this year - there were several things going on - some were going to see Annie (Jackie & Ashley had just seen it, so Em did not want to go without them), some were just staying at the hotel, and some were going to a small production done by Parsons Dance - this is what we chose to do - BEST $23 for entertainment I have spent!!! They were fantastic!!! before the show, the 4 of us chose to go to dinner on our own - as some were still coming in on trains - we ended up eating at the Pig & Whistle - an Irish Pub somewhere near Times Square (forgot the address?) - we each had a bowl of chili with chips - it was so YUMMY!!!
We met the rest of the group at the theater down on 19th - we took the lovely subway down..............
After the show - we headed back to the Grand Hyatt via Subway again - and called it a night (well, Jackie and I had a glass of wine ) as these girls had to be downstairs and ready to dance at 7:30 am!!!
Lucky for us - I had brought breakfast items too - so we did not have to wait in the crazy long line for breakfast - we just had to wait about 20 minutes for an elevator!! Imagine hundreds and hundreds of dancers all in the same hotel with 24 floors!!!
Emily is ready to start her day.........
some of her friends..............
Stretching -
the first class Emily had this am was Jazz Tech/Combo with Derrick Schrader..........
Next class was Ballet with Jeff Amsden - unfortunately we didn't get to do a photo with him.............but here he is.....
Mr. Joe Tremaine popped into the class for announcements.......
And the 3rd class this am was Contemporary with Keri LaGrand.........
Then we had a quick hour lunch break - so we just ran over (along with the hundreds of others!) to Grand Central and grabbed sandwiches from Juniors!
Back to class........next up is Tap with Laurie Johnson (this woman is AMAZING!!!!) check out her shoes!!!
while Laurie was showing the kids the choregraphy - I couldn't help but notice that Emily's hands were doing the taps on the floor!!! That girl is always tapping!!
Laurie had them getting funky with their tap!!
next - they had Hip Hop with Marty Dew (Emily adores this guy!!) and she had to dress the part of "Hip Hop"
cont in next post.............
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
After 5 hours of classes - we headed back up stairs - but of course, not before stopping to do some shopping at the convention center booth.............
Em's new loot.............
Front:
Back:
The girls managed to get showers, and before we knew it - word had gotten out that we had lots of snacks in our room and our room was full of girls!!!
it was fairly early - 3ish? And we had all decided to head towards Times Square together - and then we would break into smaller groups - as everyone wanted to do differnt things tonight - and the weather was beautiful!! it was fairly warm - especially for January - so we enjoy walking around the city for the evening!!
The four of us were in the mood for sushi - so we headed for Ruby Foo's...........and sat at the sushi bar (which of course, Em & Ash thought was pretty neat!)............
enjoying some edamame:
I had the Crunchy Florida roll (can you tell where my mind was?) and shared some Dim sum and coconut sticky rice (the girls dug into their sushi too quick for a photo!!)
After dinner, we just walked around a bit in and out of some of the shops - we did go to the Disney Store, however, can you believe I left without anything??? Ashley bought 2 NYC vinylmations - but Em and I were all set having just returned from WDW a few weeks ago!
We had fun taking photos in Times Square
We headed back to the Grand Hyatt so that we could watch some of the older groups compete (our studio does not compete - but it is always fun to watch the others perform!) - we headed up to our room by 10 - as the girls had another very early am - and jackie and i were ready for some Mommy time!
Sunday am - usually this morning is crazy with trying to pack everything up to check out of the room but yet get the girls to their rooms for more classes and such - well Jackie and I had decided to surprise the girls and stay an extra night as no one had work or school the next day for the holiday - and the rate was very reasonable for NYC!! They were so excited that we were doing this!!! Our plans were to meet with everyone else from our studio for classes, and to watch the faculty show - then let the girls get their showers and head back out for dinner and another surprise!
First class this am was with Tony Bellissimo (you might recognize him from So You Think You can Dance or Step Up Revolution) - Em's FAVORITE!!!! he taught street dance............
Next was another Fusion Jazz with Derrick Schrader again.
Then it was lunch break - and again we just went to Grand Central.
We headed back early from lunch - as the girls wanted to get a good spot for the next class - it was with Special Guest Tiffany Maher - from the last season of So You Think You Can Dance - she was absolutely ADORABLE!!! She actually remembered meeting some of our girls from the tour back in November at Foxwoods!
Then the last class was another Hip Hop with Marty Dew -
Em had Marty & Tony sign her converse -
These girls are tired and silly!
After the classes were over - we headed upstairs to the ballroom to find the rest of our group to watch the faculty show...........
This young guy had won the Freestyle dance off and a free ticket to the National Convention and Dance off in Orlando!! And it just so happens that it is happening while we will be in Orlando in July!!! I am going to try to get more info to take Em over one night possibly if it fits in!
After the show - and saying good-bye to the rest of our group who all had to go catch the train back to CT we headed back to our room so that the girls could get showered and ready - and we were heading back out on the town - it was another gorgeous evening!!!!
Again - we just kinda poked in and out of shops - and we TRIED to go to Earl of Sandwich.............BUT they are CLOSED on Sundays!!!!!!!! I was so BUMMED!!!
But we found the Shake Shack...................and WOW! This surprised me - it was so YUMMY!!!
Em, Ashley and myself each had a burger, while Jackie had a hot dog - and we all had a milkshake (you can't go to a place called Shake Shack and not get a milkshare, right? ) -
Along our paths, we saw the Naked Cowboy..........however, this one seems to look MUCH different than the one I normally see???
he was quite entertaining though!!
Next stop was a surprise for the girls!!! Cake Boss Cafe!!! Although Buddy was not there, we had a great time!! And purchased so many treats!!! It has taken us all week long to eat it all!!
After completing pigging out on sampling some of our treats - we needed to do some serious walking...............so back out we went - again just taking our time - and we were actually back in our room by 8:15 - in pajamas - moms with wine, girls with ice tea - playing rummy!!! Lights out at 10:30!
em took this neat pic on way back to the room!
We slept in a bit Monday am, although - my cough had kicked back in full force - so I was up a bit earlier than everyone else - but then we showered, packed up - had breakfast and headed to the train - but making a pit stop at Little Miss Matched for some crazy socks before boarding the 12:07 train back home!
And somehow, we found ourselves in the bar car of the train - of course the bar was not open - but it was quite roomy in there!!!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
What a fantastic weekend in NYC! Not only did she work hard and learn a lot, the two of you created wonderful memories. Love the blinged out shoes. Your dining is making my stomach growl despite the fact that I really am very full. Thanks for sharing this!
Looks like such a fun and busy weekend! I love that the girls still get their shoes autographed. I used to get my toe shoes autographed when visiting ballet companies came to town!
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Sounds and looks like you have a fantastic time in NYC!! What an experience the girls had meeting some many people! I loved going into the Disney store when I was there! Sorry to hear that you were not feeling so well at the end of that trip! Hope you get to feeling better soon!
What a great weekend! That's not the Naked Cowboy I remember either!
Sorry you're not feeling well again!
The Naked Cowboy has franchised his operation so that may be one those (Original guy is White)
Sorry to hear you still have creepy crawlly crud Lisa TheraFlu from a bottle worked wonders for me
Looks like a fun weekend! There's a Shake Shack in DC now, but I haven't been yet.
Cake Boss Cafe?! Yummmm!!!!
Oooh - you should go!!! The Peanut Butter milkshake was YUM!!! And yes - the CAke boss Cafe - lets just say - HEAVEN!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
What a great time in NYC! And such a neat experience for the girls!
Thanks - it was!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchdisneyfamily
What a fantastic weekend in NYC! Not only did she work hard and learn a lot, the two of you created wonderful memories. Love the blinged out shoes. Your dining is making my stomach growl despite the fact that I really am very full. Thanks for sharing this!
Thanks! yes we did!! sorry - should have given a warning!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Sorry that you are feeling ill again! Thank goodness you all go a wonderful weekend of dance in NYC before you felt bad again.
Thanks - unfortunately - it is just lingering - and now Em is not feeling well
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Looks like such a fun and busy weekend! I love that the girls still get their shoes autographed. I used to get my toe shoes autographed when visiting ballet companies came to town!
Thanks! She is starting quite the collection of signed converses!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Oh wow, what an amazing time you all had in NYC!
I hope you're soon feeling better.
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
What a great weekend! That's not the Naked Cowboy I remember either!
Sorry you're not feeling well again!
Thanks! NO - apparently - he is hiring out?
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Looks like a whirlwind weekend in NYC, but a lot of fun too!!
Thanks - actually I have to say for a NYC weekend - it was actually relaxing for me - not so much for Em!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Russi01
Sounds and looks like you have a fantastic time in NYC!! What an experience the girls had meeting some many people! I loved going into the Disney store when I was there! Sorry to hear that you were not feeling so well at the end of that trip! Hope you get to feeling better soon!
Thanks - they really enjoy it!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeL
The Naked Cowboy has franchised his operation so that may be one those (Original guy is White)
Sorry to hear you still have creepy crawlly crud Lisa TheraFlu from a bottle worked wonders for me
Thanks Mike - I am starting to think I would have been better off if this had been the flu - probably would have been feeling better by now....
Quote:
Originally Posted by mushu22
Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
Great weekend in NYC!!!
Thanks!
__________________
Lisa Co-Guide to Sharing the Adventure: Disney World Trip Reports
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- hopefully again soon!). So they are pretty busy - and sometimes are given the opportunity for some fun times - such as dancing with the Rockettes, cast from Billy Elliott (and soon Newsies!!!) and one of the events we attended last weekend - Tremaine Dance Convention! 
) as these girls had to be downstairs and ready to dance at 7:30 am!!!
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