Category: The Backpacking Ballerina

Life is a dance in itself

Mission Rome

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It took a long time for me to write this, I actually travelled to Rome last October and I still remember all of my favourite sights. What surprised me though was the rich history and culture that it had. Also the secret tours and tunnels that we were able to experience, thanks to my mom. Rome has a lot to offer for those who are really interested in its rich history, its aqueducts and the cool excavation tours.

I was finally able to summarise the first half of my experience through my Vlog, I will probably just write down in my next blog, about the ballet classes I was able to take and experience in Rome. It was a really good vacation for me, and I hope to do something like this again, if my budget permits.

Its been so long since I’ve actually written on my blog, because of my crazy schedule. Compared to last year, I have a lot more pressure riding on me. Such as my soon to come board exam on October, which has been putting a lot of stress on me. I hope I find the strength and the will to keep on going and studying. While trying to keep my spirit alive by dancing.

Hoping to find time to write more again,
CIAO!

6 steps on how I prepare for my ballet recital

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So for some dancers who have been asking me to make a video about this, here is the blog version and you can visit the youtube link for the video version! This would be the perfect time to make this as it is our recital this coming Sunday. So for your reference, here are a few tips and lists you may follow:

1. Make a list
Its really important to make a short list of all your dances and make sure that you have all your costumes and headdresses that you need for that dance. Check if your costumes are clean and make sure that you have everything that you need.

2. Bring extras of everything
Extra hairpins, extra leotards, extra tights, extra warmers, extras of everything is really important. Ballet shoes, pointe shoes, sewing kit, ribbons and garters. Its really better to prepared for every kind of situation than to regret it later on. Of course don’t forget your make up!

3. Preparing the day before the show
Rest yourself well and eat well the day before the show. I like to eat less greasy foods before the day of the show.

4. Double check everything
I always double check everything that i need before the show and for the day of the recital. Sometimes you just leave things by accident and you just have to be very careful about it.

5. Don’t forget your snacks, water and get to the theatre before your call time.
These things are important because you’re going to be waiting for a long time. You can bring a book or an i pod with your music then some light snacks are good too.

6. HAVE FUN!
This is the collation of everything you’ve been working on for months and months. By this time your body already knows the feeling of dancing even in your sleep. Don’t forget to smile and to bring your heart with you!

Hope this helps you dancers, on some tips you can take to prepare for your up and coming recitals.

WHAT I THINK MAKES A GOOD DANCE TEACHER, THE KIND I ASPIRE TO BE:

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Anyone can be a dancer but not everyone has the skills to be an effective and good dance teacher. It takes so much skill and patience for a teacher to be able to mold a beginner into what they visualise someday for their dancers. Theres so much more to teaching than a lot of people think of it, even more than just choreographing steps, its an art.
We all of course differ in our opinions of what makes a good dance teacher. Some would prefer a more relaxed and happy teacher as others might prefer a more strict teacher. I don’t think theres just one way of teaching, each teacher has something to offer. But regardless of that I think there are certain qualities that A eacher should possess.

1. Professionalism:  A good teacher respects her students. I think a teacher should be someone you will respect no matter what situation. They can handle situations effectively, in the way they speak, talk and dress. Its really important that the teacher for me interacts well with students.

2. Experience and Reputation: Although i don’t believe that a dance teachers educational background matters or is directly related to their way of teaching, as I have had plenty of amazing dance teachers who didn’t even take dance as a course. I think reputation and experience speaks for them. Plenty of dancers, even without any certification such as retired professionals can be amazing dance teachers. I think its important to consider how long they have been teaching and observe their class before enrolling too.

3. Patience and Organisation: A good teacher, knows how to organise his or her lessons. And and effective teacher knows that it takes time to master a step and choreography. A good teacher puts emphasis on the simple steps, rather than jumping straight to the difficult ones.

4. Punctuality: A good dance teacher is always a good example. Being Punctual means he or is a responsible teacher, if your teacher is more than 10 mins late to class with no apparent reason all the time then i think you should consider changing your school.

5. Dedication: A good teacher is completely dedicated to teaching you the best things they know.

6. Constantly learning: A good teacher is also someone who constantly strives to be better, and to give you the best dance education.

7. Passion: And finally a good dance teacher is passionate about what she or he does. Good dance teachers, inspire and they share. They are constantly giving and learning for you. A teacher is also a student, A teacher learns new things and adapts them for you in class. This is what i aim to be, to generate dancers who want to dance and to inspire them to aspire to become the best in an artistic and technical way.

if you have a teacher like this then good for you! REMEMBER: At the end say that a good teacher deserves an equally good student, so do your best and do them justice. Tag your favourite dance teachers and tell them how much you love them. ❤

That’s d pointe dance shop, Manila

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Hello Dancers and Dance lovers,

As you are now well aware of, I’ve been fixing my website and sharing YouTube videos revolving around my life and ballet. Today I want to feature another ballet store in the Philippines called, thats d’ pointe dance shop. This shop owned by Ms. Charmaine, is located in Metrowalk, Ortigas ave. and in Fisher mall, Quezon City. The Shop is very much complete with the basic things and they have an ample amount of stocks, of course if you need special sizes you may also request that with them. They are very accommodating. I will be attaching our new video blog to this post.

If you are ever in need of dancewear, you may visit them today, and you can also check out their online store on this link, That’s d pointe dance shop

TUTU DANCE STORE, TAIWAN

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DANCE STORES IN TAIWAN: TUTU DANCE, TAIWAN
Welcome to Taiwan! Besides my VLOG which i posted on my new youtube page, I’ll be writing more about Tutu dance, in Taipei Taiwan.
HOW TO GET THERE: 
From the main station, or from any train station. Take the train to Zhongshan Elementary school ( TAKE EXIT C ) or you can also take the bus. Cross underneath the big highway and go straight, about a 2 min walk until you see the 7-11 to your right, turn right to the small street.
You will see an entrance to your right as you can see in the video and go up to the 7th floor, you will find TUTU DANCE showroom.
ABOUT TUTU DANCE STORE:
What I love about Tutu Dance store, is that it is probably one of the most complete dance stores that I’ve been to. Even compared to Chacott in Japan, i really love their selection of leotards, shoes and warmers. They have all kinds of selections, styles and all brands! Including online shops such as myself. In terms of shoes and pointe shoes, they also have all selections of sizes, including the new kinds of fits and the rare to find styles and sizes.
They even require all their staff to take ballet once or twice a week, which is why I love them because all their staff are knowledgeable on what to recommend and they are also very quick to follow in new trends. They are a very hands on shop and they definitely know how to take care of their dancers.
If you’re ever in Taipei, go check them out! I’ll leave you their address here under this blog and a map to their store. Enjoy Dancers!
TuTu Map.jpg

VLOG #1: The Backpacking Ballerina

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HELLO DANCERS! 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
I decided to start a video blog about Dance by Lina and I would love it if you could follow our new YOUTUBE PAGE, I’ll be including our videos from our deliveries, some from the dancing and the teaching workshops that I take around the world from Japan, US and our soon in LATVIA! 
Our blog page is also mainly focused on ballet and tips on ballet shops around the globe. I hope i could get some new ideas from all of you! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN OR HEAR ❤ I’m also looking into featuring special people of ballet. I would really love your help dancers.


This link leads to our current youtube channel link, so i hope you could give us a follow! Besides my blog, I’ll be doing a LIVE streming video on “The art of ballet” on MAY 6, stay tuned for more information. 

https://youtu.be/3yNqLVObx70

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

SHOP AND BLOG: 
dancebylina.com 
thebackpackingballerina.com

 

Baler, Philippines

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The birthplace of surfing, baler is my favorite out of town vacation spot. Only 5 hours from Manila or 4 if you are quick, Not only is it reasonably cheap to go there but it is also very relaxing. The last time i went here i wrote something about Costa Pacifica but with the unreasonably expensive prices of this hotel I opted that we stay at another hotel right next to Costa Pacifica.

HOW TO GET THERE:

By private car, going here by car might be the easiest option if you have a car. I always prefer coming by car as you can control your own time. We just wazed the place, its relatively very easy as the roads are already smooth unlike the first time i went to baler the winding bumpy road was a horror story.

By bus, i know plenty of people who come here by bus, my only problem with the bus is that it stops at the town proper where you still need a ride from there to the main area.

By air , i only recently found out that Baler airport have flights from Manila to baler via SKYJET airlines. The only problem is that it is still around 10-20 mins away from the sea by car and im not sure if there is a transportation service from the airport. The airport is pretty far from the city proper.

RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHERE TO STAY:

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Nalu surf camp, a great alternative and 60% cheaper than your stay in costa. When they told me that my 2 night stay would cost me Php20000 (400usd) it sounded feasible for 4 people except, it wasn’t what i wanted. Costa is known only because it used to be the only safe hotel around Baler near the sea. But after discovering the beautiful Nalu surf camp, i don’t want to try Costa Pacifica anymore. You wont get the same service at Nalu than Costa, but the ambiance of Nalu is definitely perfect for surfers and easy going people. Costa Pacifica’s food prices in my opinion is too unreasonably priced and their room rates are also not exactly the best, considering they are an open resort that isn’t really heavily guarded either.

Another place to consider staying in baler is The Hostel behind Costa Pacifica. If you aren’t looking to be fancy the hostel is good for those who want to meet new people only 500php per night (10usd), or the Ifugao nipa hut rooms room which already comes with air conditioning at Nalu surf camp at 3000 per night or 60usd. Some others stay at hotels far from the seaside near the town proper because it is cheaper and they drive to the sea for some waves but i think it is safer and much better to just stay by the baywalk are hotels. Just make sure to choose somewhere safe and to never leave any belongings unattended or in your rooms.

WHERE TO EAT:

The street right behind Costa Pacifica is one of the better and cheaper places to get food. With Inihaw (grilled food) being priced from 160php-300php only good for sharing. Also a few blocks down the main road are some places that sell good and cheap food too, if you walk along the baywalk you will get a big selection of things to eat but some places aren’t that good and very pricey. If you are looking for fancy and expensive you could try Costa Pacifica, but if you are looking for a local taste i would definitely recommend the restaurant called Yellow Fin bar and grill for your dinner.

THE SHACK, is also one place I will recommend, surprisingly with its good indian food! Its a place you must visit if you are ever in Baler. Their beef shawarma is one that you must try, really filled and not so much oil. Another place i would like to try is EL JARDIN ESPAÑOL in Baler and MADISON CAKES AND PASTRIES, leaving more things to do for the next visit!

SURFING PACKAGES:

At Nalu, our surfing package of php350 ( roughly $7 ) already included a free beer or cold pop and free pictures. I think this was the best surfing deal of all the deals i saw solely because they gave us free pictures with our package and that they had good instructors as well, the owner of the place was always around the camp and he is very hands on with the place. Nalu surf camp was also nice because it was guarded and closed off, the parking was safe and a guard was always on watch.

But don’t limit yourself to the sea, there are also guided tours to waterfalls and quiet beaches around Baler you could visit. Just ask the tricycles around the beach area and they will give you packages from 700-1000 php (14-20usd) for a whole day tour around the city proper and around the trekking areas and waterfalls also the private picturesque beaches. Hoping you can all consider coming to Baler after reading this. As moana would say ” I am a girl who loves my island and a girl who loves the sea, IT CALLS ME” (haha) and of all the places i have been to in Luzon. Baler really holds a special place in my heart.