A couple of weeks ago, my daughter got an email from one of her dance buddies. She had sent her info about So You Think You Can Dance auditions coming to New Orleans, LA. Ever since the show started, my daughter, Ashley, and I have been avid fans. Ashley looked forward to the day when she would be old enough to audition. That day came last year, but then she had ankle surgery, so could not audition.
Ashley had just come home from college and had been looking for a job when the email came. She had no luck in finding a job, and was really wanting to go down to the auditions. There were several problems with this, though--she had left her dance stuff in storage almost 2000 miles away, she did not have a place to practice or choreograph, as the dance floors were being resurfaced and the studio was closed. When she found out about the audition, there was less than a week to come up with a dance number, costume, find dance shoes, and get down there. Seemed impossible! I was a little aprehensive on going to to NOLA (New Orleans, LA), as I had never been there and was concerned about the saftey factor.
Ashley realized she had an old pair of bright blue tap shoes in her closet, and decided to choreograph a piece around them--in her teeny tiny carpeted bedroom. I happened to mention our delima to the walking group. One of the ladies said she would be glad to come with us. She is also a die hard fan of the show, and use to live in NOLA, and loves the place. I proceeded to check into where the place was, get info on motels in the area, and Ashley proceeded to seek a pair of dance heels, come up with a costume, and "practice" her routine as well as she could, not having a place to really dance. I found a good price on a room, Ashley borrowed some old character shoes that were an ok fit, and with her daddy's blessing, we took off on our 6 hr trip to NOLA.
I can't go into detail as to how the audition went, because they ask that in order to have the surprise element for the show, that we need to keep quiet. I can say we had a really good time. Ashley did get sick the day before one of her auditions (there are several auditions one can go through), but was able to rest and feel good enough for the audition. We don't know if she will be on the show or not. I know of one girl who auditioned for a past season who made it all the way to the picking of the top 20, and was never on TV, so you never know. They did like her blue tap shoes, where impressed with her tapping, and interviewed her quite a bit, so we just don't know if they will do anything with it or not, and if they do what they will do with it.
As far as NOLA itself goes, we did have some time to be tourists. We went down to the French Quarters and had beignets at Cafe Du Monde. They were so, so good! We also went to the Gumbo Shop and had the best po boy sandwitch. It was a vegetarian, and I enjoyed every bite! Ashley had a characature done, and we did a little shoppig, but not much. All in all, it was a nice little get away, and we are glad we did it.
So...everyone needs to tune in, in September for season six for So You Think You Can Dance. Hopefully you will see at least a little bit of Ashley, at the New Orleans auditions. Even if you don't you should see some good dancing, as there was a lot of really good talent in NOLA!
I like to do a lot of things, but one of my favorites is making jewelry. When my sisters and I were growing up, Mom would take us to the craft store, and we would buy things to make jewelry with. Once I got a little older and off to college, I quit making jewelry, until my sister got back into it several years ago. She got me turned on to it, and I've been making things ever since. I find it very relaxing, and rewarding. I especially like to make me (or my daughter) a new item when we buy a new article of clothing. 
