HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Well, It's Halloween tonight! I thought that I might share some of my favorite Pumpkin Carvings with you!

Introducing Late-Blooming Legends Week

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.



We all enjoyed last week's theme of Halloween crafts, giveaways, recipes, and tons more, right?

This week's theme is outstanding dancers that started at an old age.

Did you know that Rudolf Nureyev, one of the best male dancers in history, started ballet at the age of 17?



Nureyev "en pointe" +

If you have anything that you would like to see in upcoming themes, please email me at abitofbecca at gmail dot com.

Friday's Finds - 10/29/10

1. Discount Dance carries amazing costumes, including this Lady Gaga leotard.
2. Martha Stewart shows you how to make these gorgeous leaf pumpkins.
3. Get this awesome tutu on Discount Dance Supply.
4. The Official Snickers Website. Why? Just Because.
5. Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway?

No Tricks - Just Treats Week: Last Day!

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.

Alright, today is the last day of the No Tricks - Just Treats Week. Even though this is that last round-up, you still have a chance to win a one-of-a-kind bun decoration! Go here to enter. And now for the round-up!



I love this book pumpkin!



These vintage inspired Halloween ornaments are so cute!



Indie Fixx helps you make these mini pom pom pumpkins.



This tree is gorgeous! So want to make one.....

Been Booed?

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.



Going out to Boo a friend.

Have you been Booed yet?

www.beenbooed.com

Jar of Hearts - Contemporary Revelation

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.

I was watching this video on YouTube, and I was amazed at the dances! I do admit, the whole heart-stealing-thing is a little creepy, but the dancing is worth it!

Thursday's Inspire: Dancers Among Us

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.



Jeffrey Smith
Gallery

No Tricks - Just Treats Week: Day Four

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.


Here's a treat: a whole round-up of goodies!



Those who expect a sweet treat will get a surprise when they bite into these slime-filled cupcakes!

Knock your guest's socks off with these awesome witch cupcakes!



These mini witches brooms are so cute!



Pumpkin Cheesecake. Need I say more?

Wednesday's Ballet: Cinderella

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.

In the StoryBook Ballet class(4-5 year olds) that I demonstrate, we dance Cinderella near Halloween, because of the pumpkin carriage. What better way to get into the season? So grab a cupcake (or theraband for that matter ), and waltz into the story of a common girl............


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Poor Cinderella. Left an orphan, she was forced to live with her evil stepmother and two stepsisters, Anastasia and Drizella. Instead of being taken in as a daughter or sister, they made her a maid, and ordered her around, day in, and day out. But instead of sitting in her misery, Cinderella was a cheerful young woman, and always had a smile on her face.


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One day, while Cinderella was happily scrubbing the floors, a message arrived from the palace. The prince was in search of a wife, and had invited every maiden in the kingdom to a ball. The stepsisters were overjoyed, but never considered poor Cinderella. But Cinderella read the note, too. It clearly said every maiden in the kingdom; not just rich ones. Cinderella asked her stepmother about the ball, and she responded with a sly smile: "Why Cinderella, the note did say every maiden, didn't it? Of course you may go, but only if you finish all of you chores." Cinderella gladly accepted, and went strait to work. She even found one of her mother's old dresses, and fixed it up to the latest fashion.


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She finished her chores, and put on her dress. When she walked downstairs, her stepsisters became jealous of her beauty, and tore her dress apart. They left for the ball in evil chuckles, while Cinderella was left in the dust.



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Because she was crying so hard, Cinderella did not see the swarm of magic around her. Her fairy godmother had arrived, and had turned her rags into the most beautiful ballgown in the kingdom. She turned a pumpkin into a gleaming white carriage, and common mice into brave horses. Cinderella rode in the carriage all the way to the ball, where she met the prince.


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She danced with the prince until midnight, when the spell on the pumpkin, dress, and mice broke. She fled from the ball, but since the prince was in love with her, he followed, and found that she had lost her glass slipper on the way. He ordered for every maiden in the kingdom to try on the shoe; but only one fit. When Cinderella's slender foot slipped into the glass slipper, the prince knew he had found his wife, and they lived happily ever after.

No Tricks - Just Treats Week: Day Three

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.


Grab a few of your felt pumpkin people and check out today's round-up!


What cute favors to give out on Halloween?



I love this vintage pendant by The Swell Life!



These are so cute! Fill them with candy corn and put them in the center of your table.



I've always wanted to know how to do this.......

Help with Blogger!

Lately, I have been experiencing technical difficulties with publishing posts. When I publish them, the font comes out all weird. Some text is huge, and some is tiny. Has anyone else had this problem?

Anyways, I figured out a solution. When editing the post, under the "Compose" tab, everything looks normal. But if you look under the "Html" tab, there are numbers and letters everywhere. Now I am somewhat Html savvy, so this did not look right to me. So I went back to the "Compose" tab, highlighted everything, and copied it into a document. Then, I went to the "Html" tab and deleted every single thing. Yep, just highlighted and deleted. Then, I pasted the post under the "Html" tab, and everything was normal! All I had to do was replace a picture and two links, but it was worth it. I don't know if you saw my changement post before I fixed it, but it was a mess! It's better now, so go practice!

Tuesday's Tips: Changement

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.

I don't know about you, but I have been struggling a lot with changement jumps. If you don't know what changement are yet, click here and look up changement.

I have something I call CDPD. I know, the name isn't that attractive, but it sure helps you with your changement here's how it goes:

C heck Position. No thirds, demi-fourths, or sixths positions.

D eep Plie. Note: "Deep" does not mean grande plie. It means to go down into the deepest demi-plie you can. Really feel those tendons stretching.

P oint Your Toes! As hard as you can! This will give you height, and gracefulness in your changement.

D eep Plie. Land with one of those deep plies I mentioned above.

Note: This system can be used with almost any jump, faille, assemble, entrechat, etc.

I hope you liked Tuesday's Tips! Now, go practice those changement!

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY!

If you haven't entered the giveaway for the handmade bun decorations, I have made a slight change. I just extended the entry time to two weeks instead of one. You have until November 7th to enter.

Keep in mind that this is my first giveaway, but I am planning many more!

NOTE: YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EVERY ENTRY. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED.

No Tricks - Just Treats Week: Day Two

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.

How were your Morning Mummies?



How adorably adorable are these little felt people?



Not into scooping gooey pumpkin seeds? No problem! Just make one of these easy tin can jack o' lanterns!



How cute are these? I think I might go and bake some...........



Check out this beautiful, elegant centerpiece!

Rainy Day Affairs

Baking a cookie cake for a friend's birthday. It's raining today, and I have ballet class in an hour.

What do you do on rainy days?

Monday's Blog Brag: Grand Allegro

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.



This week, I would like to brag about a very special dancer named Sara. Sara runs an amazing blog called Grand Allegro. Heard of it? It is a great source on finding a professional dancer's point of view. Here are some of the things she blogs about:



Happenings at the Company

Opening Seasons

Youch!

Off to Colorado!


I'd also like to give a big Congratulations to Sara! She is going to be in the production of Dracula! Who knew they made a ballet out of that? Anyway, she got the part of Lucy, and one of the Brides! Congrats!



That's all for Monday's Blog Brag!

No Tricks - Just Treats Week: Day One

ps: Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway? If not, scroll down or click here to enter.


Let's kick off our No Tricks - Just Treats Week!




Felt these adorable felt pumpkins with Yours 'til Niagara Falls




Sunset shows you how to make these awesome Cat o' Lanterns!




"Breakfast! Breakfast!" Mummies? No, just hungry kids! Unfurled will help you satisfy their terrifying bellies with Morning Mummies!




I am loving these eggs! So cute!

A Few Halloween Treats.................. Trust me, no Tricks!

First off, I must apologize. I have been a horrible blogger. I have been so horrible, I can't even use the old "Well, rehearsals are taking up a lot of time" excuse. But I have decided to make it up to you..........

This week, I am going to have a round-up of Halloween crafts, recipes, and activities every day!

Ok, ok, I know this hardly makes up for how long I have been away, but maybe this will............

I am giving away one of my handmade bun decorations!





I love making these! I make the variations in headbands, bracelets, you name it!

Alright.............. have one more look at it before you enter to win!

All you have to do is comment on this post and you will be entered to win this one-of-a-kind bun decoration!

How about another entry?

Blog about this giveaway to get another entry!

And......maybe another?

Post this giveaway on twitter/myspace/facebook to receive ANOTHER entry!

Another?

Become a follower of From Plies to Pirouettes to get ANOTHER entry! Remember, if you are a follower, you could be featured on Monday's Blog Brag!

Ok, one more?

Alright, one more entry if you comment and tell me what you are going to be for Halloween!


NOTE: YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT FOR EVERY ENTRY. OTHERWISE, YOU WILL NOT BE ENTERED.


The giveaway starts right now, and will end November 7th, at Midnight. The winner will be announced on Monday, the 8th.

Go enter!