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MFF 2014 Recap: Amazing times and a new height in dance
11 years ago
I have a lot of difficulty writing journals, because it's just so hard to sum up a big series of events and compact it into a few paragraphs, but here goes...
Overall I had an amazing time. MFF never disappoints, and this year was no exception. Before the con I was stressing a lot. I've been practicing tons for the dance competition, and I had signed up to do a second iteration of the Quitting The Fandom panel. I ended up canceling the panel because there was just way too much on my plate (y'know, in addition to fulltime work and other life events).
There's "the usual" con happenings that I'd expect: Reuniting with old friends, making new ones, enjoying all the cute suiters wandering around, and the dances at night. But that's not to belittle that at all... it's the main reason I go! I have many friends that I love to death; Any time I get to spend with them is gold to me. And I always get emotionally recharged and inspired off the passion, energy, and happiness that I find overflowing from people at cons. Of course, as with any big con, there were people I wanted to spend time with that I barely saw, or didn't see at all. I'm happy for what I got though. <3
I got in Wednesday afternoon, because YAY DAY MINUS-ONE! It was really worth it, because by Thursday I was at least somewhat well-rested, and ready for the con. Most of my time from Wednesday through Saturday was a mix of finding whoever I could to catch up and hang out, stressing immensely over the dance comp (Because I'm just like that... I put my heart into it and it's always at the forefront of my mind), and trying to fit in fursuiting where I could, while taking into account things like tryouts, practice sessions, and other events I wanted to attend to support friends. It was kinda sad that I hardly got to fursuit. Thursday I did, Friday was mostly just for dance comp tryouts with some afterwards, Saturday timing didn't work out between events and practice, and Sunday was for the dance comp. I really miss giving LOTS of hugs and being a silly derpy wuff... did not get my fix!
Saturday night was... a thing. After Skroy 's amaaaazing set, at the start of Dantee 's set, the whole building had to be evacuated due to a chemical leak. Everyone was out of the building from about 1-5am. Thankfully everyone I knew was safe, and those that went to the hospital were released and fully recovered. I was stuck outside in shorts and t-shirt in 20 degree weather for around an hour. Thankfully, everyone was generally awesome... we huddled together for warmth, we looked out for each other. When we finally were allowed into the nearby convention center for warmth, people were in mostly good spirits, making the best of the situation. It was a pretty positive experience, IMO, just to see everyone make the best out of a situation like that.
Of course, we were all exhausted as a result, and all the dancers had at to be up (relatively) early to prepare for the dance comp Sunday. I wasn't able to sleep well that night either. But the show must go on! And boy did it... the talent, the skill, the passion... wow did everyone bring their a-game to this competition! As more dancers get into the scene, and as those already in keep working hard to improve, the shows just get better and more inspirational. It was a huge honor to dance on the same stage as everyone else performing, including so many people who have been inspirations to me.
And there was the surprise I've been keeping secret for months... Doryuu Diggyroo and Apollonighthusky had previously invited me to join with them to form a dance crew, FURReal! This is something I've wanted for a long time, and I've had to make a lot of personal growth to get to the point where I could be invited into this. They showed a lot of trust and support for me, and above all else, my goal this dance comp was not to let them down! We really put our hearts into this performance, and had a lot of emotional weight riding on it, all for different reasons. The songs we picked really ended up representing us and things we've went through.
After all the practice, the energy we put into it, the anxiety over performing with high hopes riding... we pulled it off. As soon as we finished our routine we were all pretty emotional, because we all felt so strongly that it went well. The mix of joy and relief, along with the cheering crowds. It was just overwhelming. And we won! We actually got first place! It was an amazing feeling to achieve this, and no less within a group of AMAZING dancers and performances. To achieve this by coming together and combining our passions is just an amazing feeling. But even moreso than the placement... what had me balling my eyes out, were the people who came up to me afterwards, friends, strangers, and people who've inspired me... who said how much they loved it... how they were emotionally moved by it, some even to tears. I just can't... that's so far beyond what any placement even means. That's success. That's what I dream of accomplishing with dance. I cried. SO MUCH. That whole day I kept tearing up every time I thought about it... and that night, and the day after... I'm tearing up again right now because it still has such a strong impact on me. <3
My journey through dance has been a wonderful one, but with some extremely trying times; many times when my own body was working against me, when I thought for my physical well being and my sanity I'd have to quit. So many have supported me. People who have taught me choreography, people who encouraged me time and time again, people who helped me focus on what to learn, people who took time out of their lives and con-time to watch me perform, people who've danced with me on and off stage, people who held me close in some of my most difficult times. I'm endlessly thankful for the people who'd helped me get this far. I don't even know what the next steps are, but I plan to keep giving as much to this community as I can.
I'm waiting on some footage that'll really show us at our best. Hopefully we'll have a video to post up in a couple days. But for now, I'll leave you with this, which sums up so much of I'm feeling, better than I can say with words:
https://twitter.com/WolfPupTK/statu.....96703040188416
And these teasers...
https://twitter.com/xboneybuttx/sta.....99350571831296
https://twitter.com/NeokaiTiger/sta.....09007128252416
Thank you so much. <3
Overall I had an amazing time. MFF never disappoints, and this year was no exception. Before the con I was stressing a lot. I've been practicing tons for the dance competition, and I had signed up to do a second iteration of the Quitting The Fandom panel. I ended up canceling the panel because there was just way too much on my plate (y'know, in addition to fulltime work and other life events).
There's "the usual" con happenings that I'd expect: Reuniting with old friends, making new ones, enjoying all the cute suiters wandering around, and the dances at night. But that's not to belittle that at all... it's the main reason I go! I have many friends that I love to death; Any time I get to spend with them is gold to me. And I always get emotionally recharged and inspired off the passion, energy, and happiness that I find overflowing from people at cons. Of course, as with any big con, there were people I wanted to spend time with that I barely saw, or didn't see at all. I'm happy for what I got though. <3
I got in Wednesday afternoon, because YAY DAY MINUS-ONE! It was really worth it, because by Thursday I was at least somewhat well-rested, and ready for the con. Most of my time from Wednesday through Saturday was a mix of finding whoever I could to catch up and hang out, stressing immensely over the dance comp (Because I'm just like that... I put my heart into it and it's always at the forefront of my mind), and trying to fit in fursuiting where I could, while taking into account things like tryouts, practice sessions, and other events I wanted to attend to support friends. It was kinda sad that I hardly got to fursuit. Thursday I did, Friday was mostly just for dance comp tryouts with some afterwards, Saturday timing didn't work out between events and practice, and Sunday was for the dance comp. I really miss giving LOTS of hugs and being a silly derpy wuff... did not get my fix!
Saturday night was... a thing. After Skroy 's amaaaazing set, at the start of Dantee 's set, the whole building had to be evacuated due to a chemical leak. Everyone was out of the building from about 1-5am. Thankfully everyone I knew was safe, and those that went to the hospital were released and fully recovered. I was stuck outside in shorts and t-shirt in 20 degree weather for around an hour. Thankfully, everyone was generally awesome... we huddled together for warmth, we looked out for each other. When we finally were allowed into the nearby convention center for warmth, people were in mostly good spirits, making the best of the situation. It was a pretty positive experience, IMO, just to see everyone make the best out of a situation like that.
Of course, we were all exhausted as a result, and all the dancers had at to be up (relatively) early to prepare for the dance comp Sunday. I wasn't able to sleep well that night either. But the show must go on! And boy did it... the talent, the skill, the passion... wow did everyone bring their a-game to this competition! As more dancers get into the scene, and as those already in keep working hard to improve, the shows just get better and more inspirational. It was a huge honor to dance on the same stage as everyone else performing, including so many people who have been inspirations to me.
And there was the surprise I've been keeping secret for months... Doryuu Diggyroo and Apollonighthusky had previously invited me to join with them to form a dance crew, FURReal! This is something I've wanted for a long time, and I've had to make a lot of personal growth to get to the point where I could be invited into this. They showed a lot of trust and support for me, and above all else, my goal this dance comp was not to let them down! We really put our hearts into this performance, and had a lot of emotional weight riding on it, all for different reasons. The songs we picked really ended up representing us and things we've went through.
After all the practice, the energy we put into it, the anxiety over performing with high hopes riding... we pulled it off. As soon as we finished our routine we were all pretty emotional, because we all felt so strongly that it went well. The mix of joy and relief, along with the cheering crowds. It was just overwhelming. And we won! We actually got first place! It was an amazing feeling to achieve this, and no less within a group of AMAZING dancers and performances. To achieve this by coming together and combining our passions is just an amazing feeling. But even moreso than the placement... what had me balling my eyes out, were the people who came up to me afterwards, friends, strangers, and people who've inspired me... who said how much they loved it... how they were emotionally moved by it, some even to tears. I just can't... that's so far beyond what any placement even means. That's success. That's what I dream of accomplishing with dance. I cried. SO MUCH. That whole day I kept tearing up every time I thought about it... and that night, and the day after... I'm tearing up again right now because it still has such a strong impact on me. <3
My journey through dance has been a wonderful one, but with some extremely trying times; many times when my own body was working against me, when I thought for my physical well being and my sanity I'd have to quit. So many have supported me. People who have taught me choreography, people who encouraged me time and time again, people who helped me focus on what to learn, people who took time out of their lives and con-time to watch me perform, people who've danced with me on and off stage, people who held me close in some of my most difficult times. I'm endlessly thankful for the people who'd helped me get this far. I don't even know what the next steps are, but I plan to keep giving as much to this community as I can.
I'm waiting on some footage that'll really show us at our best. Hopefully we'll have a video to post up in a couple days. But for now, I'll leave you with this, which sums up so much of I'm feeling, better than I can say with words:
https://twitter.com/WolfPupTK/statu.....96703040188416
And these teasers...
https://twitter.com/xboneybuttx/sta.....99350571831296
https://twitter.com/NeokaiTiger/sta.....09007128252416
Thank you so much. <3
Making charity FUN! 
I've said it time and time again. But you're such an inspiration to even the veteran dancers like myself that have been regarded as one of the trailblazers in our little dancing family. From that first time you approached me about doing a dance competition and me throwing all the encouragement I could your way, to seeing you triumph over me in terms of standings. And even past the numbers, the fact that you were there giving a performance of a lifetime already spoke volumes to everyone that saw it.
And I've said it time and time, but I have to say it for you...don't stop. Don't ever stop. Keep that star of yours shining bright - you've made me more proud that I will ever be able to put in words.
*hugs tight*
Wish I could have been there
That's a long way off...but one day, I hope I can be just like you. I look up to you as both a performer and as a person.
As for the incident Saturday night/Sunday morning, I personally call it one of the fandom's proudest moments, due to the fact that we all pulled together and watched out for each other during a time of adversity and uncertainty. THAT'S what being a close community is all about.
And look where you are now. You now have one of the best success stories out of any of us dancer furs. People who continue to wonder if the dancer furs are anywhere near as open, accepting, and supportive as we say we are...all they need do is look to you. I can't even begin to say how much you've inspired me personally to keep dancing and trying to improve what I do. It doesn't even need saying at this point, but, dude...I really am proud of you. For how you've come, for never giving up, for chasing your dreams, for pushing through, and for being a damn good dancer.
The whole comp was a real treat to watch, with good amounts of entrrtainmentship skills.