Photo credits-S o u n d s by unlimited

Have you guys ever watched American Idol? Well, I do. I watch it as much as I possibly can. I don’t really have a show that I always watch (except for Hannah Montana because that has Miley Cyrus in it), but when American Idol comes on, I can’t turn it off.

This season they have a new judge. Her name is Kara DioGuardi. I think that she is a good addition to the judges. What do you think? I also have heard some really great singers, and, well, some really not so good ones. The past winners from seasons that I have watched were Taylor Hicks from season 5, David Cook from season 7, and I’m hoping that someone good will win this year!

If there’s a contestan that you think is completely awesome, tell me about it!

Mr. President Obama!

Today the ceremony was very meaningful. A prayer was said, and song was sang, oaths were taken, and a new President took the throne! This meant changes for the whole country. As the first African-American President of the United States, there is major news about this all over the world. Though there may be challenges throughout his time as President, he will do a great job by making life better in U.S. for everyone.

This day let history be made, as the news spreads worldwide, and for his time as the first African-American President, and the 44th President of the United States of America. 

I want to hear your opinions on America’s new President!

Photo credit: Barack Obama’s Official Portrait by BL1961

The dances in the show are:

1. Pryvit: A traditional welcoming dance with all our dancers. It is multi-regional, so there are many different costumes. There is also bread and salt, wheat, and towels carried on at the end to welcome you; that is a traditional way to welcome someone to your home or wherever.
2. Transcarpathian Dance: Done by the eldest dance class, intermediates, which is my class. We’ve split the eight girls that learned the dance last year into two groups of four, and that is the one I am doing. We wear long white skirts with red vests.
3. Bukovanian Dance: Also done by my intermediate class, the ‘Buko’, as we call it, is done by the other half of my class who’s learned it. They wear black skirts that are striped and are much tighter than the ‘Trans’ skirts.
4. Poltava ‘Friendship’ Duet: A poltava dance, done by fellow intermediate Emily and I. We wear the Trans skirts with no vests and a poltava sash. We can only do it if we have been approved by our instructor.
5. Junior (Poltava) Kozachok: A dance in which girls wear flowy blue skirts and flowery headpieces, while boys wear baggy blue pants and golden-yellow sashes. This is done by the Junior One class. My mom is the instructor for that class!
6. Junior Hutsul: My brother’s class is Junior Two, and they are doing a Hutsul dance. My brother wears a white shirt and pants with a sash that is different colors: orange, brown, green, etc.
7. Celebration of Seasons Dance: The beginners class which is instructed by my mom is doing a dance that celebrates the four seasons. Old Ukrainian folklore-there are spirits of the forests, and there are spirits of the water. Well, with amazing costumes that my friend Innana’s mom made, my mom put together a dance that is beautiful yet still has a Ukrainian touch to it!
8. Poltava Shawl Dance: My class has done another-the Intermediates are at it again! This time with a Shawl dance. We dress in black with a poppy and ribbon in our hair and we dance with shawls. It is quite beautiful.

I (obviously) can’t wait for Malanka!

Photo credit: scholz

These are not dancers from my dance group.