A Blythe Coach

Rhine River from a subway train in Cologne summer of 2024

Leaps & Bounds in 2024 – Reflecting on a Year’s Highs & Lows

2024 quantum leaps in store into creativity joy + love galore! That's the poem I shared when I declared my Word of the Year and practices to make it so. It was indeed a Leap Year, and that extra day in February, plus a powerful intention-setting and planning process and aligned daily habits created quantum leaps in many areas of my and my clients and students' lives. Here I'm reviewing my goals and intentions, highlights and lowlights, joys, lessons, and challenges of 2024, in order to move powerfully into 2025.

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December

December Engendered Completion & Celebration – 2024 Month 12 Reflection

In this month of festivity, my Ballet students successfully passed their Royal Academy of Dance-style examinations, so proud of their progress! I continued to create and publish while starting the process of reflecting on the past year as a whole and dreaming and planning the next. So fortunate to be blessed by feasts of celebration and rituals marking the Winter Solstice, Christmas, my girlfriend's birthday, and Silvester/New Year's Eve and to have a period of processing and rest after an eventful year.

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Blythe leading a Winter Solstice Reflection

Winter Wonders & Warmers: a Bucket List for Dark but Festive Times / Solstice – Return of the Light

Happy Winter Solstice, arriving in late December in the Northern Hemisphere (June in the Southern), a time of celebrations of light in many cultures. The stark, bleak, dreary days are here in Cologne and strings of lights, candles, treats, and traditions help to warm the cold of winter. It can be a difficult time for many reasons, so be gentle with yourself and make exquisite self-care and kindness for self and others a priority.

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November was for Being Grateful & Grieving- 2024 Month 11 Review

November featured the full Beaver Moon, our last gasp of Autumn's colors, art and culture at Museumsnacht Koeln, and a parade of birthday celebrations. Cooler temperatures even brought the first snow of the season, the earliest I've experienced since moving to Germany! It being the month of American Thanksgiving, I still took time to be grateful for my life and everything in it and hope you had a lovely feast if you celebrate. Mom's knee surgery was a success, the U.S. Presidential Election not so much...

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Blythe splits with upraised arms

Sourcing Ballet Somatically – Pedagogical Approaches to Integrating Movement Techniques

This paper takes the approach of critical pedagogy to investigate practices in integrating somatics into teaching ballet technique. Originally part of my MFA in Dance research methods work in 2012, the conversation continues about how to best train dancers to honor the tradition of classical ballet while also educating the whole dancer and person in contemporary society.

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Fall leaves, drinks, yoga tools

Dealing with Difficult Developments – 15 Ways to Cope with Challenges & Setbacks

Hard times come to us all, so how can we bounce back and recover? Here are the tools that work for me when I need to cope with difficult developments and which I share with clients and students to support their commitment to what's important in their lives despite setbacks. Leaning on them now and curious to hear what you find works best for you!

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Laacher See

Boo October is Through – 2024 Month 10 Review

October was an extra-long, very action-packed, fun, and also anxious for various reasons. I managed to vote in the US Primary Election and was worried about the outcome, as well as various other concerns personal and professional. A short visit with family members I haven't seen in ages was lovely. Our weekend escape to Mendig with friends was a refreshing adventure. My new fountain pen hobby provided creative diversion.

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Written text in violet, mostly illegible due to being washed away by raindrops

Pen Friends – Inky Adventures in Writing

This is for my true Pen Friends, people who are nerdy about their writing tools and creative gear, and for my future self as I reflect on my journey, from the grand themes to the minute moments of beauty like those when pen meets paper.

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Blythe's feet in boots among yellow fallen leaves

Dance Shoe Blues – Footwear Identity Crisis – What to wear to class?

Folks often ask why I mostly wear socks to teach and dance these days, and what they themselves should wear to beginner ballet or other styles of dance classes. This year I've been studying Argentine Tango for the first time, and that requires different considerations in terms of footwear, due to the type of flooring and the technique. I've recently been sharing my creative supplies and EDC/Everyday Carry essentials, so along those lines, here is an informal chat with more information about what dance shoes I regularly use and what is appropriate for a first movement class for adults or children.

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