The trending term the kids use online is a "Journal Ecosystem" this cute name peeves me just a bit since every system is does not work together symbiotically as a true ecosystem does. Still, the concept of relying on analog tools, paper first, for planning, writing, organizing thoughts and projects is absolutely down my alley. For years creators have used the term "Techo Kaigi" or planner meeting in Japanese, to describe this reflection on current notebooks in use. Though my main squeeze is dance, if you've been around you know that writing, poetry, collage, photography, music and other creative media are very much at play and all current projects find a home in my system.

The month of November in my life was about gratitude, harvest, bittersweet endings/transitions, dancing & prolific creativity! With the Beaver Moon, Transgender Day of Remembrance, American Thanksgiving and other memorable events, in this article I wrap up November 2025 in dancing & making, teaching & publishing.

Often espousing the benefits of handwritten note-taking, in this article and video I flip through over ten years of my own such Dance Notebooks for the curious to peek inside and for me to glean themes, learning, and growth through reflection over time.

The month of October was action-packed & suspenseful, spooky & cozy, autumnal & full of dancing & prolific creativity! October is LGBTQ+ History Month and many creatives I know celebrate "Art-tober" or Inktober or such challenges to spark their art, along with seeing the Hunter Moon, World Mental Health Day, National Coming Out Day, Pronouns Day, and Halloween. In this article I wrap up the month of October of 2025 in my projects, life and events.

Nothing sets the mood like the right music! Tastes vary, but the exploration of music that moves us is full of delightful discoveries that become lifelong memories. As a choreographer, teaching artist and coach, music, songs, and playlists are a huge part of my life, my data streaming, and WiFi usage as I disc jockey sessions in real time and build up my library of music with which I resonate.

SeptEMBER brought the last gasp of Summer in Cologne and I basked in the warmth, as well as events such as the Harvest Moon, Autumn Equinox, back-to-school, Oktoberfest, and more! In this article I wrap up the month of September and Quarter 3 of 2025 in my projects & life.

Let's romanticize, gamify, and bring the fun to our learning and creating goals this season with a "Personal Curriculum!" It is a trending topic that I can really jump on board with.

As a dance educator and teaching artist, creating a safe space for learning has long been a topic of interest and top priority in coaching and classes Recently my interest has been reignited by working in a context similar to where I myself have experienced feeling unsafe, bullied, at risk: middle school. Being familiar with the concept of Safer Space codes of conduct in the context of queer nightlife, parties, dances, and demonstrations, the same tenets are applicable in a variety of social and educational contexts. Unfortunately its all too easy to see the parallels between middle school meanness and wannabe tyrannical rulers and thugs playing on the international stage. With intersectional diverse individuals feeling increasingly unsafe in current society and human rights under threat, Mental Health Day and Coming Out Day being celebrated in October, it is timely to consider how we can work together to generate loving, supportive spaces for all.

How do you counteract the natural negativity bias and inevitable criticism that meets a life of creativity? Enter the "Smile File" of praise, thanks, and acknowledgment from others. One of a slew of tools to refresh, inspire, and motivate when we feel down or burnt out. Take a peek into my own collected notes of thanks and gather your own evidence of acknowledgement and love to stay inspired and motivated.

In August I continued my "Swashbuckling Summer" and "Splits this Season" series and kicked off a "Flights of Fancy" series and enjoyed late-summer harvest. For me, it turned to be a pretty whirlwind season. Although we didn't take any longer trips out-of-town, there were good warm times outdoors and outside the city as well as productive work on creative projects and a decent amount of teaching smaller summer holidays classes.

Savor the last days of the season with me in real time, or feel the warmth of those long lazy days anytime with verses suitable to summer.

What role can "gently Socratic" philosophical inquiry play in the context of performing arts education?I consider myself fortunate to have had the honor of participating in Dr. Thomas Jackson's PHIL 492: Philosophy with Children (p4c) course in the Spring of 2015, one of the last courses in my work towards my MFA in Dance. The concepts and techniques have continued to prove valuable over time, so I wanted to share as a resource for fellow educators, performing artists, and dancers.