July is about high summer, brought a heat wave and then cool rain to Cologne, and kicked off my “Swashbuckling Summer” and “Splits this Season” series with glowing energy and creativity.
July is about high summer, brought a heat wave and then cool rain to Cologne, and kicked off my “Swashbuckling Summer” and “Splits this Season” series with glowing energy and creativity.
This article was originally part of my Theory and Criticism work for my MFA in Dance in 2014, and critical pedagogy and artistic practice continues to be relevant to my teaching, coaching, and creative practice over a decade later.
My perspective has continued to expand with my maturation, experience, and ongoing education, so articulating my philosophy and approach is an ongoing challenge.
Since my graduate school years, I’ve made updates based on my qualitative in-studio encounters and from others who wish to honor the tradition of dance, including classical ballet, while also supporting the whole dancer and society in a contemporary context.
A sweet spring in Cologne and in the US came to a close, June brought a heat wave, hay fever, relief that a couple critical medical procedures in the family seem to have been successful, end-of-schoolyear, start of the summer, and birthday fests.
In this article I’ll wrap up the month of June, Quarter 2, and the first 6 months of 2025 as a whole in my own projects, life and events.
In May, we had one more week of work and play on the Big Island, several days of travel back to Cologne, then jumped jetlagged back into teaching, coaching, publishing and celebrating there! Felt at home in both Hawai’i and Germany, both happy and homesick in each location.
April revelry took place on two continents and an island, was 50 percent “regular” teaching, creating, and normal publishing schedule and travel prep, 50 percent adventures in several places I feel at home: Portland, Oregon with dear friends like family and Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i with actual family and mentors.
Honored to host and participate in special events along the way, such as World Tai Chi & Qigong Day on the Big Island, a live performance of “The Wizard of Oz Ballet” and a recorded one of the Big Island Choreographers
In a nutshell, my personal themes for the month were Easter & Spring, Love & Friendship, and HOME.
In this article I’ll wrap up the month of March and Quarter 1 as a whole as related to my own projects, life and events. What went on for you during this period and what’s planned?
The first blossoms emerged from the earth, filling me with excitement to bloom with you this season.
February was for protest & partying, demonstrating & dancing, love, Eating Disorders Awareness Week & Koeln Karneval!
The first blossoms emerged from the earth, filling me with excitement to bloom with you this season.
In January I enjoyed a reflective and celebratory staycation, lots of teaching, trying new things, and planning an extraordinary 2025!
My intention for a “Gentle January” held true, even as a new cycle of teaching, coaching, and experiences began.
We had a festive Silvester/NYE into a restful and reflective New Year’s Day, played Fussball/Soccer Billiards with friends for the first time, saw lots of pretty Snow (the snowiest winter so far since I moved to Germany), returned to learning Tango, and attended Live Art at a local gallery.
Protests leading up to German election began and would continue in February, important times to defend democracy and human rights!
Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) is an annual campaign to educate the public about the realities of eating disorders and to provide hope and visibility to individuals and loved ones impacted by eating disorders. Taking place Monday, February 24 – Sunday, March 2, 2025, I have once again signed up to be an EDAW Collaborator, sharing important resources with students, clients, and my community! This issue is close to my heart as a dancer, educator, and person who has grown up in a toxic diet and body culture, working hard to break free of such restriction and all harmful constructs.
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.