Tag: Coaching

Emancipatory Dance – Dancing Intersectional Feminism

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.

Jaunty June – 2025 Month 6, Q2 & Midyear Reflection

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.

5 Steps to Soar into the Splits this Summer – Season of Stretching

Dance and yoga classes have been hot and sweaty recently, it must be summer! It is a great season for strength and mobility gains, and to build a consistent stretching habit to support your athletic and artistic goals and feel good.

May Replay – 2025 Month 5 Reflection

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.

How (and Why) to Take Dance Notes – Class, Rehearsal, Performance Writing to Grow & Create

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 27. June 2025
Categories In Creative Living, Dance, Reflective Practice

How and why take notes on dance classes & rehearsals?

Research supports the efficacy of notetaking in supporting learning and creativity, now how do we put that into practice and actually make time and space to jot a few ideas down afterwards?.

April Adventures on 2 Continents & an Island – 2025 Month 4 Reflection

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.

Traveling Dancer Yoga – Mindful Movement on the Go

Post author By Blythe Stephens
Post date 31. May 2025
Categories In Creative Living, Mindful Movement

For frequent flyers and folks for whom it is important that we freely move, I’m offering yummy yoga poses, practices, and a playlist full of goodies for small spaces of time and elbowroom. As always, asana, shapes and flows are adaptive to varying energy levels and needs, physical capacity and limits from within or without, which you may practice anytime from anywhere.

March into Spring & Outstanding Quarter 1 Things – 2025 Month 3 & Q1 Reflection

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 Demonstrating & Dancing, Love, Karneval & Eating Disorders Awareness – 2025 Month 2 Reflection

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.

January was Gently Jumping into the New Year – 2025 Month 1 Reflection

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!