So excited about this trailer for the new documentary Strength and Beauty by Chelsea Wayant. But even more excited she will be joining Dd as a contributor–our first dancer turned documentary filmmaker contributor!
Strength and Beauty Trailer from Chelsea Wayant on Vimeo.
Lately, I’ve been restless in New York City. I know I have everything I could possibly want or need at my fingertips, but 
something is missing. Grad school is within my reach, but I’m not there yet. Despite pushing to graduate by the end of summer, it just wasn’t doable. So, now, I am looking at a graduation date of May 2013. So what do I do until then?
My dancing days are quickly coming to an end and my passion for writing grows more everyday. Initially, this news devastated me. But I’m refocused now and making the most of my undergrad college career.
A few weeks ago, I learned that my LEAP affiliated school St. Mary’s College of California offers LEAP students the opportunity to study abroad. Not only do they offer these programs, but they have some of the best study abroad programs in the country. This got my brain whirling … I’ve always wanted to spend an extended amount of time in Europe – 2 weeks just never feels like enough. So I began to research the programs offered by SMC and found one in London with the Queen Mary University of London.
The topic of London seems to be a recurring theme in my life lately. My mother and I have been contemplating a mother/daughter trip there and think sooner rather than later is ideal. Serendipitously, several London travel articles have come across my path, making the prospect more real. Then, I received an e-mail from a UK publication that might be interested in publishing some of my work. They are based in London. I feel like The Clash is singing the soundtrack of my life for the moment.
I have no aspirations of moving there for good, but maybe this is my last chance to do something completely outside of my comfort zone and, of course, make me a prime candidate for the grad schools I’m applying for : ) Can’t you picture me, sitting at a London cafe, sipping on espresso, and being studious?
I can’t help but wonder … Is London calling? And should I answer the call?
Before the holidays, I spent a great day assisting on a shoot for Beauty Bender, a new website started by two awesome ladies, Kathryn Romeyn and Alexis Johnson. I took my camera along with me for the day and captured some cool behind the scenes shots! I totally fell in love with all of the clothing used for the shoot from stylehaus. In fact, I still have my eye on the grey tank top and amazing white sheer button down with the back cut outs. Oh, if only both could be mine!
Click here to see the beautiful finished shots and check out Beauty Bender’s 12 resolutions for 2012.
Also, don’t forget to follow Beauty Bender on Twitter and like them on Facebook!
I’d like to share an event that is being presented by two New York shakers and movers. On Monday February 27th, David Fernandez and Kimberly Giannelli will present an evening of great NYC dance at the El Museo Del Barrio’s El Teatro. The performance will feature some of the city’s best freelance dancers, as well as dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Dance Theater of Harlem, and New Jersey Ballet. All proceeds will go to benefit Career Transitions for Dancers.
The event will showcase the choreography and artistic vision of David Fernandez. Kimberly, a New York dancer and arts manager, is producing the one-night performance as well as dancing in it. Tickets range from $30 to $100 and can be purchased online. I heard they are selling fast, so be sure to get a move on it and gets yours today.
For more information and the latest news on Some Dance Company check out their Facebook page.
Heard this on NPR (yes, I say it again) this afternoon and it was great inspiration for all of the writing I am doing now and hope to do in 2012. It was also an even greater distraction from my strategic thoughts on how best to unpack after moving this past weekend. I see more listening in my future as I sift through all the stuff jamming up my new diggs!
The Leonard Lopate Show: Word maven Patricia T. O’Conner on beautiful words.
My chosen words today are ineffable (thanks to Deb Lohse), incandescent (thanks to Virginia Woolf), and effervescent (don’t you just want to be like what it sounds and means?). What words do you love to say?
I didn’t even have to look for this article. It was literally delivered to me … in my e-mail inbox, via Linkedin. After reading it I felt inclined to share with my fellow Dders.
The article is from INC.; Titled “What’s an Entrepreneur? The Best Answer Ever,” the short read breaks down the profession that is truly the “American Dream” – entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled. – Howard Stevenson, professor at Harvard Business School
Once again, I’ve been a bit neglectful to my Dd postings. We’re already mid way through January and I have yet to post 2012 content. So here I am, on a post-Nutcracker Sunday morning … enjoying a cup of tea and reading the New York Times. Sigh, it feels great to NOT have to wake up at 8am, rush off to Penn Station to catch the LIRR train to Huntington, and spend my Sundays Nutcracker-ing.
But a new year means new endeavors, new commitments, and new schedules – at least for the life of the freelancer. I contemplated New Year’s Resolutions, but decided that this year I would try a different approach and forego setting any definitive goals for myself. Considering my A-Type personality traits and perfectionism, this may come as a shock to many of you. But, like I said, new year new endeavors.
In the spirit of being open to all things in 2012, I decided to curate a New Year’s Resolution from someone else. A colleague of 
mine recommended a blog called Brain Pickings. The site is moderated and mostly written by Maria Popova, a “cultural curator and curious mind at large.” Additionally, she is a writer and contributes to publications such as Wired UK, The Atlantic, and others. Her site is quirky and informative – full of interesting tid bits about culture, art, writing, literature, and most of all creative inspiration. I feel as if her mission compliments that of Dd’s. read more…
I was born with a mother who has an insatiable curiosity for anything that could potentially make the world a better place, especially health (given we live in America, and, let’s face it, are in a serious health crisis). When I was younger, I saw this as a curse. Sometimes I just wanted to eat Oreos and talk about boys instead of broccoli. But, now, I feel so blessed to have gained so much knowledge from my mother and her years upon years of trials and research.
These days, there is a lot of information on health, making it is hard to know what is right and what is wrong. But here is the kicker – most of the information that is widely available is funded by major corporations. It is the information that is not on the yahoo home page and in Weight Watchers ads that is truly valuable.
It is quite simple; don’t eat anything processed and limit sugar intake, which causes yeast production (candida) within the body (yes, even fruit sugar). Avoid chemical products and drugs (there are so many natural alternatives, just google it!) at all costs (unless you are dying of malaria… then please make an exception!). The food we eat, the chemicals we clean with, and the drugs we take to ‘make us better’ are causing killer diseases. Biologically, anything that enters our system gets absorbed into our blood stream through our skin and our gut and all the chemicals that enter are literally changing molecular structures within our cells and brain stems. Hello cancer, diabetes, Alzheimers… you name it! Not to mention, all of these chemicals cause drastic fluctuations of hormones and emotions. Your energy level and behavior literally reflects what you eat!
Eating organic, clean foods and keeping a chemical free home are more than just about a skinny waist line- its about avoiding diseases that could take your life in the future, far earlier than is necessary. And while it’s scary to think about, NOT having the information is even worse. So ‘munch’ on that next time you think about biting into an Oreo….
My Dad and Mom at 57 and 54 respectively- super healthy and loving life!!! Notice the wine glasses are empty- so much sugar! (“sugar is the devil,” as my dad would say)… something to think about
P.S. vodka has virtually no sugar…. just saying 
Resources for more in depth information:
Candida- http://www.ecandida.com/
Leaky Gut Syndrome- http://www.leakygutcure.com/blog/leaky-gut-syndrome/
Chemicals- http://www.chem-tox.com/
Unveiling "Viejo"
I have been an artist-in-residence at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn for the last six months and tonight is the opening of our group show!
Artists in Residence: 2nd Edition
Friday, January 13 — 7PM
505 Carroll St.
Brooklyn, NY
Exhibiting Artists:
Stacie Baek, Annie Coggan, Whitney Crutchfield,
Katie Minford, Julia Ramsey, Candice Thompson
Would love to see you there!
I woke up this morning with more energy than I have had in a long time. Fall of 2011 into the holiday season was so laden with projects, stress, and deadlines that I really lost myself and at times, my sanity. We are so defined by what we do and what we are doing in any given moment, it is easy to lose contact with what is important–being good at living. And for those of us that lack religion, it can be hard to carve out sacred spaces in life.
For me, dance and my dedication to it was always sacred. But now that I no longer carry that strong definition and title “I am a dancer” as a torch, it has often seemed more difficult to blaze a path for myself as an artist and person, intent on exploration and transition. Many new activities and potential definitions have taken the place of dance, but when the excitement and business subside, I am left knowing there is still something missing in such a full schedule: uninterrupted time for myself, not just for my activities. I don’t have any set resolutions for 2012, but in giving myself a little quiet time this morning, I found an inspiring essay in the NYTimes that I would love to share:
The Joy Of Quiet by Pico Iyer.
Happy New Year! (now feel free to close this window and power down)