This is the piece just before we entered Spring Break. When the dancers return to rehearsal we will have less than four weeks to complete it and get it performance ready.
Incredible first day at the conference--over 900 people in attendance. Saw my professor Kaye (from Akron U over 18 years ago) give a presentation with Brian (who I danced with in GroundWorks Dance Theater some 13 years ago). Took a master jazz class with a group of incredible, masterful teachers: Karen, Thom, Patricia and Darwin. They were truly inspiring...and, my friend Billy (also one of our great living master jazz dance teachers) was in class with me. Got to tap with Anita (I have used her book for years) in a workshop she presented on collaborating with a composer. Attended a presentation by Yo-el who I had danced with in one of the 5x5 Dance Festivals (can’t remember if it was a NYC or CT one). He teaches modern for Boston Ballet School and was there with a researcher who demonstrated (experientially) a way to use research in dance education--specifically in the classroom. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, I met up with a whole group of jazz dance educators at the hot...
I have officially been living in St. Louis for two months as of last Sunday. While I have much left to learn about this city and its unique culture, I am not going to let a lack of information, experience, and time prevent me from making some snap judgments about my new home town. After all, if making brash, uninformed generalizations and providing personal opinions as if they are scientific fact are good enough for our national politicians, then they are good enough for me. Thumbs Down 1) Provel Cheese First, I have to tell you about Provel. Prov-what? you say. Provel. It is this processed cheese substance made from cheddar, swiss, and provolone that is all the rage in St. Louis, but nowhere else. Why hasn’t this trend caught on in other regions? Why hasn’t it spread throughout the country? Because, it is awful. It is one of those terrible culinary idiosyncrasies that you can only love because you grew up with it. 2) Help Yourself Shrimp Bar The grocery store down...
Today was Day One of the Teacher Training Workshop for my Jazz Dance Technique & Syllabus (by the way, Genevieve gets the Frequent Flyer Mile Award for coming all the way from South Africa). It was a good day and I came away thinking about my prior blog: Embracing Beginner’s Mind . There is something so vital and special about teachers who are willing to continue to expand their understanding. Each of them, by virtue of attending a workshop such as this, demonstrate the idea of beginner’s mind. In working with the teachers today, in hearing their stories and in witnessing their passion for teaching, I learned new ideas and found myself, in turn, inspired. So, I thank you all and hope the rest of the days bring continued growth, sharing and learning.
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