FREE AGENT!!!

So that I am clear with myself and everyone else . . .  I AM A FREE AGENT.  I am an independent artist.  I am a dancer who partners.  I am a performer, a director, a choreographer, a teacher.  I am affiliated with several different companies.  And this makes me who I am.  I am a diverse, always changing, growing, and adapting creature.  One might say that I have no identity or that I belong to nothing.  One may also say I am part of everything.  Maybe it's easier to just pick which group or identity "you" want to label me in any given moment.  I realize the delicate balance this all requires.  It is that balance that I intend to seek and pursue in my life.  I know I am not one thing or title.  And I can not be claimed by one person, or group, or idea.  And that frees me to be who I really am.

As a woman, as a "follower", this skill of being solid with who you are, yet flexible with movement is exceptionally important to the dance.  I think strengthening and playing with  these contrary ideas is what one needs to be a phenomenal partner.

I used to think I wanted to be "So and So" but that changed as I met new talented role models who I then wanted to emulate.  Now I realize I can not be any of those people.  It is impossible for me to re-create anything or anyone.  I have to discover "me" and be who "I" am suppose to be, so that eventually I am that role model for some one else.

It's hard in this dance, as a follower and someone's partner, to find that personal identity.  I value the intense work I do with one partner, but equally I value my ability to work with others and maintain the skill of improvisation.  If I can keep these two things in balance, then I think I will feel complete.  And the feeling of completeness is not based  on finding my other half or the perfect partner; it's realizing that being complete is something I do within myself.  So I am focused on being a better, more powerful, and inspiring ME.  Then I can truly work with and contribute to any group or partnership.

Being back in New York City

Since being back in New York City, things have been rough and confusing.  Falling back into a sense of rhythm, especially the rhythm of this city, takes some adjusting.  Not to mention recovering from Jet-lag.  But over all, I have been so grateful to come home to a job, at Dance Manhattan, and to my incredible room mates whom I love as a family, Nathan Bugh and Emily Vanston.  No matter how long I have been away, they are always excited to have me home and they both help me carry my luggage up our five flights of stairs.  Just for that, anyone would be grateful.
Immediately upon returning home I had rehearsals with Nathan Bugh, Michael Jagger and students from Dance Manhattan for a yearly celebration of dance at The Ulster County Performing Arts Theater.  This was the 4th year for us to perform in this show which brings together all styles of dance.  We had a great show and it's always a privilege to share the stage with other professionals like Daniel Ulbricht and Erica Pereira of the New York City Ballet!

I resumed regular classes at Dance Manhattan for the month of April which you can see on my calendar.  I had an exceptionally good time with my Thursday 8 o'clock Lindy Hop class and all my ladies in Belly Dance.

On April 9-11, Michael and I taught at The Hawkeye Swing Festival.  I had so much fun with the folks of the mid-west.  People drove in from all over.  There were more than 300 folks!  And most of them were college students!  I was floored by the Collegiate Jitterbug Contests.  The Team Division had 10 entries!    One thought:  STAR WARS.  Oh I wish I had a video link to that one.

I guess the next really big thing that happen was just last week.  Michael and I taught for another 5 day session at Glenmont Elementary School.  Thanks to everyone's support and regular voting, we won the Pepsi Grant of $25,000 which is paying for 2 more weeks of Swing classes in the school with live musicians every day, plus a dance at the end of the week.  I can't even begin to list all the little light bulbs that have been turning on for these K-5th grade students.  The most significant lesson learned is about communicating with their dance partners and with the musicians. We talked a lot about call and response using examples like singing "T'aint What You Do, It's The Way That You Do It", using the Pushes step that Frankie Manning always called out in the Shim Sham, and of course, watching and imitating dance steps.  The whole experience has been beyond anything I could have expected.  I want to send a huge thank you to Bill and Livia Vanaver who, through the Vanaver Caravan, sent me and Michael to Glenmont in the first place.  Another thank you to Peter Rawitsch and Valerie Falco and all the faculty at Glenmont who support this dance education.  And how could I forget, Alan Thomson's Little Big Band who worked with us everyday!

So life goes on and continues to be busy and wonderful.  Underneath the work, which I am always grateful for, I struggle with finding my true wants and goals.  I am often confused and pulled by others to carry out their passions, which usually gives me great joy.  But now in my 29th year of being on this earth, I'm coming to question what it is I really want to focus on.  I guess I'm feeling the magnitude of my accomplishments thus far and now I want to carefully choose what I do with the skills I've developed.  As soon as I know more, which may take a while, I will write more.

Swing Xtreme dance in PARIS

            So Ryan Francois's company, Swing Xtreme, danced in Paris for a big corporate gig for JP Morgan CHASE.  Although those gigs are usually for a tough crowd, they pay really well and take you to incredibly cool venues.  Now I'm trying to build a collection of Swing-Out photos in front of famous landmarks all over the world.  And of course the Eiffel Tower is on the top of that list.  Here's Michael Jagger and I, swinging out in Paris.  It was a great gig, and a great day.  Love to Matt, Hannah, Lisa, Dan and of course, Michael as we represented the company like true pros!  Here's to many more!

No age limits and no SHOES while in Europe!!

London and the UK

Well, since returning from Rome, I have had a lot of work in London with Mr. Michael Jagger!  We have been rehearsing with Swing Xtreme, Ryan Francois' dance company, and there have already been several gigs!  Michael and I also went up to Norwich to teach a weekend workshop.  It was beautiful!  We met a great group of people and the sun came out for us the whole time!  It's been strangely sunny here in the UK since I've been here.  I think I'm extraordinarily lucky.  Michael and I taught for Swing Patrol last Thursday and tonight, Monday March 15, we teach for Joseph and Trisha's JiveSwing.  We've been keeping busy.  The Universe has been good to us.  The photo's below are the Cathedral in Norwich and me.  Above, Michael and I stand in the market place.   

Roma, Italy

I will be in this scene tomorrow!!!

ROCK THAT SWING FESTIVAL

Munich, Germany has not seen this much snow since, who knows.  It was insanely cold, even for this bundled up New Yorker.  But the party atmosphere of the late nights and the amazing crowd of international instructors kept me happy and warm.  I had a great time!  Peace out, Okay, to my roomie Moe, my DJ Remy, my Killer Diller family, Sharon&Juan, and of course Joel!