"Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts."

- F.F. Bosworth

(book i recommend to my students of all ages - young & old. an inspirational read for any type of dancer, not just ballerinas.)

to see or purchase, click there ==> "to dance"

(book i'd given my lil' sis for Christmas 2009)

"ivy + bean: doomed to dance", to see or purchase click there ==> "ivy + bean: doomed to DANCE!"

dance crush.

dance is life, and she couldn't have it any other way. she cannot even describe how much she lives for dance; how much she thinks of dance; how much it consumes all of her thoughts, her being, fills her journals - notetaking on dance (choreo)!

dance is life. dance is art. without it, she just would not be able to breathe.

first year college, i had this unhealthy obsession with degas' works: fascinated with his sketches/drawing, mainly for my obsession of dance. degas had intrigued me into the world of impressionism, urging me to take art history courses. one of my most treasured posessions in my home today is a replica of degas 'little dancer of fourteen years', given to me as a gift from my family. it still sits on my bookcase.

i believe it is why, to this date, i prefer reading 17th-19th century fiction and non-fiction; why i'm so fascinated with everything vintage; why i long for living in the past, and most of all, why i believe i was born in the wrong era.

i'd love to know how many out there would prefer 17th-19th century to now?

well i think the only thing that would make me rethink would be the unsanitary non-plumbing factor. no sinks, showers, toilets, etc.?

otherwise, i wouldn't mind bumping into a mr. darcy.

.....

i spy ten: one of her performances.

AK modern: san jose state's dance troop/team/group..

ten's in it (melissaashlee). she works at a med clinic, goes to school full time (wants to be a pediatrician w/minor in sports medicine), gets amazing grades, practices with her dance team several nights a week - sometimes til 1am, performs often, still has time for social life (parties + bf). how does she do it!? ten's my cousinhero :) love u forever. <3

so, it's sometimes overwhelming to see (so many dancers on stage at once), but they do many transitions with the song mashups. melissa is in & out.

*spy her? 2:24 is the best song/dance transition (imo) & at 3:04, she's the one that walks from the back to front, with her red vans :D *

dance comp/showcase

time for that time of year again (!) we're all very excited. if any of you would like to join us to see *ballercross, whodat, tee, mapt, and jejay* perform/compete let us know. we've got 5 'friends & family' tickets left for $10.00 ($5.00 less than presale!) - but they'll be going soon..

stockton is about 2hrs away from san jose area. if you have any questions or need more details about event, you may email me.

*please note* it's "BreakThrough" dance competition, not a break dancing only - dance competition* just had to clarify ;P

dance teaches life lessons.

well today i just wanted to share a few of my favorite dance quotes. dance quotes are not just for the dancer (trainer, teacher or choreographer). one of my professors always reminded us that it's a way to live life. i found one of my old notebooks i took notes in for a couple of my classes back in the day - wow can't believe i found it!! i feel soo ancient (?)

it's been just a tad bit challenging teaching dance w/whatever muscle condition i have but i'm not giving up on it, and thank goodness for now i'm only doing it part time. it also helps to have an assistant (who is heavensent) & prescrip. meds bwahaah! ;P
once dr.'s have figured it all out, i will be actively searching for a full time position teaching jazz, lyrical, pointe & hip hop, especially since company i do part time a/r for are currently doing lay offs...which basically means strict budget & a handbag ban? haahah.

*as you will note, that quote of, "dance like nobody is watching", isn't one of my favorites. it's become so trendy & cliche..my opinion anyway

now off to the quotes:

1. "Dancing can reveal all the mystery that music conceals." - Charles Baudelaire

2. "We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance." -Japanese Proverb

3. "Dancers are the athletes of God." - Albert Einstein

4. "Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels." - Faith Whittlesey

5. "Artists lead unglamorous daily lives of discipline and routine, but their work is full of passion. Each has a vision and feels responsibility to that vision." - Merryl Brockway

6. "I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance." - George Balanchine

7. "Life is a dance, from one stage to the next." - Anonymous

8. "Dancers are instruments, like a piano the choreographer plays." - George Balanchine

9. "Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein

10. "Dancers are among the most passionate and dedicated of artists and rarely take their work for granted." - Anonymous

11. "Stifling an urge to dance is bad for your health - it rusts your spirit and your hips." - Adabella Radici

12. "Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul's weather."- Martha Graham