Read Around the Christmas Tree at the Waterford Public Library

I had a great time once again at the Waterford Public Library with about 17 kids ages 3-10 and their families. It was a wonderful scene of children telling, listening, and becoming apart of holiday stories.

Now, I had a lot of help from Tricia Cox and Bridget Urban who are the children's librarians at the WPL. They approached me in September with the idea of joining them for their annual "Read Around the Christmas Tree" where everyone sits by a beautifully decorated tree all cozy to listen to Christmas tales. It was their idea to include myself and dance in the plot! Absolutely amazed by the opportunity, I told them of course, and gave them all my ideas for the event. My goal was to have it be something fun for the whole family. Of course the outcome was that the kids jumped right into every activity while the parents sat back and watched. Thinking back even though I really would have loved for the parents to get involved in the dance, I can definitely respect that they probably worked hard all day, and it was a treat for them to relax for a minute while they watched their kids sharing with other kids in dance and storytelling.

These kids impressed me so much!!!! They were attentive when I told them a little about ballet and dance, and they were quick to try the warm up exercises. We stretch and grooved for 15 minutes, and we were warm. Then the kids had such imaginative minds when I asked them to share their favorite holiday traditions, and they really did a fine job coming up with movement on their own for all their favorites. The dance was filled with cookies being made, ice fishing, snowball fights and forts rectified out of snow, HOT CHOCOLATE, sledding and snowmen, along with toys, presents, and Christmas cards. Finally, we wrapped the dance up by spending time with family, and it was so sweet to see these kids run and give their families hugs. We spent 15 minutes creating this dance, and had rehearsed it once before we changed locations and danced in front of the Christmas tree. For next year, I would like 10 more minutes to pretend how we marched in to the library, and where we would all stand in front of the Christmas tree. The space we practiced in was much larger than the space around the tree, but nobody ran into anybody or knocked the tree down so I think it was a successful transition. It was a little disorderly, but it was entertaining!




Once we finished our dancing around the tree, then the kids were all ready to sit and listen to some stories told by Tricia and Bridget who included some more dancing along with singing and acting out the tales. It was most certainly a treat, and I hope to make it a tradition that I can participate in for years to come.

I thank Bridget and Tricia for all their faith in me, and for the wonderful opportunity it was to join them for the library's annual "Read Around the Christmas Tree"! Next year, we need some hot chocolate!

For more information about past and upcoming events at the Waterford Public Library you can also visit them on facebook or their webpage.

Waterford Public Library on Facebook

Movement Memories Adventures in Morocco

Last month, I performed a workshop at St. John's on the Lake in Milwaukee, WI. called Movement Memories Adventures in Morocco. It consisted of about 15 participants from that community, and we all contributed stories and dreams to a dance piece about traveling. We began with a comforting warm up that got our bodies and minds connected in the activity with music from Camille who is a singer from France that uses movements to change the sound she is creating. I find her music to be playful and edgy while with a sense of calm. It certainly brought our warm-up to a different place and time.
Then I asked them to share their experiences traveling or dreams to travel. We then created an adventurous dance that went from France to Soviet Russia, Morocco to Hawaii, and our own back yard. The stories were fascinating, and the movement that grew from them was hilarious and sometimes touching. I got so caught up in all of this that I lost track of time completely. I think I could have improved different timing because after we did the dance then I also did a brief presentation on Morocco and my adventures. I don't know. I have mixed feelings because I did enjoy hearing all of their stories and wishes. Also, It is a pleasure to share and relive my memories of Morocco. I had a blast, and even got to do a little belly dancing to the music of Samira Said whose music I was introduced to during my time in Morocco.

The biggest challenge was seeing everyone in the group because they all had different abilities. St. John's has a large community of people who can live freely on their own with little assistance and then people who need a little more care. In the future, I think it would be helpful if I switch where I'm sitting throughout the workshop so different areas have equal attention.

Photo Taken from St. John's website

It was a little nerve racking, but I had great assistance from St. John's staff especially Angela Crimmings who I worked with closely. She had great advice including having a little more volume. I tend to be soft spoken at times, and it doesn't work! Crimmings was very encouraging though, and said a comfortable volume will come with experience. It's kind of funny though because I generally like to talk a lot, but in important situations I become all quiet.

I hope to present again at St. John's. The community environment is friendly, respectful, and open. I enjoy their company with their abundance of knowledge and experience.

Interview with Joseph Kuczkowski (Uncle Joe) Owner of Collins Woodwork

My Uncle Joe has always been a carpenter for as long as I have known him. I have seen him build beautiful, extraordinary things from wood. He actually began his interest in carpentry when he started working for his neighbor Mr. Collins at 12 years old. Starting pay was $1 an hour in 1973, and he quickly received a raise to $2 after his first week. I never knew this information about Uncle Joe until this interview, and I find it very interesting that at a young age he knew who he wanted to be. I suppose I was the same way when I was younger, except, I wanted to be a star on Broadway! Little differences...

Image taken from Collins Woodwork Website

Over the years of working at Collins Woodwork, Uncle Joe took over the business, and now is the business owner. I think it must have been challenging, but my uncle has learned how to balance his personal and professional life well. He told me his biggest confrontation was that he forgot how to smile, and had to relearn over the first 5 years that he owned the business how to smile again. With fears of the economy and being true to oneself, I can empathize with that sentiment because I know that I can become a little caught up in my own fears. Specifically, I fear failure. To control one's fear is a huge step in owning a business. I hope that I make many mistakes, and face failure with the successes.

Another lesson I learned from our interview was to leave problems that are work related at work, and not carry them home. We all have to take some "Me Time", and for my Uncle that has always been reading a book in the bathtub. I don't know if he really wanted me to write about his bathing habits, but I thought it was important! I have so many ways to take "Me Time" whether it be watching TV, stalking people on facebook, or going out to eat by myself with a good book. It is great to just enjoy in simple activities. What do you do to escape the everyday obstacles? I'm sure we all have our place for "Me Time". It makes for a healthier individual.

Now. Collins Woodwork is a small business with a big impact. It is just different from a bigger hardware store that deals in bulk rather than keeping close with customers. My Uncle made sure to tell me that the customers and coworkers are what make a difference, and we are nothing without other people. I find this so true in what I do with my dancing, and I feel like it would be a loss if I couldn't share my love with the people around me.

Joe Kuczkowski is most definitely an artist with wood and business. He creates life experiences out of his business, and his business thrives because of his life experiences. Collin's Woodwork Cabinetry could be better called Collin's Woodwork Artistry!

Thank you Uncle Joe for always being so loving and caring, and allowing me to take up some of your time for an interview.

Image taken from Collins Woodwork on Facebook

Photoshoot with Ernesto Villarreal

Pilgrimage Dance on Facebook

Really quick! I wanted to promote a photographer, Ernesto Villarreal, who recently helped me out tons with some movement shots for my website. He did an excellent job; was profession, prepared! I was able to be laid back around him, and we got just tons of wonderful photos from an afternoon of dance.

You can view more photos at Ernesto's website http://www.pbase.com/firenight/pilgrimage_dance__sandy_beneke

and learn more about this skilled photographer!

Big Thank You to Ernesto Villarreal!

Observation at St. John's on the Lake

As I have an upcoming workshop at St. John's on the Lake, I made a visit to observe one of their regularly scheduled events. It was a movement/art class instructed by Kelly Anderson who is a dancer & choreographer in the Milwaukee area. You may remember I blogged about working with her in my Missed Connections post.

In the group, Anderson worked with some TimeSlips concepts where she presented them with a photo and they came up with some really creative responses. We went on a wild adventure with ideas such as a war over a mysterious empire waged by a 600 year old princess to a ragtime piano played by a couple of long-necked critters. TimeSlips is a great way for people to initiate sharing of experiences and creativity. The model is to take a photo and find a story -- any story. I had forgotten how wonderful it was to work with pictures to generate thoughts and ideas which could create movement.

Picture taken from Time Slips Website

Though the group was small in size with 8 participants including myself and Anderson, it gave a nice level of intimacy. I think the group contributed more possibly because of the sense of safety within the group along with the comforting confidence within Anderson. The challenge with less people in a group comes when the participants are more on the spot to perform. Anderson's overall approach to the individuals at St. John's was relaxed, informative, and open. There was a level of connection that she had with the clients that she had a laid back demeanor, but all the while still sharing information and open to new thoughts.

I am even more excited now for my own event coming up involving traditions and culture. It would be beneficial if I could use some of the storytelling philosophies from TimeSlips with my own special twist. I hope I can have a similar effect working with memories and movement. Confidently, I am always thrilled to work with the St. John's participants because they all offer so much!

Election Day!!!!

OK... It has been way to long since I last posted so I thought I would use this blog to mention a little politics.

As an artist, I am made very aware of the lack of support arts receive. "Why would I pursue something that has little support within the community and for which is often overlooked?", you might ask.

Well to be quite frank, I love it (dance, music, film, visual art, theater, poetry, fashion, and any form of expression). My forté is in dance, but I appreciate them all. They also all interrelate at some point or another. Dancing to music; creating music through dance. Filming dance; dancing to a film.... so on and so on! There are endless possibilities.

Not only do I love art at surface value for the end product, but I also benefit from the process of creating art. It is sometimes really hard and frustrating at times, but it makes me even more aware of my own voice and opinion because it is constantly being challenged and changed. It is exciting!

Now, you're maybe wondering, "OK, that's great! What does any of this have to do with Election Day?"

I thought about not voting today. No... last week, I decided I wasn't going to vote today. Between all the propaganda seen on TV and heard on the radio, I was at a standstill. Why on Earth would I vote for anybody they way the tear each other apart? Then I realized or rather was told by a number of people in my life that it is important to vote.



Napoleon Dynamite



If I chose to not make myself knowledgeable about the candidates and not vote today, how could I take myself seriously as an artist. If I didn't even make an effort to participate, I would be devaluing myself and my voice. I don't pay too much attention to politics on a regular basis because I would probably shoot myself in the face out of frustration, but it's not because I am incapable of comprehending the candidates and the debates. I found a really wonderful website called Project Vote Smart that helped me in looking through all the candidates and rating them according to how alike their positions were to my own.



Use it! It takes only a few minutes depending on your Internet connection... 

Please care! 

I didn't care, but then I thought about what would happen or not happen because of my silence.



Even though change isn't going to happen over night, I must make a stand to express what I want for the future of my government. Even though I am not well represented within government, it is a right to represent one's individual self; it's the only platform I have that connects me to the government. Even though I don't care about either party in particular, I want a balanced government that works together to make decisions that impact ME! (It's all, pretty much about me)

For all of you that vote today, Happy Election Day regardless of if you identify as a Republican or Democrat. For those who are making a choice not to vote, recognize that there isn't even a small percentage of your voice being heard and your opinion being important!

Compagnie Jant-Bi: Waxton

Last weekend, there was a terrific dance group called Compagnie Jant-Bi from Senegal who put on a one-night only show on Saturday through Alverno Presents. I was absolutely blown away by their performance of Waxton. The fierceness of the dancers was remarkable. They were so physically active throughout the dance and made me feel out of breath just watching. It reminded me a lot of going to see fireworks because the dancers would have moments of huge, fast, explosive movement along with moments of condensed, still, stable activity.

Picture Taken from Jant-Bi website

If you missed this dynamic company perform live, you have to check them out on the website linked above, and watch their clips on youtube. They are a real treat for anybody of any background. I found them irresistibly provoking and entertaining along with meaningful and witty.

Interview with Deborah Farris, Executive Director of Danceworks

The other day I had the chance to interview Deborah Farris, the Executive Director of Danceworks. As a college student, I was introduced to Danceworks through a jazz dance class that I took as a General Elective Requirement. It reminded me of how much love I had for dance when I was younger, and I decided to try to continue actively studying dance. I have taken many classes at Danceworks through UWM and on my own during the summer programs. One class I had as an early college student was a ballet course taught by Deborah Farris. It was rough! I remember being very challenged in the class as Farris helped me work through the basics of ballet.

Image found on the Danceworks Facebook Page

Now near the end of my Undergrad degree, I have taken the opportunity to sit with Deborah Farris and interview her one on one. She has some remarkable stories! Not only does she dance and have some great management skills; she also has talent in fields of visual art, theater, and singing. She told me that it was hard to find a niche because she had so many interests. Thankfully, UWM had an inter arts program to put all her interests to use where she earned her undergrad degree. Many of her interests are visible in Danceworks as a well rounded arts’ community. You can see these features throughout the building itself where Danceworks is located with artwork covering the walls and in the Dancworks Performance Company (DPC) shows that often collaborate with artists in other fields.

If you haven’t seen DPC in action, it is made up of hardworking individuals who are talented professional people. Farris attributes the growth of the company to the efforts of the entire staff at Danceworks who she says, “uniquely serve the purpose of performing, training, and getting people in the community motivated about moving”. She went further to mention that they each are a part of the core of Danceworks, and factor into all the great work Danceworks does for the community. From children to elders who sometimes have little or no resources, Danceworks integrates all art forms throughout Milwaukee to support the community. It wasn’t always easy, Farris told me. She said she had to learn a lot about grant writing.  In today’s economy, the pressure is always on to be able to support the arts financially.

Farris does an amazing job of managing the books of this growing organization, and it is not the first time for her either. Even though Farris never went to school for business, she learned through experience. Helping manage the books for a modeling agency when she was seventeen, she gained knowledge for numbers and organization. With her voice, she started performing at the Skylight Theatre and moved to New York where she performed Off and Off-Off Broadway and got sucked into the dance scene. She did even more traveling all over the U.S.; performing with companies until she settled into Chapel Hill, North Carolina and had a son. In North Carolina, Farris continued to be inspired by the arts in the area, but she also began book keeping for the Botanical Gardens which is a place she grew into with a business and finance management position. A new marriage brought her back to Wisconsin where she pursued her masters degree at UWM, and she became apart of the dance community in Milwaukee. When she started as Executive Director, it had its challenges such as building revenue streams, focusing the mission, developing the board, and coming down with pneumonia. In a vulnerable state, Danceworks pulled through, and Farris works hard to see that happen.

Farris is an incredibly versatile individual with a great group of people working with her at Danceworks. I have lots of faith that she will continue to be an asset in the dance/art community here in Milwaukee, and I marvel at the work she has done already. I know this company well as I have gone to many shows and taken classes with a few of their instructors, and have benefited from Danceworks being a strong entity in Milwaukee. It is a place where I began my study of dance, and I am very thankful to those who helped encourage me. Under the direction of Deborah Farris along with the help of the rest of the Danceworks staff, I hope to see dance and art continue to grow here in Milwaukee.

A huge thank you to Deborah Farris for being willing to take a moment to talk with me, I have a greater understanding of how it can be challenging to find a voice when there are so many interesting wonders in the world, and how integrating partnerships can make it possible to explore many fields of thought and study.

If you are interested in learning more about Danceworks or Deborah Farris, click the highlighted links above.

Dance Therapy with Emily Van Nelson

On Monday, I had the privilege to listen to a lecture by Emily Van Nelson who previously graduated from UWM in 2004 with a Dance BA. Then she continued her education at Columbia College where she earned her masters degree in dance therapy. She now works in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin at Rodgers Memorial Hospital as a dance therapist who helps a wide range of people.

For those who have never heard of dance therapy, it is the "psycho therapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration of individuals" as defined by the American Dance Therapy Association.

One of my confusions about dance therapy was the differences between a dance therapist and a physical therapist. Within the lecture, Emily cleared up for me the fact that in physical therapy they try to help fix body ailments due to physical injury where as in dance/movement therapy the focus is on the body and mind connection to help patients dealing with mental health disorders and addictions along with a number of other issues.

I have always had in the back of my mind an interest for dance therapy. A lot of my work with people in the community is geared in a very similar fashion. My goal for all of my programs with Pilgrimage Dance is to help people build their self esteem. Dance can be very challenging for people to participate in because of their own self doubts, but it can be a great physical, mental, and emotional change that can be very rewarding.

The reason why I couldn't call my work dance therapy is because I don't have research and science to back up what I do. All I know is what I observe that works and doesn't work for me, and how it can apply to helping other people feel more comfortable in their own skin.

Picture taken from the ADTA website

In the lecture, Emily also discussed that one of the biggest challenges facing her in the field is explaining and validating her work. It is a growing field that has a lot of room to develop and catch on, but people have a hard time really understanding the full extent of the benefits from dance therapy without experiencing it first hand.

Maybe somewhere in the future, I will pursue dance therapy, and run with it. I am learning a lot of concepts about dance therapy also in my Laban Movement Analysis class which deals with how movement is connected to how a person is feeling or thinking.

If you are interested in learning more about dance therapy, please click on the links highlighted above.

Interview with Elizabeth Johnson - Artistic Director of Your Mother Dances

As I am a dancer and not a journalist, I am going to take some creative liberties, and I am not going to write as though I were writing up an interview for a magazine. I won’t be showing our dialogue, but I will be describing what I took away from the experience of sitting down with Elizabeth Johnson to discuss her performing company, Your Mother Dances.

First of all, if you have never heard of Your Mother Dances, it is an inappropriate and hilarious dance company that has performed in Milwaukee, WI along with the Minnesota Fringe Festival. Johnson told me that the company is everything that you’re not supposed to be. She described for me her final year as a graduate student, and how the idea came from mentors such as Sara Hook and Cynthia Oliver who influenced her approach to dance and to her identity.  Johnson mentioned that Cynthia Oliver was someone who pushed her to think about things in different ways, and influenced the way Johnson identified herself as someone inspired by African culture, pop culture, feminism, and motherhood. Sara Hook taught her extensively about Laban Movement Analysis, and further developed Johnson’s view on movement and the human body. The title of Your Mother Dances was coined from a company Sara Hook started called Sara Hook Dances. Also, Your Mother Dances was titled because of African cultural influences and pop culture. It’s a grammatically correct version of “yo mama” jokes which make fun and games out of embarrassing each others’ mothers. In my own observations of Your Mother Dances performances and Johnson’s choreography, I find that I can feel embarrassed sometimes watching the dancers and it makes me laugh at myself and feel connected to the work. The company showcases real, human vulnerabilities, and they can be challenging and riotous to watch because Johnson’s choreography often has really punchy movement with a lot of attitude.



Picture taken fromYour Mother Dances on Facebook



When Johnson first entered the Milwaukee community, she met some trouble having her work recognized so she brought it on herself to create her own dance company. With Your Mother Dances first show in Milwaukee, there was a huge turnout with a packed audience. As time has gone by since that first performance, the company has had more challenges with the economy and finding financial support. There are very few opportunities to receive grants for dance in Milwaukee, and most grants go to large nonprofit dance organizations. Johnson helped explain to me that nonprofit means that there is a committee board that has final say in decisions for the company, and there is always a possibility that the board might have different ideas from that of the artistic director. Nonprofit has strength in numbers, and can be a powerful attribute. It can also have too many voices blurring the concepts of the artist. Being successful in business economically while still being true to artistic aspirations is probably the largest challenge to face an artistic entrepreneur. Elizabeth Johnson has dug into her own pocket on many occasion to put together performances, and support is not always consistent for Your Mother Dances shows. The company has had some luck with fundraisers, but it takes time to prepare and get the word out. For a teacher, wife, and mother, Elizabeth Johnson has other important values that also demand her focus and time. She is an incredibly busy woman with some large responsibilities.

Business is taking a risk on a very uncertain future. In my opinion, it is very scary, and I understand why not everyone starts a business. Realistically, dance and art are even more frightening because its support is subjective on the openness of others. Personally, I have a large amount of faith invested in others; I think people have more in them than they know. Plus it is the scariest thought of all to think of a world void of dance.

I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to Elizabeth Johnson for letting me peek into her company and her life. She gave me some great points to think about, and it was worth it all to sit with someone so interesting. I have high hopes that Your Mother Dances will be around for years to come.

Dance Exchange

I thought I would leave you a quick blog today about what's out there in the world of dance.

I've got to say I'm jealous! A friend of mine, Liz Zaztrow, is working with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. For those who may not know, Liz Lerman is a dancer/choreographer who skillfully brings people together to create dance and community. She finds dance in everyone, and her work has soared with people of all ages. Her company based in Takoma Park, MD has been to Wisconsin a few times over the past year, and I still have not seen them in action. Come back to Milwaukee; I promise to make every effort to attend! It would be wonderful to see "The Matter of Origins" which is one of their latest creations.

Check out the Dance Exchange blog for more details!

Dance Exchange on the road: "The Matter of Origins" Opened Last Night!: "And the University of Maryland's campus newspaper has an article about it. Check out what The Diamondback is saying about The Matter of Orig..."

Marketing and Website

It's been a very productive week for me as far as putting together brochures and flyers for my budding business. I also have set up a website http://pilgrimagedance.weebly.com/.
My aim is for comprehensible, professional information in all of these. If anyone out there has any advice, I am open to tips. Please visit, and leave feedback!
It's all a learning experience for me!
There's also a facebook fan page...
Facebook Page
Check it all out!

Missed Connections



Last Weekend Gal Friday Films was shooting their short, independant film "Missed Connections". They needed dancers, and I said, "me,me!"



In Busby Berkly fashion, us dancers were doing cutsey choreography by the brilliant Kelly Anderson to some kick butt music. For anyone who doesn't know of busby berkly here's a great example of his work Busby "Dames".

I never thought it would be so hard to work in a film. I thought because it isn't live it should be easier.... I was confused.



We had to do everything 10's of times, and played the waiting game a lot. I have a new found respect for actors/actresses and film makers along with the whole crew that comes along with them (costuming, makeup, and hair). I don't know how many times I had somebody poking at my face or fixing up my hair over the course of the day.... Probably more than I fix my own hair or makeup in a month.

I can't wait to see the whole picture! It should be hilarious. I loved it even through the soreness and bruises.



Photo Taken from Missed Connections on Facebook



Surviving my classes!

I have started to freak out that I'm in over my head with my senior project, but I am excited about my other courses. This semester I am taking...
Laban I which can be described as an analyses of how and why the body moves in connection to mind and emotions  Link to the Laban Institute of Movement Studies
Dance and the Digital Arts: a class that focuses on collaboration of movement and media that works towards a show at the Milwaukee Art Museum
Digital Media Portfolio for Dancers: a class that teaches how to put together a dvd resume along with a wordpress.com web page that has all our information for future employers to view
T'ai Chi Ch'uan: I feel that this class is going to be very difficult for me because I'm going to really have to break some of the bad habits I have physically picked up over the years to be able to move in the proper form. I was told the first day to watch Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

So between dancing, filming, making a detailed dance resume, and T'ai Chi, I will be trying to start a business that involves dance, literature, and the community.

We shall see....

End of Summer; Back to School

I am excited!!!! I know most students dread those three words "Back to School", but I love the start of a new semester. It is filled with new classes, and feels fresh even though I've had almost all the teachers before with most of the same students. As it is my final semester, I am a little nervous about keeping the fire burning especially since there are more and more responsibilities in my life. I have big goals for the next four months.

1) I want to take control of my finances. Meaning that I know exactly what I owe the government back from student loans, I have a way to document my everyday finances, and I have a start to how to document business transactions.

2) I want to take more chances and throw myself out there. I'm realizing that I've been taking it really safe and comfortable as far as dance is concerned. I need to try more auditions and try more teaching opportunities.

3) I need to rely more on my own self awareness rather than on other people's inputs and opinions. Not saying that other people aren't helpful; they are too helpful. I need to do for myself what I hope to do for others.

So.... as with anything, I hope to just always keep growing and learning with dance!

Step Up Style - Hip Hop Workshop

I hosted a dance workshop at the Waterford Public Library. It incorporated a dance sequence from the movie "Step Up", and was an event for all ages. There were 4 young ladies who participated ages ranged from 10 to 17. I have to thank librarian Emily Scherrer who also joined in the fun and supported the program. I was very relieved as it was my first time putting the program together that there was a small group. They kept me on my toes with many questions and a lot of energy.
On every table of the room, I filled it with books. I wanted the focus to still remain on how dance can benefit the library and reading. It shocked me how many books from Young Adult novels to children's stories had Hip Hop themes. I gave them a little info about a few of the books. Two of my favs were "Hip Hop Highschool" and "Hip Hop Speaks to Children". Check 'em out!

Now with the dancing, I started them off with an energetic warm up filled with isolations, stretches, simple steps, and crunches. We also did an 8 count across the floor which I could have explained better, and I completely forgot to have them do the routine the opposite direction. They all did a great job, and showed a lot of courage in trying the movement.
It has always been something I've struggled with, but I mumble a lot. In the workshop, I had some video taken of me, and I could definitely be a better dance facilitator if I just could figure out how to speak up! See I can talk a person's ear off, but when it comes to volume, I could improve upon my voice.
Now for the Step Up routine, it was a lot trickier than I thought because it was difficult to teach all the different facings in the dance along with a move that dealt with some cross lateral motions. It could have been clearer if I really broke down the parts, and I kinda went through them a little fast. I was impressed with how well they moved, and I would love to do the program again.
For pics of the event visit the Waterford Public Library Page on Facebook. Link below...
Hip Hop Workshop with Sandy Beneke
For the WPL Teen Blog check out this link, http://waterfordteens.blogspot.com/
And For just more news in general about WPL check out http://www.waterford.lib.wi.us/
It felt so good to share what I love with them, and see them come out of their shells a little and have fun!

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT!

This is what I do!
Well it is some of what I do...
I am a current dance student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. It is an endeavor I am almost finished with as I will be graduating in December (I hope). It's a little scary, and I hope to be able to find work. Even as I am at an end of something that has been both stressful and exciting, it feels far more like a beginning. I'm starting as a fresh face with new ideas to hopefully aid me in my goal to be able to encourage people to get involved in dance.

I hope those who come upon this blog feel free to comment, and let me know their opinions. I want this page to help me document my community projects along with my thoughts on dance, art, and life.