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.