Married, Moved, and More...

Just sitting in our one bedroom apt in Tomball, Tx., I thought I would take some time to type.

Where did the past year go? It has been an absolute whirl wind. Last year around this time, I was working at the Grad School office at UWM getting ready for my last semester, preparing a Pilgrimage Dance workshop Step Up Style, and feeling about the same as I do now -- excited, anxious, stressed, happy. If I have learned anything about myself, it is that I am never and always content with life. It makes for some confusion, but it certainly brings about great adventures.

I still can't believe I have graduated from college with a Dance BA. It's probably the most crazy event when I think about it, and I thought about not attending the ceremony which was actually a pleasure! I would love to go on to grad school at some point, but really want/need to focus on paying off the slightly massive amount of dept I have ensued over the years. Oh goodness, when I first received my loan bills this past month, I definately had a moment of anxiety. I really believe I can work through it all. I have to! Still, school was well worth all of the loans and papers and exams and performances because it has instilled in me the ability to dream and explore.

Now... right after graduation, I busted out the wedding binder, and got to work. Wow! Never want to plan a wedding ever again...

It was an incredible day when it came (July 23, 2011). Really it's been unbelievable, and I love being able to say that I am married to my bestest friend who happens to light up my world. The ceremony was far more than I had imagined, and the after party was a blast. The Wedding night ended with both of us wanting to do it all over again the next day.

One week later... Texas!

We moved into an apartment just North of Houston in a town called Tomball. Work and the sense of adventure brought us here, and even though it is scorching out now, I can't wait to call friends and family in February to hear how the weather is in Wisconsin!

Cruel? Maybe, but they can always visit! We actually have a decent sized living room that is connected to the dinning room and kitchen. It is a very open setup. And probably the biggest perk is that there is a little nook in the kitchen for the washer and dryer! Oh.... and a walk in closet in the bedroom! Love! I'm just looking around, and it is already starting to feel like home. I've already hung up some artwork pieces, and we have some food in the fridge, dishes in the cabinets, and clothes in the closet.

Next on the events to come is to infiltrate the dance community here in houston! There are free seats to the Houston Ballet performance this Friday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. I have been checking them out for the past months along with other dance companies, and I am thrilled to explore them more in person. I don't know where Pilgrimage Dance will go from here, but I very much so wish to continue on my endeavors of sharing dance here in Texas. It is a huge challenge, but one that I am willing to work hard at achieving.

Ok... Sharing a little bit of the wedding bash. My apologies for being a little pitchy, but what can I say Tina Turner is kind of tough!

Movements of Morocco - Waterford Public Library

Back at the Waterford Public Library, I put together a little something building on my experience in Morocco.

A workshop introducing the art of belly dancing and the culture brought about 30 participants of all ages together to learn about culture and movement.

Filling the room with books about Morocco, Africa, and Belly Dancing along with tea and trinkets that I brought back from my studies, I really tried to recreate a medina atmosphere that I saw in Morocco. It didn't quite capture the colors, smell, and feel of a Moroccan souq, but I was able to present some new information about the history of dance and photos from my adventures.

We started with a simple warm up as it is a healthy way to grab every one's attention and wake up the mind and body. Then I briefly went through some of the basic steps one might see in a belly dance performance. It was entertaining for me as well to see some of the participants really open up to the movement, and there was a great deal of laughter.

Giving their bodies a break, I let them go around the room and explore while drinking tea. I had gathered some videos to present Morocco and Belly Dancing in a different media. The intermission also gave me a chance to change, and reappear with one of my outfits that I bought in Morocco for belly dancing. A more conservative costume, it covers my stomach, but is very beautiful. I love the drama of the sleeves which drape and accentuate the movements of the arm, and upon entering the room, I then fielded questions from everyone about my travels and the culture.

For the finale, I had everyone circle around me while I performed for them and with them. I had some who weren't shy at all which made me smile. Overall, it was a wonderful time, and a lot of research and hard work. If you're at all interested in knowing more, keep following me as I plan to write another blog after this one informing everyone about the history, art, and resources for belly dancing and dance in Morocco.


Huge thank you to the Waterford Public Library and all their help and support!

Ed Burgess - Thank You!

Photo taken from Peck School of the Arts website

Over the recent loss of an inspiring professor, choreographer, and dancer, Ed Burgess, I am shaken with anger and sadness. He was fearless and strong. I don't even truly comprehend that he is gone. How could he just not be? I remember the last time I saw him we were in the Dance Dept office just catching up on each other's ongoings, and I asked him if he every wanted his own dance company someday. I will take his answer with me for the rest of my life because it is so Ed. He just simply said not really; he never wanted to be too definitive with who he was as an artist because he felt that he was constantly changing and evolving with however he felt. He enjoyed the freedom! I deeply respect him in more ways than one because he was such a free, expressive individual. Ed Burgess was an amazing professor who not only had goals for us on the syllabus, but goals for himself as well. As a student, I wanted so desperately to make him proud, and as he had high expectations, it was sometimes frustrating. But I remember always feeling empowered and free after one of his Modern dance classes.  I deeply regret never telling him so and I hope he knew how thankful I was for him and his approach to dance and life.

There is a Tribute by Third Digest that gives a really deep insight into the life and passing of Ed Burgess to commemorate such a beautiful man.


Thank you Ed! I gave myself a good butt kicking work out this morning thinking of you!

Dance in Houston, Tx Part 7

Taken from CORE website

CORE Performance Company is another group that I am very interested in learning more about. The three key things that I picked up from their website were their emphasis on performing, presenting artists from all over, and connecting everything with the community (in particular communities that don't often have the opportunity to dance).

It looks like they will be dancing this weekend at the Modern Atlanta Dance Festival, and have a performance coming up on April 29th "In the Mood... for Dance".

I am so excited about everyone of these groups, and I hope to get the chance to be apart of the dance community in Houston.

Dance in Houston, Tx Part 6

Ok.... my research would not be complete without having a shout out to the Houston Ballet. It has a rich history since 1955 and a dedication to excellence and innovation. As much as my strengths do not lie in ballet, I have a lot of appreciation and respect for the dance form. I might be able to catch their version of "The Taming of the Shrew" because I might be visiting in June before moving out there.

Taken from the Houston Ballet website

Dance in Houston, Tx Part 5

Suchu Dance in Houston also seems like a riveting dance company. The most post modern dance group I have found so far, I am so excited to be finding such a diverse dance community.

I hope to get a chance to see some of this crazy bunch of dancers while I'm in Texas.

Take from Jacob's Pillow 2009 Announcement

Dance in Houston, Tx Part 4

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater! Ok... so I may not be a ballerina, but there's just something I love about watch contemporary ballet! I probably don't have a chance in hell at working with this company, but I will gladly go support the contemporary ballet and thought provoking works. Come to find out... Matthew Bourne has choreographed on this company makes it even better. It will always be a dream for me to see Bourne's version of Swan Lake.
Well, anyway... Dominic Walsh has a performance coming up May 5-7 wish I could be down there to check them out.