Two Step, Line Dance, Gumbo, and Bridge

Back from Texas with some tales...

I had a difficult time finding places in Tomball where adults dance. In checking out the library which was apart of a technical college, I found that they offered dance as an elective - never heard back from them about non-students taking dance classes. So then I browsed a few dance studios in the area, and checked into taking classes.

Photo Taken from VPAC on facebook

They were all for children which yes the argument can be made that I am an over sized child, but I wanted a Danceworks reincarnated. I did however end up finding work with one of those dance studios, Velocity Performing Arts Center, teaching 3-5 year olds Ballet, Tap, and Creative Movement along with 7-9 year olds beg. Jazz which was a blast. Being my first dance studio job, it was a challenge. I developed my own rhythm though after some time, and by the time we found out we were moving back to Wisconsin, I was sore to say goodbye.

Getting off track a little... I still hadn't found a place to dance with grown-ups so I looked into the community center in town, and found that they offered a slew of classes in different subjects from Zumba to line dancing to needlework.... that should have been my cue for what was coming next. I joined in for my first lesson of line dancing, and was pleasantly surprised when I was the youngest person in the room. The gap was probably, oh, a mere 40 years difference, and they were some of the coolest ladies ever.

One of which, Mary Ann, adopted me as her Wisconsin grandchild right away. I still check in to update her on my life. She taught me to cook some awesome food including: chicken dumpling soup, jalapeno cornbread, lasagna, cream puffs (with 0 sugars), meatloaf, chili, and gumbo. If you have never tried gumbo, I make it real mean - the spice is almost entirely in the Italian hot sausage that I love so much, and it will make your nose run. I never liked to cook. I don't know how she got me to make all those delicious meals, but I now have a growing repertoire in my cookbook.

Mary Ann also introduced me to a card game called Bridge which I am now a junky. Bridge is probably one of the hardest card games to learn, and the most addictive games to play - thankfully it's not a gambling game. Playing bridge, I became pretty good, and could have went on to be great!

Bye Texas!

I also became heavily addicted to Karaoke on a regular basis. It has been difficult being back where I can't rely on there being Karaoke every night of the week... I do have a few spots where I can get my fix up in Wisconsin. Some good times with good people.

This is probably just half of the stories I've got to tell since I had 3 jobs at one time, and studied for a few months with Fred Astaire to teach ballroom where I learned how to Two Step -which is basically a casual Fox Trot. I don't make any promises that I will get around telling all the stories, but one can hope.

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!

Dance in Houston, Tx Part 1

Alright... so I thought I'ld use my blog to help me collect research on various Dance companies in Houston, Tx as I will be moving down there in 3 or 4 months.

First, I have found the Houston MET Dance Center. I am really particularily interested in learning more about this group based on their strong emphasis on dance in education and enhancing the lives of others. The center offers Adult classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Tap with resonable package rates. They also have a performance coming up this weekend on April 15, 2011. I wonder how many performances they put on in a year.

Here's a quick video clip from them on youtube.