For my best friend on her birthday

Sarah DH taught me what grace is. She possesses the intuition and inner strength of a wise old woman, the determination of a prizefighter, and she also happens to be among the coolest people I know.  I've known her since we were 10 years old, when we were somehow impossibly, frenemies. Maybe at that age we were confused or overwhelmed by the dynamic that we sensed would develop, a powerful, deep bond of sisterhood that could withstand 16 plus years of friendship. We've traveled the world together, done incredibly wonderful, stupid, liberating, adventurous, rebellious things together, and helped each other through heartaches and sorrows. Today is her birthday and I wish her all the love and joy and peace in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

 In the foothills of the Himalayas, India, 2005

 Bangkok, Thailand 2005

 Washington, DC, 2007

  

Brooklyn, NY, 2010

 Washington, DC, 2010

Rehoboth Beach, 2011

 

Uruguay, 2011

  Cinnaminson, NJ, 2012

Somehwere, Some time

HAIM

I realize on this blog there's no shortage of hyperbole. But really and truly, that's because I don't post about something unless I think it's damn amazing and worth sharing with you people. Okay? So TRUST me when I tell you that if you thought rock n roll was dead, you were dead wrong (yes I said rock n roll). HAIM shreds in a way that I just didn't think was still happening in this day and age. Blah blah 80's revival blah blah, NO! HAIM is different. I saw them live on Saturday at Music Hall of Williamsburg and I know I wasn't the only one who was b*tch slapped in the face by how awesome they were. 3 sisters, grungy as heck, making sweet electric love to their guitars, bass, and keys (and at one point all wildly/expertly banging on drums). I am smitten. The videos below are a taste, but mind you do NOT do justice to how epic they were live. That is all.

On The Road

Whenever I find out that one of my favorite books is being made into a movie, I feel a mixed twinge of excitement and guilt. Books were my first love, movies were my first fiery romance. I need books to have and to hold, I need movies to lust after and stir the fire in me. This trailer for On The Road certainly has me lusting. My dear ragged paperback, don't look at me like that with your doggy eared pages and coffee stains, I still love you!

WOLF NIGHTS

A new wonderful photo blog by friend and vey sparkly gem of a person, Sophia Moreno-Bunge. Her photographs transport me—they tell the most whimsical tales of friendship, nature, and a love for  random beauty in the world. WOLF NIGHTS

PS. I have a print of the ice crystal hanging in the living room and I could sit on my couch and look at it for hours!

Keep it up don't stop don't lose your place

I am in love with this video, song, and choreography. The girl with the blue bag over her head kind of reminds me of myself when I get stressed out... yeah it ain't pretty (but it's kind of cool?).
Anyway! This is a working weekend for me before I'm off to Berlin for Thanksgiving, so I'm especially feeling the chant at the beginning of the song "keep it up don't stop don't lose your place keep it up don't stop don't lose your place" Enjoy!

Kanye Wes

Julia DH, sister to my bffaeae Sarah DH (the DHs are a superior tribe), introduced me to the clever site, Kanye Wes.  My inner Latin nerd is hugging my inner hood-rat. Finally, peace. 

A Most Beautiful Autumn Weekend

 

      

Wasn't this weekend just gorgeous? My mom lives in a cheerful little house in Montclair, NJ, and gave me the keys while she was away. With her place as my home base, I drove up to the New Jersey Highlands and hiked this trail, which circled around a lake and had some really beautiful views. At night, I cooked a homey thick pasta with broccoli, and snuggled up by the fire with Cloud Atlas, Minou, and a glass of red. Cozy, woodsy, autumnal bliss. 

The Fleeting Nature of This Field and Letting Go

It just feels like a long blog post title kind of day, okay? 

Managing Douglas Dunn & Dancers and getting to produce “Cassations” are among the most rewarding things I’ve done professionally. A lot of satisfaction in creative work has to come from within, so it kind of blew me away when The New York Times expressed such glowing gratitude for a work that Douglas, the dancers, and I poured so much time and love into.  Still, the end of a show is always bittersweet. No matter how many different productions I've been involved in, or how big my role is, when it's all over I can't help but have a mini crisis.  Where does all that love and energy and creativity go now? Of course there's always the next project, and I really am excited to already be working on new piece of my own, but once I lose myself in the world of a dance, or any work of art, I feel like I could delve into it endlessly and enjoy it again and again and again from different visual, emotional, and critical perspectives... it's hard just to pick up and move on to the next thing. Maybe if the dance world were even a little bit less fleeting, I would be able to feel more "done" with a work. Or maybe, really,  I just have trouble letting go :/

A Winter Nest

Now that winter is well on its way, what I want from a living space is changing too.  All I can seem to think about is getting cozy. When I imagine myself in that artist loft I fantasized about for so long, all I see is me freezing my butt off in a drafty, lonely room. Eventually, I want to find a place where I can live and work, but also feel warm and happy throughout a rough winter.  I'm dreaming about a winter nest, all metallics and neutrals with contrasting comfy fabrics:

                                                                                              All images from West Elm.

Pilobolus

            

As a kid, I'd go to see Pilobolus every time they were in NYC. I can probably attribute one of these shows with that "Aha!" moment where I said to my mom "I want to do that!" for the first time. Mom enrolled me in gymnastics, as a start.

I wasn't the only one who loved their moves. A LOT of people want to dance for Pilobolus (there are usually between 250 and 400 women at each of their auditions). The company was founded in 1971 and has received wide international acclaim for their creative athleticism. They are based in Connecticut, have beautiful facilities, and it's one of those rare salaried gigs, where the dancers get benefits (gasp!) and have a masseuse on call. Who wouldn't want that?

Two years ago, I auditioned for them and got cut almost right away. Yesterday I auditioned and got a call back for day two (Today!). Regardless of what happens next, it is already an important experience for me. I want to believe that after two years I've improved and become a more seasoned performer through my experiences with other companies and choreographers. It's nice and really comforting to be able to see that reflected in a measurable way. Even if today is the last day, I'm still happy to have beat my personal best in this arena. Wish me luck!

Positive Moves

I was complaining to one of my #1 women, Bamra, about some classic bs when she told me all I needed were positive moves. "Woman, I am full of positive moves!" I insisted.

"No." She said, very seriously.  "Not until you've seen this:"



Ummm. Yes.

She half joked that anyone who wants to date us needs to get on board with the awesomeness that is this video. I'm gonna go ahead and say that in addition to Robyn's Call Your Girlfriend, I agree.

Baies

This little candle. Sniff sniff. Is making. Sniff. My whole. Sniff. Apartment. Sniff. Smell Sososoooo lovely. I never want it to end. 

On A Roll

Trying to get support to produce my own choreographic work is a daunting task. For a year I applied for everything. It wasn't working out. I almost gave up.  And then my luck changed and the support came pouring in. Isn't that how it always happens? Yesterday I started rehearsals for my newest piece Londonderry, inspired by the historical figure Annie Londonderry and the role of bicycles in women's liberation. I am working with 3 brilliant dancers and I feel great about what we've been able to accomplish in our first two days. We're on a roll!

 Ha! Sorry, I had to.

Anyway. Aren't these bikes amazing? The ones with the big wheel are called Penny Farthings and my very own grandpa collects and RIDES them! I'm hoping I can use one or two as set pieces in the first production of the piece at the Dumbo Dance Festival on September 29th. 

Images from wikipedia, X-Treme X-Training, and  Shelly's Blog

Gelato in 4 Steps

Ciao bellas, greetings from Italia! Full disclosure I've been here 6 days and eaten gelato approximately twice that many times. It's just that good.

Step One: Regard Gelato With Wonder and Excitement

Step Two: Taste Said Gelato

Step Three: Become Inappropriately Ecstatic

Step 4: REPEAT

How I'd Celebrate Gold

If I won a gold medal at the Olympics, I'd want my victory reaction to be a super epic combo of these:

                                      

And I would prefer if my competitors reactions looked like this: