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.