Colours of Summer - an artist's reception

A new venture - not just hanging my stuff on lovely walls but picking other people's art to hang as well.

I will be curating the wall art at the new Kitchens of Distinction Boutique Bistro - a new culinary adventure taken by local chef Shirley Lang.  Located at 638 Fisgard Street next to the traditional Chinese school in Chinatown between Government and Douglas - this is an amazing place to sneak away for a lunch you won't forget.

Please join us for the grand opening of the bistro and an artist reception of the first featured artist - me.  In November look for the talented Laura Eagle's work to be displayed and in December lovely Diane Adolph.

If you are interested in showing in this lovely space - please check out our facebook page:   and let's talk!

The family tree challenge

I find myself ruminating on a lot of discussion about acknowledging our teachers lately. It could be the Jamilia workshop I took a few weeks back - just a taste of it with Christy - so many familiar things to ATS - the evolution is RIGHT THERE. Workshops with Jill and Rachel who have each independently talked about their own progression as dancers and their family trees - acknowledging their influences and teachers, where they've come from and where their teachers have come from.

the coolest thing about dance? it is an evolution. you go to various workshops and you see things - familiar things - maybe taught as a variation or with different terminology but it comes from somewhere - it has evolved down from dancer to dancer - surely you've noticed.

an ever changing progression of moves, stylization, terminology, costuming. for me and tribal - from Jamila's studies of Arabic dancers to her own development & teachings to Suhalia to Masha, Carolena & Kajira, Mardi - to the dancers I've directly trained with from Mira to Jill to Ange to Colette to Faith and Sam, Candace and Rachel - the list could go on and on.... we do ourselves and the dance form a huge disservice not to acknowledge our family tree and the tree of the dance we study. Have you traced out _your_ family tree of dance? could you or do you stop somewhere along the way without knowing where that teacher comes from and her or his background and teaching?

yes - we can specalize.  we can be pure traditional ATS or a rocker punk goth fusion or something inbetween with more oriental and arabic influences....  you can shimmy it in whatever style you wish.  but make it yours and know where style(s) come from.  and acknowledge them - don't say all those moves are yours alone.  you bet - some might be and that is SO COOL! but many will have evolved or have been learned from somewhere.  who?  who did they learn from?  do you know?

it is a challenge I give you and myself for the fall - to trace your dance family tree - to know where you come from so you can be part of where we're going in an enlightened, acknowledging and thankful way.  acknowledge your teachers.  and you may not have to name them all, but acknowledge and be grateful for their teachers and their teachers before them.  we come from an incredibly richly woven tapestry in North American bellydance.  It's so good to see it finally being publicly talked about.

knowing I could keep going on this topic for a very long time, I will dream that when I wake up I will have tickets to see the Jamila show later this month.... they'll be propped up next to the coffee pot - okay?

I leave you with the words I have written down to always MC for Mira Betz... she is ...  a dancer.

period.

 

 

Through Brush & Lens: an upcoming exhibit poster

A Walk in the Garden ~ new photography exhibit

Pleased to be hanging my 3rd solo exhibit of photography this morning at the Saanich Municipal Hall where it will hang for the month of July.

Viewing during business hours Monday-Friday.

This show is themed around some of my favourite garden images and is dominated by purples, yellows and deep greens.....

Like this:

Boys of Ballet

As the mom of two young men who dance, I understand and have seen and stood up against the whole stigma some people in society still hold against the idea of boys in ballet., well actually, truth be told, boys in dance.  Repeatedly I was told that I was going to 'turn my kid gay' if I kept him in ballet.  It was and is a hot button issue.  We won't even go there right now.

This morning I checked in with a facebook group (postive dance moms and dads) to see this video that had been posted.

"Founded in 2012 by Martino Sauter, Boys of Ballet showcases the talent of male dancers from all over the world. Boys of Ballet raises the awareness of the male ballet dancer's strength and abilities beyond assisting the female ballerina. Boys of Ballet celebrates the power and agility of the male dancer and truly exemplifies the magnificence of the human body."

Bravo gentlemen, you boys of ballet - thank you for doing this.

Neither of my boys do ballet at the moment but they both started there.  The 16 year old began ballet at 3 in a local recreation centre class in what turns out was an all-girl studio.  When the word 'got out' he was teased by some children in kindergarten.  It could have ended then and there for him but that Christmas, I took him to see the Nutcracker.  Within seconds of the curtain going up, he clutched my arm with astonishment and joy - "MOM! There are BOYS dancing!"  And that was that.  We did end up moving to a different studio when he was 5 because it had all boy jazz and tap classes and he still taps there today.  Now back in mixed classes (ok, often it is just him and some lovely teenage girls, not a bad gig for a 16 year old boy), last year he received his ten year attendance trophy from his studio.  Last fall some people in our sphere were surprised that he wanted to register again.  But I think for him now, the studio and the people he has grown up dancing with or around is a bit of a special familiar place.  I like to think that anyways.

My 10 year old now has danced on and off since he was 3 or 4 at the same local studio and is at the point he is considering auditioning for company of which RAD ballet is a requirement.  Now he faces that 'terrible choice' mentioned in the video of taking ballet.  It shouldn't have to be a terrible choice, but it is a big choice for boys to pursue, even now, even still.  I hope he decides to go on audition day, just for the experience if nothing else, whether or not he is accepted into company and joins or doesn't.  I hope this video done by these amazing young men helps to show him the strength power and grace possible by boys in ballet.

If and when one or both of my children decide to not take dance, that will be okay too.  Unless it's because of teasing and bullying.  See hot button above.

Truthfully, I love the fact that my children dance, I love spontaneous crazy dance parties in the living room and I love knowing we have 3 dance bags in the car - one with tap shoes, one with jazz shoes, and mine with zils and a hip scarf...  it I think has helped them understand that you can pursue whatever interests you like as a boy or girl - if people are really your friends they will support you in your activities be they scouts, jazz band, soccer, chess, magic the gathering or dance.  If that message sticks for them, I count it as a parental success and treasure it. 

a space oddity - nah, I'd call him a hero....

Today Col Hadfield handed command of the International Space Station over to a colleague and friend.  Tomorrow he and two of his fellow astronauts will plunge back to earth - back to a world they have help change.  It must seem so surreal.

Chris - I wonder if you realize....  I wonder if you realize how immense and profound your impact has been these past five months.... how many eyes you have opened, how many young imaginations you have sparked and how many older imaginations you have reignited.  How many conversations you have created in classrooms, in offices, around the dining room table and on the street - 'did you see what Chris did today?'  'did you see Chris's latest photo of Victoria?' 'I didn't know that's how astronauts had to brush their teeth!'

You are amazing for sharing this adventure with us Chris Hadfield....  I am so proud of you, all you have done, the imaginations you have sparked and eyes you have opened....  Thank you for the service you have not only given your country, but for the service you have given to humanity and to our future generations.  We salute you.

And personally, I can't wait to see where you go from here...

Desiderata (courtesy of my angel with an a)

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.  As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.  Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and  ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.  Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.  Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.  But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.  Especially, do not feign affection.  Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.  Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.  Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. 

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.  And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.  Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. 

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927