Blisters Well Loved

Truth be told I shouldn't actually have these blisters. They are dance shoe blisters. I only danced for 2 hours. That's nothing.

Right now it's everything.

In the process of finding myself again I went to a monthly contra dance. I used to dance at least once every week. I used to think, if I could be anything I'd be a professional contra dancer (no, that doesn't exist). I used to travel to contra dance weekends and dance 8 hours a day for 3 days straight. Blisters weren't a thing.

A couple of years ago I made some choices that led me down a path I thought would still include contra dancing, but instead left it out. For excuses, for finances, for fun, for whatever, contra dancing just never really happened. Literally, it's been years.

It's sometimes amazing to look back and wonder how much time got past you. How did you let something so vital and beautiful out of your life for so long? I had my reasons, albeit, in hindsight, not good ones.

So tonight, I put on my dancing shoes and headed out on the floor. My shoes haven't been worn in so long the sole is actually cracked from the bottom through to the inside and I didn't know it. The elastic is so stretched out in the ankle buckle the tightest fit is no longer snug. A feeling of shock, horror, unsatisfaction with my life and decisions swept over me when I took out my dance shoes to put them on. How could I let one of the most beautiful parts of my life skip away so effortlessly?

I don't have an answer to share, but I do have a wonderful story of dance and the joy it brings and the joy it shares.

At the contra dance, there weren't many people. I was the 32nd person to show up and I was a half hour late because I got lost. (Yes I have Google maps. No, my phone is not functioning well enough to use it within a 5 minute window).

I brought my usual joy and love of dance and nothing else. I had never danced with anyone at the dance before. I hadn't danced contra in years so my confidence level was really low. After the first dance, it was coming back. My feet knew all the right moves even if my brain couldn't recall all the correct names.

People asked me where I learned to dance, how I learned to dance, and how long I'd been dancing. It blew me away.

There was an uneven number of men to women so I mustered my courage and took on the lead role, a role I was even less confident in and had danced even less in the years I danced contra consistenly. Despite the minor hiccups I noticed, my follows were happy and enthusiastic. After two dances as a lead, a young woman who wanted to learn to lead but was inexperienced and hesitant to do so agreed to lead me. After our dance I was showing her a safe way to spin a follow and as I looked out of the corner of my eye, nearly half the dancers had gathered to listen to my instruction. Again, I was blown away (in a good way).

I got ready to dance as a follow yet again and the gentleman in my square stopped to ask me how I did a particular move. Swings I have done and seen for many years and just did naturally were brand new to the group both as a lead and a follow. I got to show him how to do a simple yet beautiful swing just slightly different than the traditional.

There were two waltzes at the break and end of the dance. I typically don't like a boring waltz but it had been more years than missing contra that I had led a waltz. I didn't want to follow and I did want to waltz so that left me only the option of facing my fear head on and asking a lady to follow my lead. Both of the women I danced with told me they were very happy but what struck me most was the last waltz. The lady said she used to dance all the time and from physical complications hadn't danced in awhile. The waltz moves I did were only ones I've watched others do on the dancefloor and either asked how to do them or just picked them up by watching. But she was amazed and had so much fun. Watching her joy made my night.

I usually cause quite a ruckus when I mess around at contra dances. I kept it extremely tidy at this one, and even the teeny bit of fun I did have was looked down upon by at least one person. There's always one right?

But even with the negative looks and lack of looks or acknowledgment toward me, nothing could change the amazing energy of joy and gratitude I felt from having touched the lives of so many in a positive way. And not just for one dance, but for many to come. The moves I taught, and the tips I showed will be remembered and used to make the dance floor a more wonderful place.

What more could any "professional" contra dancer ask for? Maybe some more well loved blisters.

Northwest Folklife Festival 2014

One year ago I danced my way across the contra dance floor day after day and hour after hour.

It's been a year since I danced and I was so thrilled to be back in Seattle for another NWFLF (Northwest Folklife Festival).

I arrived early early in the morning after some delays on Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, my luggage did not. That didn't stop me from spending some wonderful quality time with three very good friends that day. The weather was beautiful and time was spent wandering the streets of Fremont, laying on the grassy hillside at the Ballard locks, and walking through Ballard that evening.

I wish I'd had more time to devote to reconnecting and spending time with my friends. Life is so short and sometimes it feels like time is stolen from me more than just passing by.

Thursday my friend and I headed up Little Si Mountain. My lower back was hurting significantly from excessive exercise and stretching the prior week so I'm positive that it was the slowest ascent and descent I've ever done on a mountain, but I enjoyed being outside nonetheless. The critters were out too. Spotted lots of caterpillars, some deer, a chipmunk, and even a small snake crossing the path. The sun was out and the forest was alive with colors and sounds of summer.

The trail head.

A popular rock climbing wall in the woods.

View from the top. That's not Seattle in case you were wondering...

The trail through the trees. It's soooo green!

Yes, we stopped and stared at each other for a bit. He graciously posed for the camera :)

Friday started Folklife. Since my back was still weak I only danced for a cumulative of a few hours, and only contra dancing that day. It was a day of reuniting with old friends and reintroducing my body to the dance world again :)

Saturday I planned a more complex day. It started with some swing dancing and continued into an hour and a half of Gilbert and Sullivan sing-a-longs! By then it was early evening and I headed back to some contra dancing for the rest of the night.

Sunday started with some contra but soon turned into a fabulous and fun hour of zydeco dancing!! Sweaty and blissfully happy I left to find some food and a Bach sing-a-long choir. Dancing resumed again with a bunch of Scandinavian dances, more contra, outside swing in the rain on the grass and a conclusive night of waltzing. My feet were hurting by the end of Sunday, but my back was no longer. I was eager to rest for the last day of Folklife.

Monday was going to be the most unusual for me that I had planned. I spent some time dancing zydeco in the morning and then a lovely afternoon discussing blues improv for violin and contra dance writing with a good friend. When I went back to dancing it was to the swing stage for the afternoon. I did have one complete contra dance on Monday to complete my contra dancing weekend before heading out to latin ballroom dancing. I shimmied and swirled and swept my way across the latin floor for the rest of the night before it was time to say good bye to everyone I'd just met and all the friends I'd barely had time to share one dance with all weekend.

It was an amazing weekend. Not just for the fun of dancing and the friendships, but because this weekend I broke down some boundaries I'd created, pushed myself out of some comfort zones I had, set goals that I completed, and discovered a confidence that I had long ago lost. I knew this weekend would be magical but still was unprepared for how magical and life changing it would be. I'm so thankful for all the friends I have, all the friends I made, and all the friends I haven't lost while traveling so often and so far without constant contact. I'm still amazed at the generosity, humble kindness, and genuine love they show toward me and am so blessed to have a place in all of their lives, no matter how small it may be (cozy corners are often the best spots)!

Here's to Folklife, Friends, Fun, and many more of these times to come!



Next I'm off to Ohio to perform for the summer at the Ohio Light Opera Company. Come visit. Come see a show. I'll be performing, I'll be dancing (locally as often as possible, but not on stage lol), I'll be outside mountain biking and playing tennis, and best of all, I'll be enjoying life as I continue my pursuit of the cruise ship :)

Heart's Desires

So this is going to be a little post about conflicting desires of mine. Nothing deep, just fun.

The first desire is for a job...specifically a violin travel job....specifically in South Korea on the island of Jeju. More on this might come later if I get the job, but all you need to know now is that it would be six months spanning July through December of this year. I REALLY WANT THIS JOB!!



The second desire, although almost on equal level of the first desire, is to attend the contra dance weekend in Seattle this coming October called Dancing Fool. It is not only where some of the best dancers go every year, but this specific year also has my favorite contra band, The Great Bear Trio AND my contra mentor from LA, Frannie, as one of the callers. If there ever was a heaven on earth, being at this dance weekend would certainly be a candidate!



But I can't do both :(

Would somebody PLEASE invent body splitting so I can be in two places at once by then??

And while I'm on the topic, if I go to the dance I'll definitely need a new contra dress...fun tradition of mine that I like to get a new contra piece for every weekend. I don't go to enough weekends to make this tradition insane yet so I'm still sticking with it. Already picked out the one I want for Dancing Fool... It's even 50% off and would be hella cute on the dance floor :)



In the worst of all possible worlds, I'll be neither on Jeju this fall nor in Seattle for Dancing Fool. This is where the song Glitter and be Gay comes to mind in a very haunting fashion mainly for the meniacal laughing part. Ironically from Candide, it certainly wouldn't be the best of all possible worlds. If you get this last reference please comment!!

And if any of you feel up to helping make any of my dreams come true I'll gladly accept any and all proffering toward that regard. Just let me know what I can do in return!!

The beginnings of NY NY

I've performed the song, famously sung by Sinatra, many many times...New York, New York.

Until today I'd only visited once and didn't see many of the sights or do much touristy. Didn't even stay very long in fact.

This trip is not much different. I'm only here for a few days and I'm not forking over lots of dough to go party and live the high life, but I am getting to visit old and new friends alike, see a few sights, and walk lots and lots and lots :)

I arrived at LGA this afternoon and lugged my suitcase, violin with attached 25lb music bag, and carry on around NY to visit a couple of friend already.

Now snug as a bug, I'm happily content in another wonderful friends home and a very comfy bed and after a nice long chit chat to start catching each other up on our lives.

These next few days should be busy, exhausting, and most importantly, FUN!

Tomorrow is all about more friends, more food, and contra dancing. You thought you wouldn't read about contra dancing in a NY entry, but you were wrong :)  I go contra dancing any time I can and after researching ahead of time I discovered that I would be here for a great dance and that is tomorrow night!!

Then it is a day of sight seeing with more friends, partying with even more friends, catching up with all the friends, and collapsing before joining my next cruise ship on Monday.

Whew, I'm feeling tired just writing it all down. I suppose I should since I've been up for 19 hrs straight and that is on only 5 hrs of sleep the night before. But I'm also excited and eager to go out there, meet people, visit places, try things, and just live life.

Dancing Fool Feb. 2013 videos

Everyone has been asking me how my latest contra dance weekend went (except for those of you who were there of course). So, here are some videos to showcase the awesomeness that is Dancing Fool. I'm in all the videos somewhere. But enjoy the music and the laughter and you might just find yourself tapping your feet :)

And I'm also going to pat my own back for the html coding of these videos. I am super happy I was able to not just do some copy/paste but also some edits!! Yea me :)

this dance you can see me somewhere, but I'm not going to tell you. You're just going to have to watch the video :-) Evil? Most definitely not! You'll love watching it!



I'm also in this video, about 20 seconds in and then closer up at around 45 seconds in. Can you find me??



And I'm at the very end of this video off and on through the 6 min mark. I'm swinging my girls away :)



And I included this video, even though I'm only in for a second around 2:30 minute mark BECAUSE it's one awesome tune! You've got to play it just to listen to the song....one of the best and greatest contra tunes out there :)

Hope you enjoyed watching these videos. It did take me some time to get them all encoded properly here and then code my page in html as opposed to just writing it like normal. But I enjoyed watching all the videos multiple times and successfully editing the html so it was totally worth it!!

Hopefully I'll see you at the next contra dance festival :-)

I am a Dancing Fool!!! Are You???

Over the last weekend I danced and danced and danced some more. And I wish I could keep dancing! That's my brain talking; not my feet :)

Dancing started Thursday evening with a full house and reunions with friends. Then Friday it was off to the races. Catching up with quick words amidst swings and gypsies and then on to the next, trying to dance with all your old friends and make new ones, guzzling water and quick changing shirts during short breaks, was how it all started. Then Saturday hit....full on, with no mercy!

Dancing all morning, dancing all afternoon, a marathon dance, and dancing all evening....did I mention dancing?? :)

Here are a couple photos to show the fun and craziness that is contra!



Wheeeeeee!!!!!!  Girls gotta love a good swing :)



What a sweet moment captured here. I love leading in contra and this swing was a truly lovely time :)



A manic smile, but it betrays how much fun I was having. Helps that I had a stellar swing partner!

So sad that this Dancing Fool Seattle weekend is over. I miss all my friends, new and old, all the swings, left and right, all the meals, hurried or lingered, and most of all, the energy and environment and engaging atmosphere that is the contra dance weekend Dancing Fool.

Thanks to Meg who put it all together and the bands and callers who worked so hard and to all the dancers who nearly destroyed their bodies out there on the dance floor.

Until next Fool!!!!!



Redemption and Espresso Shots

The title might be slightly confusing but let me explain.

I'm not a coffee drinker. Not for health reasons, or beliefs, or weight control, but because I simply don't like the way it tastes in any fashion.

Today, however, I was so tired on the way to morning dance and knowing that I had a solid 3+ hours ahead of tearing up the dance floor I decided to give espresso a try. Now, I've had it on the rare occasion before and I know it works but I wasn't sure how it would work considering my current downer health status. But I purchased a latte with 2 shots anyway. Downed it (luckily they didn't make it too hot) and started dancing. Boy, I tell ya, now I know why people get addicted to this stuff. I danced and danced and danced and spun and dipped and spun myself and others and got spun out and jumped around and flailed and just was my usual crazy dance self. It was wonderful.

Now I'm so tired I can hardly move but I wanted to share how much fun contra is to me. My face aches from smiling and laughing so much. My legs ache, my core aches, my arms even ache and of course my feet are killing me :)  But it was so worth it. What a trip. Fabulous dancers, fabulous band, fabulous callers, and fabulous dances make my life a super trippy place to exist in right now.

Yesterday was a roller coaster ride of emotions and hormones and today I'm on the crest of the hill. Hopefully there is not a downward spiral waiting on the other side. I sincerely think there is a nice coast just around the corner and I'm so ready.

Tonight is relax night. I'll try to catch up on sleep and enjoy a movie and hot chocolate curled up on the couch. Now that the contra weekend is over I'm sad but all in all I'm so glad I came, so glad I danced, and so glad to have lived in those moments.

Thank you to all who were a part of the weekend!

The espresso made it possible for me to redeem my weekend dancing glory :)

Hormones: a difficult day

Hormones....I have some issues with them.

Yesterday was the third day in a row of contra dancing and boy was I out of energy. After dancing Thursday night and Friday night (and forgetting to eat much on Friday) I had nothing left for Saturday.

For a girl, known for her wild antics and enthusiastic dancing, I was saddened by having to sit out dances and reserve energy on most dances I did dance. It stole the smile from my face, the blood from my body, the energy from my legs, and the love from my heart. Several times friends came along and spoke words of concern since I was not acting my usual self, but even the process of saying, "I just had surgery" was all consuming to the point of tears.

Hormones...damn you.

In all reality I shouldn't be mad because technically, I'm not even supposed to be working out and exercising yet. It's been two weeks since the surgery, but rumor has it I'm supposed to wait a month. Now obviously, there are different levels to exercising and I'm sure the docs don't intend for you to not do anything, but I'm pretty sure intense multi day contra dancing marathons is on the list of donts.

Ah well, I'm here among friends, with live music, happy dancers, and good energy all around. I should not complain. I should be thankful to be here and thankful I can dance any dances at all.

Pep talk...pep talk.

Ok, so today is one more four hour dance session. I do not expect to dance all the dances and I will be exuberant in the dances I choose. Wish you all could be here. But by all means, since you can't, get out there and contra dance where you are! And think of me for just a moment while you're out there on the dance floor!! I'll be thinking of you :)