The Longest Day

Whew! I kid you not, the last seven days have felt like one very very very very long day. We did, of course, have the longest day of the year on Thursday (yeah summer solstice)! Last Sunday, my friend Jeffrey (a fellow dancer from graduate school) arrived from New Orleans to help me all week in the new work I am creating. We had a very productive and creative time together, although by the time I put him on the train this morning, we were entirely spent. It was a frenzied blur of the dance classes, rehearsals, showings, feedback sessions, lectures, discussions, and socializing (including the Manayunk Arts Festival, Karaoke with neighbors, and a stage reading of a new musical).The residency with Hellmut Gottschild ended on Friday, following a very inspiring lecture about his aesthetic development, including the impact of Nationalist Germany to his identity – he was born in Berlin during the opening ceremonies of the 1936 Olympics. His story is profound, poignant, and powerful. He shared with us video excerpts from his body of choreographic work - it was incredible to see the deep ways in which he has made meaning out of a very complex world through art. It was one of the most honest moments I have ever experienced. I continue to be grateful for the people I encounter through my creative endeavors.

Michael’s report from ADF is also full of very creative events. He is enjoying much success, composing original works for choreographers, playing class, connecting with other artists, and holding his own workshop today. He performed his score live on Friday night for a dance created by Lisa Race. Michael said the piece was about family and was very moving. He also performed a version of “How High the Moon” last week for the ADF Musician’s Concert (dedicating it to Eddy Alexander). Michael says he received wonderful feedback about his performance. I will have to wait to watch the video of the concert, but can imagine it was a powerful performance. Odin and I are counting the days (six!) until Michael and Samantha return to the Commonwealth, and we are looking forward to celebrating America’s birth in its birthplace!

National Celebration of Melinda's Birth

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MELINDA!

Melinda was born 31 years ago today, marking the beginning of her reign as the best sister in the whole wide world. She has accomplished much in her three+ decades on this planet, including visiting its many hot spots ; raising and loving her sweet puppy, Oreo; dancing the night away ;

working hard at her job; and recently, moving into her own apartment with roommates! We are so proud of you, Melinda and hope you have a wonderful birthday. We are sorry we can't be there to celebrate with you in person, but here's a picture of us celebrating with you for your 10 year high school reunion - you look so beautiful!Good luck blowing out all 31 candles - we hope you get some black tie chocolate mousse cake. Affectionately, sincerely yours.

El Día de Padre

For our fathers, father-figures, grandfathers, and fathers-to-be, we are glad to celebrate you! One of my favorite memories of my father at this time of year is remembering him sitting with my older sister and me in our tree playhouse on 9th South, and pointing out the constellations and stars in the summer sky. He knew the names (both common and scientific) of each star he pointed out, and shared with us the mythological legends and stories of the constellations - my particular favorite being Orion. As a little girl, it was magic to learn that my hard-working, busy, pragmatic, and responsible father was able to see pictures in the sky. Thanks for sharing the sky with me, Dad, and for pointing me in the direction of the stars!

Movin' Right Along...

For those of you in the know, we found out today that we have progressed somewhere between steps 7 - 9 in our 29 step process! Thanks for your good thoughts and energies - they are working. We are glad to have so much support along for the ride. In the words of Kermit and Fozzie Bear:

Movin' right along in search of good times and good news,
With good friends you can't lose,
This could become a habit!
Opportunity knocks once let's reach out and grab it (yeah!),
Together we'll nab it...
Movin' right along!

Happy Birthday to Madeleine and Mickey J

Happy happy birthday, M and M dears, happy days will come to you all year - if we had one wish then it would be, a happy, happy birthday to you from we. Love, M and M

When the cat's away...

Last Thursday, Michael and Samantha headed off to Durham, North Carolina for the American Dance Festival where Michael accompanies classes and composes original scores for accomplished and up-and-coming choreographers (and Samantha basks in the privilege of being an only dog for a few weeks). Thus far, it has been a very successful trip for Michael, including a standing ovation by the ADF students when he was introduced, and opportunities for new compositions with an impressive array of dance artists. He is certainly on a professional roll these days, and we are grateful for it. Michael will have the opportunity to visit with my mom this week, as she is traveling to Durham for the Duke University Board Meetings.

Loneliness was held at bay for Odin and me by a last minute visit from Jenni Davis, one of my dearest friends and past roommates. We indulged in a full-out girls’ weekend (apologies to Odin who put up with us), starting with a Hen House gathering on Saturday night that included charming company (my fabulous Philly crew - Bethany, Janet, and Melanie - plus Jenni), a delicious dinner, a rousing game of Cranium, and facial masks to end the evening. Well – not quite end the evening. Our neighbors, a mellow middle-aged couple by day, were letting their hair down (so to speak) on Saturday night, so Jenni witnessed some of Philadelphia’s Irish heritage first-hand. It was a colorful, and amusing way to end the night.

On Sunday morning, Jenni, Odin, and I headed down the street to the Schulkill River to watch the Philadelphia International Championship Bike Race, which passes (for ten laps) right through our neighborhood. It was really exciting to watch, and cheer the cyclists on as they passed. It reminded me of my Wellesley days, cheering for the Boston marathoners at the halfway point. I forgot to bring my camera to the race, so I am sharing some from Yong Kim (below showing the race winner, Juan-Jose Haedo from Argentina) and Jessica Griffin (showing many racers along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway) both photographers for the Philadelphia Daily news. Jenni and I learned a thing or two about bike racing rules, and witnessed the strategic sabotage of the T-Mobile team’s “train” by the winner, allowing him to move out to the front when the last sprint began (notice the T-Mobile team member in pink feeling the agony of his defeat). 156 miles biked in 5 hours, or so. Pretty impressive.



Sunday afternoon warranted shopping, including modeling of various “clip-on” hair accessories, at KING OF PRUSSIA (insert Troy’s inflection)...









...followed by Mexican food at Johnny Mañana’s (with the enormous red chili pepper, a famous landmark in East Falls).

Jenni and I were thrilled that we both got carded at the restaurant, and celebrated with a photo op of local teenagers outside the restaurant (can you pick out the thirtysomethings?).

I am grateful for good friends and aging gracefully…

FAME! I'm gonna live forever...

Pardon the narcissism, but I wanted to brag about an incredible opportunity in which I am currently invested. Last autumn, I was named a 2007-2008 Dance Artist for the 2008 nEW Festival(created and facilitated by Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre), which is a big deal as an independent choreographer because it gives me valuable resources of rehearsal studio space, production support, performance opportunities, and most importantly, mentorship and collegiality with other artists in the creation of a new work. This interaction and collaboration is the most exciting part for me as I thrive on dialogue about creative work and creative process. The women pictured (goofing around at the barre with me) are three of my favorite artists around - the glorious Janet, Melanie, and Bethany.

The Festival has three stages, an incubation period in January (which I completed January 2007 in the inception and initial rehearsal of an original work); a development phase in June (in which I am currently engaged); and a presentation phase in the following January (look for press releases for January 2008)!

Right now, the Festival gives me ample (and beautiful) rehearsal space to support the solo I am working on for myself entitled "Otherhood," investigating the concept of childlessness in current society. For three weeks, I get the luxury of taking class for free every morning with Hellmut Gottschild, who is the last living teacher from the Mary Wigman school in Germany. This is very significant for me, and exposes me to a huge influence in the modern dance world.

The best part is that for three weeks, I take the SEPTA train on my 10 minute ride into Center City Philadelphia every morning, walk through the grounds of the spectacular City Hall, and make my way down Broad Street a.k.a. the Avenue of the Arts to enter a state of the art urban studio and spend my day immersed in creative process and inquiry.

I am very lucky.
I am very very lucky.

Walls' Best Friends

Life is to be fortified by many friendships. To love and be loved is the greatest happiness of existence. Sydney Smith (1771-1845)

Our current pack includes Odin, an eight year old Alaskan Malamute and Samantha, a four year old Rottweiler. Their adventures are many, trials few, and enthusiasm boundless.



They are reluctant siblings, becoming a blended family through marriage. They have stopped trying to eat each other (we deserve an endowed wing at our vet's office from the expenditures "donated" to them) and are even finding solidarity through shared experiences at their home-away-from home, Primrose Lane Farm, when Michael and I travel.

We recently said goodbye to our Loulou (1997-2006) who had served faithfully as alpha over the two of them; mediating any conflicts. Samantha ran a strong campaign for the leader ship position, but Odin won out in the end - promoting a "can't we all just get along, man" slogan. He is the most mellow dog I have ever encountered, and she, the exact opposite.

Loulou was recently joined by my parent's sweet pup Oreo (1992-2007), and their love is long to linger.

We also have five Pit Bulls in our lives - Kodo, Nala, Cheyenne, Pepper, and Marley - thanks to Michael's sister Tonia; plus Michael's folks' very active Poodle, Pierre.


So, there is no shortage of friendship here (or dog hair, for that matter).