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.