ankle layers

Ah, layers.  I grew up in Wisconsin so I like to think of myself as something of a layering expert.  In my early days I used to take it to extremes - in college I would often layer flannel pajamas under wool skirts to keep warm in the winter.  I'd like to think my layering habits have matured a bit since then (I really make an effort not to wear my pjs out of the house now), but I still rely heavily on the basic techniques.  And one thing that I've learned is to embrace the layer, rather than hide it.

So here I am, with my wool trousers worn over some cashmere and silk blend leggings, draped over the tops of my boots rather than tucked in.  I sort of like this backwards sock effect.  Sort of Dickensian, no?  Not something I usually look for in my styling, but I think it works here, so I'm going to go with it.  All winter long.

Do it yourself...

momentum

This video by Boris Seewald expresses the joy of dance in such a simple and eloquent way, I had to share.  And I think it's only fitting, since here I am, pretty much officially retired (are these my golden years then?) but still dancing on my own time, on my own terms, for the joy of it.  The circle has been closed and that is somehow very sweet and satisfying to me.  It's taken me a while to come to terms with, but then again, most things do.

Do you dance?  For the joy of it?

soundsuits

If you are in New York please promise me you will go see this.  Artist Nick Cave is bringing his soundsuits to Grand Central Station, for one week only, and it's happening RIGHT NOW.

Photos and videos of more astounding soundsuits...

kinetic intelligence

Choreographer Wayne McGregor's organic and totally natural yet also constantly surprising quality of movement blows my mind.  Seriously, what beauty is this?

time, again

Time, finally, to share with you some of my work.  Choreographed and performed by yours truly, to the haunting music of Matt Elliott, co-directed by sweet husband Alonso Luján and myself.  I'm trying to play it cool, but honestly, I'm so excited to get it out into the world, I'm beside myself.

petite mort

Last night Husband and I went to see Una Noche con Jiri Kylian by the Compañía Nacional de Danza. The program included Sleepless, Symphony of Psalms, and my favorite by far, Petite Mort.  Petite Mort was mind-bogglingly beautiful; the choreography, the lines, the partnering, the music, the execution, it all just felt so seamless, so fluid and perfect, that I never wanted it to end.  Above is a sample by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and after the jump, see the entire piece as performed by Nederlands Dance Theater...

take a leap

Happy Leap Day everybody!

Did you do it yet?  Are you going to?  It's leap year, the planets are aligned, change is in the air.  Seems like an appropriate time to take a risk and just dive in to something new, don't you think?

images from booooooom, deal with pets, grand jeté

Whatever it is, just go for it.

falta poco

Seven months ago Husband and I started our first joint artistic project, (some of you may remember the very beginning, when I was just contemplating feathers and pinning mohawks) and now here we are, in the final thrusts of editing and color correcting, almost ready to birth this baby.  I'm so excited, I couldn't resist sharing a still from the video.

high altitude weekend

Mexico City doesn't quite look like this anymore, though to be honest the only part I saw at all was the Casa del Lago in the Chapultepec forest, where we were performing and teaching.  It was a whirlwind and utterly exhausting; we basically flew 24 hrs to be there for only 48, and the madness of the supremely disorganized festival combined with the jetlag was pretty brutal.  Add to that the fact that Mexico City is at an altitude of 2240 meters (7350 ft), which I had no idea about until someone saw me shaking after the performance and said it was normal.  I was glad to hear it actually, I'd thought maybe there was something seriously wrong with all of us!   I will say though, that as far as the food goes, these mexicans really know what they're doing.  Every single meal I had in Mexico was finger-lickin' delicious.  Chicken gorditas, tacos dorados de arrachera, hamburguesas de camaron... amazing.  All in all, it was a wonderful trip, made so not just by the food but by the lovely ladies that I got to share it with.  I don't think I've laughed so hard in a long time, besos a todas!

distrito federal

Tomorrow I'm going to Mexico City!

image from wegolas

I'm guessing there won't be fireworks celebrating our arrival, but I'm excited nonetheless.  Mexico!  Well, in theory that is.  The festival organizers still haven't bought our tickets.  Yup, leaving tomorrow.  Incredible, right?  Any of you work in an industry this disorganized?  We're feeling optimistic though, we've been rehearsing all week and are ready to go.  By which I mean, ready to eat tons of delicious food.   I'll only be gone 5 days, so I'll have to really pack it in.  Be back with you guys on the 8th, hasta luego!!

water

This week I've been on a mission to fix my bad habit of reusing disposable water bottles.  I know it's horrible for your health, and I promise to stop.  Of course I have to find the perfect replacement, and I'm a chronic researcher, so it's taking a while.  I think I'm close to a winner though.  First up on my list of finalists: Klean Kanteen. 

These super lightweight food-grade stainless steel bottles come in tons of lovely colors.  My only gripe is that the lid squeaks when you screw it on or off.  Not too many people seem to be complaining about that in the reviews, so either I am hyper-sensitive to metal screeching, or it goes away with use.

A few more great options and some water packaging that totally threw me for a loop after the jump...

missing...

...is what I'll be for a few days. Sorry for the temporary absence, but this shoot is taking all of me and then some. Tomorrow's the big day, so everyone, wish us luck! I'll probably be back posting in a day or two, but for sure by friday I promise I'll be back up and running.  In the meantime I leave you with the current front-runner for tomorrow's makeup:

photo from pinterest

thoughts for tuesday's shoot

Here's some images I've been pinning today, all inspiration for the hair and makeup for tuesday's shoot.  I'm so exhausted that's all I can think of to say.  Must.  Rest.  Now.

for image sources see pinterest

bald mountain

Last night we had a heads-of-department meeting for our current project, and on the suggestion of our director of photography we all squished together on the couch and watched the bald mountain scene from Fantasia.  Sometimes I am hit with a wave of joy at what my job consists of.   Not that that's all I do, mind you, and right now it feels like in addition to the usual endless hours of rehearsals and classes, I'm also doing a gazillion other jobs.  But even in the midst of all this frenzy and anxiety and exhaustion, I'm still pretty damn happy.  And in a week or so, when things calm down, I'm going to make a point to re-watch all of Fantasia, because it truly is amazing.  As a kid I remember laughing at Micky and being terrified of this mountain devil, but if you haven't watched it as an adult I strongly suggest you do, because you can appreciate it for what it is - pure visual creative imagination and interpretation of music.  Absolute freedom.  

glorified sweats

I think I'm going to be living in my T by Alexander Wang tanks this summer.  They're perfectly lightweight without being sheer and clingy, and the fabric feels both deliciously soft and sturdy enough to handle real everyday life.  This outfit's basically sweats, I'm not gonna kid you, but sweats done in a way that I think actually looks pulled together and pretty damn cute (if I do say so myself).

 tank: T by Alexander Wang, pants: H&M, bralette: American Apparel

continue to see my newest colorful accessory...

blackbird

As part of my quest for a more balanced life, I've decided to construct the clothing for our latest project myself.  I'm thinking tail feathers, though I don't want it to read "bird" too literally.  I'd rather have the overall effect be powerful feminine post-apocalyptic futuristic gargoyle.  So I guess it's easy to see why I'd have trouble finding something ready-made. 

Oh and in case you're wondering, no, I have no idea what I'm doing.  I don't even own a sewing machine.  This is yet another blind journey into the complete unknown.  For now I'm just fraying fabrics and playing with draping shapes.  We'll see if in a week I have an actual skirt.  If it's a success I'll let you know, if not, we'll just pretend we never had this conversation, ok?

weightless

Thinking a lot about videodance lately.  This piece by Erika Janunger is one of my absolute favorites.  For me it's the perfect marriage of dance and film, not simply filming a choreography, but actually creating a new language that is a hybrid of the two.

I have a project coming up that I'm very excited and nervous about.  The unknown-ness of it gives me a thrilling kind of vertigo, which I think in art is always a good sign.

table music

Thierry de Mey is a Belgian filmmaker and composer, and, according to the website of Charleroi Danses, of which he is one of the directors:

          An instinctive feel for movement guides his entire work, allowing him to tackle and integrate a variety of disciplines. The premise behind his musical and filmic writing is the desire for rhythm to be experienced in the body or bodies, revealing the musical meaning for the author, performer and audience. He has developed a system of musical writing for movement used in pieces where the visual and choreographic aspects are just as important as the gesture producing the sound.

shades of blue

Baby blue nails and a dancer's best friend, the theraband.

Kiko nail polish #159

a dancer - chaz buzan

I'm not even going to say anything about this video. It leaves me speechless.

Imagine what it would feel like to be able to do this with your body. To have that sort of freedom. To be able to do absolutely anything the choreographer asks of you, or anything your imagination could come up with.  It's mind-boggling.  Just stunning.  Ok, I guess I'm not completely speechless.