My Blog

Animal Rescue Site

doraleekennedy — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:35:08 GMT

I was sent this link a long time ago by a co-worker who is involved in animal rescue. Its totally free and legit. All you have to do is click the purple box. Don't forget to visit the site daily and click - it only takes a second. http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3 If the link doesn't work its www.theanimalrescuesite.com Happy Holidays!

"I see dance being used as communication...

doraleekennedy — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 23:10:30 GMT

between body and soul, to express what is too deep to find for words." - Ruth St. Denis. I recently had the good fortune to talk with a dance student who expressed some things that got my mind churning about language, naming, dance and symbolism. I love it when the universe brings you things like this! :) For me, dance and movement is its own language. Let me give you an example. Our troupe was fortunate enough to have been invited to Mediterrean Echos this year. Arish Lam was the workshop instructor. He was an excellent instructor (and dancer) who hails from Peurto Rico, so english is not his first language. Even though a language barrier existed between us, I had no problem understanding what he was trying to convey or what he wanted from us because of the difference in language. So what happens when there is contrition about naming conventions or the lack thereof when it comes to dance moves? First off let me just say I am very fortunate to have an instructor who has always emphasized that different troupes/dancers have different names for different moves and sometimes for the same moves. (Mind you she is excellent about giving credit for naming or creating a move to whom it belongs) She has conveyed an incredible amount of information in this area and in doing so she was also teaching us to go to the essence of a move for its learning. We were learning to understand symbols. We were learning the language of dance. So, I decided to go to Merriam Webster's and look up "name". One of the definitions was: "a word or symbol used in logic to designate an entity". Now that sparked some understanding of why the whole dance move/name thing is as it is. As I had said, to me dance is its own language so any name we give a move is purely a symbol for that move. Its for us to communicate with our fellow dancers. It doesn't define that move in any way shape or form. Of course generally you want a name/symbol to express qualities about what it is to symbolize but the object should define the symbol, not the other way around. Further, we could take away that symbol/name and still be able to dance the move. The symbol shortens the process of communication. A series of cues in improv well that is a language too. It doesn't need words. It can be verbal but does not have to be. So now I feel very fortunate to have been given the lessons that I have received in understanding symbolism and hopefully better understanding dance.

Culturefest...

doraleekennedy — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 02:02:25 GMT

Actually I wanted to take a second to specifically thank Denise. When I wrote the first post I just wanted you to know that in my mind I included you with the "dance sisters"e....but then later I didn't want you to think I had left you out so I wanted to specifically thank you for all your hard work. You did so good girl!!!!! I'm so proud. I can't wait to dance with you again.

Culturefest

doraleekennedy — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 01:00:38 GMT

....was just amazing! The people were incredibly cool. It was an awesome vibe. The music was great. Vendors were fantastic. To top it all off it was the perfect day, simply gorgeous, not too hot and the scenery was incredible. I could not have picked a more perfect day or place to dance. Most importantly, thanks to everybody and everyone for being so fabulous. Thanks to all my dance sisters for just being the best. Thanks to the Sunday group for dancing with us. It was such a joy to meet you all. I can't wait til we get to dance together again... Thanks to all the Culturefest organizers and workers for doing a great job. Most importantly thanks to the "Powers That Be" for letting me dance another day in one of the most beautiful places on one of the most beautiful days with some of the most beautiful people.