Internship Day 1 Journal

Today was my first day at Dancing Wheels. The atmosphere is very focused but laid-back in a familial way. My first week here will consist of participating in a workshop with dancers of all abilities. The workshop is very fast-paced. I love how inclusive this company’s philosophy of dance is! Even the terminology they use is inclusive. Instead of saying “disabled and non-disabled” dancers, they say “sit-down and stand-up” dancers, because all dancers are able. Their focus in dance performance is to “translate” choreography to each dancer’s body and abilities. This idea is a lot like some of the work that I did in the Inclusive Dance independent study I did with Miriam Ragland and Anna Cary last semester. However, given my experience today, I think that their dance style, like most, is very body-central. Thus, it differs in creative origin from the thesis Miriam, Anna, and I explored of dance as a spirit-central art form. The goal of body-central dance is to create visually interesting pictures and movements. Spirit-central dance strives to manifest the soul through creative means. Body-central dance is about what a body can do, while spirit-central dance is about what a body can express. Both are legitimate styles of performance and choreography. I wonder if I will continue to observe this body-centrality.

So far, today was a wonderful experience! It renewed my love of dance. I can’t wait for tomorrow!

First Day in Cleveland

So, yesterday was my first full day in Cleveland and I promised you a story. So, here it is: I woke up around 10, in so much pain I thought I was going to die. So, we decided to find a Target where we could buy a mattress-topper. We typed "Target" into the GPS and it gave us direction to "Target Food Shop." Well, we think, "Great! We can get so groceries while we're there!" So, we follow the route. As we drive, we're entering the sketchy part of town. And things just get sketchier. Well, now we're worried. Where is this Target? Finally, the GPS says "Arriving at destination." And there it is! In all its podunk glory - the Target Food Shop, a shack-like convenient store with peeling paint. So, we decide to go to Wal Mart. Now, the Wal Mart is, literally, in a steel mill. So, we shop. Then, we decide to go out to eat. Well, I'd looked up restaurants on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and found Geraci's Restaurant, a pizzeria famous for its meatballs. Well, my mom loves pizza and I love meatballs. So, that was the logical choice. We ordered tri-cheese pizza, pesto-chicken-artichoke pizza, and meatballs. It was to die for. I've never liked pizza, but I loved that pizza! So, we stuffed ourselves! Then, we went to the Whole Foods store, because Mom and I love Whole Foods and Judy, our travel companion, had never been in one. We got the cutest chocolate cups! I'll post a picture of them before we eat them. Our check-out person told us about this local favorite ice cream shop, East Coast Custard. Well, we all love ice cream! So, we toodled on to it. And OMG! - I've never had such smooth, creamy, and delicious ice cream! I'm in love! Also, that day, we bought tickets for the plays we'll be seeing while we're here and loaned my chair charger to a fellow dancer who is staying in our same hotel and has lost her charger. Been there, done that. Glad that I could help her and pay forward the help another person provided me! And, that was my first day in Cleveland, in a nutshell.

It is Too Late to Blog

I have a great first day in Cleveland story, but I'm exhausted! So, I'll tell you later!

Leaving in the AM

I'm so excited, I just couldn't keep myself from posting this!

Packing Up

Today is the 6th. I leave the 11th. Am I ready? Yes and no. I'm so nervous - it is worse than stage fright, or even that sick nervous you get right before you turn in a final exam that you're pretty sure you failed, despite cramming all night. Yeah, I'm really nervous. But, I'm also really, really excited! I can't wait to go! I think I might die of social and cultural starvation before I'll make it! I mean, don't get me wrong, this little college town has served me well and I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for it, but I yearn for new adventures, greener pastures, an actual theater district - heck, an actual theater! Cleveland will be good for me. I hope it reaffirms my hunch that I belong in that world, the world of cultural stimulation. I can't wait!