What is in the swish of the hip? To pulse my shoulders or throw my hips, I have to find a spiral within my body that allows me to twist. These shimmies and shakes are what makes Romani (Gypsy) dancing Read more…
There is a scientific explanation for why we often leave the dance floor feeling confident, passionate, enthusiastic and captivating. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy’s research shows how “power posing” can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain which can affect Read more…
Winter solstice is approaching with the promise that the dark and cold of winter will end. The turning of the seasons is our creative teacher. For me, winter always feels like a test of my resilience. Beyond winter, these are Read more…
How do you practice gratitude with your body? Sometimes I feel like my gratitude is a conscious practice, a skill I am developing. It’s a list I make, or the blessing I say over my meal. Other times, gratitude feels Read more…
Dancing heals us. I know this with my whole body. This is a picture of me four years ago. I’m connected to an IV awaiting the first phase of major surgery. My team of four top surgeons warned me that Read more…
I love living near the Mississippi River. This river shapes our landscape, in some places creating beautiful bluffs and also bringing rich soil to places where it floods. Each spring and fall, I greet the birds that follow the river Read more…
The first time I stepped into a Roma dance, I felt a sense of home. I was filled with heat. I felt another pulse match and invigorate my pulse. The dance stood out from the evening of diverse dances and Read more…
The deer, turned golden by the evening light, moved through the field of purple lupine at the far side of the meadow. It stopped and watched us dance, then returned to grazing. If I were the sort to tell fish Read more…