Making Moves: Part Two.

Paid the admin fee and security deposit. Mom and I signed the lease agreement. I have a for sure place to live next year! Figured out my schedule. Made time for degree requirements, dance classes, business lectures, and WYN. I'm so excited to work in my career field. WYN's art initiative is still in the planning stages. If you're interested in teaching either visual art or dance you can find out more by sending an email to inspiredinsurgence@gmail.com (:

Currently listening to Pharell's new album and doing laundry.

EC started his other job today and went in a few hours ago to work at App Cookie Co. He's so hard-working. He truly does motivate me.

I'm going to turn in my application for the summer job and pay rent on Thursday. Cheers to being able to turn things in before they're due!

I have a painting critique on Wednesday but I have all night tomorrow to finish it. Also, I need to find time to work on my stone carving project. It's going to take a lot of time to finish it... Traditionally carving really is a chore... A very slow chore.

Weekend 6: A performing art.

Dance is, first and foremost, a performance. It's audience varies from yourself, your peers, strangers, fellow dancers.

This weekend I got the chance to perform with Entropy Dance Crew in Prelude Carolinas and dance on stage along with 15 other crews in the area. I'm still not used to the stage and the lights. I've only been on a huge stage like that a total of, maybe, 9-10 times. It's not something I do a lot although I'd like to. It really does take a lot of commitment and drive to put yourself out there like that. The art I'm used to hangs on a wall but this art involves my entire self being the work of art.

I love the community. It's so good to see familiar faces. Their talent and their drive motivate me to do my best. They are such beautiful, hard-working people. I respect my peers and fellow dancers in this area. They really do provide me the support I need to keep going and never give up. They travel their own paths but do what they can to push their crew and their peers. It's really a beautiful thing. This kind of thing happens in visual arts too but, again, you really have to put yourself out there.

Last year, I went to Prelude and I was just watching the performance. But this year I was on stage and a part of the entertainment. It's so amazing to see where I came from and where I am now. I also took class last year the same way I took class yesterday. The experience was different. Now, I have more focus when taking class. I have more direction and idea of what to do in class because I've had a year of experience. Although, I do admit to missing being a beginner dancer. It's like being a toddler along with the curiosity of everything in the world. Now, I'm in Elementary school working out the kinks of life and my dance education.

Cheers to passion. Cheers to growth.
Work hard. Stay humble.

Peace. Love. Dance.

Much more than dance.

Today, we had the privilege of taking classes from some wonderful choreographers. And even more than choreographers, they are passionate teachers that want nothing more than to help us grow. Saturday, I asked the teachers what they were planning on teaching today and most of them said they were still thinking about it. Today, every single one of them catered their class to what they felt we lacked as a community. 

I just want to use this space as a place to reflect on class. I did it over the summer and I would do it traditionally if Sherone gave my dance journal back... But yeah. 

Levels should be well defined. Simply choreographing levels doesn't mean the levels are actually well-executed and clear. The same with extensions. Extensions make dance what it is. If your hand isn't extended, it will look limp in the air. If it is, it'll look strong with purpose. Intent is everything when you dance. Today, I almost didn't take the last class but I paid and it could only better me. I can't just not take class because I don't feel comfortable or I'm lazy or I don't have money or my body hurts... Everyone else is in the same boat! I will push myself to do my best. I will get up and do something to help myself. I will find funds to take class. If I can eat out or buy drinks or new clothes, I can pay for class! If my body hurts, I just have to keep pushing myself, safely, and do my best to get the most out of the class.  I can't give up. I'm passionate about this and a weakness in a moment doesn't make or break something I've come to love so dearly. 

Having a goal in class is important, as well. If you go into class just to take class, you start to get comfortable. If you go in to work on something, you're more likely to stay focused and do your best. Also, working on your self outside of class is important. Taking class has advantages that self-training has and vice versa. You can't just got to class. You have to practice on your own...you have to essentially be your own teacher. This way you can discover the limits of your body and your own specific talents as am individual. 

Fill the space in between movement. Dancing through something instead of sticking something just to have choreography there. 

We are on the road back right now. So ready to get a good night's rest. Back to that college grind. 

Work hard. Stay humble. 

Peace. Love. Dance. ^-^

I do, dear.

It's hard to hold feelings. It's definitely hard to think positively in moments of sorrow or anger.

Feeling the light and being up instead of down takes a lot of willpower. 

Just do your best. 

Take a shower. Sing your heart out. Live in a song. Laugh at a comedy. 

Peace. Love. Live. 

Making Moves: Part One.

I just applied for the new apartments on King Street: 494 Lofts. I decided against a puppy and Bavarian for convenience and able to leave Boone more easily. I won't need to buy as much furniture, I'll be living closer to campus, all utilities are in the rent, and there's free housekeeping. I don't know it just sounds so much better. I'm just going to get on-campus parking. Regardless, it's such a good deal that I won't pass it up! (: I'm seriously excited to live closer to campus next year. Never going to be late for anything ever. Better access to the library and Varsity, no driveway to survive up, and less space to take care of and clean up.

I'm turning in a summer job application tomorrow morning. Leaving for Prelude on Friday after work... Classes to take on Sunday. I have to register for classes next Wednesday.

And we JUST got the email confirming the apartment. (: I just have to pay the $200 administration fee in 24 hours in order to hold the room... Hopefully everything works out. Money is such an issue. EC and I are both doing our best to work on becoming financially secure.

Well, cheers to the future and becoming more responsible!

And here is the video EC and I were a part of this past weekend. (:

Peace. Love. Dance. <3

Slow and Steady.

My work will be slow and steady.

Quality is so important. Quantity, reputation, ability to impress. Whatever. If I do something I will do it well. Anything less than my best is unacceptable.

I love going to work. I love going to practice to work. I love going to class and session-ing on my own. It means I can grow, become better, help more, be more. To me, love and work go hand in hand. Doing work with love in your heart will always end well. Doing work with anything else in your heart? Greed, lust, apathy, etc. Doing work with anything else in your heart will always end badly. It's just the way it is. Intent is everything. Goals are what drives us. Dreams are what we aspire towards but knowing what to do to get there is just as important.

I'm sitting in App Cookie Co waiting for EC to get off work... Three more hours. In the meanwhile, I'm just doing some homework and, obviously, blogging.

It's a really nice atmosphere here. The owner asked if I could look into designing a new logo for them to use. I love being able to venture out into different things and following through. It's not just dance or singing or painting. It's art in general. It's creation.

I'm having a long week already but the set for Prelude is actually looking amazing. I really am surrounded by talent. It makes me want to strive for more. Still, I think in regards to my own growth, I have to be selfish at this moment in time.

I'm grateful that my mother is so successful herself through working slowly and steadily.  Her business's "apartment" is letting us stay there for Friday and Saturday night. Just 6 of us but still...that's something I am super grateful for.

I am thankful for the entire community around me for fueling my passion, my drive, my need to fulfill my dreams and all the other dreams out there.

Peace. Love. Dance.

Weekend 5: Working hard.

This past weekend was definitely one of the longest I have had. Well...the longest and the best. I worked the kid's workshop at TCVA Friday afternoon. Working with them is so much fun and I'm so humbled by their hard work. KCNC UNCG was on Saturday and was a great experience. The classes were fantastic. The atmosphere so friendly and  fun. Dance weekends never disappoint. On Sunday, we had an ARTspo meeting. Glorious. It's so good to be on the same page as the people you are working with. I'm so excited to get the ball rolling right now. 

Afterward, we learned and filmed LeDarius's choreography in a few hours. It was definitely a good experience and so much fun. It's such a humbling, inspiring experience to work with other dancers. 

I love LeDarius to death and I look forward to future things with him. Like ARTspo! (:

We headed back to Boone and cleaned Big Spender. Yes. It was such a huge relief off all our shoulders. We've all been worrying about it a great deal. We have practice every night this week aside from Friday which is when we're all leaving for Durham. We're staying at the apartment and I can't wait to just perform and take class. All it have to do is get through this week and everything will be A-OK. 

Haha. It's supposed to snow tomorrow and I have no idea how I feel about that... I just used my credit card for the first time to buy groceries and we are currently heading to Art Mart to buy stone for my art class. 

The stone's name is Donald. 

I'm ready to work hard to achieve my goals. That's all I have to do. 

When I get back, I am meditating and stretching. 

Weekend 4: He is Love.

All last week was Spring Break but it was probably the best that has ever been because of this past weekend.

When I was little, I remember praying to God for a lot of things. For my mom, for me to have more money, for my dad, for my little sisters, for my brother, my friends, my ups, mid owns. I remember doing it as I fell asleep or sometimes before I climbed into bed, I kneeled next to my bed, my elbows on the mattress, my hands clasped together, my head resting on my knuckles. I remember talking to Him. Someone I had never seen, never heard, but only believed in because my mom said praying to him would make things happen. Like magic. And he is magical, he is beautiful, he is amazing.

I had lost touch with him before I met EC. The weekend I met EC's family, I went to their Catholic church with them. That was the first time I had been to church since middle school. Still, I was skeptical to pray to him again. EC and I moved in together. Soon, we started praying over every meal. We talked to Him before everything we ate. I was moving closer to Him. And this weekend, He moved in me. 

Writing this, my nose is stinging, I'm trying not to cry. The way he works in my life is so wonderful. I have never cried of happiness before meeting EC. Now I cry from being so happy all the time and right now I'm on the verge of tears thinking of EC's love and His love. 

Back to this weekend. Every teacher had a bible verse, a message from God, attached to their choreography, running through their movement. Their classes allowed me to be closer to Him, inch by inch. At the end, Kobe allowed us free movement. Movement by dim lighting in a room full of like-minded people, a room without reservation, a place without limitations, free of judgement, full of His love. 

Dancing for Him, He moved in me. I could feel Him talking to me. And I felt it. I felt His love; I felt it running through me. I felt the need to share it. To show others. To be the best person I could be for him, for me, for everyone I came across.

Brent from InterVarsity prayed for EC and my marriage. Our love will channel his love. My dance will channel his love. My creativity, my drive, my work will be driven by Him and His presence and His higher, almighty love.

Peace. Love. Dance.

P.S.
My sister is pregnant with a baby boy named Nicolas. He is due in June but I really hope he is born on my birthday: July 2nd. She's 18, like our mom was when she had me and I'd love their story to be similar. For me, she is so important at this moment. She is beautiful and she deserves love. She deserves my love because she and I have never been as close as we got last Winter Break and I don't want to leave her life ever again. EC and I want to support her to the fullest. We want to give her love with His love. He is so good and I know this baby will be blessed by God.

That's all. I love her so shout-out to her. <3

Envelopes.

I have a bunch of envelopes...

So, I'm just going to draw some original pieces on them and sell them on Etsy.

Might as well.

In other news, EC and I went on a hike today. It was glorious. We went for five miles. We climbed a mountain and meditated on it. We climbed near a waterfall and almost meditated on it. Nature is beautiful. We were definitely, I can attest to this, 100% ready to become trees on that mountain.

Nature is truly an inspiring, and free, gift.

Stay inspired!

Peace. Love. Live.

Time for Creativity.

I spent today from the second I woke up to this very moment creating.

As artists, we need to give ourselves time to create. We need time to imagine, focus, cultivate, and then to actually create. Creating is no small feat. Creating takes time and focused effort. We must allow our ideas and creativity time to grow and become whole if we want them to become what we expect. No idea can be completely made whole unless it is given the proper amount of time. Any more and any less would disturb it. No rushing. No over-thinking.

Creating, in a sense, keeps us from doing these things in general. If we allow ourselves enough time to create, we create in just the right amount of time.

Allow yourself the time to create.

Here are some of the creations I got going today. As you can see, I didn't spend the whole time on one but I jumped from creation to creation and kept the juices flowing. It feels so freeing... Especially, when I don't have to worry about it being perfect.

 

 


Peace. Love. Live. <3

Photo? Shoot? What?

I had my first photoshoot experience yesterday with Daniel, Shea, and EC. I was so nervous! I don't really think I'm worthy of camera time...so, it felt kind of like I was eating up time. But it went so well after the first few shots. I figured I had nothing to lose and that I was there for some kind of reason so I might as well make the most of it. And I had so much fun! It felt nice to just work for the camera.

I also love Daniel's direction as a photographer. Seeing him work makes me want to work hard today for the event I'm photographing. Again, I'm nervous. But after a little while, I'll probably be okay. ^-^

I "finished" my painting but I'm not too sure about my finished product. It looks good but I feel like I should do more to it... We'll see later tonight. (=