Stylized Movement... Past and Present

Dreams: A Journey Through Her Mind

 Stylized Movement is a 501c3, non-profit dance company in Massachusetts that I founded 3 years ago with Katherine Vazquez.

www.stylizedmovement.com (website is under construction though)

We're on Facebook: Stylized Movement's Facebook
And Twitter: www.twitter.com/stylizedmovemnt

These are just a couple of dance pictures we have from over the past few years.  Stylized Movement was developed because I feel like I have this innate desire to create and dance, and I wanted a way in which I could utilize my dance background and training. I studied dance from a young age and through college. (We go Dean! Dean's School of Dance Success Stories ) I was actually very honored to be considered a success story, even though I feel there are others that are more deserving than I.

I love dance and movement and feel blessed that I've been able to keep it in my life. Dance has a way of letting you express things that don't seem possible through words. As Martha Graham, modern dance pioneer, once said "Dance is the song of the body." It lets your movements flow and follow the sounds that accompany it. It lets you create a picture, make the music visible, and feel things and emotions that weren't necessarily there before.

 I feel blessed to have already worked with so many talented dancers and artists in the area and I'm eager to continue growing and developing our network So far our first 2 projects have been very successful in that  L.O.V.E. (Love Overcomes Virtually Everything) raised $1,500 that was needed to work with NorthStar Nonprofits to help get our paperwork done and submitted to the IRS for our official non-profit status.  And with our 2nd Project, Dreams - A Journey Through Her Mind we raised almost $2,000 to donate to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (fighting childhood cancer one cup at a time) http://www.alexslemonade.org/

Dreams: A Journey Through Her Mind

 It's been rewarding feeling like we are giving back through our dancing and connecting different people in the community together for a common goal.
And I can only think that as we continue to grow our reach will spread, and we will be able to make an even bigger impact. An individual alone can make an impact... but a group of individuals, varying talents but a similar goal is certainly a force to be reckoned with.

Dreams: A Journey Through Her Mind

Some people have asked me why I don't have a studio and I guess in a way this feels so different than just owning/running a studio. The conclusion I've come to is through keeping the arts and dance in my life this way, I'm not going to burn myself out... or feel like I hate it some days. I get scared that if I ended up opening a studio and turning dance into my full time income source to support myself that I'd start to resent it. That I would lose some of the enjoyment I get from it because I relied on it to pay my bills. That and there's SO much drama with dance studios. (or well can be) Plus, everyone and there mother has a studio, so what would make mine any different?

 I just want to give back.
To feel like my life matters and I'll have made a difference.
I feel like in many ways Dance has saved me from myself.
Even when everything feels like it's falling apart and couldn't get any worse, if I can just breathe through and emote everything with a gesture, a movement, a phrase... I know I'm okay. I know everything will be okay and that I'm just alive and in the moment and that bad feelings/things will eventually pass.

Dreams: A Journey Through Her Mind (Full Cast)

I want to inspire others.
I think that the only way to lead is to lead through example.
Your actions are stronger than your words, so make sure you
follow through with what you say you are going to do. 
I'm a strong believer Mahatma Gandhi's words of wisdom:

"Be the change you 
wish to see in the world."

 There's that thing called "Pay it forward"
So make a list of easy things you can do that will make others and yourself feel good.
-Smile more (sometimes smiling at someone is all they need to set them off on a good day)
-Give a compliment
-Donate food to your local food pantry (a lot of grocery stores will have a basket or area for donated goods in the front of the store.)
-Pick up a coffee for a co-worker that seems stressed.
-Write a little note for a loved one and put it somewhere they'll find telling them some of the reasons why they are so important to you.
-Volunteer at your local senior citizens center and donate an hour of your time to a lonely older individual that doesn't see family or friends very often. (It can mean the world to them)
-Clean out your closet and donate clothes you don't wear often to goodwill.
-Create a thank you or care package for a soldier over seas. Try Any Soldier

***Obviously these are just a few things. The potential for doing something good and paying it forward has so many possibilities.
But just try a few things.
It'll make your heart smile.

 I feel like you need to constantly continue growing and learning.
Life is an ongoing experience we are meant to develop from.
I think sometimes people just get stuck in the routine of just getting by, and they forget that they need to continue to learn.

Education is an unending process. You can never be too smart.
You'll never know Everything. Some people are against it because it makes them feel like they are conforming and giving in. That life is about enjoyment, and learning/school/education (especially for some) is a very challenging experience... and when given the choice they will opt out.

I once swore I'd never go back to school.
But here I am these days... taking one class a semester as I'm chipping away at my MBA slowly.
It's definitely difficult, but it's like I feel my brain struggle to absorb the information and just one day everything seems to click. That's the feeling I love. That realization that you finally understand it. So I will continue to dream big and keep on trudging forward towards my goals, because I know in the end it will be worth it.

 “Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.”

~Angela Monet

Reflections: As Time Continues to Change - Stylized Movement's 3rd Official Project

 Stylized Movement's 3rd Project is finally coming together as well. We are working on a show called Reflections: As Time Continues to Change.
The show is all about "Reflections" meaning: Reflecting on life as it's changing, current events, issues with society, looking at your actions and how it impacts the world and others. It could be something as simple as a concept surrounding a present issue (ie. recycling and global warming, war, economic debt, bullying epidemic amongst kids) or around a personal issue/something to think about like loss, unhealthy relationships (with yourself, with others), focusing on the positive, etc....

The charity we've decided to work with for this Show/Project is Andrew's helping hands which is a local non-profit (out of Hudson, MA)  that helps families through the bone marrow transplant process.
The reason we chose this charity because 100% of it's donations get put back out to the families in need. There is no overhead, and all the work is strictly on a volunteer basis (much like Stylized Movement).
More information can be found about them at: Andrew's Helpful Hands

Stylized Movement.... We Engage, Inspire, Create and Define...

 "A person starts to live when he can live outside himself. "

                                                                      ~Albert Einstein 

     Peace and Love.

               -Em