the rhythm between the steps

the rhythm between the steps:

Like a steel drum, 

     or subtle strum,

This spark deep within my chest. 

Maybe cause I wasn't expecting to be stopped by the syncopation, can't seem to catch my breath...

Find myself falling

Flickering

Feeling the rhythm between the steps.

Excitement grows,

        I know it shows.

    I'm ready, so what's next?

 

 

 

 

Inauguration thoughts

If I were smoke from a flameless fire would I still billow up, would I smolder and expire. Or did I just never exist at all? Nearly a fragment, a thought, a concept so small?

But we're watching everyone, while they're watching us... Chests out, narrowed eyes, shoulders broad and acting tough. 

And frankly, my dear, I've had  enough. The world is already rough without you being so gruff. 

Time to STFU and blow away with the dust....

 

 

Echoes and whispers

Just echoes

Subtle whispers 

Memories I thought I knew

Though silently swallowed 

Still a seed was planted 

From dripping dew you grew

#justfollowthemovement #danceoutside #subtlesway #echoesandwhispers

Started working on a new piece today....

  - Echoes and whispers -

About the lies we tell ourselves and how they manifest. This will be set on a duet. 

Movement phrase i 

https://instagram.com/p/BNqCe2njSzbXuje6ONQE1niJlBwGS9A6OtSBqw0/

Phrase ii https://youtu.be/WB9hL5YsnCY

#workinprogress 

Dance Thoughts: Importance of Modern and Having a Solid Foundation

Most people know in regards to dance, I'm a modern girl and love the history behind modern dance... I love all the choreographers that started the modern movement, like Mary Wigman who radically opposed classical dance values and movements and focused more on a feeling, which is what Isadora Duncan took in creating her style, focusing on emotions and movements became more pedestrian. Then other artists like Ruth St. Dennis focus their choreography in a feminist way and she meets Ted Shawn and together they form the Dennishawn school and company in Cali, creating "musical visualizations" I think they called them... Great modern artists to come, passed through this school. Such as, Doris Humphey (who focuses on the relationship between gravity and the human body) and Martha Graham (most famous student of Denishawn) who's dance style focused on the ‘center’ of the body, working with the floor and coordinated breathing a movement. Then there was Lester Horton, who created the technique that Alvin Ailey worked with to create the Alvin Ailey Company (One of my favorite companies) and this style of modern brought ethnic, social, and political issues to the forefront... especially those associated with African American heritage and culture because the original company was all African American dancers).  

My style focuses on the core teachings of these foundation techniques. When I'm teaching I certainly focus on Horton , but I have my own flavor in there as well, putting focus on breathing all the way through the music, and using your breath to generate a greater movement. Still working on things like core strength, and the flow of motion in relation to the music that coincides with it. Dance is an art, but people dance for different reasons, especially young dancers, and it's up to the studio and the teacher to enforce strong technique classes such as ballet and modern and educating their dancers on the history behind it. I strongly believe in core classes and knowing the history of specific styles and using them all to your advantage and growing and adapting as a Dancer as well as an artist... Get beyond the steps, understand the movement and fit it on your body. Its not about how high you can kick your leg, or how many pirouettes you can do... it's about the joy and emotions the dancing brings to the dancer and the overall impact the dancer bestows on their audience.
When dance is raw and organic and fully emboided... it is true, it is real, and it's what makes dance beautiful and meaningful to both the observer and the dancer.

"Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul"

                                                                      - Plato

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

Open Auditions for Stylized Movement

Finally got the ball up and running with the dance company again. I kept putting off auditions, waiting for life to slow down a little. But life never slows down... it just gets busier and busier, until there aren't enough hours in the day. (Which consistently seems to be the case) So I've jumped back in full force.

Feel free to help me spread the word to local dancers, choreographers, musicians, artists, etc...

CALLING ALL DANCERS AND CHOREOGRAPHERS!!!

Open Auditions Jan. 22nd 2012

Where: Center Stage Dance Studio - 43 Broad Street - Hudson, MA

Time: 1pm - 4pm

Show - Reflections: As Time Continues to Change

**Repertoire will be based around life as it's changing, current events, issues with society, reflecting on your actions and how it impacts the world and others.

Show will take place during August of 2012 (Date TBD)

Stylized Movement is looking for dancers and choreographers, as well as other volunteers to assist with the production of this project

The show’s proceeds will be donated to a local charity that will be decided upon at a later date.

The audition will start with a warm up, across the floor, short piece of choreography. Then dancers will have a chance to perform a short 30-60 second solo.

To RSVP or for more info please visit: Open Auditions - Stylized Movement

Engage, Inspire, Create and Define.

Much love,
-Emily Cudmore
Artistic Director

www.stylizedmovement.com

 

Follow Us on Twitter: Stylized Movement Twitter

Or on Facebook: Stylized Movement Facebook Account

ramblings of the misunderstood: Part One

I feel like a part of me has always been misunderstood, and I've put a lot of pressure on being well liked by everyone and be a well rounded, normal, successful individual. But what is normal? And why does it matter to me that I be understood.?..I feel like, for me at least it comes from this under lying desire to be accepted. I remember from a very young age I was concerned with my image and how I appeared to others... often feeling insecure. I remember in particular being young, probably still in grade school, wishing I had nice clothes like the girls who got to buy their outfits from Abercrombie and Fitch. I thought it would make me cooler if I had these things. It's not like I didn't have decent clothes... I just always felt like it wasn't good enough.
I never felt adequate.
I've always felt a little bit crazy too. I think a part of me still wonders if I'm crazy, and if I'm just trying to convince myself that I'm not. But I over analyze what people think about me and sometimes put their wants and likes before mine, which can give off the impression that I'm fake at times.... It's really just this feeling that's lingering inside, where I'm still this little kid saying, "I just want them to LIKE ME." My whole life I guess in a way I've played different parts trying to figure out who I was. I was the exuberant child always trying to be the center of attention, I was dark and gothic for awhile listening to Marilyn Manson, with thick black eyeliner and a tear I painted on my cheek (haha ridiculous I know!), I was the Cheerleader trying to be cool and hang with the popular crowd, I was the party kid with kandy bracelets doing drugs like it was my job and Raving all up the East Coast, I was the hardcore lesbian who rocked long baggy shorts and a snow board cap, I was the fresh graduate who worked hard in a corporate setting and played even harder, and I was the super-serious super-driven girl trying to get something started with her dance company and turned it into a non-profit company.  I think in many ways I still don't know who I am... I adapt in different ways to different situations and feel like all these extreme versions of myself different points in my life are just different parts of what makes up who I am.

I just always need to remind myself, that who I am is a good thing.
My experiences have shaped me into me, and I think most days I'm okay with that...