Dancing Words

Horoscope 2/7/05

"It's all good -- and go ahead and stress the 'all.' There's just no way you can escape being romantically involved now. But who loves being in love more than you? Just tread lightly on the toes of all interested parties."

Ah, I have all the time in the world to write posts now.

Now that I've got a torn ligament and a hematoma keeping me on the couch for 4-6 weeks...

Choreography sessions for Blind Dog Ballet? Canceled.

Open call for "Hairspray" national tour? I can't go.

Once-a-year Graham-based workshop at Peridance - and company audition to follow? Not a chance I'll be there. And I actually had a chance at that one.

Not to mention that Kickline has competition in 6 days, and they haven't finished learning their pom routine yet. And this physical condition I've worked so hard to achieve - that six-week no-carb diet, every class I've taken in the past two years...

Might as well be starting over.

For the record, snowboarding wasn't my idea. And it wasn't even that much fun.

"You could be rough or selfish, and still leave anyone you touched begging for more. These days you lead a charmed life of attractive power and beauty for its own sake. If you weren't so nice you'd be dangerous."

-From my horoscope today 1/7

My December



the shorter the day, the longer the night
the longer the night, the stronger the longing
December, you know not what you've done
despite its coldness, your kiss ignites
invokes holiness, inspires hymns
eliminates my hesitations, illuminates the darkness inside
December, the mysterious, mischievious girl
one cannot help but love.
at once frigid and full of warmth,
like that of the hearth before which we share the eves
you rarely declare, but merely suggest
that I follow your windlike whims
December, the child of the summer has given in to you
unknowingly but willingly and for the first time

My absence can only be explained by the exhaustion I feel after a typical day of my new career as a professional dancer, teacher and choreographer. But I don't feel sorry for neglecting this blog, because this exhaustion is more than the physical result of hard work. If it had a tangible form it would look like a giant, shining trophy.

These days, there isn't a single day going by that doesn't include some kind of dancing. I'm so inclined to take Fridays off, but even then, two of my favorite theatre teachers hold class on Fridays. I have even found myself capable of waking up at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning to take a jump/turn technique class and ballet class in NYC.

I just wish it were a little easier to live on my own with this lifestyle. There is no susbtantial income right now - save for maybe $60 a week at the studio. My savings won't last more than a few more weeks and I'm fully intent on getting some kind of side job, except that I don't know when I'd be able to fit it in between classes and rehearsals and all...

Woke up today and thought I'd been dreaming it all.

What's kind of cool about the last two baseball games I covered - the CHSAA championships a few days ago at Keyspan Park, and the PSAL championships today at Shea Stadium - is that they are the last two games I'm covering for Newsday.

I told Elaine I'm not coming back next year. This took courage and I'll admit I'm still a little unsure just how wise this decision is. It's not like I won't have anything to do...

• Dina has offered me the opportunity to teach some classes at her studio in Huntington.
• Amira has said if I continue to progress in bellydance, she can offer me paid work as a dancer in her company.
• I've been offered the opportunity to choreograph the opening number for the Asbury Short Film Festival's 25th anniversary show in November.

I think this is what it feels like to live out a dream...