paris to rome and back

Romance month! I have been daydreaming about our trip to Europe we took before Myka was born. Sigh! It was so wonderful...

One day we were eating lunch in Rome on a bench under a tree... and as we were relaxing an elderly Italian couple walked slowly past. He was dressed in trousers and a suit coat with a gentlman's hat; she was in a dress and carried a little purse with gloves. They talked with each other as they strolled by.

And I thought then as I do now- I hope Aaron and I will grow old together and always find time to stroll and talk- enjoying and loving one another's company. Happy Love Month to all.

call for entries

Attention all Dance Film Artists!

The Barefoot Collective wants dance film submissions to be presented March 1st, 2010
at the the Merlino Arts Center as part of tBFC's Annual Dance Film Night.

This is an open call for anyone to submit their dance film!

-No longer than 20 mintues
-DVD format
-Please include a brief artist bio and contact info, including email address & phone
-To have dvd returned, send self addressed stamped envelope

Send to:

Barefoot Collective
c/o The Garys
3011 S. 13th St.
Tacoma, WA 98405

Submissions must be postmarked by February 17th , 2010
If your film is selected for showing, artist will be notified by
Feb. 25th by email or phone.

Questions:
michael@barefootcollective.org

The BareFoot Collective (tBFC) seeks to be a home for artists, dance students and the community to create, connect, study and come together through dance and other art forms. We are a non-profit organization committed to offering diverse and high-quality dance and multidisciplinary performances, excellent dance instruction for youth and adults and a place for artists to create and present new work.

yusa

I was asked by our Arts Director, Lynn Wilmot-Stenehjem, to photograph some of our dance classes given at Tacoma, Lakewood and Puyallup YMCAs for her YUSA presentation. I got this shot at a Puyallup Bitty Ballet class- they were soooooooo cute! Here is Lynn's invitation to anyone interested to join her virtual share dance presentation:

Hello Everyone,

As many of you know, I have been asked by YUSA to give a presentation explaining our dance programs on Tuesday, February 9th at 11:00 am (Pacific time). The presentation is a virtual share and will go out live across the country. It runs approximately 30 minutes with a Q & A following. I have attached the link if you would like to join, it is open to all. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might like to know.

To join the online meeting (Now from iPhones and other Smartphones too!)
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Go to https://yusa.webex.com/yusa/j.php?ED=134146142&UID=0&RT=MiM3
2. Enter your name and email address.
3. Enter the meeting password: (This meeting does not require a password.)
4. Click "Join Now".

To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link:
https://yusa.webex.com/yusa/j.php?ED=134146142&UID=0&ORT=MiM3

Thank you.

Lynn Wilmot-Stenehjem
Director of Arts

YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties
1002 S. Pearl Street, Tacoma, WA 98465
253-460-8826
http://www.ymcapkc.org/

We build strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.

Join us on Facebook
@ymcatacoma on Twitter

push

I read it. It was hard, hard, hard, hard to read. Aaron has probably had enough of me agonizing audibly while reading. But I see now why it has the attention it does. And I see why the author hesitated in having the movie made for fear of reinforcing negative stereotypes of African Americans.

The author, Sapphire, explained in an NPR interview that her breakout novel, Push, was written after her experience with teaching remedial education to young women from the inner city who had obstacle after obstacle placed in their way on their journey toward education and literacy.

And she states that, now, 13 years after writing Push, she feels that society is better primed to handle the film Precious, based on Push. I still won't be able to see the movie, but I am learning and trying to understand better.

(And I wish my work at the YMCA was helpful- but I am seeing that the children that come to dance class are usually those whose parents get them there and who are involved. What the program offers is reduced rates for top rate dance instruction- it is no where near the price of paying for studio training. That is not to say we don't turn out great dancers- anyhoo- I would like to look into volunteering to teach reading, it seems that literacy is one key to unlocking the door to a better life).

josette elizabeth

Josy is in her fifth month. She does many things these days:

-rolls back to front
-grasps objects
-clasps hands
-repeats 'dadadadadadadadada'
-giggles
-eats rice cereal w/ pear juice
-makes us fall in love with her over and over and over

She is a very busy baby...

nerd glasses reprise

myka & haily

This darling girl lost her front tooth last weekend! She feels so pleased with herself and her jack-o-lantern smile. She is now hard at work wiggling her other, very loose, front tooth.



Look at those angel eyes on my Haily Jane. Oh my- what a beauty. Haily has got to be our most charismatic daughter. She is very socially adept and a skilled happiness generator.

waitingonayogamat

This is what we do during Myka and Haily's dance classes. Josy plays, lays and flips over on yoga mats- it's great fun.