Dancing = Political Maneuver ?

Somewhere between using my Curious George toothpaste (in excess) and rushing off to rehearsal I found time to my dance history paper. The assignment centered around how dance began with the ballet de cour in France. Competing dukedoms often had dance masters choreograph for the nobility to demonstrate their political prestige. Moreover, dance was used to guarantee certain agreements, like marriages, were carried through.

Now all I can think about is how different things would be in politics today if dance was still used by governments worldwide as a tool to show power. What if the undocumented immigrants in 2006 did not march in thousands to demonstrate political power but instead danced in the thousands?! Latino dancing filling the streets of California. It could work. Or what if Russia evacuated Georgia after America sent it's troupe of dancers to the borders? Perhaps even NATO could establish peace treaties through dance...hmm.

When I Grow Up...Oh Wait, I Am Grown Up.

I WANT TO BE A COPYWRITER.

I think the job would be a great fit for me. I absolutely love writing, reading, and words in general.

My love for words was probably first ignited by elementary school spelling bees.
Next came middle school book reports followed by high school SAT vocab. Throughout my life my teachers told my mother how I read for pleasure. My professors would sometimes mark down my grades because I would turn research papers into creative writing. Mixing fact with the creative was, to me, the ultimate challenge. I stretched this as far as possible. If the assignment was to describe my favorite family vacation, I described one I once dreamt about. If the class was asked to research a biblical narrative, my paper was a Jewish midrash.

Dance has asked me to use my body for self-expression. Sometimes the possibilities are limited. Writing, however, allows me to use words for self-expression. I revel in the process.

Because of my obsession, the thesaurus I joyously carry in my purse is no surprise to my family. The hours of free-time I spend editing my colleagues’ papers, also a delight. Now that I am finally exploring creative world of advertising I finally feel I’ve found my niche. I hope nothing more than to enter the program and learn to turn my love for words into a job.
When anyone asks “what if” questions, like “What if they don’t accept you into the creative program?” I just think of Charlotte Smith’s heroine, Emmeline, who once said, “It is no purpose to consider how she should act in an event so unlikely to happen.” Thinking positively is my mantra. As Hemingway said in his four rules of writing: think positive. Now I plan to master his practice of "short sentences."

I also constantly try to be better than I am. I definitely agree with Glenn Cole’s advice to “surround yourself with people who are better than you are.” I have practiced this advice and I have it down to an art. In dance and academics I work next to whoever I believe encompasses something I am working on… If I need to travel more through space I find the girl with the longest legs. If I need to practice my accent in Spanish, I sit by the girl from Madrid. I can swear that this advice really works! I have been working on my rhythm in Jazz, standing next to the most dynamic mover in the class, and now the teacher is commenting how my quick improvement is shocking :-) Because of this, I plan to implement Cole's strategy in the advertising world as well.

More than ever before, I’m wondering what fate has planned next. Reading Idea Industry’s section on Creative is has been really inspiring. It's neat that the creative work as teams, building their careers on ideas. This will be a great environment for me because I feel I work better in groups. Like when I'm memorizing something or brainstorming ideas, having someone to bounce off of really speeds up the process. Before now, I never knew the progression went idea, concept, rough, comps, and then pitch. Moreover, I was unaware that the CW & AD are involved in casting calls, shoots and rushes at the production house. How thrilling to be involved so many steps of the process! I can’t wait to collaborate with professionals in other areas such as film. Speaking of film I've included a short clip I really enjoy. It's by Glenn Cole, creative director of 72andSunny. Enjoy :D

Change: Always a Good Thing?

While coffee houses served as discussion forums during the Enlightenment, Facebook became today's forum November 4th. Practically all of my SMU colleagues facebook statuses, notes and comments that day surrounded the election. On novemeber 5th, Obama supporters felt victory. Some decided to rub it in republican faces while others simply smiled at the historic moment! Wheatever the reaction, I was especially intrigued by the following:

A friend of mine ,who has continually posted Facebook notes (these last 2 years) supporting McCain, posted a new note November 5th. This note said he would continue to post notes regarding any issues he disagreed with Obama on. He recieved many comments, one of which really caught my interest. It read: "Obama is president. Devote your energy to something you can actually change. Thanks."

I disagree with this statement. I think this young man should continue to devote his energy to standing up against Obama's policies if he deeply disagrees with them. If we all automatically accepted change (which is not always good) our political system would serve no purpose. It is differences of opion which keep us in check and strong as a nation right? I think so.

The adage that "change is good" does not always ring true. Taking this approach too far could lead America to become a passive, complaisant nation. If Washington daily strives to better the United States (economy, healthcare, taxes etc) we must keep our dialogue fervent. One man's success does not mean another man must sit out of the game. We must all continually devote our energy to what we believe in.

Another adage, which I strongly relish, says "bring about the change you want to see in the world." If we all approach our poltical issues with this mindset, Americans will remain a strong, ever-changing people. If we accept all change as good, however, we will not mature. Our like-mindedness will leave us bowing down to one supreme authority. Democracy would collapse. Just something to think about.

The Rewards of Volunteerism

This semester I have had time to give back to the community. Participating in various forms of service throughout Dallas has been such a reward! From teaching dance (via BigThought) to underpriveledged kids at Marcus Elementary to assisting a Club Volleyball coach, I've had a wonderful time. All these experiences have been an excellent way to have fun while also helping the community.
I remember the first time I experienced the true joy of serving others. Alongside my friend Kristen Simmons, I helped run an elementary school's Father-Daughter Dance. Working with my best friend was an adventure and made the work seem to fly by a lot quicker! The fifth form girls were a joy to be around as I watched over the sign-in and crafts (along with keeping the girls from having their own party, without their fathers, in the girls bathroom : ) The Dance was a huge success and I’m glad I had the chance to view what the occasion was like (since I had never attended a Father Daughter dance before).
Needless to say, however, assisting with a nearby Club Volleyball team has been one of my favorite parts of serving this year. Helping the girls train for their meets and then later going on my own time to see them perform (aka the results of my labors haha) has been a very neat experience. I will miss them all now that the experience has come to an end.
Volunteering has sparked my desire to continue to serve with other organizations (like NSCS and SPARC). Moreover, I am sure that volunteering at highschool’s annual Jubilee as an alumna is in store for the not too distant future. I think the service requirements I had to fulfill in highschool (although sometimes hectic to try to fit in) were a great opportunity for me not only in that it helped the community, but also helped me to grow as an individual.

The Infantcide of Partial Birth Abortion.

Obama opposed a bill, the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, in his state Senate. This bill called for a ban on partial-birth abortion.

This extreme candidate also remarked, when questioned about partial birth abortion, that he "would not want his daughters to be punished with a baby" because of a unforseen pregnancy.

When trying to choose which presidential nominee to vote for, I often go with the candidate who I agree on the most issues with. Some of these important issues may include the economy, gay rights, the Iraq war, healthcare. And I was starting to lean towards Obama on some key issues. Today I realized, however, I cannot vote for a candidate who condones murder. I consider partial birth abortion murder.

I have included a link to a video on Youtube (it wouldn't let me imbed the actual video). The video talks about how a partial-birth abortion is carried out. Please watch if it isn't too disturbing for you. Scroll down if you want to read a description.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUr0jCbcPNc

Procedure: A baby is not considered "born" until it takes its first breath of air. Because of this, doctors may deliver a baby feet first and kill it while the head remains inside the mother without being charged for murder. This operation, partial-birth abortion, includes the doctor sticking a scissor into the base of the babies' head while it is still in the mother. If this does not instantly kill the baby, a suction tube is placed in the newly created hole in the baby. This tube then kills the baby by sucking its brain out.

So that's one issue Obama supports which McCain does not. So for those democrats who daily tell me McCain values are outdated and out of touch with the world, let me ask you this...

Since when did being abhorred by murder turn into being out of touch?

Say It Ain't So Joe

Comments on tonight's Vice-Presidential Debates...

By far the most amusing moment of the evening was when Biden insisted that the McCain administration would only offer more of the same of the Bush administration. This is a point that Obama/Biden continually push, trying to make Bush and McCain synonymous. Palin's response was not what I expected....

"Say it ain't so, Joe -- there you go, pointing backwards again," Palin remarked. "Doggone-it."



I cannot convey how much that statement made me smile. My friend Vanessa and I almost instantly fell to the floor laughing. Sarah Palin is such a refreshing politician in Washington. Her wording alone demonstrates how kicked-back and genuine she is. She is comfortable with presenting herself and her beliefs in a candid manner and I LOVE IT. There's no BS-ing when it comes to Palin. And her mudslinging is also quite professional (if mudslinging can be professional haha). Now I'm not saying I agree with all her political views, that's for certain. But her personality is attractive.

Palin emphasized how Obama voted against a bill to offer more funding for troops in Iraq. This was not surprising, after all, her running mate (McCain) voted against the bill as well, citing that he did not like the time table that went along with the bill. What Palin pointed out, however, was a huge difference in the candidates. McCain said beforehand he would vote against the bill, and he did. Obama, nevertheless, promised he would vote for the bill, only to capsize under political pressure and change his mind.

That is a key reason I am voting for McCain. He does what he says he will do. He doesn't simply vote along party lines like Obama has in senate (over 94% of the time). McCain thinks for himself. I used to idolize Obama. I even had the wonderful opportunity of taking a Politics class with one of current Obama's speech writers during summer school in Ohio. In fact, until May or so of this year, I had planned on voting for Obama in November. That was until he decided to flip-flop back and forth on numerous issues. Here are a few copied directly from www.washingtonpost.com. Also, for anyone reading this who wants straight facts about the election (what candidates say vs. what the history is in Washington) go to http://www.factcheck.org ! You'll love it.

1. The Cuba embargo. In January 2004, Obama said it was time "to end the embargo with Cuba" because it had "utterly failed in the effort to overthrow Castro." Speaking to a Cuban American audience in Miami in August 2007, he said he would not "take off the embargo" as president because it is "an important inducement for change."
2. Illegal immigration. In a March 2004 questionnaire, Obama was asked if the government should "crack down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants." He replied "Oppose." In a Jan. 31, 2008, televised debate, he said that "we do have to crack down on those employers that are taking advantage of the situation."
3. Decriminalization of marijuana. While running for the U.S. Senate in January 2004, Obama told Illinois college students that he supported eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana use. In the Oct. 30, 2007, presidential debate, he joined other Democratic candidates in opposing the decriminalization of marijuana.

Hm. I'm sensing a pattern here. haha

Dancing for the Buckingham Palace Guards

Have you ever had a class where you feel absolutely bored out of your mind? So much so that the thought of attending plagues you in your sleep during the evening prior to the class? Does everything the teacher say repeat something you've already learned in the past? Has continually attending that class, in turn, led you to find creative ways of staying entertained?

Normally I would practice writing my notes backwards if I was bored. Or place as many pencils as possible on the back of my hand, only to thrown them in the air and try to catch them. But if you get bored in a dance technique class, where there are no pencils or desks to keep your mind entertained, what can you do?

I've been trying to figure out the answer to that question the last few weeks of school and I've come to the conclusion that the best solution is simply this:

Pretend you are dancing for different people.

On Mondays my imaginary audience may be a crowd of guards for the Buckingham Palace in London. I dance to try and make them smile. On Wednesday, however, I may dance with more restraint and solemness as I pretend I'm stuck in Limbo.

My brain has an endless supply (I hope!) of imaginary audiences. I am depending on them to get me through this semester. That and the new music dawning our inner ear each class. From Stevie Wonder to Tower of Power, every class beckons new musical entertainment. The music is a great motivational tool for me. It can let me escape the boring steps I've done way too many times, and find a new idea to make those steps somehow feel new as well.

So until I actually go dance for the Buckingham Palace guards, I plan to fill the empty studio with whatever audience I choose. That's what is so great about dance. Creation is continuous in the studio. Where success is found in happiness of your art rather than the numerical value one’s profession provides, the studio turns the idiom of “making a living” into “living through the making.” Creation is continuous in the studio not only in the choreographic sense but as an individual as well. More on this later perhaps...

I need sleep :P

Free (OBO) Blackboard articles

Thank goodness my boyfriend moved in the Renaissance at Preston Hollow.
They allow residents to use the printer for free.

In the last hour this printer has allowed me to print out about 200 pages of text from blackboard. Some of the articles are for my advertising classes, but overall, most are assigned readings for dance history. The teacher does not have us buy books, but instead posts all readings on bloackboard. Without the free printer at my boyfriend's apartment, I would never get all my blackboard articles printed/read.

Because of this, I am compiling the readings in a binder. I plan to donate the articles to a junior dance student who takes this course next fall. He/she will be very thankful I'm sure. Nevertheless, it may be hard for me to eventually part with these articles. I am very big on responding to the text (through highlighting/circling/notes in the margins) which often makes it difficult for me to give away a old book or article of mien. They become my open journal. If someone else reads them, they potentially may be looking into my brain. Almost like this blog :p

I will let the articles go, however. I know I would have loved to have a past dance history student pass their old articles down to me! The question that has begun to plague me is "How I will decide who recieves my old articles?"

After much thought I have developed the following criteria:

The selected student must be who will actually do the readings.
--> Giving away readings so that they just aquire dust is not beneficial to the community at all.

They must be willing to pass down the readings to the next class.
--> Use. Recycle.

They must be in need of free articles/ time
--> It would be nice if, like me, they were one of the poorest students... still enrolled.

The articles must be kept in their page protectors
--> This keeps them crisp (and clean from food spillages like Risotto)

Lastly, the reciever must be a student who does not easily lose things
--> But just in case the binder is brightly colored with the teacher's office number/info inside.

This sounds like quite the process, but it should not be too difficult. Most dance majors are double majors (i.e. over-achievers) so we tend to do all readings. Moreover, dancers tend to share (ideas, rehearsal space, water bottles). We also keep what we have in good condition (some of use still wear leotards from middle school) and don't lose things (again...overachievers). Also, dancers always need extra time (rehearsals from 6pm till midnight) and free things (the art students often tend to have underpaid artsy parents). In conclusion, it seems any dance major would potentially be a great candidate for my old dance history articles. Only time will tell, however, who best embodies all of the qualifications.