Journey Towards My Passion

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I love to move and dance

For the joy of it!

As a child I enjoyed dancing to Argentinian folk music at school performances. When I turned 49 I watched a Flamenco performance in Asheville, NC, and was deeply moved. I promptly investigated where the students were taking lessons, and enrolled in their Flamenco studio. This picture was taken in November 2006, when I danced for a small gathering of family and friends. I chose it because it's an action snapshot and because it shows the dress that I designed and made. I enjoy creating things with my hands. Sewing is a skill that has come in handy as a teacher. I have made costumes and stage props when needed.

File Attachments:
  1. Flamenco for a parade - 2005 Flamenco for a parade - 2005
    This photo was taken during the 2005 Apple Festival Parade in Hendersonville, NC. A friend and I danced on a slow moving float. If you look closely, you will see that I am playing the castanets. Such fun! Playing castanets, and other percussion instruments is something I do well. When I was a teacher I enjoyed putting together rhythmic activities for my students with whatever instruments were available.
  2. Flamenco for the family - 2006 Flamenco for the family - 2006
    My dance skills are still at a beginner's stage, but nonetheless rewarding. I chose this picture because I'm smiling. Dancing makes me happy. It's not too late to learn things you love, if you really want to learn. It may be more difficult than it would be for a young person, but not impossible.
  3. Liturgical dance - 2008 Liturgical dance - 2008
    This photo was taken when I performed a liturgical dance to Il Divo's version of The Lord's Prayer, on a CD, for a wedding in Homestead, in 2008. I chose it because the event was a success. It brought tears to people's eyes. I put together the coreography for it by watching a DVD on liturgical dance. I had never done a solo liturgical dance before, but I really wanted to do it, so I did!
Videos:
  1. Fans-Preparing for the parade - 2005 Fans-Preparing for the parade - 2005 ( 2.4 MB )
    This is a very short video of a portion of the Sevillana dance that my friend and I were practicing before the parade began. In it we use fans to accompany the dance. I chose it to show that I have some sense of coordination.
  2. Twirls-Preparing for the parade - 2005 Twirls-Preparing for the parade - 2005 ( 6.5 MB )
    This is also a short video clip of our rehearsal before the parade began. It contains a little bit of footwork and twirls. Again, I chose it to show that I have some dance skills and sense of coordination, even though I'd only had a few months of lessons. The black skirt was also my creation.
Author: Julia Swindoll
Last modified: 7/27/2012 5:09 AM (EST)