printemps.

It's been a busy week back on the grid. Although yesterday was the first day of spring, it's still feeling just like winter here in Toronto. 

Alas, all the running around is actually what can keep us warm and (momentarily) forget about the weather. These are the days where I promise to myself I will not complain during the heat this summer. 

Not only is it spring, but also dance competition season! I have several dancers competing my choreography across B.C. in the next few weeks. It's hard to believe I'll be heading back out to B.C. in just over five weeks to host The Vibe Dance Competition - time truly flies. 

In other dance news, several have asked, and I will be teaching one open workshop for the public when I'm back in May. The lovely Lucy Hazelwood, Artistic Director of Luki Dance Productions is also having me in to work with her professional company dancers while I am in Kelowna. Very excited! 

Stay warm m'dears and keep your chins up. Good things and weather are a'coming! 

spectacularly.

Classrooms come in all shapes and sizes. Some have textbooks, others have ballet barres. You may travel there daily, or correspond with someone via Skype.

If there's anything I've learned over the past five years, I'm a teacher, and the world around me is my classroom. 

From teaching dance choreography to professionals and first-time movers to sitting down one-on-one to create a social media strategy for a client, I have so much satisfaction when I see a pupil have that "aha!" moment.

I'm all about experimentation and pushing the boundaries. Not every person learns in the same way, so trying new exercises and drills can make a dramatic difference. I admit it, sometimes I try a new tactic that falls flat on its face.

However, I one of my friends repeated a great quote the other day that has really stuck with me:

"If you're going to fail, fail spectacularly." 

Last night, I took a chance in my beginner dance class by giving them an exercise I normally practice with my advanced students. Personally, I was something even I find tough to do, and I have been dancing and teaching for over 15 years. 

These women, many of whom have never danced before the beginning of 2013, listened attentively, harnessed actually what I was looking for, took my explanation and left their hearts on the studio floor. 

One lady came up to me after class and said that was the most incredible she has ever felt dancing. I put my arms around her and fought back tears. 

She, along with so many others, is turning a corner and getting it. I'm so honoured to be a part of this process. 

Whether it's in the office or a dance studio, these moments as a teacher are what drives you to continue doing it. 

Just a thought. 

ride.

"I was always an unusual girl, my mother told me that I had a chameleon soul. 

No moral compass pointing me due north, no fixed personality. 

Just an inner indecisiveness that was as wide as wavering as the ocean. 

And if I said that I didn’t plan for it to turn out this way I’d be lying- because I was born to be the other woman.

 I belonged to no one, who belonged to everyone, who had nothing, who wanted everything with a fire for every experience and an obsession for freedom that terrified me to the point that I couldn’t even talk about- and pushed me to a nomadic point of madness that both dazzled and dizzied me."

- Lana del Rey, "Ride" 

B&W.

Happy Saint Patty's Day! 

My oh my, weekend life literally was go go go the morning after I stepped off the plane (red eyes are my not friend by the way...) 

Celebrating a birthday, warming a home and celebrating my faux-Irishness are a pretty divine way to end my vacation. 

Time to hit the hay for some beauty sleep. Have a great week! 

hola.

Well, I'm officially back on the grid after a stunning week away in Mexico. 

For the first time in a year and a half, I disconnected myself from all technology. No phone, no texting, no email and no social media. There's still a part of me that didn't want to come home. I was perfectly happy hanging on the beach, ready to jump in the waves at a moment's notice. 

It was a treat to touch down and be greeting by several "we missed you!" texts and messages, but I'm seriously going to try to settle down with my addiction to my phone. Stepping completely away was one of the best things I could have done. 

In a country where people aren't recording every waking moment with their phone, life is just so much more present. Viewing things through your eyes, not a lens is the way it should be.

However, the wanderlust bug has got me - after being in Toronto for a year (which I have no regrets about, I had some incredible projects I got to work on) I feel like I'm falling into a little bit of wanderlust.

I'm finding myself already skimming through travel websites wondering, "where can I go next?".

I hit my palm to my head yesterday and realized I will be back to B.C. in just over six weeks for a emcee gig, and potentially to NYC for another weekend visit before then.

But first, heading back into the Toronto chill to prepare for another week of teaching, dance and work. Expect some Latin-inspired music and moves to sneak up in class this week...

Enjoy your weekend. Stories and photos to come from Mexico.