speigel.

Not only is this little video quite special, so is the song which accompanies it.

"Spiegel im Speigel", as performed by the Bergen Philiharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philarmonic Wind Quintet and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, was used in the modern piece, "White Light" choreographed by Viktor Kabaniaev for Moving Arts Dance.

A few weeks after watching professional dancers Holly Morrow and Devon LaRussa perform this piece, I knew I wanted to study modern movement. I dedicated myself to training five to six days a week as an apprentice to Moving Arts Dance throughout my sophomore year of high school. From Graham floorwork to Alvin Ailey-inspired Afro-Cuban, I couldn't get enough of this new form of movement.

I learned several variations of the company's choreography, including the "White Light"(watch two of my colleagues performing it on YouTube here).

Even though it's been six years since my apprenticeship, whenever I hear those first few notes of "Spiegel im Speigel", my ears perk up and body falls right into the choreography. It's a piece of music that sticks with you.

Just a little moment from today.

ado.

“For it falls out

That what we have we prize not to the worth

Whiles we enjoy it, but being lacked and lost,

Why, then we rack the value, then we find

The virtue that possession would not show us

While it was ours.” 

- William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing 

Even as the years go by, there truly are some people that stay in your mind forever. 

One of these people is my grade 11 English teacher, Mrs. Taylor. 

She was obsessed with everything to do with English Literature, and was so thorough in making sure everyone understood what we were talking about. I'm lucky to have one of those brains which can interpret Shakespearean English into a modern tongue - however, as I have begun teaching, I see how difficult a skill this is to teach. 

One of my fondest memories is from a few years ago, when Mrs. Taylor invited us all to her home for the afternoon. We were studying Much Ado About Nothing, and she felt it would be more appropriate to perform the play in her beautiful backyard (which also overlooked Lake Okanagan, the orchards and valley) than inside a stuffy classroom. 

Looking back, I am so touched that she opened her home to us high school kids. It was one of those beautiful May days, where you can almost taste summer - and here we were, dressed in our finest interpretations of Shakespearean clothing to perform. I remember gazing out at Mrs. Taylor from our makeshift stage, and saw her beaming.

I write all this because I stumbled across a beautiful copy of Much Ado About Nothing in a used bookstore the other day. These memories washed over me, and I realized how much of an impact this woman had on me. 

Thank you Mrs. Taylor for not only making me fall even more in love with Shakespeare, but taking a chance with us. 

teaching.

We all know this infamous  George Bernard Shaw quote, "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

I don't hate a lot of things, but I strongly dislike this quote. I think it's too broad to be a universal opinion for teachers.

I think many of us can agree that we've had great and not-so fantastic teachers/professors growing up and throughout university.

There are many professions where at a certain age, your body physically cannot take on the demands of your career. As a dancer and morning newshound, people in both my fields have told me they are not sure how many more years their body can take it.

When these people physically can't, many turn to teaching. It's not a downgrade, they are are strong enough to change the course. They can, and will continue, just in a different direction.

roger.

"I believe that if, at the end, according to our abilities, we have done something to make others a little happier, and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about all the best we can do. 

To make others unhappy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. 

We must try to contribute joy to the world. 

That is true no matter our problems, our health, our circumstances. 

We must try. 

I didn't always know this, but I am happy I have lived long enough to find out." 

- Roger Ebert (1942-2013) 

Roger Ebert is one of the people that made me want to be a writer, and I didn't even realize this until  halfway through my university degree in journalism. 

During my undergrad, the journalism students were all required to take a classes in feature and profile writing during the first two years of school. 

One of my professors made us read this Esquire piece about Roger Ebert (take a few moments to read it today if you can). I remember moaning and groaning how how long it was. 

This is not only my favourite profile, but also one of my favourite pieces of journalism. Ever. 

After reading it, I decided two things. First, I would never take anything for granted, especially with my health and work. We do not know what's waiting around the corner. Act now, write now, dance now.  

Second, I realized there is only so much as a writer you can draw out of a person during an interview. Your subject must meet you halfway. If the shoe is on the other foot, I want my life story to be full of detail, anecdotes, and interesting testimonials from peers. 

His death yesterday made me come back to these points. I'm going to continue to try. If I can bring joy to one person through what I do, then maybe I can continue to be one step closer to the kind of person Mr. Ebert wants us all to be. 

Rest in peace. 

jaune.

Yellow, citruc and bright colours just signal the start of the warm season. Fingers crossed the temperatures will pick up soon in Toronto. 

Wishing you a beautiful Thursday evening (it's a balmy 10C here right now!) and end to your week. 

I'm very excited to be attending and working at the DivaGirl Conference in Toronto. With over 350 ladies attending, there will lots of networking, stories and planning a'happening. 

Stay tuned for full coverage next week.