AIDS Walk - San Francisco
Please click the link at the bottom of this e-mail and sponsor me for AIDS Walk San Francisco!
For 22 years, AIDS Walk San Francisco has evoked a powerful outpouring of public support. This year, please join me in making a meaningful difference in the lives of people struggling with HIV and AIDS.
In this year when clients need so much and resources are tighter, I am asking you to reach deeply into your heart and consider making a gift to help cover for those who are unable to give this year. I am set on surpassing my goal this year—Please sponsor me today by clicking the link below to visit my AIDS Walk fundraising Web page! The website is secure and all donations are 100% tax deductible.
If you prefer to write a check donation, please make it out to “AIDS Walk San Francisco” and mail it the address below—including my name along with the check. Be sure to let me know that you have made the donation so I can properly thank you for your support! Mailing address: AIDS Walk San Francisco, P.O. Box 193920, San Francisco, CA 94119-3920
The fight against AIDS is not over! Did you know…
• Every 9 ½ minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected with HIV?
• Nationally, 1 out of every 5 people infected with HIV don’t know it?
• There are over 25,000 people currently living with HIV in San Francisco?
The San Francisco AIDS Foundation has set new, bold and aggressive goals to improve HIV prevention in the Bay Area and help the rest of the country—and the world—learn from their example. The Foundation’s comprehensive array of services, advocacy and outreach ensure that individuals get tested, know how to prevent infection, and that HIV-positive people receive the treatment they need.
The AIDS Walk is our community’s single most powerful and enduring response to the AIDS epidemic. Thank you in advance for being as generous as you can and for joining me in this important cause!
Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support AIDS Walk San Francisco
The Black Cherokee Project
Its been a while since I have written. Have been working on projects underground and coming to appreciate the value of a secret. Here is one I am ready to reveal.
Many of you may already know about my interaction with famed unknown nyc performance artist Otis Houston Jr aka Black Cherokee. A record of our correspondence through the winger is archived here. Last I wrote Otis was posting advertising for the winger uptown and I was trying to figure out a way to archive his work. Soon I realized that the Black Cherokee project was not something Otis or I could not do alone. We need help from the people. So this weekend Otis and I setup a social network for this purpose. Everything is there: poetry, short writings, papers, music, photographs, video, documentation from magazines and newspapers, Otis and also you!
All the responses I got from these little blog posts indicated that Otis’ work is meaningful to many people and fills their hearts with joy. Also because of the space-time vortex Otis inhabits viewers can only see the work for a few seconds as they pass on their commute, maybe enough time to wave and snap a picture. In order to fill out the whole story, in order to see the entire performance, the people (as Otis calls us), have to communicate with each other.
Ballet Austin - Michelle Surgery Diary Entry #4
Here is Michelle’s next Diary Entry!
Pre Doctor Appointment
Post Appointment! Looking Good Michelle!!!
“I am walking with two of the same shoes on. Yippee!! Just yesterday (May 7th), I got the okay to slowly work away from the walking boot. It is in the car, but I haven’t put it on since that appointment. Walking is feeling stronger and smother. It is important to work through the foot as you walk. At first I was afraid and I was shuffling or dragging my foot. Working through the demi-pointe is good. It is nice to have the boot off too, because it was making my hips and back very unbalanced. I looked a little bit gangster when I had it, which definitely gave me some street cred.
PT leading up to that appointment consisted of a plethora of fun exercises. Moving a towel from side to side with my toes (working inversion and eversion). Picking up marbles one by one and putting them in a tiny hole. Bicycle and Elliptical. Rising and lowering off a step taking 20 seconds for each direction. Lots of theara band. Standing on a super wobbly, rubber thing (don’t know the technical name) and playing catch with a friend (on one leg, turned in and turned out). Shin burners (basically tap your toes really fast while sitting in a chair, and your shins will start to burn. It feels good!) Light stretching of the arch and lots of calf stretching. Plus much more.
The doctor gave me the okay to start taking class (too bad I already did the day before). He wasn’t upset. He just reminded me to take it easy and continue to be smart and listen to my body. So, I have only done the first few combinations at barre and I will just try to progress over the next couple of weeks. The hardest part for me is releve, because there is still swelling and scar tissue at the back of my ankle. It feels chunky as I try to rise up. That will just take time. Also, pointing the foot all the way and drawing my toes back as I close fifth. That will take a little bit more mobility work and strength work.
Today (May 8th) I began working in the pool at PT. We did a lot of walking, side stepping, tippy toe walks, heel walks, releve, leg lifts, using weights as I walked, pase in and out, squats, bicycles, and much more. Next time we will probably add some flippers into the mix as well as a little bit of jumping or at least more releve. Chris and Shannon are in communication with Dr. Dehne and they are watching my every move to make sure I don’t do too much or do anything improperly. They are very encouraging and extremely pleased with my progress. The incisions are healing nicely, and Dr. Dehne trimmed the long pieces of the stitches that were hanging out at his office. The stitches inside will dissolve eventually.
I am feeling good about my progress and I am excited to continue on my journey. I am very appreciative of all the friends and family sending me love and support. The time not dancing has opened my eyes to many things I want to work on not just in my dancing, but in my life. I hope this can be a fresh start and be the beginning of discovery and growth. ”
Dancers making a difference
I am constantly intrigued by the multiple talents of my dancing friends. Sometimes I feel as though I’m always discovering another dancer’s gift, other than dancing, that I didn’t know about.
Sometimes it is in a field that I might be more likely to expect such as teaching or choreographing because of it’s close relation to our daily job. But I also have friends who also have beautiful singing voices, play various musical intruments, are photographers or filmmakers, cut and style hair, are massage therapists, yoga instructors, pilates instructors, design and build jewelry or clothing, are gourmet cooks (more on that one in an upcoming post!).
One of my most recent discoveries was Elisabeth Holowchuk and Stylish Ink
I met Elisa while Ballet Austin was working with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet this past fall. I had already run across the Stylish Ink website and Elisa’s beautiful, sweet, streamlined, and of course balletically correct “stick-figure” type designs. But I didn’t make the connection until at least a week into our companies’ partnership.
Elisa has a variety of designs that I just adore. I think one of my personal favorites is the one of the five Serenade russian girls in sous-sous.
From her designs Elisa makes stationery, totes, apparel, and greeting cards such as the one shown below.
Stylish Ink Greeting Cards
Like I said, I am constantly intrigued by my dancer friends and the things they can do. I am always so impressed by them as well. I felt like mentioning Elisa specifically this month because of her latest design of Awareness Tshirts.
Elisa designed a shirt that comes in various colors to proceeds from sales of these Tshirts go to support several different causes and foundations such as: The American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, Susan G Komen for the Cure, and the Foundation for AIDS Research.
Pink Awareness Tshirt
You can find Stylish Ink and Awareness Tshirts here
Or copy and paste: www.stylishinkstationery.com/cancerawareness
So many of us have been touched by cancer or disease in our lives, whether it is own battle or that of a loved one, friend or neighbor.
Let’s help make a difference!
Playing For Change - Can art really change the world?
I’ve just stumbled upon an absolutely wonderful website for a movement called “Playing for Change”. The idea of the movement is simple, yet powerful.
“Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.”
As I watched their videos it reminded me how powerful the arts can be. One of the musicians speaks about how music can be a time for meditation and peace, I think it is exactly the same with dance. In today’s world it is easy to become lost in frivolous and unnecessary things, but it truly is time for change. I have been doing some studying of the teachings by Eckhart Tolle, of Buddhism, and at the moment I’m reading a book by the current Dalai Lama. I have finally felt that peace has entered my life and every moment is truly a gift. Dance is my form of meditation and through it I have found my own peace. The world around us seems to be filled with things that are falling apart, everything from our economy to the planet we live on. These outer problems are only a reflection of the inner conflicts so many of us feel day to day, but there is a way to find enlightenment and peace. During these times we must not forget how extremely powerful the arts can be to the human race. Dance, music, and many other art forms can bring a stillness and peace where we would least expect it. We can’t underestimate the importance and power of the arts at anytime, but especially not during the hard times. The way this movement is using music is a reminder that through art we all have the power to unite and spread peace.
http://www.playingforchange.com/
Like Father, Like Son
(This is the first of two posts I wrote recently for my blog, documenting my return to performing. I will post the follow up soon!)
The panic of creation. This is something I learned about at a young age, when I would awake to find my father sitting in his study, two cups of coffee into the morning before I had even brushed my teeth. He, being a painter, actor and, when most panic stricken, a director, was always in the throes of some inner conflict that could only be resolved by pacing or tying flies in the garage.
I’m not a fisher. But I am most certainly a pacer. And just like my father, I don’t do my best pacing against wooden floorboards or threads of carpet, I do my best pacing within the curvature of my brain, where the audience is comprised of judges even the Supreme Court would be intimidated by. I’ve reacquainted myself with these powdered wig-wearing intimidators this week as I’ve taken a step back into something I know well: the dance world. But despite my familiarity with the art form, a familiarity that dates back to the days I would tour jete into the very kitchen in which my father was brewing his coffee, nothing has ever felt as unknown or terrifying as this journey into my first piece of movement in exactly two years.
To be honest, I’m not sure how I got here to this moment, brainstorming in my bed late at night while my roommate sleeps mere feet away, just as my mother did while my father scribbled ideas on his yellow, lined notebooks. Actually, I guess I do know. I said yes. I said yes to a request to perform a solo in an evening of theater put on by a friend of my sister’s. After all of the challenges I’ve faced in the past two years, where I’ve accepted offers to do things I have no training in and have come out relatively unscathed (next up: diving horses!), accepting this offer seemed like a no brainer.
And then my brain stepped in. Before it went into overdrive, however, I managed to procure a beautiful, original composition from my friend Nico Muhly, who, in between writing scores for Oscar-nominated movies and sending me pictures of cats, wrote a haunting piece for piano and brass that is beautiful in its simplicity.
If only I could say the same for the movement I’ve created so far. Time in the studio has been limited, so my downstairs neighbor has had to deal with the thudding of limbs across the floor of my entryway both when I’m “dancing” and when I’m rolling around, whining on the phone to my parents about my lack of ability. I should fix the damage to her ceiling. Or at least send her some flowers.
But I have bigger things to worry about. Three days away from the show and I’m contemplating scrapping all I have created and standing on stage in a dance belt with two arrows pointing at my hernias while a giant neon sign flashes the words: “Performance Art,” overhead. (Somehow, I think Nico would approve.) There have been moments where I’ve wanted to give up. (Somehow, I think Nico would not approve.) But of all the challenges I have faced in the past two years, this is the one I am most intent on finishing. This is a moment for myself. A moment to tackle some of the demons that have flown over, and within, my head every night since my dance career was cut short two years ago today, and a moment to give myself permission to be okay with not living up to every expectation in my brain. Of course, I want this to a tour-de-force solo, but given the atrophied state of my muscles, I am attempting to give myself credit for simply taking a step back on stage.
To be honest, I have no idea what is going to happen Saturday night. Actually, I guess I do. I am going to stand on stage again. I am going to dance again. And I am going to be proud, even if I am just standing there in a dance belt beneath neon lights. It sure beats pacing.
Want your spring clean to really be green?
(Sorry for the cheesy title, I just couldn’t resist.)
The beautiful weather here in Hamburg has led me to do a little spring cleaning around my apartment. I always hate using harsh chemicals around my home, especially in the kitchen, so I decided to do a little research.
Which one of these would you rather spread around your kitchen counters?…
I found a website with some great instructions on how to make your own cleaning products! By using natural products for cleaning you will not only save money, you will help out the world by being a little bit more “green”.
Check out the website.
Happy green cleaning!
Ballet Austin - Michelle’s Surgery Diary #1
Tomorrow afternoon one of my dear friends and fellow dancers is undergoing one the the scariest things a dancer can face — Surgery. Michelle Thompson, like myself, is in her sixth season at Ballet Austin (not counting her two seasons with Ballet Austin II) and is the epitome of the “go-getter”. You can ask her to try anything in that ballet studio and she will, with a smile beaming across her face. I think that relentless enthusiasm is what has made it so hard to watch her trying to dance in so much pain and try to sort out what was going on in her foot.
I approached Michelle just days before her surgery and asked her if she would be willing to do a series of “Diary” style entries tracking her surgery and progress back to the studio and onto the stage. As all of us learned about Michelle’s situation we were astonished at how many dancers have had the same condition and surgery. In fact my brother-in-law (who trains at PNB) had this same surgery on not one, but both feet just last year. Also what was so astonishing was the amount of support and experience sharing that went on as Michelle researched the surgery. She was hearing from ballet companies and dancers around the country who were willing sharing their experiences and offer insights.
I want to point out that we are in no way offering any medical advice. As always, if you have an injury, please see a doctor! We just felt this was a good way to “pay it forward” after all the wonderful support and stories that have been shared with Michelle these past few months.
I’ll share some pictures, but the rest of the story I’ll leave for Michelle to tell….
Michelle Thompson in Waltz of the Flowers
Original Xray of Michelle's foot which only showed a "shadow" and led to the MRI
MRI of Michelle's foot, with the broken off bone circled.
“Hi, my name is Michelle Thompson and I am a dancer with Ballet Austin. My friend and Winger girl, Anne Marie, has asked me to share with you some very interesting and hopefully informative knowledge about my recent predicament. I would like to invite you to learn about my injury, my surgery, and hopefully my successful and full recovery. I have an injury known as Os Trigonum Syndrome. There are different variations of the injury, but in my case part of the bone on the back of my Talus (I think that is the right name) has broken off. So, there is a piece of dead bone hanging out in the back of my ankle. Also, where the bone has broken off there is a jaged edge. When rising on to pointe the bone becomes lodged and prevents me from getting over my box (think finger in a door jam… the door will not close all the way). So after x-rays, MRI’s, three doctors, a cortisone shot, and performing on pointe in a great deal of pain, I decided that removing the bone with surgery would be my solution. Dancing in pain is one thing, but when a girl is not over her pointe it is also ugly and wrong. Pain+Ugly+Wrong=Bad News and No Fun.
Once I started seeing doctors, talking with dancers, working with physical therapists, and doing research online I realized that this is a very common injury for dancers. This definitely relieved a little bit of my anxiety. People all around me started to share that they had the surgery or their brother or friend had the surgery. These people became an excellent resource for me, and I am very appreciative of their knowledge. I agreed to Anne Marie’s idea mainly because I hope to help other dancers the way all of these resources have helped me.
I was able to perform in our March/April show because it was on flat (I have pain when I am on pointe), but I will miss Cinderella (which Ballet Austin is performing in May). The positive aspect of missing the performances is that I will have that much more time to get better before our season starts in August and I will also be preventing further damage to the area. The research I have found is that recovery is any where from 2 to 4 months. I hope to share my progress with all of you.
I went on a beautiful run today taking in the sunshine and the dirt trail. It will be a little while before I can be active on my feet, and I am trying to get as much fitness and activity in as I can before the surgery. I have only one more day until my surgery. The first 10 days I will be in a hard cast. I will report to you as soon as I am feeling up to it. My choreography is being performed 2 days after my surgery so I am hoping I will be with it enough to enjoy those moments. Wish me luck and if you have any advice or words of encouragement let me know.
XOXO,
Michelle “
Merde tomorrow Michelle!!!
Labrums, Cysts and Surgery oh my
Dr. Philippon talks to ESPN about A-Rod’s surgery this week
I don’t exactly follow sports news, but when you live in New York City and a superstar Yankee is seriously injured, chances are you’ll hear about it somehow.
Combine that with the fact that the injury is so similar to what I spent the bulk of my dance career dealing with, AND said Yankee is operated on by the same hip surgeon who’s table I was on twice,,, the story becomes infinitely more interesting (to me).
All I can add to the story is that A-Rod is definitely in good hands. Dr. Philippon has an incredible team that addresses every aspect of you recovery, from before you even go into surgery through the end of your rehab.
I had two distinctly different hip surgery experiences (one with another surgeon, and then the two with Dr. Philippon). His team has you on a stationary bike (with no resistance) the day after your surgery to prevent scar tissue from forming (as much as possible). When Philippon’s facilities were in Pittsburgh at UPMC (he’s since relocated to Vail) they had a heated pool where we could ditch our crutches and spend time walking back and forth, keeping our joints moving without the burden of gravity.
Further along in the process, they had us wear a floatation vest in the deeper end of the pool, and then made us run in place - getting up our heart rate but again, without the impact/shock to the joints. My pool partners at the time were professional football and hockey players… it was a unique experience.
Good luck with your recovery A-Rod!
