St. Patrick's Day

Thanks to Erin Murphy (my teacher), I got to do my first ever Irish dance performance this past Saturday at The Grove and then again on Monday in North Hollywood at the Celtic Arts Center. The performances were informal and very low pressure so both were a lot of fun. We even got to dance to a live band for the first time - the fastest jig I ever did!

Erin, me, and Kate with our Murphy Irish Dance Company emblems on:

27th Annual Breitenbush Contact Improv Jam

I recently went to a contact jam hosted by Alito Alessi and his lovely wife Sara that takes place every year at Breitenbush Hotsprings just outside Detroit, Oregon. This was my second time attending and, after the fantastic time I had, I truly wish I could go back every year. I met my friend Jennifer in Portland and we drove a rental car into the fantasy land that is Breitenbush. It is a year round retreat for all sorts of workshops but every March the Contacters take over. Jennifer and I arrived for the second half of the jam (five days) and each day was filled with lots of dancing, spending time with really cool/strange/interesting people, and soaking in the hotsprings. I even got to perform one night with a wonderful improviser named Stu - a very funny and genuine moment that I am glad I agreed to (had originally decided not to perform). I definitely plan to return in the future and hope that those of you who do CI might come along for the ride next time!

The view as I flew into Portland:

Me dancing with Brandon:

The beginning of the "all-nighter" (dancing until dawn), warm-up led by Steve Paxton:

The lodge where the dance space and the dining hall can be found:

Me posing:

The meadow - look at the left hand side and you can see the Silent Tub:

Afternoon dancing:

Me in the Forest Shelter - note the awesome skylight:

Me next to the Spiral Tubs wearing my fabulous all-weather Crocs:

More dancing:

The parking lot on our last morning - it snowed...a lot:

Keith and Laura duet with Brandon playing the guitar: