Last night was the annual pre-school Christmas show at the dance studio where I teach ballet to dancers ages two to eleven. This was the first performance of my students for this studio; I was really excited s l a s h nervous. I really wanted them to do a great job so the director and the parents would be happy with me as a teacher. I have taught dance for several years in Dallas to older dancers but that in no way prepared me for this performance which turned out to be an important learning experience for me. Read more »

The stereotype implies that artists are flaky, late, undependable,  and indecisive.  Like myths, stereotypes must in part be based in truth because at least in this case...it seems to be spot on. I'm saying this as a dancer and an apprentice lighting designer.  I hate the stereotype. I try to discourage it all of the time by making myself crazy trying to fit into a mold that just isn’t possible. Read more »

College students are always hungry. Who wouldn't be running around all day and staying up to the next day studying? We're also as generally starved for money and time as we are for mom's cooking. Sooooo...check out this "recipe" my friend Ali shared with me! So good...so easy...and so do-able even in a dorm room!Read more »

We are all used to seeing commercials during our local news cast each week exhorting us to adopt a cute, cuddly little animal into our loving family. I’m quite used to it now, and my own pets came from the local shelter. It's nice for the animal to get a good home...hopefully.

But, this week I’m staying with family in Connecticut and...they just advertised a child on the TV! They told all about her likes and dislikes and job aspirations. They even said that she wants a "forever home". Ahhh...I think that that might be going a little too far. I can understand advertising a puppy on the TV...but a child? Maybe my reaction is so strong because the advertisment came in the wake of reading an article about a woman who returned her adopted, teenaged daughter after raising the poor girl for most of her life. I didn’t think that was allowed. Anyway, maybe I’m just biased. But I'm thinking that if a person really wanted to love and find a child they would be researching it; not responding to an infomercial. There's a huge problem in this country with people who "buy" things on impulse and kittens and dogs are no exception. Many dogs and cats are returned to shelters because "they just didn't work out." My fear is that if you advertise a child the same way you would kittens, you run the risk of people making an impulse "purchase"...and then returning the "merchandise" if it doesn't accessorize their life exactly the way they expected they would. There's a big difference between kittens...and kids.

I have a question. Please email me to let me know if my fellow student teachers and I reacted correctly by ignoring this comment or what we should have done…for the next time.

For my teaching methods class we go every Monday and Wednesday to a local elementary school here in Salt Lake City to teach second and third graders creative dance. We have done four classes so far. The kids are great and really excited about dance. Read more »

I'd like to take a minute to share a little history lesson and a confession. My mother and I get along really well.  Ever since I was just a kid my mother has spoken to my sister and I like we were adults. So we have always tried to be honest and open with each other. I know there are times when we disagree but it’s ok for us. I did go through that phase every child goes through by trying to please my mother always. That didn’t last long; it was too hard.  I loved growing up like that.

Having said that I have come to the conclusion that a certain percentage of blooming adults choose political parties by really researching and getting involved; another percentage just do whatever their parents say; and the last percentage do the exact opposite of their parents. Read more »

I have always been a bit of a quick study which isn’t good as I became quite lazy and terribly behaved when I was bored. However, despite my laziness and my horrible tendencies I amazingly have learned a lot over the years. So as I sit here and think back on my lessons from inside the classroom...and from my life...I wonder why.Read more »

Last week my school held an event called Crimson Nights. Crimson Nights is a get together, a mixer, held at the student union with dancing, button making, food, henna tattoos, bowling, pool, you know innocuous fun stuff. It’s supposed to be a fun, safe environment without drinking...yeah right. Half of the people who go are quite drunk when they arrive and they spend the night acting stupid. The other half are really serious about having good, wholesome, clean fun…many even bring their children. Needless to say, this combination can lead to some pretty interesting problems…Read more »